Project 365

I am starting a project for 2009 called "project 365" I have it on a seperate blog as to not clog this one up. Check it out here 365 Bits and Pieces I hope you enjoy!

One crazy Christmas

Monday night Dec 22nd Shaun and I hopped in the car and headed towards Traverse City for another crazy Christmas! Here are the events that we attended and a few highlights. Enjoy :)

On Tuesday night Shaun and I went over to Aunt Lynda and Randy's to visit with Aunt Dawn and Jon who were visiting from Columbus. They brought 2 of their "kids" with them, Nero and Joey, They were so cute!! Heather and Andy showed up and it was great catching up with everyone.

The sisters (Lynda, Dawn, Vicki(my Mom) ) Christmas Eve day we trekked through the FEET of snow to head to Shaun's Grandmas for Christmas with them. Brad and Terri drove up from Grand Rapids and it was nice to catch up with them. Brad even cooked a wonderful lunch. Thanks Brad!!!!

It was SO snowy the whole time we were there so we had Brad snap this shot of us out front. Once of my favorite pictures of our trip! Also a shot of looking down the driveway.I am throwing in this picture because crazy as it is these are old Metra trains from here in Chicago and they are in Grawn, Michigan (Traverse City) Every time we go home there are more cars added. We looked into it a bit and it seems they are being stored there because they were being damaged at the old storage location. Not sure what they plan on doing with them.

After Christmas with Shaun's family we headed to my Grandma and Grandpa Raney's for a night of complete chaos. There were 27 people there!!!! Let me tell you that is a LOT! We had a great time though. David read the traditional "Night Before Christmas" and he put a great spin on it. I think it was the most I have enjoyed the reading of that book in a long time!

This is the first time we have ever gotten a picture of only/all of the cousins/grand kids. I am happy that we finally did this! Top row L-R David, Adam, me(Jen), Andy, Ryan. Bottom row L-R Makenzi, Drew, Matthew, Cassidy After that event we headed back out into the snowy tundra to head to my Grandpa Elliott's. We did our silly gift exchange and had a great time like always. Samm and Rick showed up with the kids so it was nice to see them again. This is the time when Shaun and I started drinking LOLYou should see all the "out takes" it took to get this one great shot of me and my brother!! Ugh!Finally Christmas Eve ended at my Dad's for the traditional drink fest. Di and I were enjoying some mighty tasty Cosmos and Shaun and Dad were enjoying some Vodka 7up.

I gave DA and Alyssa an early Christmas present for the baby that is due in this summer. I am so excited to be an Aunt again!!!

Di and I enjoying our Cosmos a bit to much LOLMe Dancing with my Daddy Uncle Brooks and I bowling on the WiiChristmas Morning finally came and along with a horrible Cosmo hangover we all got some great gifts. My favorite Christmas morning was my Nintendo DS. HOW FUN!!Krystal and Kayla joined us for brunch and presents. It is always nice to see them when we go home.I just love this one of my Brother and Alyssa. If you know them you know this is the perfect picture LOLDad and Di after the gift opening

Shaun and I after all the presents

Christmas was great this year just VERY VERY busy!! It was wonderful seeing so much family in such a short amount of time (about 72 hours from when we left Chicago to when we got back) The only thing missing was Skyy but she was spending time in Colorado with her Mom. I really wish she would have been with us but she needed to see her Mom. I did get to talk to her Christmas Eve so that was nice. Our ride home was great with clear roads and almost no traffic. Traveling on Christmas day ended up being a good thing!

Do you know your lyrics???

I am copying this from my friend Stephanie over on LM. You can find her list here finding my way This is defiantly going to show I have a wide variety of music on my iPhone!! Have fun figuring them out and even if you only know one make sure to post your answer in the comments :)

Here are the rules:

Step 1: Put your music player on shuffle.

Step 2: Post the first line, or 2 :) (unless the first line reveals the song title) from the first 25 songs that play.

Step 3: Strike through the songs when someone guesses both artist and song title correctly.


