Halloween At The Wynjas

Hey everybody, I have been working too long on this video... gosh I hope it works. I just heard another text from Mom. That's probably the half-time score. Sounds like the game is going great!
We had a great Halloween. The weather was AWESOME! Claire was a bit miffed this morning, when she realized she wasn't going to be a duck for Halloween. Apparently in the last two weeks she had changed her mind from cheerleader to duck, and the duck idea was sticking! Oh well, maybe next year.

Very impressive costumes Jill... perhaps you should consider it another business venture. How many moms would LOVE to have someone else sew the costume. Just an idea! {:0) I am thinking you could hook me up with a duck costume by Jill!

Hope you all enjoy the Halloween pictures as much as we enjoyed our Halloween here. By the way, Carter is intentionally NOT smiling in his pictures to make him more of a realistic Indiana Jones. HA!!

Love you all!

p.s. Carter pointed out my error... in the video it should be Boo as HERself! Sorry!

Halloween at the Japengas

View Album

Get your own

Craziness

Wow...I didn't check the blog for a while so I was entertained by the latest entries. Milo...sorry about the ticket but it did make a great blog from Jill.
Well, Hayden is finally feeling better although she screamed when we left daycare today (too much mom and dad time). So now off to a day of work (I am thankful I am not working directly with kids on this crazy day!) and then a quick trick or treating then off to the game. Macin is so excited about this day...she lists everything that she has going on and didn't even mind going to daycare today. She is wearing a Halloween shirt and Valentine tights today though but whatever works to get her out of the house is what is going to happen :)
I will try to share pictures later. If I cannot get them on I will just share my photo album through Snapfish.

Happy Halloween and Go Canes!

Em

CONFESSION

Yesterday I was in Sheldon and walked by Prairie Queen Bakery and fell prey to the delicious bakery aromas as the door opened and shut---and YES I walked in!!! All kinds of cookies, donuts, HOLLYWOOD SQUARES, etc. etc. But on the counter were orange colored popcorn balls. So all you moms fighting temptation today hold fast. I didn't!! I got back to the truck and thought I'll just eat half. And I did. Than when I came backout from
Bomgaars I ate the other half. I enjoyed every bite and it satisfied my sweet tooth. Ready to go again. I ate a
lite supper. You all know that POPCORN BALLS are one thing I just can't resist. By the way, it was a good size larger than the picture. Oh well, today is a new day! As they say confession is good for the soul. HAPPY HALLOWEEN---I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO PICTURES.

Boos and Owl Hoots from Sanborn Mom

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! We are just getting ready for the day, still early here, but wanted to share our Halloween wishes with you.

Jason - best of luck tonight! You and your team can do it! I assume your going with the whole coach costume for Halloween?!?

Jill - STAY AWAY FROM THE SWEETS!!! And light beer only!

Em - Have a great time trick or treating with the girls, would love to see pictures!

I will be sharing pictures later tonight of a cheerleader, Indiana Jones, and a VERY SCARY speech teacher! HA I love my black hair!

Happy Haunting for DRSD!

The COPS are coming, the COPS are coming!

Interesting day from Mr. Milo out in Denver, CO. He called about 11:00 to verify location for his upcoming appointment (I spend about a day and a half every week, booking all of his appointments, flights, hotels, sending letters, and writing thank yous. AND my pay, well lets just save it doesn't come in the form of a check. :-). ANYWAY....he needed confirmation on the location of his appointment. I called back about an hour later, to see if he found the location, only to be greeted with a very short, "I will call you back, I just got picked up for speeding."

1/2 hour later, I got a call and had a VERY IRRITATED husband on the other line. He was at the wrong location of his appointment and was heading to the right location. Driving on the interstate, he had the cruise set at 75mph, which WAS the speed limit at one point. However, somewhere along the road the speed limit changed to 55mph and Milo didn't quite catch that.

So he gets pulled over by "this young, rookie, probably his first ticket he has ever written, punk cop." and this is how it went down..........

"Sir did you realize that you were speeding 20 mph over the speed limit?"

"No sir, I had my cruise control set at 75mph because that was the speed indicated on the interstate."

"No sir, the speed limit changed to 55mph about 5 miles back."

So the drivers license, proof of car rental, insurance is exchanged yada, yada, yada......

THEN the cop comes back to the car with the $135 fine and a COURT DATE!

Colorado law states that if a person is caught driving 20mph or more over the speed limit, THEY MUST APPEAR IN COURT!

Milo, "Officer, I am very willingly to pay the fine imposed, however I am here on business and live in the state of Iowa."

"I realize that sir."

Milo, "Is it possible to drop the mph down to 74 so I don't have to make a special 10 hour trip to Denver?"

"I am sorry sir, THAT IS THE LAW!"

So guess when his court date is......NOVEMBER 24TH! This week is not a week conducive to booking appointments for business, hence being able to expense the trip for work. AND a black out week to use frequent flier miles d/t the Thanksgiving Holiday.

So for Milo's birthday he just might be getting a weekend getaway to Denver, CO! Compliments of Colorado LAW, actually compliments of the Japenga household budget. The last flight I booked to CO was about a month ago and it was $1000. Good thing gas has dropped! This will most definitely be the most expensive speeding ticket EVER!

So a note of caution....when traveling in Colorado, don't drive 20 mph over the speed limit!

Unless of course you would like to take another trip to Colorado within 3 weeks!

