Deconstructing Jen

remembering dad

I've been struggling with this post since last night. The things I've wanted to say have been running through my mind almost constantly and catching me off guard at the most awkward moments, a few even causing me to break down in tears. I'm not one to dwell on the past or what is unchangeable but there are some things that can't be denied and the absence of my dad is one of them. It's been almost a surreal day. One moment I'm drowning in memories and the next, well, the next I could be cracking up at Ben's orneriness or Evey's crazy antics.

After thinking it over for quite some time I decided that I just wanted to share some memories of my Dad.

I remember:

• endless games of catch in the front yard...some completed under great amounts of duress on my part
• how you insisted I would not throw like a girl
• how you were always up for flips or wrestling in the front yard
• picking more green beans then should ever be necessary at Roger's farm, it's a miracle I can still eat them
• how you had such a huge heart
• how your love always had no bound or conditions
• how proud you always were of me
• how hard you worked
• that old busted white Ford truck with the blue hood that had safety glass chunks in the crack of the seat and in the floor board
• the old red VW Rabbit you loved so much
• endless piles of Pepsi uniforms that smelled like transmission fluid
• how there wasn't anything you couldn't do yourself
• how you used to argue with me and how hard I used to argue back and how you never held it against me
• how you never met a stranger
• how convicted you were that every kid, no matter how rough a life they had been dealt, deserved a chance at a better one though God
• how much you loved Ben and Evey
• that you were always so afraid you might break them when they were tiny babies
• how cute it was that you tried to hide how sad it made you that Evey was afraid of your big booming deep voice
• how Evey loved to go on your famous walks collecting twigs, leaves and rocks along the way
• how you never questioned the outcome when Ben made his terrifying debut into the world
• how you taught me to love books and the magical worlds they can create
• how much I loved you though I never could bring myself to say it enough

I could fill enough lines for 1,000 posts and still not have everything written down. I miss you Dad, more than you'll ever know.

cupcakes up to my eyeballs

Whew. That was a crazy busy weekend. This was bridal shower weekend extravaganza. My sister-in-law, Jen, and I were threw a bridal shower for our new sister-in-law to be Jenny. Yes, that's right, all of the females of my generation in my husbands immediate family are named Jen. Apparently all the other names were taken from 1974 to 1977. Well to hear our parents tell it, they thought they were picking the most original name in the world and there weren't things like the Social Security website to convince them otherwise. So I digress as I am apt to do...back to the shower.

Saturday was full of pre-shower prep activities. We made cupcakes. Loads and loads of cupcakes. We cut fruit, we cut veggies, we prepped the punch. We also managed to check out the most awesome burger place, EVER. Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Apparently we weren't the only ones who thought it was awesome because it was packed! They have a very small menu, they pretty much serve - you guessed it, burgers and fries but they do those extremely well. If you have one near you and haven't been I highly recommend it.

It turned out to be a lovely shower though there were some definite moments where it felt like there was no way we were going to get things finished up. We made numerous references to the last few harrowing minutes of a Trading Spaces episode where the furniture isn't even in the room yet and they have 2 minutes until the reveal. Thankfully we managed to pull it all together right as the first guests arrived. We served 3 kinds of tea sandwiches, hot crab dip with crackers, a fruit and veggie tray, an awesome punch (non-alcoholic), and super yummy white chocolate raspberry cupcakes. (Recipes to follow soonish in another post). Jen made up wedding Pictionary and a how well do you know the bride game - both were wonderful and non-embarrassing. We all wrote advise for various life subjects for Jon and Jenny on cards that Jenny and Jon opened later that day at home (I think).

It was a great day. And after we cleaned up I went home and passed out on the couch for a few minutes then tackled laundry mountain that some how never seems to go away.

happy news

Happy, happy news here in Jenville. My brother and sister-in-law are having a baby! WooHoo!!! Bill and Keeley are going to be awesome parents. Well, Keeley is already an awesome parent. *wink*

You can read all about the experience, Bill is documenting it for posterity. It's a hillarious read - you will find out soon enough that Bill got all the funny genes in our family. I highly recommend this post as well as this one. Make sure to check out the pictures.

real men play paper dolls

And Chris is the ULTIMATE at paper dolls. We have an entire paper village at our house.

Meet the newest member. He's farmer Dan. Also known as the High Tech Farmer.

300

Coerced. Arm twisted. Forced. All of those words would describe how I came to sit through the movie 300. The idea of a gory, bloody, slasher drama about the battle between Sparta and Persia was NOT what I had planned for a peaceful Monday evening. Under severe duress I relented and watched. And now for the millionth time I will be forced to eat crow under my husband's watchful eye. Rich. Entertaining. Gorgeous. All words that would describe this movie. It's certainly not for everyone but in the end I'll admit, it was good.

Busy, Busy Bee

It was a super busy week/weekend around here. All last week was spent prepping for and manning a 5 family garage sale. It was AWESOME. We sold nearly everything we put out. It was great fun too - something about the whole process of decluttering the house is very energizing and restoring.

Ben has his first cold of the season. :( This one hit him kinda hard. We went in Thursday for a well visit but it turned into a sick visit. Thursday he was significantly more wheezy than he had been on Wednesday and his oxygen was low so we spent his check up getting breathing treatments and steroids. He is doing well developmentally - he is a big time babbler and the doctor was very happy about that. He's right on track for motor skills and his preemie status has about disappeared! We also got the excellent news that he has been approved for a second season of Synagis shots. Hopefully that will keep the dreaded RSV at bay.

We're Home!

We made it back!! The kids were nothing short of AWESOME! The trip was long, it took about 10.5 hours on the way up due to stops for food for everyone, bottles and medicine for Ben. But it was a great trip. Evey was awesome, she played or slept and didn't even need a DVD on the way up or on the way back. Ben was a trooper and didn't fuss either trip until about an hour from our destination. The lake was FANTASTIC!!! Evey got to go tubing!

She had a blast!!!!

We ate lots of yummy food, played Spades until the wee hours of the night - and let me tell you that those folks from Wisconsin are SERIOUS about their spades. Holy smokes I don't think I have played with people that intense in a long time, lol. It was a great time! :) But I'm also glad to be back. :)

Jen

And we are off!!

The kids and I are packed and ready to go! We leave in about 45 minutes to drive to Wisconsin! Holy 9 hour car ride Batman!!! :)

See you when we get back!!

Jen

Dear Itchy Throat,

We've been together for about a week now and I don't think this relationship is going anywhere. I don't know what causing you to stay. I've done all sorts of horrible and mean things to you but you don't get the hint. Advil, BAH! you say. Salt water, BAHAHA, again. I clearly am doing everything in my power to offend you, irritate you, and rid myself of you.

So please, I beg you. Pack your bags and move out. We are not meant for each other. It's time to move on to some other unsuspecting, sleep deprived person.

Jen

The countdown is on...

In two days the kids and I are packing up MIL's car and heading to Wisconsin. I can't WAIT!!! DH, can't make it because of his recent job switch but the kids and I are going. We head out at 6 am Wednesday and should be back late Saturday or possibly Sunday.

This trip is an annual family vacation to a small rural lake town where some wonderful (and a little crazy) relatives of ours have a lake cabin (I mean hotel) that we stay at. It's beautiful. The cabin sits right on the water and is surround by trees and a corn field.

I can't wait!!

Jen