Refueling and Reenergize

I can't believe it is Sunday already! Our first week of 'FAMILY CHORES' was a success. In part to it being the FIRST week of implementation. I am sure that had something to do with it. Ask me in a month to see how it is going will be TRUE test of success!

Friday was housecleaning day and it turned out WONDERFUL! We agreed that it didn't matter when on Friday you completed your assigned task, as long as it was done before entertaining guests or heading to a friends house. By the time I got home at 2:30 it was RELAXING knowing that I had my 'little' area of the world to clean and was done with it in an hour.

Madison and I enjoyed a 'date night' on Friday. I had received two free tickets to Broadway Maybies, an adult talent show of sort. We gave it a C+ rating, but the highlight of the night was walking out of the performance to see the CUTEST 10 week old Shih poo. I so want one!! Seriously. My family has been on me about getting another dog. Of course I have been adamantly refusing, but I could handle a little ball of fur, lap dog to snuggle with nightly. NOTE for Jill's 40th birthday gift, August 15th!

Saturday was filled with 2 facials, a color clinic, office work, and a workout. Then after cheesy enchiladas and cake to off-set the workout, we settled in to watch this crazy Sci-fi movie on TV about the magnetic polarization switching, moving, something. It was boring enough for me, that I took advantage of slipping into lala land while snuggled under my quilt and listening to the winter snow storm dropping 6 inches of snow on us.

Everyone on facebook this morning was complaining about the snow. Come ON! We live in the Midwest, its IS March, and weren't we all expecting one last blast of ole, man winter before spring officially arrives? In the winter we complain about the cold/snow. In the summer we complain about the heat/humidity. Are we NEVER happy?

I am in the planning stages of putting together a GREAT anniversary surprise for my hubby. Of course I can't share because I do believe on-occasion he reads my blog.

So what is up for the week? I have got to do my woman blog post!

Church today, a few loads of laundry, groceries, and then settling into scrapbook the rest of the day away! BTW after last Sunday's grocery shopping experience I believe I will be stopping at home after church to eat before heading out. Plus I will probably need my winter boots! Good thing I had yet to change over our coat closet.

This week. hmmmmm...I am so excited, we switched back to the MAC! I just couldn't bear the treadmill, elliptical, and bike options at our 24 hour fitness place. So we agreed to splurge for an extra $13/month and go back to the MAC! Hot tub, swimming pool, sauna, and GROUP CLASSES! I have my whole week mapped out! Muscle Works, Cycling, Pilates, Aqua, and Synergy class! I am sooo excited!

Mom and Dad, and sister Jennifer are stopping in on Tuesday night for a bed and some supper after doctor appointments in Iowa City. I have a GREAT meal planned, with dessert! My NEW avenue of income kicks in this week to pay for my anniversary surprise, plus a few other surprises up my sleeve for the remained of 2009! Work, phone calls, a few facials, track and dance practice, Dancing With The Stars, and America's Next Top Model will round out the week. O! yeah...anticipating out 6 inches of snow to be gone by next Saturday....SPRING WINDOW CLEANING! Milo heads into to doctor on Thursday for his back. The alternative treatment he was doing, has not been working, so I anticipate a surgery in our near future.

But first...I must rest! It is Sunday and I definitely need to refuel and re energize for the week ahead!
toodles!

Super Sitter!

Madison successfully completed the babysitting course today at the Marion Fire Department. It was the highlight of her week. She was eagerly up by 8:00 AM on her spring break and was in class until 1:00 PM. She is a certified SUPER SITTER!

She got home around 1:15. I got home around 2:15. She has already completed her flier and was ready to distribute them in the neighborhood.

I must say, I was QUITE impressed with her writing. No HELP from mom or dad on this one!

Name: Madison Japenga
Age: 10
Phone: XXX-XXXX
Address: XXXXXXX

I have taken and completed the baby-sitting class.
I love children and will watch any age group.

I feel VERY comfortable watching little babies and I also, love watching kids in the preschool age. My pay is $5.00 for 2 kids, $6.00 for 3 kids and $7.00 for 4 kids per hour. I can watch any age group. I will watch up to 3-4 kids at a time.

I’m very responsible and I know how to change diapers and burp babies. I am also very good with preschoolers I love to play with them.

If we make a mess we have to clean it up. I take this job VERY seriously.

I know whenever you are watching a child never have friends over, never talk on the phone.

I hope I have told you enough to say “Hey she sounds like a GREAT baby-sitter I am going to call!!”

Thank you for taking the time to read this note!

hmmmm...do you think she got her sales skills from her mom or her dad? AND you can bet they have ALREADY been distributed through out the neighborhood!

If you EVER need a SUPER SITTER....please call!

Things that make you go hmmmmm......

Claire is now insisting on calling our cat "Boob". When asked to just call him Boo, her response is, "No mom!! I want to call him Boob!" So now around the house we hear, "Hear Boobie, hear Boobie. Nice Boob! I like Boob." Takes after her dad I guess!

Thought everyone may want a Wednesday evening laugh!! {:0)

♥ya
julie

The Replacement

The alarm goes off at 6:00 AM. Riley come along side of the bed to nudge me into the land of the living. I have always taken that nudge to mean either pet me or let me out to perform my morning duties. I sluggishly make my way downstairs to make the coffee. Riley goes out. I head into the office for a few hours of work, Riley heads back upstairs. An hour later or so as I head up to hit the shower, this is what I always find.

The Replacement

So I have come to believe that the morning nudge isn't just

pet me or let me outside, but rather.