To donate funds to the Milo Japenga 'COURT DATE' fund, please call 319-294-1976 or you can send your donation to 6014 Flagstone Dr. NE. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402. ANY monetary amount WILL be accepted!

O, well, I guess if we are in the cities on November 21st for a 'football game'? We will just head back to Cedar Rapids via Denver.

Do you think it is possible to move a court date?

HEY PARTNER

GO CANES AND BEAT THE BURROS!!

HELP!

HELP!

Not to much new to report in CR! Excited for Halloween tomorrow and our 'family spooky dinner'. However, I am NOT looking forward to all that Halloween candy entering our house! HELP!

Will send pics of the girls, as we begin the hair styling process right after school so they come dressed for dinner at 5:00, then head out for parties and trick or treating at 6:00. Sounds like the weather will be great. Milo should be back from CO in time for the costume parade at school for Madison.

Milo and I are off this weekend to Story City to celebrate Brett Spykerman's 40th birthday. It is a surprise party, Meredith called a few weeks ago and apparently has a bunch of people coming for the weekend, all of which he has no clue! Should be fun! hmmmm...however birthday cake and beer?? might be a temptation partner! HELP!

Any suggestions to ward off cravings for butterfingers, snickers, and milky ways that will be entering the house in 36 hours and counting! Remember, my kids are older so they sprint from house to house, trick or treat in at least 3 different neighborhoods, race to see who can get the most candy, and it is a Friday night! HELP!

Send thoughts and hugs your way for......

Hoping Hayden is on the mend and Em has been able to catch a few winks and stay caught up with work.

Jason is ready for tomorrow...GO CANES!

Julie..you never told me you had dyslexia?

and Kevin and Milo, well we will leave them to there own ado??????????? What is there team name any way, chumby chumps, chumby champs, chumby something??

Hugs, get wells, good lucks, and stay the course wishes from CR.....

GO TEAM GREEN!

HELP!

P.S. Teammate, have you gotten my package yet?

BUSY BUSY BUSY WEEK

I hear you all have had an exceptionally busy week. I haven't had an email or phone call from Kevin updating me on Sara Palin so I know he is snowed under at work, Julie is struggling with dyslexia and kids, Em has been working at home because Hayden has been sick (up one

night), Jason was out of town for a meeting and fullup with football strategies and DC trip,Jill opened her new business and a great reveal and Milo is gone traveling. I just want you all to know I went to bed 1/2 hour early just thinking about it OH YES on top of all that Halloween!!!!

Anyway you know humor is so restorative to the soul---soooooooooo. Obviously dad's number was 10 as a running back--GO TIGERS. And I worked for General Mills in Minneapolis. No these are not are costumes for halloween. They are the real deal and yes, Jill, I really could have used a EXTREME makeover. Love Mom

Our answers

Julie's answer... Dorthea
Kevin's answer... 1990

Hope there's not any ERRRR for us!

ERRRRRRR

That WAS the question on Jason and Em's wedding day. Kind of chuckled about it.
Try again Jill. Three strikes and your out! Your t-shirt comment must have been on your mind!!! WHOOPS

THINGS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING SPOOKY!!!

Sick Day

Hi Everyone...it is a beautiful cold sunny day here. I am home with a sick Hayden. High temp and just not feeling well. She isn't messing with her ears so I am not sure what to do with her. I think there is a lot of crud going around. Jason usually stays home with sick kids but he had a meeting in Rochester today so I am trying to work and snuggle at the same time. I know she is sick when she doesn't try to attack my computer when it is in front of her :)
We got our pumpkin carved last night and good thing Macin is still into simple Jack O Lanterns because I am not a very good carver. We did make a lovely "pumpkin gut pie" in Macin's words with the insides of the pumpkin. Then we used potato head pieces and created a princess out of our other pumpkin. A great night of stickiness on the kitchen floor. I will post pictures of the masterpieces when I get a chance to put my pictures on the computer.
Well, I should get back to work...hope everyone is having a super day!

Oh yeah...Jason has three aunts. And if 2004 was your answer for when Jason and I were marriend ERRR (that is my buzzer sound) that is when Macin was born :) wasn't sure if that was the question being answered or not.

Tootles from Houston
Em

First 'Official' Reveal!

Nancy before....third in from the left. Tallest one. The woman all the way to the right in the orange was the 'hostess' and my initial impression of her was that she was a pretty 'tough cookie' to impress, however she seemed delighted with the end results and party. We will see how her 'evaluation form' comes back?


Nancy after! A pretty cool, 60 year old ROCKIN CHICK!

We had a great time, however she was so nervous when I picked her up, she was shaking! However after a good ole' cup of java and she realized I was 'OK'...she warmed up quickly and we had a wonderful day!

It appeared as if all who attended the party, thought she looked awesome! The other outfit she got...see below, was completely different! She also has 4 'other' outfits on hold that she plans to pick up tomorrow!

Time will tell, on potential future business. The janitor met us coming into the building, a small Latino man, who said, 'oooooo....Nancy, you look HOT girl, I didn't even recognize you!' I happen to ride the elevator down with him as I was leaving and in his Latino accent he said, 'so you can make my wife look like a hottie.' I said, 'absolutely'. His response...'how much does that cost and you got a business card.' So hopefully the janitor will 'call'! :-)

My family was soooo great! I got this wonderful text message from Kennedy on her way to school, wishing me luck. They had made cards for me when I got home and were so excited to hear all the details, then treated me to dinner on the town. Despite, how exhausted I am I believe the adrenaline is still flowing, as I can't quite get to sleep yet, so finishing up some office work, hoping that pretty soon my brain will shut down.

