END OF THE YEAR FAVES!

Woo hoo!  Final Friday of 2013!

I love endings.  I really, truly do. They culminate a zillion emotions, spark remembrance of joyful moments and give closure to items that may require it. 

Yep, the perfect ending.

My ending couldn't be any better, friends.  The west coast kids are coming home which means I get to snuggle my little lentil, chase my nugget around the house and squeeze my daughter and son until they are blue in the face.  Oh...and some vino may be in there as well, particularly now that Hubs has ensured I will have to find meetings in 2014 with the Wine every Quarter club from my fave winery in the country!

I'm have a feeling I'm gonna need it.

Much like when the kids go back to school, the new year brings in new calendars, new pens, new goals and new plans. I'm not sure what it completely holds for our fam but I do know this:  we will stick together, whatever it may be.  That's what Davis' do.  Thick and thin and stuff (for the record.... my father in law conveniently left out the ".... and Obey" part from our vows specifically for me.  Yep, I was snarky even back then.)

Below are my final faves of the year.  I don't know how many of you like this format of sharing but it has been quite fun for me (and given Hubs GREAT gift ideas!)

FAVE VACAY

I love this picture the most because we have actually been here!  The Grand Wailea in Maui is one of the grandest destinations a person could visit.  It's brilliantly beautiful and the picture looks EXACTLY like it does in true life.  Davis and I spent 5 days in this gorgeous place in 2004, a trip that I will never, ever forget.

 

FAVE FUNNY

 

 

I don't know about you, friends... but I'm tired of being politically correct.  I can believe whatever I want.  It doesn't make me "judgemental" to have my own beliefs that may or may not be popular opinion.  It doesn't make me "hateful" if I don't agree with every single word another person says.  And it doesn't make me a "bigot" if I decide I want to live a different way than others.

 

There.  I said it.  And I'm not taking it back.  The peeps that think I'm NOT PC can go right on ahead and judge ME (because we all know you will)....

 

 

 

FAVE TEE

 

OH MY!  Yes, yes, yes!!  I'm screaming this as I'm typing away.  I love this tee and absolutely must find it.  MUST.  Now if I could just get the institution fixed of all its flaws we would all be happy campers.

 

 

 

 

FAVE WARMTH

 

I've never been a huge fan of chevron but I know it's totally popular right now.  I do, however, love this quilt!  I'm thinking the black needs to be a warm chocolate brown and the edging needs to be a crisp soft blue and then it would completely match my bedroom.  Just saying.  Crafty friends.... take note.

 

 

 

 

FAVE MORNING YUMMO

 

Okay, we have eaten so much breakfast in my fam over the last week I could almost yell STOP!  Almost.  This little gem looks ah-mazing!  I'm so in love with pomegranate it's almost a sin.  Put some white chocolate with it and I'm completely sold.

 

Click here for the recipe to this delight!  ------->  Pomegranate white chocolate scones

 

 

 

 

 

FAVE LITERARY

 

 

I'm in love with the English language.  I'm particularly excited when people use complex words to describe something.  It makes me all giddy inside... even when I don't know what it means.  Excuse to use the dictionary!

 

So here you go friends... work this into your vocab today.  Pick 5 and give it a shot.  Use your brains.  I love this!

 

 

 

 

 

FAVE KITCHEN HELP

 

I love this.  Simple.  Not to fancy.  Totally functional.  Will match my kitchen.  Done!

 

 

 

 

 

FAVE GIFT FOR MY DAUGHTER

 

She loves to read. She loves Batman.  I think this may be a perfect combo!  She is secretly a badass so its a 50/50 guess as to if she truly knows the big guy.  I'd bet on her any day.

 

 

 

 

 

FAVE NEW (TO ME) FLICK

 

I totally blame Jaxx Teller. I mean seriously.... if the Sons weren't on hiatus this would have never happened to me.  Well, it may have.

 

Hubs grabbed the controller and fired up Netflix.  Next thing I know, I'm addicted to a show about a guy with terminal cancer making meth to save money for his family after his death.