Get up, so I can Get In

Stinky Litter Box?

I got home today and found this in my email.

Japenga News Letter By:
Madison Japenga

Question from Stinky:
How do I keep the litter box from not smelling?

Dear Stinky,
You could stop making so much poops and then it won't smell as bad.
Love - Madison

Upcoming Events:

Madison Is taking the baby sitting class on Thursday, March 26th.
Kennedy started track for this year.

Mystery Person (Answer at the bottom)

Fav. Food: Steak

Fav. Show: Suite Life on Deck

Fav. Sport: Swimming

Agusting to Chores. Recenty In the Japenga house hold Madison And Kennedy Got chores. The chores have been going pretty good at least for now.

Madison’s Chores for this week.

Feed Riley

Wash Basement BR x2

Clean my room (vacumn and dust)

Clean Up Kitchen duty P.M.

Kennedy's Chores for this week.

Clean up kitchen Duty

Wash Her BR & Bathroom & Toy room

Do her wash and wash towels from BR

We switch On and Of for some of them.

And The Mystery person Is…..MADISON!!!

A future blogger in the making I believe!

Spring Break.

Spring Break is here! No morning routines, after-school homework, back packs, and school schedules! I am completely excited! Instead we replace it with sleep-overs, movies & popcorn, a 'Super Sitter' class, and sleeping in, at least for the girls that is!

I got through as much work as I could by 11:00 AM on Saturday, then re-organized and re-prioritized things in order to hit the ground running today. I am renewed, revitalized, and ready to take on the week.

Kennedy and I had a wonderful day spring shopping on Saturday. We hit Platos closet, TJ Max, and Aeropastle for a total of 4 shorts, 8 shirts and 6 pair of socks, all for $120! YES, you heard right! I love shopping for deals and most of the time can find them! Of course in our shopping allowance was lunch and a stop for coffee! We came home tuckered out and proud to say we were only $1.34 over budget!

Both girls kicked off their spring break with sleep-overs Saturday and Sunday nights. We have an extra 4 this morning that will be raiding the pantry at some point, I am sure.

Mr. Milo and I watched 'Fireproof' on Saturday night. A friend loaned it out and of course had hyped it up. It was good, however I was a bit disappointed. One of those times when I allowed my high expectation to disappoint me. Still had a great message! PLUS my coffee was made and poured for me on Sunday morning, while I was getting ready. Watch the movie and you will get it!

Mr. Milo did some spring cleaning of the garage, got all the patio stuff out, and started assembling our outdoor living space for the season! Man does the garage look GREAT! All that salt and sand gone! I bet I will notice a HUGE difference this week, when cleaning the floors!

Kennedy and I participated in a drama at church on Sunday, playing ourselves. It was quite moving. Even Milo got a tear in his eye! We are currently in the middle of a capital campaign, raising money for a new building edition. Sunday's the focus was looking at our heritage. A cool video was shown and a spread you WOULD NOT believe of Swedish treats. Being 1/2 Swedish, many I recognized, like Almond Pastry, Kringles, and Lefse!

Sunday afternoon I was treated to ONLY 2 loads of WASH due to our NEW HOUSEHOLD CHORE plan. Today is the day it kicks off! Perfect timing with spring break, to ease them in!

The rest of Sunday was RELAXING. I did some channel surfing while I crocheted the afternoon away.

Madison and I scored some groceries after church.

Good Story here. We headed out following 11:00 service which was the first mistake! We didn't stop at home for lunch and decided we could survive on our Swedish delights. By 1:30, we are STARVING! Luckily hunger pains did not hit us until the end, the produce section. We checked out and of course our check out lane was RIGHT by Subway. I looked at her and she looked at me thinking the exact same thing! HOWEVER...that would have been the OLD Madison and Mom. The NEW Madison and Mom are in agreement with our FAMILY PLAN, of NOT spending extra money. Eating lunch out would have been consider a violation, because it was not budgeted!

So we avoided the Subway temptation, however deep inside my hunger was CRYING out for a Sub club, Sunchips, and a cherry/diet coke combination! Remember I am working with a 10 year old, who by no means is helping me at this point regarding caving into our hunger need!

We drive past Arbys, Starbucks, Egg Roll House, and ANOTHER Subway talking about how good curly fries, cafe mochas, and chicken fried rice sounded! Just then, my current #1 song comes on, Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin.

I looked to Madison and said, 'Let's belt this one out for the rest of the way home and see if our hunger pains go away.'

With a raise of the eyebrow and a slight look of confusion, she asked, 'WHY?'

GREAT teaching moment! Well, because we don't need always need food to fill our hunger, so let's try Jesus!

Still with trepidation, she claimed she didn't know this song. Then ever so slowly I saw her mouth starting to move, a smile across her face, then a soft tune, and by the time we pulled into the drive way we were singing so loud you couldn't tell if it was us or the radio! I was not feeling any pains at that point.

I looked at her and said, 'Are you still hungry?'

She replied with a smile, 'Only kind of.' Then she jumped out of the van and ran into the house to warm up last nights supper.

About 20 minutes later, as I finished un-packing groceries I could hear coming from upstairs ever so faintly, 'Jesus Messiah, Name Above All Name. Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel.'

For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we're no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God. Romans 7: 3- 5

The Goal

Is this NOT the cutest, classiest, BEST

hand bag you have EVER seen?

$6000 in make-up and skin care sales by June 15th.

That IS the goal!

Then Mr. UPS man will be showing up around June 25th, to drop off my well earned prize for the quarter.

