Family Pics!

Ok, so Chelsea is over 1 year old and we don't have a family pic yet..... until TODAY! Tada! These were from the family reunion in Texas; we are grateful to have a decent pic where no ones eyes are closed!

The Best Gifts: Life & Tooley

Cancer; the very word rocks your world. Such was the case for my family when we got the word that my aunt Brenda had leukemia. Aunt Brenda was in her twenties when she was diagnosed. Brenda was full of life with a young daughter, Annemarie (whom I loved to play with), and son, James, at home. I cannot fully describe the pain, I am certain that readers have an idea of the fear & heart ache associated with the situation.

Hope was in the air with the possibility of a bone marrow transplant! Before testing was done Brenda knew that my dad...



would be the donor & so it was. Only 1 problem; my mom was very pregnant & dad would not likely be there for the birth of his son.

Dad's birthday was on the 21st of January and his flight was to leave on the 22nd. Miracle: late the night of the 21st mom went in to labor & not just any labor; it was hard & fast... 27 intense minutes from start to finish! Probably the best birthday gift that my dad has ever received (besides life itself) was the gift of Tyler that very night.

I can imagine Heavenly Father looking down & saying, "You are giving your sister a gift & now I want to give you one. Happy birthday, son." So my dad's gift helped aunt Brenda live another 6 years and the gift of Tooley...



still blesses us today.

**Dad & Tools, may your birthdays be memorable! May you have much joy in the gifts of God, even life itself! I thank Him for both of you this day!

Love,
Jeni

The New Goldilocks

The fable of Goldilocks has been around for so long that you would think she is dead & gone, right? CORRECTION. Our modern day Goldilocks looks something like this:

This morning no one (except me, of course) put their bowls of cream of wheat (henceforth know as PORRIDGE) in the sink. Shocking, right? Not so much. Enter stage left, Chelsea (Henceforth known as Goldilocks.)

Even though Goldilocks had already eaten she climbed up Papa Bear's (Bart) chair and sampled his porridge while spilling it everywhere.

Too hot? Too cold? Who knows, all I know is that the same thing happened with Jessica's bowl.

When she got to Brian's bowl she decided to haul it all the way down the hall, generously dripping it on the carpet as she went until she put both hands in it and smeared it all over laundry and furniture.

At last she was caught & captured!

The only problem is that this modern day Goldilocks has not learned her lesson. Since her capture she has been caught climbing on the table and dumping out full glasses of water & plates of food, putting her fingers in food being prepared for cooking, dipping a scrub brush in the toilet bowl & sucking the water off said brush, putting my boots in the toilet, daily soaking her daddy's chair with water and the list goes on and on and on.......

The judge has ruled that leniency is in order due to excessive cuteness, but has warned that the cuteness factor is losing it's appeal!

**Any other messy kiddos out there?

Who knew? Dogs Like Boogars Too!

While at Bart's brothers home over the holidays Brian said, "Mom! The dog likes boogars too!"


Me: What? (Not sure I heard him right.)


Brian then demonstrated by wiping his nose with his bare hand and holding it out to the dog who gleefully licked up the snot!

Like Mother Like Daughter!

Jesi is in a performing group called Tuvasi and this is a clip from their Christmas concert & following are some cute pics. She marches to her own drum, but it is apparrant that she has plenty of personality. I THINK SHE IS SOOOO DARLING! Oh,& I have no idea what parent would scream so loud.... ;)

Consider Yourself Christmas Carded!

Ok, so maaaaaaybe this is the cheap & lazy way of doing things, but we wanted to wish all of our family and friends a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Passionate 'bout Them Oreos!

The following is a true conversation that occurred this evening:


Jesi: Mom, can I please have an oreo?

Me: Sure.

Jesi: Can I have 2!? Brian had 2!!

Brian: Jesi, I had 2 FOUR TIMES!


After viewing the half- empty oreo package I decided that he had spoken truth. Anyone else have a fascination w/ oreos?

Strange Happenings on Friday the 13th

Have you experienced ultra strange occurrences on Friday the 13th? Perhaps on this day a black cat has crossed your path, the power mysteriosly has gone off in your home or maybe you were chased around the forest by a madman who refused to speak? Do you celebrate by ignoring the day all together, going back to bed and pulling the covers over your head, or periodically turning on a chain saw at random intervals throughout the day to freak out your neighbors or random passerbys?

My brother Jason...



(NOT to be mistaken with Jason...)



Celebrates likes this...

OK, so maybe he celebrates a little more like this...



First a little background: My brother Jason was born on the 13th. My parents, being ignorant to the freaky relation with the name Jason and the 13th, actually named him... JASON!

Jason seems to experience painful or dissappointing things when his birthday falls on a Friday. For instance, one Friday the 13th birthday he was roughly tossed around a bus. On Friday the 13th 11 years ago Jason was found moping around our home and looking most dejected. When my mom inquired as to why, he said something like, "Because it's my birthday and everyone forgot and I don't get any presents or ice cream or cake." Yep. We forgot.

Since Jason's birthday was on a Friday this year and I am writing this on a SUNDAY I think it is safe to assume that the same thing happened as 11 years ago. Jason's gifts were: gold-fish, dinner, Chex mix, and a bike spoke. Let's hear a collective, "aaaaah!"

Well, this may be late, but none-the-less, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON! Look at the bright side; next year your birthday will not be on a Friday! YEA! Love ya! -Jeni

Happy Thanksgiving Bow Style!

I've made some different turkeys, but this one takes the cake! Cute, huh?

"Fat Turkey"

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

Fat turkey, fat turkey,

Oh gobble, gobble gobble,

Fat turkey of mine!

You're not here for living,

You're here for Thanksgiving!

Oh, gobble, gobble, gobble,

Fat turkey of mine

-Author Unknown

Anyone Else Ever Have a Day FILLED With Things Like This?