1. Who is this irresistible creature, who has an insatiable lust for the dead? "Living Dead Girl" Rob Zombie (Shaun)

2. "now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project!" Popular from Wicked (Stephanie)

3. Take the light, and darken everything around me call the clouds and listen closely, I'm lost without you

4. I feel no shame I'm proud of where I came from

5. Don't you know I can see what you're doing, Runnin' around with your cheap talk, cheap talk

6. Get up! Get up! Like This, just like this. Do you wanna catch the vibe that's keepin' me alive?

7. I see your dirty face, High behind your collar

8. Right before my very eyes, I thought that you were only fakin' it

9. Looking back at the beginning of this, And how life was

10. You're not shy, you get around, You wanna fly, don't want your feet on the ground

11. It's easier not to be wise and measure these things by your brains. "I alone" by Live (Tini)

12. I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone "Dust in the Wind" Kansas (Tini)

13. Yeah he's a looker,but I really think it's guts that matter most.

14. if there were no words no way to speak "Valentine" Martina McBride (Danette)

15. You think that we connect, That the chemistry's correct "Spiderwebs" No Doubt (Danette)

16. Sometimes the snow comes down in June, sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon "Save the best for Last" Vanessa Williams (Stephanie)

17. The movie ran through me, The glamour subdue me

18. just as i thought it was going alright, I find out I'm wrong, when i thought i was right "That's all" Genisis (Tini)

19. Sometimes I feel I've got to Run away "Tainted Love" Softcell (Tini)

20. I changed my color for you, I shed my coat with caution

21. Come with me stay the night you say the words but boy it don't feel right "Too little Too Late" JoJo (Danette)

22. Big wheels keep on turning Carry me home to see my kin "Sweet Home Alabama" Lynard Skynard (Stephanie)

23. Dear, I fear we're facing a problem You love me no longer, I know "Love Fool" Cardigans (Tini)

24. Look at the stars, Look how they shine for you, "Yellow" Coldplay (Tini)

25. So, so you think you can tell Heaven from hell, blue skies from pain, "Wish you were Here" Pink Floyd (Tini)

Let the training begin

I recently decided that I want to run a 5K this summer. I have found a program that I downloaded into my i-phone that will assist me. It is a 40 minute session 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The more weeks that go by the more running less walking. I started the first week today. It felt pretty good to be running. I am sure to most standards it may not be running because it surly is not fast but for me it is running and it feels fast LOL. I will keep you all updated :)

Big day for me!!

Today I am proud to announce that I have been smoke free for 100 days!!! I am so proud of myself!! It has not been easy but it does get easier every day. I have had great support from family and friends and I want to Thank them for that!

To celebrate Shaun and I are going to the Bears game tonight. It is one of his Christmas gifts. It is going to be COLD but it will be fun so I am excited to go.

Thanksgiving in Michigan

One week ago today Shaun and I came home from a long weekend in Traverse City. We had a great time seeing family and friends and eating some great food!!! We had T-giving dinner first with Shaun's family and then several hours later at my Dad's. After dinner #2 we went to my G&G Raneys to visit with that side of the family. I can not believe how much we fit in that day. We also had Christmas with Skyy because she will be in Colorado with her Mom over the Holidays. She really enjoyed everything we got her and played with her new baby ALL weekend! Black Friday Di, Kayla and I got up way to early and hit the stores and found some great deals. It was a lot of fun hanging out with them that morning. One last fun thing I did was a Gingerbread house with Skyy and Alyssa. This was my first time and it was messy but a lot of fun. I think Skyy really enjoyed it as well. Skyy was with us almost the whole weekend and it was wonderful. She is so smart and so good when I watch her. She did say one thing that completely took me by surprise. We were in the car on the way to My Grandparents and out of nowhere she says "Aunt Jen, I get sad and depressed sometimes but never when I am with you because you make me so happy" How cute is that! This coming from a 4 year old!! I really wish I could see her more than I do. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Me, Mom, Aunt Lynda

My absolute favorite dish. The noodles my Grandpa and Uncle Brooks make. YUMMY!!!Skyy and I with the Gingerbread houseSkyy and her new Baby.Shaun and I

Crop of a Lifetime!

2 weeks ago I met with 70 of my closest friends at the Double Tree hotel in Novi Michigan for a fun filled girls only weekend. Nothing better than catching up with old friends and meeting new all while you are scrapbooking. I was able to get about 12 pages done and that is pretty good for me :) Here is a group picture of all of us. I can't wait until next year!!!

My "W Bus" girls! You all ROCK! Love ya!!!It's all about Jen :) There were 6 of us there!