 

Uplifting, right?

 

Each episode leaves me a tiny bit more depressed than the previous one.  There is one shining beacon in my opinion:  Jesse.  I absolutely, completely and totally love the guy that plays the character Jesse. 

 

Yep, love him.

 

Go ahead friends.... you know you want to!  Breaking Bad, in case you didn't know.

 

 

 

 

FAVE FASHION

 

Okay, I know I couldn't really pull these off.  But a girl can love, right?  And Nordstrom says that they are flattering on all body types.

 

See, a girl can dream!  These shiny pups would look AMAZING twinkling on New Years Eve!  I won't... but just know that I want to!

 

 

 

Have a FANTASTIC final Friday, friends! Thanks for all your support in 2013.  I love that so many of you read my blogs.  Hopefully you find my humor and sass uplifting.

 

Cheers!

 

Jen

 









May the Force be with You...

Christmas Eve.  Peace and Joy.  Quiet tranquility.

Yeah, right.

Every woman I know is utterly exhausted.  Party after party, gift after gift, dinner after dinner.  Women hold families together with their endless planning, shopping and hosting.

And don't forget the three F's... Forced Family Fun.

Navigating family gatherings is often tricky.  Forced smiles and laughs fill the room.  Awkward non-descript conversations take place.  Past emotions always seem to sit right in the back of the throat.

It's amazing to me that people that don't even speak to one another all year come together awkwardly and pretend all is calm and bright.  Well - it is all about the children.  We should put on a good show for them.

I'm so super thankful I don't endure that pressure.  After 20 years of marriage and 42 years of life, I finally figured it out.  I spend my time with the ones I love and who love me.  I don't do anything I wouldn't do any other time of the year and I completely refuse to act.

I told my mother in law to shut her pie hole Sunday.  She smacked me and ran from the room while my sister and I laughed.  And then she forgave me, as always.  Because I am who I am.

I love my little family.  I love our genuine behavior.  I love that we are imperfect, off balance and a little crazy.  I love that we tease and love each other completely.  It really makes my heart warm and makes the season all that much better.

And I love that this time every year the kids have to measure each other...against Pooh (or Pop or Poppy, depending on the grandchild).  I have a feeling the Little Guy is gonna trump Dad in a few short years!

In just a few short days the west coast kids will arrive!  I cannot wait to get my arms around all of them and squeeze tight.  It has been 10 long weeks since I saw them and during the holidays that always seem so much longer.  I can't wait to smell little Miss A, who has already changed so much.  I hope I haven't packed on to much weight to chase Nugget around the house.  And I hope we can fill up the kid's love buckets enough to sustain them until our next visit.

Have a very Merry Christmas Eve, friends!

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES!!

Oh, the holidays are upon us,

And the kids are all off the bus,

Since we've a million places to go,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Here it comes.  The season of griping.  Oops, I meant complaining.  No wait - I think I meant GIVING.

Yeah - that's right.... giving.  Isn't that what we did few short weeks ago?  Right - that was being grateful for what we have.  Now it's time to watch our kids rip through packages to find out what kind of loot they received.

Of course, most of us would LOVE to get this dig in:

"Talk about pissing your money away. I hope you kids see what a silly waste of resources this was."

~ Momma In-law Griswold

But not me.  Nope.  That would make me a Scrooge.

With just a few short days from the holiday, it's time to slam into overdrive.  

Wait... wasn't I already doing that?

My faithful friends that read here often are starting to become concerned.  "Where are your musings?  Why aren't you writing?  Are you sick?  Is everything okay?"

Initially I just threw out responses.

"I ran outta stuff to have an opinion about."

"I broke my left hand hang gliding."

"My cholesterol is acting up so I haven't been able to write."

It's the last question that tells it all.... am I okay?  Hmmm... I don't think I can answer that.