I love the UPS man!

In just a few short days, he will be bringing me a bit smaller, but just as cute, silver hand bag to introduce into my spring wardrobe. That bag only needed $3600 in sales in order to arrive at my door step. OK.. What was I complaining about last night? With delegation of household chores,
what could possibly hold me back?

See what a good night's sleep can do for a girl?

Gets her all excited and fired up, ready to tackle the day!

Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring.........

Afterall, can a girl really have TOO many cute handbags?

The Plan

ok, ok, ok....the woman post is coming. I am still gearing up and the writing mode has to strike! Thoughts are rolling, but nothing is officially formulated. Hopefully before the weekend passes. Is it really the weekend ALREADY? Just yesterday, my sister posted on face book, 'I can't believe it is 5:20 on Sunday. Monday is almost here!'

Seriously. I swear, I was just sitting here a few minutes ago and it was Sunday. Now it is Friday and before I know it, Sunday will be HERE! I feel like shouting.........

S...L...O...W D...O...W...N!

YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST!

Well, I am not over my head any more with office work, phone calls, and Reveal marketing efforts. Just up to my knees! I am beginning to wonder about this spending 20 hours/week working for some one else, stuff? It seems to be taking up quite a bit of time! Enjoyable, YES. but also time consuming! I think that is why I seem to turn around and it is Sunday, then Friday, then Sunday, then Friday.

So my hope was to be out from under all of the work obligations by 9:00 PM tonight (Friday). However, that did not happen. I am going to just be happy with what did get accomplished and call it a day! My brain is officially beginning shut down mode. I PROMISE to rise and shine tomorrow to conquer the remainder of what is left, but then you know there will always another day and a new week right around the corner! After all, am I really going to FIRE myself?

The BIGGEST accomplishment of the day WAS our FAMILY MEETING!

A family meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM on Friday, March 20th, 2009. Topic of discussion was.....HOUSEHOLD CHORES! You see, psycho, crazy mom came out late last Saturday night when the house needed to be cleaned, the wash done, and groceries purchased. Psycho mom really hates to come out to play, but when provoked she can MAKE quite an entrance. She hollers, shouts orders, and stomps around. She feels like SHE is doing EVERYTHING and not one, no not one person including Riley even CARES! Once she has reared her ugly head, she always regrets ever having come for a visit in the first place.

Later she retreats, apologizes, and feels bad for allowing the tedious things in life get the best of her. Often times it is the fast turn around of the days that has her head spinning so fast, it triggers the attack. So a plan was launched this week. Meticulously crafted, highly detailed, and masterfully designed; it IS the plan of all plans.

At 4:00 PM after the meeting was called to order, THE PLAN was presented. Now ANY good sales person would know that in order for the PLAN to be accepted and executed in its highest capacity, it MUST first have BUY IN!

So before anything was presented questions were asked, feelings shared, and opinions sought. After a lengthy discussion and all factors considered the plan was presented, then modified and adapted so that EVERYONE stamped their mark of ownership!

Ownership = Execution = Success

The MASTER plan was then typed and printed on a beautiful calendar, detailing EVERYONES assigned task and on what days.

And now..... we WAIT!

In the mean time, I can enjoy the feeling of some weight lifted off of my shoulders. The hope that my days will lessen in intensity and that psycho mom made a one way trip to the crematorium, never to return again! It was a smoky, but peaceful end to her demise!

Now my eyes can handle no more, my fingers are lagging behind what my brain is trying to convince them to do and my bed is calling ever so quietly....I am ready for you.......

Tomorrow brings a day hanging with my 13 year old! We are going to enjoy a nice lunch together, an afternoon of spring season shopping, and practicing for a skit we are starring in TOGETHER at church on Sunday.

I can't wait! And....SHHHH...please don't wake me in the morning, I am sleeping in!

That's The PLAN!

Super background...

Hi All,
Nice job on the background...I am very impressed.
I just got back to town this evening from three days in the Twin Cities for work. Due to not so good planning, Jason is out of town this weekend for the Coaches Retreat so the girls had a sitter until I got home. I was greeted with "HI [scream]" from Hayden and "I wanted to go see Jack [neighbor]" from Macin. I guess 50 % isn't too bad :) We had face to face teacher meetings so that is always nice since we just communicate through technology day to day. We accomplish a lot and get close to one another being in a hotel (this one with very bad wireless connection so our computers stayed in their bags). If anyone needs a hotel in the Northern Metro I recommend the Best Western of White Bear Lake (if you don't need internet) HUGE flat screen televisions in each room and a million pillows on your bed...who knew?
The spring chaos has begun for me. Trying to tie up my grad class and I have to travel for three days in April for darn state testing (I am not a fan of this form of cruel and unusual punishment and I think that the lawmakers should be mandatory proctors for these nasty days!!)
The girls are doing well. Macin got a KO on the Wii in boxing against me tonight so she is big stuff. I love the Wii Fit and so does she. This week she was a helper in preschool AND her daddy brought her to school, couldn't get any better for a four year old. Hayden is saying more words that come out sounding like real words. Hayden has officially hit the "I am going to drive my sister nuts" stage of life. Right now Macin is playing defense against Hayden who I am pretty sure may form tackle her...can you tell their dad has been playing with them the last three days :)
Have a wonderful weekend...the weather is supposed to be pretty nice here and I hope it is in your areas as well.
~~Emilee, Macin, and Hayden

Survey

I am asking the thought provoking question today....

What does it mean to be a true woman?