Thank goodness, my 9:00 rescheduled for tomorrow! I have a feeling the excitement of the day may catch up with me!

Julie...I will work on the initial book, to put together a lay out and also make a second one as a 'demo' book, then we can go from there. Madison said you are getting sick?? :-(

Thanks, dad for coming up with a 'rather' in genius 'invention convention' idea. Despite my significant amount of in-bread creativeness, I 'hate 4th grade invention convention'! It makes my head hurt; hence the numerous calls to family members tonight, asking the question, 'what IS your problem?'

Nice shirts, mom! Just make sure that your grammar is correct, a shirt like that with an arrow pointing down adorned on 'some one' who didn't quite 'lose it' all, may be mistaken for being ________. And I would hate for that to happen to any of my competitors.

Thanks for the email, Em!

Go Canes!

OK...who did the adorable pics of Macin and Hayden...mom??? or Em???

pretty dress, Hayden! Wonder 'who' picked it out? Must have been your 'reveal consultant'! ;-)

ZZZZZZZZ...............

Jill

AND THE WINNER IS

DEAN FREED

WOW

SUPER MODEL

Dean is shown in his new designer T-shirt in yellow with red detail promoting TEAM CASEYS. Notice the flat abs and bulging biceps and the smooth fit of this one of a kind shirt. For more info read below on how to get one free of charge.

Kudos to Em for coming up with the idea of www. t-shirts!!

Do you what a designer T-shirt just like Dean's? All you have to do is answer one question below and you will be sent one free of charge!

List your answer in the comment section.

Milo----What is Kevin Wynja's middle name? Dean

Kevin--What year were Jill and Milo married? 1990

Jason--What is Milo Japenga's middle name? Robert

Emilee--How many aunts does Jason have? THREE

Julie--What was Grandma Hillmer's middle name? Dorthea

Jill--What year were Jason and Emilee married? 2004 ? TRY AGAIN 2002

EXTRA POINT QUESTION FOR A SPECIAL PRIZE

What was Dean's high school football number OR What company did Maureen work for in Minneapolis?

I SAY HOUSTON, YOU SAY CANES!!!!

GO HOUSTON HURRICANES!!!

Okay dad, here is the plan. If you need lines painted, air in the balls, a kicker, running back, or extra manager I am ready to go. You know I will always be there for you. Do you think you have a jersey that would fit me? Love you Macin

Daddy-----------You are the number one coach in my heart and I know we are going to win Friday and beat the burros.

I am wearing my red and white dress just for you. Go Canes!!! OOOO AND XXXXX Hayden

Its Crunch Time

Too be honest this will probably be my only post this week. It is "crunch time" when it comes to preparing for the Section Finals game on Friday night. Between breaking down film, charting tendencies, and making the game plan, I am not sure I have time to think or breath, but where there is a will there is a way. The crazy thing is this only time of year only gets busier and more hectic the farther you go, but I am pretty sure I could handle that if that is the case.

As far as the diet goes, things are going well. I am going to try on some old, but actually new dress pants that were bought about two years ago, that didn't quite fit then, but I always told Emilee to keep them because someday I was going to fit into them. So we will see where we are at this weekend.

Jill I liked the Remember the Titans pictures, but I don't think Macin will be that into football, but she is definitely a daddy's girl and she things being able to go to the coaches things and help is pretty cool and she tends to give me directions on who I should give the ball to, and who should score the touchdowns. Basically my little assistant coach. Hayden hasn't fallen into the daddy trap quite yet. ;)

Otherwise that is about it. I am sure mom will keep you all updated during the game on Friday!! I am working on brewing up a top notch pregame speech for Friday, so the boys are fired up when they come out of the lockeroom!

Well better run. Football Practice to get to, film to watch, family time to take advantage of, school work to do, and a class trip to keep planning. Have a good one.

Go Freed's and Go Canes!!

Reveal Debuts!

No school today and a houseful of girls, 6 in all including my two. Sleep-overs last night and they plowed through my chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese, then hot chocolate and M&Ms. Pancakes and more hot chocolate for breakfast this morning. They were having dance offs into the wee hours of the night.

So...REVEAL debuts TOMORROW! I am sooo excited! The woman I am 'kidnapping' for the day, I am picking up at 8:00 AM. Thank YOU Milo for moving your trip this week to Wednesday to Friday. She is turning 60 tomorrow and has no clue I am coming! They have arranged to have someone work for her. This is a gift from everyone in the office.

So we venture off to this quaint coffee shop in Marion for some pastries and coffee. (don't worry partner, I will be good). It will give me some time to get to know her a bit before we start our day.

9:30 the Dress Barn is opening early for us to do some 'private shopping'. We will be looking for a professional work outfit and a holiday party outfit for their event coming up in December. After we find the perfect fit, we will do some damage at the shoe department in Von Maur, plus make sure she has all the accessories she needs to complete her look.

1:00 she has an appointment at the salon where she will get to choose from a pedicure/manicure or a cut/color. I so hope she chooses cut/color for the impact of the look. She will have her hair styled for the evening debut. I will head down to Panera to pick up her lunch, which I will then deliver on a beautiful set tray, complete with a candle, cloth napkin, and the works for her to dine on while she is getting pampered. Then to the Reveal Studio for make-up application and a wardrobe change. I wonder which outfit she will pick to debut in?