For the now 21st year in a row, I am in a fourth quarter nightmare.  Most of my clients renew their benefit programs within the last three months of the year (or January 1st).  Employee communication is at an all time high with the birth of the Accountable Care Act.  Clients rates are soaring and innovative solutions are critical.

Long story short - I'm a bit worn out.  I'm a little older this time (because that happens somehow every year).  The pieces of the law that haven't been delayed and actually enacted are difficult for most to understand and tiring to discuss day in and day out.  Even extroverted socialites get a little bit tired from time to time.

In short, my sweet energy juices are totally depleted.

I need a refill, Jobu.

I'm actually going to WILL myself to rest this weekend.  Not try to wrap every single present in one sitting.  Not spend all day cleaning or cooking.  Take some breaks and laugh at my fave Christmas movie with little guy.

That's the plan.  Let's just see how that turns out.

In an effort to actually blog ON the day, below are my faves from around the web this week.  Happy reading!

FAVE TECHY GIFT

I MUST give this!  I am always running out of juice and watched a girlfriend have the same experience this week.  She needs one of these!

FAVE FASHIONISTA

Oooh... I love, love, love this.  I have two similar shirts but not exactly like this.  I need to find it!

FAVE SENTIMENT

I loved my mom's handwriting.  And my grandma's.  How cool would it be to have it around my neck and not in a weird (blood in a vile) type of way?  I think this is a great idea!

FAVE CHRISTMAS SONG

Yep.  That pretty much sums it up.

FAVE KICKS

With all the holiday partying happening lately, new kicks would be awesome.  I fell in love with these immediately.  I know my ankles would be in heaven!

FAVE REMINDER

Try hard to slow down and listen....

FAVE FUNNY

For my friend Ems, who originally forced me to become addicted to Netflix.  This ones for you!

FAVE FUR KID

Gotta love the goldens.  Always make my heart happy.

FAVE GIRLY GIRL

I've publicly scorned the scarf long enough.  It's time I come clean.  I do think that wearing scarves every day over all pieces of clothing regardless of the weight of fabric is a little over the top.  For me, anyway.  But subtle, lightweight versions I must admit are very pretty.  This one jumped out to me immediately as a winner.

FAVE VESSEL

Finally, someone printed one of my fave movie quotes of all time.  Bring it on, Griswold!

Merry, merry friends.  Have a great weekend!

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES!!

Well... I did it.  I survived another half marathon.  I'm not the fastest girl in town but I can manage to push my hiney across that finish line by the grace of God.

A lot of people posted daily grateful and thankful comments on Facebook in November.  It's the usual suspects typically - family, friends, God, etc.  For me, I have a mantra (or prayer, if you will) every single time I tie my shoes.

As I hit the road, the first mile is typically difficult for me.  My muscles are tired from the hours of running the week before.  My joints aren't loose and tend to pop and creak as I strike the ground.  So I start thanking, most of the time out loud.

• Thank you for the breath entering and exiting my body, despite my efforts to ruin my lungs for many years.
• Thank you for the ability to move my hips freely, knowing others cannot.
• Thank you for the strength in my thighs that propel my body forward.
• Thank you for the intricate structure of my feet that strike and push off MANY pounds of weight, forgivingly.
• Thank you for another day.  I promise to not take it for granted.

Although the words change up, it is always the same.  I'm happy to be here, breathing in and out and given the chance to contribute one more day to this life.

Because today, right now, someone is no longer given that opportunity.  Lives are forever altered.  Families are in mourning.

I try really hard never to forget that.

On a lighter note, it's hard to believe we have already hit another December.  I know I mention this from time to time but could the universe PLEASE just slow the hell down?  I feel like we are rolling through a movie script in fast forward and I yearn for time to be a little more appreciated.

I am super excited about upcoming celebrations though.  Friends, work associates, family.  It's a month of visits and lots and lots of food and cocktails.  Man, I can already tell January is going to be ROUGH! :)

Below are some faves I managed to scrounge up in my oh so much spare time.  Enjoy!