Please leave your comment below. No right or wrong answers, I am just collecting thoughts.

I Like IT!

WOW! I am impressed. GREAT looking Blog! I LOVE IT! Glad to hear from Lil Bro! It has been awhile. As you know, you can always go to http://www.findingabalancedlife.blogspot.com/ for the lastest, somewhat daily Japenga family update.

I'll leave my phatfamily posts to responses only!

Enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather???

Just got done spending exactly 1 hour in the car picking up and dropping off kids and can you believe I probably drove LESS than 15 miles!

That is when ipod solitaire come in handy!

Gotta run, I have exactly 1 hour and 20 minutes to make supper, shower, unpack and process a product order, make about 4 phone calls to customers, and clean up supper dishes before America's Next Top Model and my crocheting project. It is my treat for putting in a 12 hour day yesterday with another one on the docket for tomorrow. I still have a pile of office work that keeps getting higher and higher. This workin for another person, hmmmmmm....takes a BIT TOO much time!

Jill

New look

Okay...I spent way too much time on trying to update our blog. Not because you hadn't done a wonderful job Jill...only because I thought a new look would be fun. So I tried to figure our all the ins and outs of designing a cute blog. Hey...it was my first try, I don't think its too bad. Plus if you will notice at the top, Carter and I came up with an additional title to our blog. The Frepenja's! It's amazing what two brains can come up with, I know! {:0) Feel free to change as needed.

Also added the kids pictures to the blog from this fall. Afterall, they are much of the subjects of discussions and updates on our family blog.

Happy Spring Everyone!!!

♥the wynjas

UP NORTH

HEY EVERYONE

WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!

YES I REALLY WISH YOU WERE HERE:)

LOVE YA MOM

Jason's Long Awaited Up Date

Well since I am not on facebook and keeping up with the rest of the techno world, I will continue to try and blog from time to time. Nothing against facebook, but I just don't see myself doing that. Not the type of person I am. That is probably why I don't text message, instant message, or anything like that. Also a reason why I often times leave my cell phone at home. Call me old aged I guess.

In terms of me, not alot is new. Busy with school, started track last week so that is keeping me busy now after school. Trying to stay on the diet train, some days easy and some days not. This weekend we have our annual coaches retreat for football, so I am sure that won't be good. Beer, Poker, usually alot of protein on the grill. Sounds like some running will be in my future for next week. Emilee is up in the cities until Friday evening for her job, so it is the girls and I the rest of the work week. I am sure we will just hang out at home and play. We got a Wii last weekend, so Macin has been challenging me to bowling and tennis. I need to try out the Wii Fit as well. Em said it is pretty cool. Keeping up with my grad school as well. After this summer, I will be on the downward slide. Otherwise that is about it. Pretty sure I got out ice fishing for the last time last weekend, beautiful day to be on the ice. 55 and sunny. I fished in my sweatshirt and bibs, and had some decent luck as well. Otherwise that is about it I guess. I will have to start prepping for another football clinic in April. I am going to Fargo to speak, and then in April I actually get to go to one and just relax, which is the weekend Em and I will be able to relax together and also go to the Coach of the Year Banquet.

So that is my update. Hope all is well.

Talk to you all soon.
Jason

Plum Tuckered..

OUT! This is ME, in my GREEN dress for St. Patricks Day and my battery just fell OUT!

What a day! It began at the crack of dawn. 6:00 AM to be exact. With some office work, a shower, some QUIET time before I was out the door at 9:30. Worked until 2:00, then snuck home for a quick 10 minute baby fix. I was sooo jealous, Mr. Milo got to help out our neighbors today for a few hours watching Trace, their 8 week old. I asked if he thought he would want another one. Please note, when the discussion came to 'who was getting FIXED', he wanted to 'keep his options open!' Seriously, those were his EXACT words!

After 2 hours of baby smell & baby snuggles, he noted that it was just like riding a bike. It all comes right back to you. Thank goodness babies are not edible, cause you COULD eat them right up! Riley of course didn't quite now what to think of the whole ordeal. So Mr. Milo decided he could just wait for grand children some day and in the mean time take advantage of the next door kids, ages 4, 2, and 8 weeks. That makes me tired just typing those ages!

So after my 'FIX'. I seriously was sooo jealous. When I left in the morning, my statement to him was, 'You know what my problem as a woman is? 'When I am at work, I want to be home. And when I am at home, I want to be at work.' That proceeded into a long discussion about God not designing women to work, yada yada, yada...I was quick to point out that Rahab was a VERY influential woman in the bible. Mr. Milo said, 'well she didn't work.' I said, 'She was a prostitute.' Mr. Milo shut up. Seriously, I sometimes think 'Little House on the Prairie' days are what it is truly is all about! But then may be Carolyn Ingalls wished she was more than a wife and mother?

Like I promised more on the whole woman at inner war, romance thing later this week. I just wanted to add some more hype to it!

Then off for an in-home wardrobe make-over until 4:00, grabbed an early supper at the studio, then went to meet a NEW client at the Dress Barn for a 2 hour shopping experience. We found the PERFECT cream and brown polka dot dress, shoes, purse, earrings, and bracelet for her nephew's wedding in June. She WILL look SMOKIN hot for a 50 some year old! I said, 'And make sure you have plenty of my business cards in your cute clutch to hand out EVERY time someone comments about how GREAT you look!'