I will be delivering her back to the downtown office at 5:30 to a party of 70 awaiting her arrival. Mexican appetizers are being catered in, I will be delivering cake, drinks, and decorations today for them to set up tomorrow afternoon and also doing some pre-shopping today at the Dress Barn to pre-select some outfits.

So....we will see how this new 'business idea' debuts! It is the biggest group of Realtors in Cedar Rapids. Donations topped over $2000, so Nancy is going to have an incredible day!

My second Reveal is set for November 11th. I mailed out 50 invitations on Saturday. This one is for a lady turning 40 that day, who also is going through a lot of really tough 'life stuff' right now. Crazy thing is she goes to our church and I see her every Sunday, looking as if the life has been 'zapped' out of her and have been praying about what to say or do. Well, looks like God answered my prayer, blessing me to spend an entire day with her making her feel beautiful on the inside and out!

Well, gotta run. I am doing a Ladies Night Out at my chiropractic clinic tonight with a bunch of other vendors. Sounds like it is going to be a turn out of 100+, another great opportunity to talk about Reveal and generate some new business!

brrrrrrrrr..still chilly in CR!

A NEW WEEK

Well the wind has finally died down and it is a brisk 28 degrees in Sanborn. Plan to do a little cleaning this week and it is a billing week for us so will be busy at the office. Have a Stephens Minister meeting tomorrow night. Found the best thought for the week on the internet and wanted to share it with you.

Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be.

Everyone have a good week of healthy eating and living!!

Love Mom

Macin

I have to laugh when you shared that Macin had breakfast with the coaches, then helped get the field ready, do you think there are any similarities here to 8 year old Sheryl in Remember the Titians?

Jill

We are getting blown away in Houston today too...it was sunny and then we had snow flurries and now rain. I do believe winter is on its way. (It is supposed to be nice for Trick or Treating and football at the end of the week though).

Wiped out is how to describe the Freed house today. Macin slept half way off the rocking chair for three hours this afternoon and Hayden and I fell asleep on the couch for what was going to be a quick nap for me then Hayden to her bed but two hours later we woke up...guess we needed that. Macin was incredibly tired after the game last night, she had gone to breakfast with the coaches and helped set up the football fiend with no nap in between. She has mastered writing "Houston, Go Big Red" and is very proud to make her daddy signs.

The boys play again on Friday (yes, Halloween) so this week again will be a little nuts. Not sure we will go to very many houses for Trick or Treating before the football game. I am sure I will have a tired 4 year old again! We start our Halloween events tomorrow by having a parade at the Nursing Home and Assisted Living with a craft with residents. Then Macin has parties at school and daycare with a football game to top it all off...we have to find a minute to carve the pumpkin yet too.

Happy celebrating...hopefully the candy isn't too much of a temptation.

Em

Can you say WINDY!

This is what it looks outside at our house! Can you say WINDY today?

Congratulations on your 'new edition' to the Wynja household. PLEASE SEND PICS, and not just of the cat, but the shoes too!

Congratulations on another Hurricane WIN. oooo...that is why we have so much wind today. It is an aftermath of last night's victory!

Family returned home this afternoon around 2:30 and within minutes the house was a disaster! It is amazing! O! well 55 hours of pin dropping quiet is about as much as I could take! You can only talk to Riley so long!

Milo is currently YELLING/SCREAMING at the TV. Can you guess who is playing?

Treated Riley to a trip to the UNLEASHED dog park yesterday for an hour hike, plus add the 20 minute commute back and forth and she had quite the outing! She was plum tired last night!

Sewed from 5:00 - 11:00 last night and watched three movies.

Then up and sewed from 6:30 to 11:00 AM!

Miss Sassy Girl....very good. A-

Becoming Jane....so..so...B-

Deception...so...so...B-

Had to measure out the hem for Madison's pinafore when she got home and I am confident to say Halloween costumes are DONE! CHECK!

Kennedy is currently gluing sequins on her Cinderella shoes to make em sparkle and shine!

I bet you can't WAIT to see pics...well, you will have to wait until FRIDAY! I even got pointers this week from my hair dresser on an updo for Cinderella. You know I can't french braid, but I sure can sew a mean Halloween costume.

I only have 2 small items left on the to-do list for the weekend! Even got all the wash done and grocery shopping! I am ready to ROCK this next week!

Thanks for the package mom.....can't say I got emotional over the knick knacks and plates, however did place 'sewing girl' in my office and will wait to display the rest come my 'spring decor'. Thanks for the butterfly pin! I have a great place to tack it at the studio!

I did however get a little teary of the pictures! WOW! great! How will I ever decided?

I will be dropping the CDs in the mail this week to you partner!

Speaking of partner.....not a bad week, I will ditto your results...get it??? ;-)

Here is to another amazingly, slimming week!

Jill

P.S. I am up for a little cities shopping in the spring, however probably should get it on the calendar! Any suggestions, school system gals?

It's a girl!

Here I go away for 24 hours and when I return we have another family member. It seems that on Friday evening Carter was walking over to the neighbor's house. About the time, he reached our tree line he was headed back in a full out sprint to the house, as he was being chased by a "mysterious creature". Upon reaching the house and pounding on the back door for dad to open, it appeared that the creature was only trying to get a little attention. It was a kitten. I received all kinds of information over the phone about this little "gal". And when I pulled up to the house, sure enough there was her make-shift cat house on the front steps, all lined with a snuggly towel. This morning I was asked to stop at the grocery store and pick up some cat food. Apparently she is might be here to stay. We have decided on the name Boo, since her introduction to the family was a little frightning for some. She has quite a MEOW that can be heard very clearly from in the house. She loves all of the attention, and I guess ate a whole lot of leftover meatloaf while I was gone.