FAVE FLICK

Not only did I see this fab feature last weekend with my Book Club girls, I saw it again with little guy.  Love, love, love!  Little guy wasn't allowed to watch the movie until he finished the book so he read the entire thing in a week.  Yep, I love my little nerd.

FAVE CRAFTY

Oooh.... I must have this.  LOVE!

FAVE FUNNY

I can't help but share this.  Introversion was a topic of conversation at our Thanksgiving table this year.  As I grow wiser I see more and more of this woven in my friendships which always surprises me given that I am the opposite.  This must be why Davis and I have been married 20 years.  Thank God I'm one of his friends!

FAVE GIFT IDEA

How darn cute are these guys?  I have a love of all things chocolate anyway but my little guy is a cocoa / hot chocolate connoisseur.  He LOVES that warm, velvety drink!

FAVE FUR FRIENDS

I love deer.  So pretty, so majestic.  I mean seriously... could there be a more beautiful animal?  And most of friends spend hours and hours and zillions of dollars killing them.  No need to give me the lecture.... I get they are overpopulated and people hit them and we have to do it.  Doesn't mean I like it.  So there.

FAVE BRAIN WARMER

Speaking of said deer... does it get any cuter than this?  Really?!

FAVE YUMMO

Oh my.  Yes, please!!  Click here for the recipe ----> Christmas Bark Cookie Crunch

FAVE FURRY KID

Heart melt.  Dying from cuteness.  Greyhounds are so awesome - especially this little Italian nugget.  LOVE!

FAVE GIFT IDEA

Okay, why in the world wouldn't these be the best thing ever?  No more watered down drinks!  Love these little stainless steel n'ice cubes!

FAVE SIPPER

Martinis are at the top of my fave things to sip.  Okay, sometimes guzzle.  Especially the yummo ones served at Houlihan's.

This little gem just makes me smile.  Seriously - who wouldn't want a snowball martini?

Click here for the secrets to this cool cocktail! ----> Alpine Martini

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!

Jen

Thankful for the Nasties

My first big Thanksgiving endeavor I was a brave, brave girl.  I invited not only my mom and her best friend over to our duplex with a 7 x 7 (maybe) galley kitchen, I invited my in law parents as well.

I insisted we cook everything.  From scratch, of course.

Oh, and I was 23.

I begged my mom to come over and help.  Believe me, there was no way I could get it done by myself.  Hubs hadn't developed his love of the kitchen yet and although he was always helpful, we needed the precious real estate to maneuver all these dishes in and out of the oven (which was across from the sink so mom and I could stand butt to butt for hours on end).

I did have an advantage.  I had watched my mom cook Thanksgiving feasts my whole life.  Not just "hung around the smells" kind of watching.... staring intently, trying to soak up the knowledge of how she could amazingly get everything perfectly cooked on the table at the same time.

That has always been my end goal as a cook - how to get it all done and presented beautifully.  I have to admit I'm a little bit anal about it and freak out when it doesn't go my way.

4 am, we started a pot of coffee.  Or maybe even another one, I can't remember.  My mother could drink coffee 24/7 and did.  She bequeathed that awesome skill to my bestie who gulps caffeine goodness all day and night.

I was insistent to handle the bird.  I wanted to be able to say I did it.  Pulling the bag from the inside, I turned to chuck it in the trash when my mom slapped at me furiously (yes, she did that a lot).

"STOP!  Don't throw that away!"

"Isn't it just the neck and insides, mom?  The yucky stuff?"

"It's the gold, dear.  We have to use it to make everything taste good.  Get me a pot."

Confused, I lean over to grab a stockpot.  I watch intrepidly as she fills it with cold water, empties the contents of the nasty bag into it and sets it on the stove over the flame.

"We have to make a stock, you know... broth."

Oooh.  Broth.  Okay, I think I'd heard of that somewhere.  