Then of course we dabbled in work wear, weekend casual duds, and before you knew it 2 hours had past. Time flies when you are having FUN! 3 jackets, 2 pairs of pants, and a few shirts later she was complete. With a new outlook on exactly what looks great on her body shape, her confidence grew in just that short time we were together. She will be able to take the guidelines we used today and use them for future shopping trips!

The in-home wardrobe make-over consisted of identifying keys pieces that worked, some new organizational tips for season, and at least 15 - 20 NEW outfits simply using EVERYTHING she already owned! If you ask me, a small investment to create that many new outfits verses a shopping spree is a GREAT bang for one's buck! In this failing economy, an in home wardrobe make over is a great tool!

I LOVE MY JOB!

WAIT!

Wasn't it just seconds ago I was wishing I could stay home and take care of my babies?

See what I mean?

But it is 10 minutes past my desired bed time and in order to function in any sane capacity tomorrow, I best wash my face, apply my 9 creams, tuck in my babies, and head to la-la land. An early morning, coffee date with a girlfriend before heading into work (while, I will really be wanting to be at home) is in store. First things first, I MUST be in prime girlfriend mode by 8:30 AM!

ahhhhh....the many hats, we as women wear! It makes me tired just typing about it!

TTYL!

Top of the Mornin!

To all you Lads and Lassies out there!

I have a new appreciation for St. Patricks Day, since I have visited Ireland. Milo and I were treated 4 years ago to such a trip! The land is just as lush and green as you see in the pictures. The flowers are gorgeous! The people are friendly, generous, and full of stories! I could sit for hours listening to them.

If you know Mr. Milo at all, you know that he LOVES to be funny. Say funny things, talk in different accents, in fact small children are usually a bit timid around him because they don't quite know what to think. Sarcasim and Mr. Milo go in the same sentence. Some have even gone so far as to ask me if 'my life is always one big party.'

Hmmmmmm..I always stop to ponder on that one.

One of his favorite movies is Braveheart. Mel Gibson fights to save his country and also dies for the love of his life. If you take out all the graphic blood and guts during the fighting scenes, it is very romantic. In fact I have much to say on the topic of being romanced and pursued. It was going to be my post for today, until I realized that I must pay tribute to my favorite country, Ireland! More on that later this week! So I am sure that Mr. Milo LOVES the movie because of the romance!

My favorite part of Ireland was the small town of Kilnary. One night while we hung out at a local establishment enjoying the flavor of the country, Guinness. By the way, Guinness tasted completely different in Ireland than in the states. Milo of course could easily fit in with the locals with his strawberry blond hair, light skin, and freckles. On occasion, I debated just leaving him there. So this particular night, he decides to pretend he is one of the locals, accent and all! Before too long, he was completely BUSTED by a local for pretending to be Irish, while using his Mel Gibson Scottish accent! It was hilarious!

So to all my Irish friends, Happy St. Patricks Day!

Remember, more on a being romanced later this week!

But until then.....

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

Madison's Bake Shop

Madison attended a birthday party inspried by cake decorating. Her party favors included an monogramed apron and cake decorating supplies. She was so inspired that she was up early this morning watching a cake decorating show, then asked to get cake mix and icing after church so she could continue practicing her new skill. Madison is quite skillful in the kitchen. Kennedy, however I believe I will be doing coaching calls on the phone someday regarding 'How To Brown Hamburger.'

Spring Has Sprung!

Or has it? According to our beautiful weather and MY house... SPRING is HERE! However, I am sure that old man winter has at least one more in the hopper for us! After all, March did come in like a lamb, hence it will be leaving like a LION! When he does strike and I am certain he will, his wrath will be short-lived as he will be greeted with colors and flowers. At least my house he will be!

With house cleaning into the evening last night, yes, you heard right! Saturday night house cleaning, grocery shopping, and a good dent in the wash was completed. I was officially pooped. Added to the cleaning was a change in seasonal decor! Bye, Bye Snowflakes, Hello Flowers! So of course I had to update my BLOG.

Happy St. Patricks DAY! Kennedy starts track tomorrow, which means we get to HIT the road this spring and summer for track meets. Spring IS my favorite time of the year!

Honestly, I work very hard all week so that Sunday is to be a day of REST! Rest physically, emotionally, and mentally. Sunday is a time for us to do some family activities, personal hobbies, SLEEP IN, and just regroup, before we hit the ground running for the next 6 days. Afterall, God did create the ENTIRE world in 6 days, then on the 7th day HE rested!

So with only a few loads of laundry left to complete, the plan is to change out of the girls clothes from winter to spring. Perform an assessment of what will be needed to get them to next fall. This year they will both receive a set amount of CASH that they can spend on clothes. Not only am I trying to enforce some budgeting guidelines for them, but it is probably more for me. I am sucker when it comes to shopping. I can quickly go over my original set limit.

Sounds like my breakfast is nearing completion. Mr. Milo treats me EVERY Sunday to homemade breakfast after church. He is the breakfast gourmet at our house. Made to ORDER! I am spoiled. Or as my sister texted me, 'Are you a princess or what?' 'No, just really blessed!'

I am thinking may be a NAP is in store for the afternoon and also may be a motorcycle ride!

Happy Spring!

TTYL

P.S. Recognize anything, mom?

A LITTLE DOWN TIME

We Have Arrived

We are up at the cabin--got here about 4:30 grocery shop at Whole Foods. Ate in supper and are now at the coffee shop up the road for so techno catchup and newspaper reading with Heavenly Moose Hot Chocolate, of course. Nice interview--climb a mountain, go for it, Em.