Shopping was FAB! I was on quite a time crunch, so I couldn't go to a lot of the stores, and I would love to catch the kid stores next time. Hey, any of you girls up for a trip the Cities this spring? When we are in our svelt new bodies?!? I ended up with four pairs of shoes! YIKES! And two pairs are red! LOVE RED SHOES!! It was lots of fun. I am very tired and for some reason have lost my voice completely. Go figure.

It is terribly windy here today, and we are all planning on snuggling in for the afternoon. Boo will have to snuggle on the front steps...for now.

Everyone have a GREAT and healthy week! Can you believe we are on day #15 already!! Keep it up everyone.

Hugs and purrs from DRSD!

p.s. When do the Hurricane's play again?

Go Big Red!

Thinking and routing for the Hurricanes TONIGHT!

Partner...things are shaping up for yet ANOTHER great week! Last chance work-out this afternoon, before weigh in tomorrow.

HAPPY SHOE SHOPPING. Send pics!

I knocked of the to-do list BIG time yesterday! Going to work this morning then head to the basement for sewing this afternoon!

Rainy and cold today, I think I will make it a PJ, no hair and make-up, hole up in your house day.

Sounds delightful!

Hugs and Shouts OUTS from CR.

Happy Friday

Hi Everyone...wow it is Friday night and we are sitting at home (wait, the girls and I are sitting at home, Jason is heading out to watch film). Hope everyone had a great week. I was better this week than last so hopefully it helps me out on the scales tomorrow morning.
Looks like the weather will hold out until after the football game tomorrow night, then cold and possibly snow (yuck). So with our many layers on we should be good to go for the game.
Julie I am jealous of you getting to shop in Alberville. I like that place. Check out the Children's Place Outlet for me :)
I think we will carve pumpkins this weekend. Macin must have done that in preschool because she talked about pumpkin guts in the car on her way back to daycare.
Anyways...that's all from Houston. Go Big Red (remember my phone is junk so no updates from me)

Em

Hope Claire is feeling better.

Oh...Jason claims the bid on the cookies was supposed to be a joke but he ended up with them...not sure what happened.

Good luck on Saturday Jason! We'll be cheering for you from South Dakota!

check, check, check......

Family departed for Sanborn at 4:30. check

10 second tidy in every room of the house. check

instant gratification, knowing house will stay clean until family arrives home. check

dishwasher unloaded until Sunday. check

Laughed hysterically at the Incredible Hulk. check.

Wished I was shopping for shoes with my sister all weekend. check

Applauded my partners weight loss progress. check

Processed mail and paid all of November house bills. check

finalized catering decision for the 28th. check

ordered cake for party on the 28th. check

proposal accepted for November 11th Reveal. check

started prepping, 50 invitations for November 11th Reveal. check

fed Riley. check

reheated left-over chicken pot pie for supper. check

MK phone calls. check

Watched Survivor. check

Wished I could be on Survivor. check.

took drugs. check

prepped to do list for tomorrow. check

fell asleep flipping between an old HBO movie and ER. check

snuggled with the 'guard' dog all night. check

up/peed/let Riley out to pee/showered/dressed/made coffee/watched news. check

missed family. check

made the bed and spilled last night's left-over water on decorative pillows. check

checked email and blogs. check

appreciated dad's blog entry. check

re-read mom's ?rhyming poem 3X's. check

fed Riley and Max, cleaned out Max's poop. check

coffee done. drank first 20 oz of water for the day. check

typed daily blog entry. check.

ready to start checking off today's list. check.....

SILENT AUCTION RESULTS

Glass top couch table NO SALE:{
Bugle Horn $.50 Jill
Pine Cone Wreath $5.00 Julie
Artificial Christmas Wreath $.50 Julie
Two miniature Christmas trees $2.00 Jason and Em
Workshop Stool $3.00 Jason
Miniature Christmas Ornaments NO SALE:{
Monster Cookies $2.00 Jason (My partner but he promised to eat only one!)

FAN CLUB

Love TEAM CASEYS, yes we do!

But TEAM RED knows we are all for you.

We love TEAM GREEN you make us proud.

Go CHUBBY CHAMPS we're cheering loud!!

GO FIGHT LOSE

BUT MOST OF ALL YEA FOR THE HURRICANES

SHORT AND SWEET

No smack, no trash, just plain talk

I am coming on down! RIGHT PARTNER

hee haw

There is no place like home!

Which is exactly where I am today! Stayed home with Claire once again. She has some nasty sores by her tonsils, which the dr. continues to assure me are still a result of a viral illness. She was perking up at lunch today, so I think we are definetly close to full recovery. Her and I have had a pretty enjoyable day together, and that is priceless.

I know you haven't heard much from me, and some my interpret that as "Oh, she must be having a terribly unhealthy week." Well, I am here to put that rumor to rest. I have done VERY well this week (as it sounds like my partner has as well). I don't where belts, so I can't give you a belt loop report. However, I can tell you that my "just out of the dryer jeans" weren't so snuck this week as they have been in the past.

I am so excited about this weekend. A friend of mine and I are off on a charter bus to the Albertville Outlet malls. Exciting! My goal is shoes, shoes, and shoes! I would like to say for the record, that I am hoping to find some RED shoes as a tribute to the Hurricanes!! And I will wear them all the way home, while you are playing your game! Go Canes!!