{I can't help but laugh as I type this... my daughter and I would laugh now at such foolishness.  Everyone knows all you have to do is Google it.....}

We played dice at the table, her drinking coffee with clouds and me I'm sure drinking a RED coca cola (my staple in my early 20's) waiting.  The bird was cooking, the nasties were simmering and all was good in the world.  Hubs and Bubba emerged for the morning to smells of goodness all around.

And then, it was time.

We entered the kitchen to deal with the nasties.  Grabbing a colander and a bowl, I strained the golden juice from the pan.  I have to admit, it did smell amazingly yummy.  She was right.  Damnit, she was always right.

As I stepped towards the trash with the icky remnants, she grabbed me once again.

"Little lady, where do you think you are going with that?"

"It's trash, mom!  I'm going to the trash!"

"Nope, get back over here with that right now."

I handed her the colander and stood back in horror.  Her hands sifted through the mess, pulling out the heart, the kidneys, the liver.  As she handed me back the colander with the neck and lungs still present, I pushed down the bile rising in my throat.  I turned and chucked the nasties into the trash, wishing I could just jam them down a garbage disposal (of which we didn't have at that time).

Yielding a knife, she went to work chopping the organs into teeny, tiny pieces.  I was horrified - what in the hell was she doing?  She scooped up her prize possessions and threw them straight into the pyrex pan holding the bread cubes.

The stuffing.  She put that icky crap into the stuffing.

"Mom, what are you doing?!  You can't put that nasty stuff in there!"

"My dear, you have eaten my stuffing since you were born.  Do you think I just made this up for your benefit today?  This is my recipe and has been for years.... and you love it."

Gasp.  I almost wanted to cry.  Actually, I think I may have.

All those years she had lied.  Well, did she?  She never told me that junk was in there but then again, I never noticed.

I watched as she ladled our golden juice into the stuffing as well, tossing it together and covering it with foil.  She smiled as she popped it into the oven and returned to her spot at the table, lifting her coffee with a final sly grin.

Ugh. 

The dinner was a hit.  We were cramped and crowded, with only one bathroom for 7 people and less than 500 sq ft.  We laughed, we ate and we loved.

And we even ate the stuffing.  All of it.  Oh, and the juice also went in the awesome gravy, too....

I am thankful for that experience and the other 18 Thanksgivings that followed it.  I have always loved this day and always will.  I miss my mom especially on this day but cannot help but reflect on our laughs, our jokes (almost always inappropriate) and our love for one another.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends and family.  I am thankful for YOU.

Jen

Just Turn It Off

Just like that, he flipped the switch.

Both of my boys got an amazing skill... and not from me.  They have my passion about their own likes (and dislikes for that matter - little guy is NEVER going to like broccoli, no matter how many times he tries it) but they definitely possess an ability to let go that I have never attained.  I call it "flipping the switch".  Turning it off.  Letting it go.  Moving on and not looking back.

It's amazing to me, really.  I still mull over conversations I had 20 years ago, replaying them in my mind wondering what other path I might have taken and what that might have led towards.  It's a curse, really.  Not necessarily a regret though.  Just an inability to turn it off.

I guess I have a lot of lights on upstairs.

Our final football games occurred this weekend.  Knowing exactly what we were most likely entering, little guy had huge passion and fire.  He was excited.  He was nervous.  Despite a rough season, he wanted to leave his heart all over that field.

He did.  He worked hard.  He made mistakes.  And he loved every progress and success.  As he sat on the field after the final game, he fought back tears.  Not tears of disappointment - he knew better than that.  Tears that once again the game he loves has come to end.  His pure love of the game is an awesome thing to witness.

We hugged a lot last night.  We wrapped up on the couch for a few hours.  We snuggled before bed talking about it.

And today, it is gone.  The switch is flipped.  He isn't dwelling.  He isn't sad.

It's basketball season.

I wish I could do that.  All of that passion, excitement, drama, anxiousness, stress... all shut off.

And who says we can't learn from our children.

Have a great Monday, friends!

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES!!