Obama Rally

Tuesday night after I got out of work Shaun and I headed downtown for the Obama Rally. It was absolutely AMAZING!!! When he was announced the winner the roar from the crowd was deafening and just, WOW!! There were over 200,000 people in Grant Park and the surrounding area and it was peaceful in the meaning that there was no fighting or crowd problems. Very different from what I experienced on July 3rd when we were down there for the fireworks. Obama's speech was everything that it needed to be and so much more. I am so happy that I was there for this event that was history in the making! Here are a couple shots that turned out OK.

Remembering Susan

One week ago I got the sad phone call from Christina that our beloved Susan had passed away. Sunday night, November 2nd she had a heart attack and died with her husband at her side. Susan was one of the most amazing women I have ever met. When I moved to Chicago she helped me in so many ways and I will forever be thankful. She was only 34 years old when she died but she lived those few to many years to the fullest. She married a wonderful man named Chris and they have the most amazing little boy named Evan who is just as spunky and fun as his Mom. I will be sad for a very long time with the loss of my dear friend but Susan would want me to move on and remember the fun times I had with her so I will do my best to do that! I love you Susan and I miss you terribly!!!


Christinas Wedding, December 2006

Taste of Chicago, June 2008 with Evan

Love this girl!!!

Skyy calls me tonight and tells me to get on myspace and look at Alyssa's pictures on her page. I get on there and this is what I find.

I am always looking for new pictures on there so they knew that I would see this. I love this girl so darn much and I wish I could hug her tight every day!!!

The little Fairy

Skyy made the cutest Fairy that I have ever seen! I really wish that I would have been there to get these photos myself but I am super lucky that Alyssa likes to take pictures too. Thanks Alyssa!

Don't forget to

Happy Halloween!!

I am of course slacking on my blog again and to those of you that read I apologize!!

Tomorrow is Halloween. For the most part it is just another day for me. I have to work until 5 and then I plan to go to the gym. After that I don't think Shaun and I have any plans. Maybe we will just get on the train, head downtown and have some fun on our own. I guess time will tell.

2 weeks ago Shaun and I went home for my 10 year High School reunion and while we are there we took Skyy to the pumpkin patch. This has been something I have done every year with her and I am happy that I was able to do it again this year. Here are a few pictures that I got. Enjoy and I will make sure I post again soon!

Where I should be.

If life had not happened I would be sitting on a beach in Mexico drinking something fruity right now. Shaun and I were planning on going with my Aunt Dawn, Uncle Jon and my Mom. When I got pregnant I cancelled our trip. Unfortunately when I lost the baby we did not have the money to get the deposit right away so here we sit in Chicago instead of Mexico :( It all happened for a reason but I can still want to be there. Right?

The good think is my Mom is coming for the week. She will get here Monday night and then will ride back to Traverse City with us when we go up there on Friday. My 10 year HS Reunion is the 18th so we are making the trip for that. We will also be taking Skyy to the pumpkin patch so be on the lookout for those pics when I get back.

My time at the Gym

So I joined a gym at the end of August. I had been talking about it for months and decided that it was time. I walked down to Ballys after work one Thursday (only half block from work) and walked out with a membership card. I have worked so hard to get where I am after my surgery and I am ready to make it even better! Right now I have a personal Trainer named Albert and he is amazing! He pushes me so hard and has confidence that I can do what he tells me. Good grief, last week he had me doing sprints!!! Never in a million years thought I would be doing sprints ever again, but I did! I have 4 more sessions with him and I am hoping to continue to work with him if we can afford it. Other than my one work out with him a week I have been going in 4 other days and doing my cardio on the elliptical machine and doing some weights. I actually look forward to going to the gym. That is something I never thought would come out of my mouth. So here is a picture of Albert and I! I can not thank him enough for helping me get on track with my life!

CUBS CLINCH!!!!

How Awesome is this for Chicago Cubs fans! 2 years in a row now the cubs have made the playoffs. The last time it happened 2 years in a row was in 1907,1908 when they ended up winning the series in 1908. It has been 100 years and it is OUR time!!! GO CUBS GO!!!

Saturday night (9/20) Shaun, David and I went down to Wrigleyville to party a bit with the fans. It was like 7 hours after the game ended and there were still hundreds and hundreds of people out partying! I love this city! We went into Bar Louie and had some drinks and a great time!


Dave and I
Shaun and I on the ride home. We were a little drunk :)