Well checking out--have email to check then who knows:)

Love ya Mom

P.S. Since we passed the March 8 Phat Family deadline I consider everything I eat low cal for the next few days. Please give all the little ones extra hugs and kisses from us XXXXXXOOOOOO

Happy Birthday Em!

Friday, the 13th is a GREAT day because it is Emilee Freed's Birthday. AKA Emilee Getting. Jason, my bro married this awesome woman, what 5, 6, or 7 years ago. I can't remember. Sorry.

Emilee AMAZES me! She is a devoted mother to an active 4 and 1 year old, my adorable nieces, Macin and Hayden. She works full-time teaching students via virtual academy on-line. She is in the process of completing her Masters degree in education. Traveling at least one night a week 40 miles north she attends class and manages to complete homework, papers, and test in the midst of being a mom, employee, wife, daughter, friend, and sister.

I get tried just thinking about it. She is kind and thoughtful. She gives to others before she thinks of herself. She is MY scrapbooking IDOL! O! yeah, did I mention she scrapbooks too and makes the most amazing pages. She has inspired me to think outside the box when it comes to the elements and designs that she creates.

I am sure some days she wonders if she will survive until the next, but she preserves with courage, determination, and commitment. Jason coaches 2 of 4 seasons, one being football. If you have followed my blog for any time, you know that Jason's FB team won the state championship this past fall. That added at least another 8 weeks to the season, more practices, more time away, more FB games, and more of a load placed on Emilee to manage things. She did so amazingly and proudly stood by her husband as he relished in the victory.

She steers her children in the way of the Lord and is building a foundation that will last a lifetime.

I think back to the years when I had two girls ages 4 and 1 and honestly questioned my sanity at that point in my life. I didn't have nearly the amount on my plate as she does.

She took a few minutes out of her busy schedule yesterday for a quick birthday interview and this is what I learned. I asked her 13 questions in honor of Friday the 13th.

1. What is something that people do in traffic that really bothers you? Drive slow when it isn’t necessary

2. What is something your parents used to say to you as a child that you promised yourself you'd never say, but now you do? It builds character

3. What is something you should throw away, but just can't. my stinky tevas

4. Rate your dancing ability on a scale of 1 - 10 and explain why you gave yourself that rating. Oh, I am a bad dancer…I can do the Chicken Dance…2, I am just not graceful

5. What books have made a big impact on you? Stand Tall, Molly Lou Mellon by Patty Lovell (children’s book about being different)

6. What bores you? ESPN Classic…still don’t get why you have to watch a game from 10 years ago

7. What do you do when you want to relax? Well, there isn’t a lot of relaxing at my house right now but I would say scrapbook

8. What is your favorite season of the year and why? Fall, who am I married to and what is his passion J Life is good during that time of year.

9. What was your high and your low last week? Gosh, I hardly remember yesterday, let alone last week. High—walking to work two days with Macin and Hayden, Low—feeling way overwhelmed with my paper for grad school

10. If you were given $100,000 to celebrate someone or something, who or what would you celebrate? I would celebrate family and go on a trip with them

11. If you could be any age for the first of your life, what age would you choose and why? Hmm, I really kind of like where I am but know that in the next couple years some of my life goals will be reached so even though I am not there I would say 30

12. What is the most important thing about you? That I try to put everything I have into my responsibilities

13. If you could do something daring without fear, what would you do? Climb a mountain…a big one

Climb a mountain? I think she is already doing that and won't the view be beautiful at the top! Stinky Tevas and all!

Happy Birthday to my 3rd sister, who is true at heart, loyal, and encouraging.

May you day be filled with those giving you the credit you deserve. May you take a moment to stop and realize just what an incredible woman you are and realize what an example you are to your daughters.

I Love You.

Jill

P.S. Please tell Jason that if he believes that facebook has replaced the phatfamily blog, he either get up with technology or post a blog on occasion. You just can't take and take and never give a little! Life is all about choices!

Happy Birthday Em!

Friday, the 13th is a GREAT day because it is Emilee Freed's Birthday. AKA Emilee Getting. Jason, my bro married this awesome woman, what 5, 6, or 7 years ago. I can't remember. Sorry.

Emilee AMAZES me! She is a devoted mother to an active 4 and 1 year old, my adorable nieces, Macin and Hayden. She works full-time teaching students via virtual academy on-line. She is in the process of completing her Masters degree in education. Traveling at least one night a week 40 miles north she attends class and manages to complete homework, papers, and test in the midst of being a mom, employee, wife, daughter, friend, and sister.

I get tried just thinking about it. She is kind and thoughtful. She gives to others before she thinks of herself. She is MY scrapbooking IDOL! O! yeah, did I mention she scrapbooks too and makes the most amazing pages. She has inspired me to think outside the box when it comes to the elements and designs that she creates.

I am sure some days she wonders if she will survive until the next, but she preserves with courage, determination, and commitment. Jason coaches 2 of 4 seasons, one being football. If you have followed my blog for any time, you know that Jason's FB team won the state championship this past fall. That added at least another 8 weeks to the season, more practices, more time away, more FB games, and more of a load placed on Emilee to manage things. She did so amazingly and proudly stood by her husband as he relished in the victory.

She steers her children in the way of the Lord and is building a foundation that will last a lifetime.

I think back to the years when I had two girls ages 4 and 1 and honestly questioned my sanity at that point in my life. I didn't have nearly the amount on my plate as she does.

She took a few minutes out of her busy schedule yesterday for a quick birthday interview and this is what I learned. I asked her 13 questions in honor of Friday the 13th.