Ahh... my favorite month of the year is finally upon us!  Not only does it hold my favorite holiday, I'm reminded all month of how grateful I am.  Grateful for my family, my amazing friends, my health... the list is so long I couldn't begin to capture it all in one message.

Kicking off the month with my fave post of the week, my favorite things, I'll begin with this one.  I absolutely love my blog.  Yes, at times it appears to be controversial.  Yes, I may not always agree with everyone that I know.  Yes, sometimes I am repetitive and maybe not interesting to others.

But it's all me.  It's all mine.  At least once a year I remind anyone that really hangs around long enough to read any of my posts that I created this site (now SIX years ago!) to capture my life journey as a woman, a parent, a spouse and a friend.  I write about MY perceptions of life events, which may not always be aligned with everyone else reading.  I illustrate my flaws, often ask for advice when conflicted or confused and write the honest truth about what is happening in my life.  It's not always popular.  Sometimes people get mad at me.

I allow that, of course.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just as I.  But if you carefully read my words, you will see that I never write lies.  My words are intentional.  When I do on occasion spew angry posts, I save them and typically delete them the next day.

It's hard for others at time to look inside, admit their own flaws.  That has never been an issue for me.  I'm filled with them (as evidenced by my blog!)  The difference is I'm not afraid to admit them.  Because deep down, I know someone else will identify with me by admitting the truth.  And someone always does!

So to kick off November - today I am grateful for my truths.  I'm grateful for the ability to write and be honest.  I'm grateful for the platform to do so.  And I'm grateful for the clarity that typically comes along with the process.

Enjoy my faves this week, friends!

FAVE FASHION

Yep.  By far my fave uniform for fall.  LOVE IT!

FAVE TUB

After a long run in cool weather there is nothing better than a full dunk.  I love tubs in general but this square version screams to me.  Coupled with the stone walls, I'm in total heaven.

FAVE KICKS

AHH!  Love shorty boots!  These are definitely on top of my list!

FAVE SNACKERS

Mmm... I love pumpkin.  And who doesn't love cream cheese.  This swirly dip looks decadent to me.  Click here for the link to the recipe! ---->  Salted Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

FAVE PASTTIME

This is exactly how I feel.  If I can't get it down on paper, it didn't happen.  I love looking back at my old journals from childhood.  I have a terrible long term memory and writing has always helped me chronicle life events and have a platform to remember better.

That and I completely love it.

FAVE WRIST CANDY

Before swarovski crystals, the seventies boasted the macrame.  And my mother was leading the charge in my childhood 'hood to sell anything and everything to everyone.  All things mac came out of our garage!  She was mostly known for her hanging plant holders, but I have a feeling if she saw this gem she would have fashioned it in a moment's notice.

I miss her.  And that smell of macrame in my garage.  Some things I will never forget.

FAVE REMINDER

I absolutely love technology but some days I am worn out trying to learn all the new gadgets and short cuts to be more efficient.

I caught of a glimpse of this last week and couldn't help but giggle.  My little guy didn't get it at all.  Of course.

FAVE GIFTS

I find it very hard at times to figure out my gift giving throughout the year.  I usually lean one of two ways:  functional or sentimental.  I'm not one to throw down cash on an item because of it's THE thing to buy.  It still must have a need somehow or I just can't part with the cash to do it.

By far my fave gifts to give are homemade.  Something about handing something off you put time and effort into in a calculated way makes me always feel proud.  I found a great site for the best homemade gifts for 2013 so I thought I'd share it with you!  Click here -----> Ultimate List of 2013 Food Gifts

FAVE BAG

MUST HAVE!  I love this hobo bag!  Great color, great size.  Perfect for me.

FAVE TREES

When I see a birch tree I instantly think of Hubs.  And Colorado, of course.  He absolutely loves them.  I love the delicacy of their bark but mostly love when those gorgeous orange leaves drop and the white trees stand against the blue skies.  Truly fall!

Happy November, friends!