Everybody keep up the good and healthy choices, but more importantly...

GO GREEN!! GRRRRRRRRRR!

ta ta from DRSD

{;0)

SANBORN SPEAKS

OKAY, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU PARTICIPANTS IN THE SILENT AUCTION. IT WENT WELL. THE COUCH TABLE AND NUTCRACKER SOLDIER ORNAMENTS ARE STILL UP FOR GRABS. IT ALL ENDS TONIGHT AT 10:00 P.M. I WILL LET YOU KNOW THE RESULTS. MAYBE I'LL HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS IN THE FUTURE. KEEPING WATCHING THE BLOG.

I COMMEND MY PARTNER FOR YET ANOTHER NOTCH IN HIS BELT. I CAN SAY I AM NOT DOING TOO BAD MYSELF. WILL VISIT LATER JASON.

DAD WILL DEFINITELY BE BLOGGING SOON---POSSIBLY TONIGHT. I HAVE AN EXE DIRECTORS MEETING, FOLLOWED BY A BOARD MEET FOLLOWED BY AN ANNUAL MEET SO WILL SEE HOW THE TIME GOES.

HAVEN''T HEARD FROM THE PAIR OF FORMERLY CHUBBY CHAMPS TEAM. ARE YOU OUT THERE? MILO?? THOUGHT OF YOU TODAY,KEVIN--ATTACHED A LITTLE POLITICAL FUN---SINCE YOUR FROM MELVIN AND EVERYONE KNOWS MELVIN LOVES THEIR MOOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SMOOCHES FROM SANBORN MOM

Jason's Update

Well like Emilee said, I am stressed and busy to the max right now. Between keeping up with the football playoffs, teaching, coaching, my loving wife and girls, getting the class trip planned for the end of November, I am not sure which way is up and which way is down. Hopefully the football team can play well this weekend and get to the Section Finals. One game at a time, that is our motto around here. More than likely it is the just the paranoia of a head coach.

As far as the diet goes, I have been doing well. A Sub Zero Peanut Butter Cookie was staring me in the face last night, but I fought the urge and had one of of the measured out bags of little vanilla cookies that Emilee bought. I am down to the fourth belt loop, so doing well. I wished we would have started this competition about a week or so before we did, because I was losing weight before that. All in all, things are well. Well I better keep this short, lots of fires to start and put out. Hope all is well.

Anyone bidding on the step stool? I thought our girls would like that.

Have a great Thursday!! T-minus 55 hours to Section Semis Kickoff!! Can you say Nerves!!!

Jason

PS - Mom I loved that Hurricane Picture you found!

Who out Bid me?

k. who out bid me on the pine cone wreath? Julie???? Em????

Kevin?......well, ok...since you wanted it soo bad, I am glad you got it.

Nice idea mom, I liked it! Got any brown/turquoise decor things for my new studio in that e-bay store of yours?

So here I sit today with a list as long as Santa's I am sure, as he to is cramming to get all the toys ready in less than 60 days!

Wish me luck, as I have a meeting with my second Reveal hostess this afternoon and will be bringing the proposal to the table for her to approve and move forward with getting invitations out this weekend.

Had my computer looked at yesterday by one of my customer's husbands, only had 390 'little bugs' on it! Can you imagine? Any way ALL cleaned up! His thought is McAfee, Norton, and the other 'anti-virus' companies, actually create the virus in order for them to then make the clean up software, which keeps them in business. hmmmmmm...interesting thought? His opinion is all of those programs are junk.

The whole computer thing goes way over my head! He had a recommendation of a 'do it all' anti-virus program which includes, daily clean up, protection, spyware, etc.... at http://www.stopsign.com/. Says he has had it for 2 years and NOTHING, even 'little bugs' have gotten through. Says he has gotten about 80 people on stop sign with the same results.

Well, off to start crossing things off the list, checking it once and checking it twice, and of course getting my workout in and great eating!

Partner...HELP....my jeans are falling down and I can't keep them up!!!

Jill

Blessing Abound!

WOW! It has been a whirl wind of a last few months. My new business Reveal, will be kicked off this Tuesday, October 28th! I am so excited. All graphic design, business cards, brochures have been completed! Weekly mailings have started and just this week, when I was beginning to have a 'slight' panic attack over 'will this really work?', I started praying and that afternoon, got a new inquiry and now have a 2nd Reveal scheduled for November 10th! God IS good!

AND I actually know the woman who will be receiving the Reveal that day. She has been heavy on my heart the past two months d/t some major changes in her life. I have been praying asking for guidance on how I can lift her up. When seeing her it looks as if the life has been sucked out. God has blessed me with being able to spend an entire day with her, building her up to feel more beautiful on the inside and outside! WOW!

Web site development should be nearing completion by the end of November. I am excited to begin to develop the platform on which Reveal stands for in order to start promoting myself for speaking engagements and develop the coaching element of the business.

My family of brothers, sisters, mom, dad, and in-laws have started a friendly weight loss competition until Christmas. We even started a blog and now have been communicating daily with each other. Another prayer that I have been asking for building and growing those relationships. Add to that a 10 pound weigh loss and life is good!

My brother AND brother-in-law coach HS football, one in MN and the other in IA. Both teams are currently starting play off action and both are seeded very high in each state. How cool would it be to have TWO state championship coaches in a family in the same year?

I have a wonderful new accountability partner and we meet for coffee weekly and what a blessing having a close, confident in my life has been. I am blessed by her presence and encouraging words.