1. What is something that people do in traffic that really bothers you? Drive slow when it isn’t necessary

2. What is something your parents used to say to you as a child that you promised yourself you'd never say, but now you do? It builds character

3. What is something you should throw away, but just can't. my stinky tevas

4. Rate your dancing ability on a scale of 1 - 10 and explain why you gave yourself that rating. Oh, I am a bad dancer…I can do the Chicken Dance…2, I am just not graceful

5. What books have made a big impact on you? Stand Tall, Molly Lou Mellon by Patty Lovell (children’s book about being different)

6. What bores you? ESPN Classic…still don’t get why you have to watch a game from 10 years ago

7. What do you do when you want to relax? Well, there isn’t a lot of relaxing at my house right now but I would say scrapbook

8. What is your favorite season of the year and why? Fall, who am I married to and what is his passion J Life is good during that time of year.

9. What was your high and your low last week? Gosh, I hardly remember yesterday, let alone last week. High—walking to work two days with Macin and Hayden, Low—feeling way overwhelmed with my paper for grad school

10. If you were given $100,000 to celebrate someone or something, who or what would you celebrate? I would celebrate family and go on a trip with them

11. If you could be any age for the first of your life, what age would you choose and why? Hmm, I really kind of like where I am but know that in the next couple years some of my life goals will be reached so even though I am not there I would say 30

12. What is the most important thing about you? That I try to put everything I have into my responsibilities

13. If you could do something daring without fear, what would you do? Climb a mountain…a big one

Climb a mountain? I think she is already doing that and won't the view be beautiful at the top! Stinky Tevas and all!

Happy Birthday to my 3rd sister, who is true at heart, loyal, and encouraging.

May you day be filled with those giving you the credit you deserve. May you take a moment to stop and realize just what an incredible woman you are and realize what an example you are to your daughters.

I Love You.

Jill

P.S. Please tell Jason that if he believes that facebook has replaced the phatfamily blog, he either get up with technology or post a blog on occasion. You just can't take and take and never give a little! Life is all about choices!

Thanks...

So I assume my mom sent you those lovely pictures. That school picture has to be the worst ever, wonder why my mom didn't have me retake that...maybe she wanted to laugh at it the rest of her life :) Thanks for the birthday wishes. It is supposed to be almost 40 here so a heatwave, I can handle that. We are eating at Brickhouse Bistro (Jason and Heidi Carrier's new resteraunt...I will take you all there when you visit...healthy food!) and then off to game night with our friends. Tomorrow we are going out for lunch as a family (Macin was peeved that we were waiting a day to "celebrate"). Well, I better wake my sleeping beauties, Jason is working in the weightroom so mommy's routine will have to work today.
Thanks for the lovely pictures, I don't think the blog pops up when my students google me :)
Have a great weekend!

Em

P.S. Jason has now claimed that Facebook is the new blog...think he feels left out because he won't set up an account :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM

CUTE AS A BUTTON

PRETTY LITTLE GIRL

THEN CAME THE GLASSES

SO SHE GAVE GLAMOUR A WHIRL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM

♥ DEAN AND MAUREEN

Still Confused! Part 2

OK..one more Japenga confusion tale before retiring for the night.

3:30 PM. Mr. Milo phones Loving Wife while in route to home, after picking up Madison from school.

Mr. Milo, 'It is about time you pick up your phone. Why do you have a cell phone, if you NEVER answer it? OK. Where are you?'

Loving Wife. 'Well, I am just turning onto Teakwood Lane. Where are YOU?'

Mr. Milo, 'I am at school! Aren't we suppose to have Madison's conference today?'

Loving Wife, 'No, that is tomorrow (Thursday).'

Mr. Milo insisting, 'NO, you said it was today and YOU wrote it on my calendar for TODAY!'

Loving Wife, calmly 'No, I wrote it on your calendar for tomorrow.'

Mr. Milo, 'NO, you wrote it down for Wednesday. Bye'

Upon arriving at home, Loving Wife checks Mr. Milo's calendar to find that indeed Madison's conference is penciled in for THURSDAY at 3:30. Loving Wife also confirms that the family weekly agenda posted on the refrigerator also concurs that Madison's conference IS scheduled for Thursday at 3:30.

Chalk one up for Loving Wife.

As my oldest informed me one day,

'Mom, your life is just ONE big sticky note!'

To Be Continued?????

All Mixed UP

The Japenga family is most certainly MIXED UP this week! What one thinks is Wednesday is actually Tuesday and vice versa. We lost an hour some where on Saturday night. We haven't been able to locate it and it has been our down fall ever since.

Madison had school pictures on Tuesday. We woke up extra early to shower and fix her hair. After an extra 20 minutes spent primping, she headed downstairs for some breakfast. As 7:30 approached we headed up to rouse Mr. Milo out of bed, but instead were met at the top of the stairs by a frazzled looking man resembling my husband. His hair was every which way. He was stumbling out of the bedroom in underwear and a t-shirt, hopping on one leg while attempting to put on his sweat pants.

Frantically, thinking it was 8:30 AM he said, 'Hurry up, the girls are late for school!' The three of us stood looking puzzled and said, it is only 7:30!

Mr. Milo, 'O! I thought we hadn't set the clocks ahead yet.'

Loving Wife, 'duh...Today is Tuesday, we did that on Sunday.'

First Born, rolls her eyes and turns back into her room.

Second Born, 'yeah, dad...duh....'

Later that day.......

Upon pulling up to retrieve Madison up from school, she jumps in the van.