Jen

Like Father Like Son(s)

If you had asked me 24 years ago what ONE thing I would want my boys to learn during their childhood from their father, I would probably say loyalty.

No, commitment.

Wait, integrity.

Hang on - dedication.

Ah hell... I suppose I wouldn't have been able to sum it up in one word.  Maybe it would have taken a paragraph.  That is how I speak, as you know.  One word responses are not really my style.

I witnessed little guy display them all last night.  I was beaming with pride.  Let's be honest - it's not everyday that our 12 year old kiddos excel.  Oh sure, each of us have the smartest, cutest, most perfect children in the world (until our front door closes).

Our football season has been a tough one.  Once again we have found ourselves improperly placed in the wrong division (for whatever reason).  Basically... we are playing up.  It shows.  We have had some really rough games.  Little guy not only looks like a football player this year, he could easily fit in with the Jax and the MC if only he knew how to ride a Harley.

We are facing massive adversity.  We have many players on IR.  We barely have enough left to get on the field.  We are facing our largest competitor (meaning they have beaten us by the most points this season).  It's fairly safe to say we will most likely go down... by a lot.

A question was posed to the team:  should we play?  I admit I was hot immediately.  Never have my boys been allowed to quit anything.

And no, my dear naysayers, that has nothing to do with MY pride.  It has everything to do with my childhood.  I was allowed to start and quit everything, mostly because my parents really didn't want to take the time to take me anywhere for "activities".  Childhood was meant to be played outside, not at sanctioned events.  I suppose it was because I was the last child over a long parenting span.  Or maybe they were just super tired.  I'll never really know at this point.

I vowed when I had children I would not ever push them, nor would I allow them to quit.  I wanted them to develop their own desires, their own sense of pride, their own accountability and dedication.

Stage Left - Mr. Davis.

I had no idea how my boys would learn any of those words listed at the top of my page, quite frankly.  My Scorpion ways lean me to be fiercely loyal and protective but I'm not totally convinced I could teach the level of commitment and dedication I wanted my boys to grow up with to become MEN.

I became a spectator and quickly learned how they were going to get it.  Hubs dedicated tireless hours to Bubba and little guy's activities.  He showed them commitment by being by their side at every practice and every game.  They discussed every night over dinner not only how to improve but how to celebrate successes.  They did it together, step in step.  He listened to them, gave them respect and in turn, taught them to appreciate and grow their love for their sports.

And then it happened.  One day, they woke up and it seemed to click.  Both of my boys have amazing loyalty.  They illustrate great sense of team.  They display commitment without flaw.  And they both have an incredible sense of what is right, not for themselves, but for the teams they support.

That is probably why Bubba is in the military.  Although he wouldn't define it that way necessarily, he is incredibly loyal.  Loyal to his country.  Committed completely to his wife.  Dedicated to his team.

And little guy?  Faced with possibly not finishing his season, he gave us one simple answer.

"We finish our season mom because we can't quit.  We may lose by 50 but at least we will know we tried.  I will never, ever quit on my team."

As always, I will pray before his game Saturday.  Pray he is safe.  Pray his teammates are safe.  Pray the coaches lead the boys as best as they can.  Pray they have fun and feel good when they walk off the field, regardless of the scoreboard.

He knows the risk.  He has buckled that chin strap for 6 years knowing that every snap is potential harm.  180 lbs of young men hit him every single down of a game that he plays.  Especially now knowing that he may be playing new positions on the field for our final games, he knows that even if he makes mistakes he wants to give it his all.

I couldn't ask for more.

One last thing though - thank God my boys learned modesty from their father as well.  I would be screaming from the rooftops if my boy's successes had been my own (mostly because I was not nearly as self secure as they are).  But not my boys.  They are selfless in their endeavors.  They celebrate as a TEAM, not as an individual.

That has to be what I love about them the most.

Final week of football.  Seems to be the longest season of little guy's life but now that it is coming to an end, it's bittersweet.  He does love it so.

Have a great Tuesday, friends.