After a year of turmoil and struggle, remembering my frustration, anger, and confusion at this time last year, the BIGGEST lesson learned is that God gives and He takes away, all for my betterment. It is vital to WAIT, LISTEN, and WATCH for His guidance because you truly can see it transforming your life. However, painful the process may be when you don't receive an answer immediately, there are oodles of life lessons learned on the way, even on the slight detours one takes, and each and every blessing is worth the wait!

More to come in the weeks ahead!

Blessings.

Jill

Weekend Plans

k. final decision from the Japenga household regarding plans for the weekend.

1. Jill can relate to Jason's overwhelming feeling! After a reschedule of tomorrow's appointment with the new hostess of the latest Reveal Day for November 10th, last minute changes from my other hostess on catering decisions for Tuesday's event, still sewing costumes, a few more details to finish up at the Reveal Studio, and a desk piled high with to-dos, I have voted for a few days at home 'alone' to get make sure all my i's are dotted and t's are crossed heading into a BIG next week! Tuesday will be the debut of REVEAL and now the party has jumped to 70!

2. Milo and the girls (may be Riley) are heading out tomorrow around 5:30 after Madison's dance class. They are staying at Mark/Pegs. Milo has an 11:00 AM work appointment in Cherokee on Friday morning. I just heard him confirm that they are heading back to Cedar Rapids on Saturday. So keep us posted on the next play-off game following 'Saturday's win'.

Heard that if HMS continues to play 'how they should' they could be state champs in Iowa!

How cool would that be to have 2 brothers be state champion coaches in the same year!
OK....no pressure!

k....off to kick some butt and punch some bags!

Jill

Wow...a little slow

So, I was very confused (and harassed by Kevin about it :)) but didn't check the blog rather my email first. So now that I get it I hope it isn't my partner bidding on the cookies (although if they were found in the store room they may help him lose weight) Ha ha.

News from Houston HURRICANES WIN HURRICANES WIN. Sorry for no updates, my phone is junk and died after I let someone else make one phone call. Anyways let us know if anyone is coming this weekend. We are up for company and if it is cold I could give Kennedy a babysitting job during the game :) Not sure when you will hear from Jason, his words this morning were "when am I going to get all of this stuff done?" So you may not find him blogging much in the next couple weeks.

Good luck with the healthy eating and happy bidding to everyone on the items for auction.

Off to LaCrosse as bribery for Macin tonight after school. She really was thrown off by a middle of the week football game...a bit of a bear this morning.

Hugs from Houston...
Em

BIDDING REPORT

check comments for silent bids!!!

I have listed bids received!

ITEMS FOR SALE FINAL

CHECK YOUR EMAILS FOR BIDDING INFORMATION.

ITEMS FOR SALE CONTINUED

ITEMS FOR SALE

CLEANING

Good Morning to all

I have been busy--cleaning my furnace room. Whew. Anyway with that being said check your email for some great buys!!! I am cleaning and cleansing.

Yea for for the Hurricanes. Good Job. Am anxious for the next game on Saturday nite.

Went to Sioux Falls and ran some errands and had a little acupuncture.

Have a great day! Mom

P.S. I think dad will be checking in on the blog this week---keep checking! He and Em have a

little talking going on on line:)

Congratulations Hurricanes!

Congrulations Jason on your win last night!

Not much new to report, had a so-so day yesterday Didn't get my workout in and my eating was good foods, but probably too much though! Seems that when my day starts spinning out of control, so does my eating. I like my structure! hmmmmmm... wonder where I get that from?

Got rave reviews from my hubby on my hair-cut, although I don't think it looks a lot different.

Kennedy had a good conference yesterday. Working on pulling up a science and math grade, however I believe we have entered the phase of 'I have to study' for tests/quizes verses winging it. Hence we have enforced some different after-school routines with the start of 7th grade.

Great band concert last night. Kennedy is 2nd chair in the alto sax. With the darken room, I wasn't able to get a great picture. 2 1/2 hours of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade concert band and jazz band. WHEW!

I got a call yesterday to book another REVEAL day/party for November 10th! YEAH! That my change 'my' plans for the weekend. I have one next Tuesday the 28th, which I am pretty much ready for. Just have to secure the food vendors tomorrow, as today is the last day for RSVPs. The party is for 60 people and with it being my first, I want it to go off smoothly and it is with a GREAT group of relators in Cedar Rapids. Could be a great market for continued business. Pending on how today goes and if I feel like I have a handle on things, will determine if I come back to Sanborn for the weekend, might just be Milo and the girls? I am meeting with the host for this new Reveal day tomorrow and the invitations will need to get out either this weekend of Monday at the latest to help secure a great day on the 10th.

AND of course, I am STILL SEWING!

gotta run. have a 9:00!

Today is a NEW day! Kickboxing this afternoon and a day of healthy eating in MODERATION! I got to keep up with my partner! ;-)

Hugs.

Jill

GO CANES

CHEERS AND HOLLERS FROM SANBORN, IOWA


GO HOUSTON BEAT GLENVILLE EMMONS!!!!!

Let us know the outcome!!!! Love Mom

Get Well, Claire Bear!

Sending hugs and get well wishes to DRSD!

Game tonight in Houston, RIGHT?
If so, good luck and please text quarterly updates!

For all you 'younger mothers' out there, I once took some advice from a more seasoned mom of sort, which I utilized this morning when 'begging, pleading, and coaching' a kid to get ready for school just wasn't working any more! Perhaps it will come in handy someday, however will affect your work day, but soo worth it!

