Stuff to Smile About

Thanks to Santa for the early delivery--my first SLR. I love it!

Girls night/ boys night out to Four Streams Country Club. Awesome food and chat. Matt had "use it or lose it" so he invited a tableful of guys to join him. He tried to "disinvite" the lovely wives but we didn't go down without fight. We ended up going anyway, sitting at our own table and observing the "boys club" from a distance. Too bad for them... the girls table is ALWAYS more fun!

Nothin better than late-night Rock Band! A few weeks ago I was driving my nephews home (14 and 16) and I said something about playing rock band. Eric said, "Wait a minute Aunt Jen, are you tellin' me you guys get together like a bunch of 15 year olds and play rock band?!" Sure enough. "Whoa!" he said, We should have a party!" It's good to be cool.

Wise Guys

Serious Shepherds

Joseph, Mary, and doll

Built by Nick.

Facebook Flashback

Our buddy, SPC, posted this on Facebook. Looks like I found the only 12 year old at BYU. I have no memory of Nick ever looking this young (or of my face looking so swollen)! Ahhh....vintage love pics......now that's something to smile about!

Through the Telescope

We had such a fun time I just had to post a little more about it.  A few things I want to remember about this day....

•Eric showing up as Pirate Captain--accent, eyeliner and all

•Awesome treasure!

•The clues at the top of the climbing wall

•Nick and Johnny hiding the treasure sooooo deep!

•All 25 of us in the huge war canoe

•Roasting hot dogs over the fire--for starving kids

•The kids reading the clues in "pirate talk"

•The friendly kayers ferrying the little kids across the river on their boats

•Forgetting about the kids for ten minutes--only to realize they'd all crossed the river on their own (sorry mom, true) looking for clues. Thank heaven for life jackets!

•Johnny's crack

•Eric wading in the algae pit of snakes

•The kids freaking out digging for the treasure--muddy, muddy kids

•Half the kids diving overboard to retrieve the message in the bottle

•Kids sword fighting along the way

•Johnny "flying" Camille and Caroline full speed along the trail (speeding things up!)

•My horrible slippery shoes

•The Pirate Captain turned Seaweed Freak of the Deep

•Natalie upset that I ripped her shirt to shreds to use as my costume

•Singing camp songs as we paddled

•Darling Pirate cake (that Mitchell didn't realize was for him too!)

•Nick looking pretty buff (& hot!) steering the canoe 

•Realizing I don't have to do another one of these for a long, long time!

Out of Season

So sadly, it's time to say good-bye to the beach.  Last Saturday Nick and I went with Eric and his kids to Rehoboth. The night before I did my usual "should we really go?" Luckily I had a little peer pressure working on me because we had the best day.  Also, it was Mitchell's birthday so we wanted a fun day for him. I don't know what the deal is, but I have never had such relaxing times as this past summer--just digging my feet in the sand staring out at the sea. I am a lazy beach goer--and do little more than sit and smile at the kids; it's very close to a perfect day for me.  I love the outings that make you look and feel like you're a fun mutha, but require little effort.  What a concept!  

We had an awesome day with Eric.  It was so great to just sit and talk and have the kids entertaining themselves. We're so lucky to be surrounded by some of our oldest friends. There's nothing like people that know the whole you--your history, what you were like before things got real and the kids came etc.  It's incredible--with how transient life has become for many--that we have been fortunate enough to have such great friends and family planted close by. This is a very happy part of my life.  

We ended at Funland, of course.  Love that place.  Ate at Five Guys--got the kids 1/4 lb. at the Candy Kitchen and got some pretty funny footage of Camille on the Freefall.  The crazy thing is, she hated it last time so I don't know what possessed her to do it again.  I guess a good mom would've reminded her.....

I'll be back soon...

...but don't hold your breath.

We're off to Outer Banks for our annual family beach week.  

I'll be tan next time you see me!

SUN & FUN

I've never made a mosaic before, and I will say it about drove me to drink. But, feeling a bit obsessed with the whole thing, I couldn't quit till I figured it out. Now I just might be addicted. It's quite satisfying to see them all neatly packaged in that sweet little box.

If you want to try it go here. Just don't come back and tell me it was a breeze.