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES!

As I stared at my Halloween decorations neatly tucked on a shelf in the basement this week, I realized this is probably it:  the last trick or treat.  I remember Bub's like it was yesterday.  It was the first year he didn't want Hubs and I to walk with him... or anywhere near him.  He wanted to go alone with his friends.

It was different 12 years ago.  And we lived in a very small, tight knit community.

Halloween in our 'hood where we live now is INSANE.  There are a zillion kids running everywhere.  Parents line every sidewalk with wagons and strollers, stopping at every other house to catch up with friends.

And it takes 3 hours... or something like that.

I learned a long time ago the best solution to freezing cold standing all night is a warm cup of apple cider... and a 5 gallon cooler of it to come along.  With maybe a little hooch in it.  Maybe.

So I guess I better drag out the black decorations this weekend and throw them up.  Little guy has already asked if I'm going to.  He's such a stickler for "traditions".

All I see is more stuff to put away in ONE WEEK.  Oh well... the things we do for the kiddos.

Enjoy my fave spookies from around the web and have a fantastic haunting day next week, friends!

FAVE DRINKY DRINKY

Yep - here it is!  My friend Kim gave me this recipe 5 years ago when I first moved into our 'hood and I have faithfully made it every year since.  WAY YUMMY!  Be careful though... it's powerful!

It was that time of Year again for the Hot Apple Pie Shots! 1 gallon Apple Cider, 1 gallon Apple Juice, 3 cups sugar, 8 cinnamon sticks and 1 750ml bottle of everclear. I modified it this year and cut the recipe in half so I would end up with a little over one gallon. I also substituted some of the sugar with brown sugar instead.

FAVE MAKEUP

For years I have slathered on Dracula, camo and skull looking paint on my boys.  NEVER has it turned out this incredibly cool.  I totally gave up but wish I could accomplish this level of work.  This is COOL!

FAVE FUR FRIEND

In ode to my grandfurbaby.  Here's to you, Hank.  Hope you get some extra lovin' on haunting day!  Nana loves ya!

FAVE YUMMO

This gem goes out to Sassy's momma.  She makes the BEST chocolate covered strawberries on the PLANET!  How cute are these, Julie?

FAVE HANGOUT

I love me some porch pics.  This one screams to me (although I could do without the cat, no offense to my cat lovin' friends).  I love the idea of the white punkins!

FAVE SCARY (OKAY, TERRIFYING!)

Seriously creepy.  CREEPY.  AHHHHH!!!

FAVE KID SNACK

I can't make lots of things but I can totally make these.  Pretzel sticks, marshmallows and white chocolate.  Sign me up!

FAVE TRADITION

My boys LOVE the weekend before Halloween, as we have traditions.  Usually it is my first official batch of chili for the year.  We carve pumpkins and drink mulled cider (no, not the Apple Pie Shots shown above!)  We usually throw on a funny Halloween movie and giggle all night long.

This year will be different.  The west coast kids are, well, on the west coast (snuggling their own little new bug!)  Little guy has 5 games this weekend.  YES, FIVE.  How in the world we can fit this in I have no idea. 

But I'll die trying!

FAVE ADVICE - SAVE THE PUMPKINS!

Did anyone else already know this?  Every year we work HOURS tirelessly on cool pumpkin carvings to watch them wither away the very next day.

We can preserve them!  WOO HOO!!

“After you scoop out and carve your pumpkin, dip it in a large container of bleach and water (use a 1 tsp:1 gal mix). The bleach will kill bacteria and help your pumpkin stay fresh longer. Once completely dry, (drain upside down), add 2 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to a quart of water. Brush this solution onto your pumpkin to keep it looking fresh for weeks.”

FAVE CAKES

Why wouldn't this be the easiest thing ever?  My little nugget absolutely LOVES his cakes... cupcakes, that is!  I wish I was with him to give him a few of these.  For breakfast, of course.

SWEET!

'

Happy Haunting next week, friends!!

Jen