I did this with Kennedy once and again today with Madison and it works like a charm! The old way.....Madison get ready for school, Madison get ready for school, Madison, get ready for school!

Yet, still NO response.

So very calmly, Madison 'you are old enough to understand and know everything you need to do to get ready for school. I am turning that responsibility over to you. You need to be ready to walk out the door by 8:10. If you are not ready to leave at that time, then I will be calling the school and sharing that you were not able to get ready and leave on time, therefore you will not be present today and you will spend the entire day in your room.'

Works like a charm! Next thing I new, shoes were on, breakfast done, coat in hand and out the door she went! Perhaps she remembered the day that Kennedy stayed home!

Hard, but impactful lesson learned! Sometimes those lessons are harder on the parents than the kids, because of the ramifications!

Had a great day yesterday, however my choice for honey mustard dressing at Quiznos for my salad was a downer, after I looked up the calories and it was already in the digestive process. So had to adjust a bit at supper. But all in all a great day!

Feeling better each week at kickboxing! They have us do these things, called pyramids and I cringe when they call it out! It is a killer! You kick the bag once, then drop for a push-up, then back up and kick the bag 2x then drop for 2 push-ups and you do that all the way up to 10, sometimes 18! WHEW! Then once the right side is done, you move to the left, starting at 18 kicks, drop for 18 full sit-ups and all the way back down to 1. Used to finish at the end of the group, now I can say I am finishing towards to top of the group and getting up and down is getting easier and easier each week!

Haircut day today, Kennedy's school conference this afternoon, and band concert tonight!

Hubby in town all week! First time since August!!! YEAH!

So, mom, who is next to get kicked off 'Dancing With The Stars'?

Hugs.

Jill

Home with Claire

"Mommy... my tongue hurts!" {:0( That's what I have heard that last 24 hours. Looking at her "Freed" sized tonsils, I am assuming she means her throat. She woke up from a "not so great" night's sleep happy, and then quickly crashed. After a dose of Tylenol, followed up 2 hours later by Motrin, her tongue is feeling a little better. I am home until noon, then dad takes over the duty. Then he gets to take her in the afternoon to the dr. just to look at the ears and throat.

Not much new to report from the Wynja household. We had a fairly quiet weekend. On Saturday, Claire and I went to a Simply Said party (similar to Uppercase Living) and we got some new things for the walls. Fun! Made my third round of applesauce. Then we had family time on Sunday. Pretty simple weekend for us.

Diet ideas from me...(1) sugar free butter toffee hard candies by Lifesavers. They are my "lifesaver" at work, whenever I need something sweet. LOVE THEM! (2) Hot tea in the morning and at night. Fills you up! (3) Almonds, us too, we like the smokehouse or jalepeno kind. yummo!

One more plug for popcorn sales. Carter (my "Scubby Cout" as Claire calls him) will finish up his sales late this week. He and I are off to a Flag Raising Ceremony tonight, after we are done with swimming lessons. Mondays are busy.

Gotta go, Claire is thinking she is up for applesauce. We'll see, the first two times she has tried this morning only reminded her how much her "tongue" hurt.

Everyone has a SUPER week! Keep on track for week 2!

Love from DRSD!
Julie

The Biggest Loser of the Week!

A BIG SHOUT OUT GOES TO MY TEAM MATE TODAY!

For her incredible week last week, hence amazing RESULTS!

Here is to another healthy, caloric

burning, moving and shaking week!

Can you say, 'Biggest Loser'?

Sorry, you will have to wait to hear more details at Christmas!
The competition is not talking!

Here are some snack ideas from the Japenga household!

Rice cakes, Carmel corn. So close to a Carmel corn, you can hardly tell the difference.

Almonds! Thanks Em/Jason. LOVE them!

Boston Cream Pie yogurt. YUM!

Sugar Free, chocolate pudding with fat free whipped topping! SWISS MISS makes the best!

It is just what I need after supper to tame that need for a little, 'something, something'.

10 animal crackers dipped in Key Lime Pie yogurt, you would think you are eating key lime pie! Or if you like lemon, try lemon chiffon yogurt.

Had a great weekend! Finished painting the studio and found the perfect, vintage looking, real wood, used dresser at a consignment store! ONLY $60! Painted it chocolate brown, spray painted the ornate looking knobs a textured gold and TATAAAA! I love it!

Still sewing! My goal if completion of all costumes by Thursday at 5:30!

Watched a few movies. We DO NOT recommend 'The Happening' or '88 minutes'! Both were given a C- to D+ in the Japenga household.

Had a bon fire! Roasted coconut marshmallows. Would also give them a C rating as well. I want to try chocolate marshmallows next!

Harvested 12 pumpkins from my garden! YEAH. That was about all the deer didn't EAT!

The typical weekend of sleep-overs, birthday parties, and playing with friends for the girls.

Hope you all had a great weekend. I believe we just past the peak of the leave colors. Rainy and cool today in CR.

Game day on Tuesday, RIGHT? What time is the game on Saturday? We are debating driving over from Sanborn, however we will have Riley? We thought we would bring the tent and camp out in your back-yard, Em? Or we may drive home after the game, pending the time.

Let us know!

oops! Monday wash loads need to be changed!

Hugs from CR.

Jill

P.S. I noticed a post still in the draft mode. Don't forget to hit 'publish post' when you are done. You can see/edit posts if you click on the 'edit post' tab, then click to publish it.