In a huff, 'Guess, what...pictures are NEXT week! I got up early today for NOTHING, MOTHER!'

Loving Mother, "Oops, at least you had a great HAIR day!"

Wednesday Morning......

Madison, 'Mom, I will meet you today after school in my classroom, okay?'

Loving Mother, 'No today is Wednesday. Thursday, you have your conference after school.'

Confused Daughter, 'O! Yeah...I got all mixed up because I brought snacks to school on Tuesday, when I wasn't suppose to bring them until Wednesday, MOTHER!'

May be by Friday we will have it all figured out. Or would that be Saturday? Lose an hour, lose a day, it all comes out in the wash!

RIGHT?

Happy Wednesday!

A Day in My Life

My day usually begins at 6:00 AM when I hear the call of my alarm clock, encouraging me to wake up. I usually ignore it's request at least three times in hopes that it will simply go away. After it's third nagging attempt to spur me out of my peaceful slumber, I toss the covers to the side knowing that today, I will not win the battle. I shuffle to the bathroom to perform the necessary morning duties, then grope around in the dark for some kind of warmth in the form of a sweater shirt and slippers.

I check and make sure Kennedy is up before I head downstairs to make the morning pot of coffee. While that brews I clean up email, check my favorite blogs, facebook page, and let Riley out for her morning duties. Soon the buzzer on the coffee pot alerts me that caffeine is ready for consumption. I begin my Madison wake-up call and for the next 45 minutes keep her on task of getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing her teeth, and packing her back pack. Kennedy catches the bus at 7:30. I finish up office work of mailing product orders, entering sale receipts, and paying bills.

8:00 comes and I kiss Madison and Milo good-bye for the day, as he leaves to take Madison to school and I gingerly savor the next hour for showering, dressing, and catching up on the latest news from the comforts of my bedroom. As the hour comes to a close I do a quick 10 second tidy of the house, I hate to leave it in disarray. Then decide if it is going to be oatmeal or PB on toast for breakfast? While breakfast is cooking/toasting I gather up my to-go lunch, water bottle, and travel mug for the day ahead.

9:00 to 9:50 is more office work and and opportunity to make some phone calls.

9:50 I head out for Cedar Memorial, my current part-time employer. For the next two hours I schedule appointments for the two sales counselors that work for the Cremation Society. I listen to a lot of answering machines, however feel great triumph when I have successfully filled their vacant spots. Which I might add is more times than not! Right before heading out a noon, I eat my to-go lunch and check to see if I have gotten in at least 1/2 of my water quota for the day! My treat for successfully fulfilling the daily water quota, is an ICE COLD diet coke late afternoon! Of course I have to take into consideration the caffeine consumption during the morning hours. One must drink ounce for ounce in EXTRA water for any caffeine ingested. RULES, RULES, RULES!

By now it is 12:00 and I head up to the funeral home where I will spend the next hour at the front desk greeting any one that come through the front door. It is generally a very quiet time of the day, plus the funeral home is quiet in general so when I am not meeting and greeting, I take the opportunity to catch up on my bible study and some one on one time with the Lord.

1:00 to 2:00 I cover the back desk where I answer all the calls that come into the funeral home. I am quickly learning who is who, who gets what, how to transfer, and page over the intercom.

2:00 hits and I switch back to employer mode. 2:00 - 3:30 is usually filled with either phone calls, appointments at the studio, a few errands when needed, or implementing Reveal networking/marketing ideas.

3:30 I pull into Bowman Woods Elementary to pick up my Madison from school and listen to all the things that happen during her day. By the time we roll in the garage, Kennedy is just getting off the bus and I am ready to switch to mom mode for the next few hours. I put supper in the oven and usually do the prep work for the following night's meal. I am also the drill Sergeant for homework completion! Once I have finished my kitchen duties, I check email, blogs, and facebook before I head out to walk Riley or to the gym for a quick workout. This of course is always dependent on after school activities or occasionally I will have appointments at the Reveal Studio. However I do try to book all of those for Saturdays.

By 6:00 I have showered and washed off the make-up for the day, dawned my lounge wear, and am ready to join the family at the supper table. Milo or the girls have kitchen clean -up while I dive into my office for my final round of customer service and booking calls for the day. Each week the goal is to move $1000 of products off of the shelf, make sure I have enough appointments booked for the next week, and I am doing something to market and grow Reveal. Generally wrapped up by 7:30, I have prepared my to-do & call list for the next day and have the work generated from the days phone calls awaiting me for the next morning. I can now treat myself to whatever fun TV show is on for the evening. Of course last night I had to catch the debut of Dancing With The Stars. I wish they would make is Dancing With Real People! I would definitely be the first to sign up! The glitz, the glamour, and learning how to dance! FUN! I think I am going to email ABC today and offer up my suggestion.

9:00 comes and I begin to feel my eyes get heavier, I do one last 10 second tidy before heading up to tuck my babes into bed. Kennedy is usually already in bed, lights out, listening to her ipod. I sneak in for a hug and a kiss and listen to whatever else she has to share about her day. Madison is already lounging in our bed, just hoping that she will convince her dad to sleep in the basement. The three of us snuggle for awhile, before we have to ask up teen million times for her to either head to her bed or sack out on the couch in our room. 9 times out of 10, she picks the couch.

I generally fall asleep to whatever is on the TV. Milo takes care of powering it off. I slip into lala land for a good 8 hours before it become time to do it all again! Weekends are the exception!

I heard a great quote the other day, 'I turn around and it is Easter, then I turn around and it is Christmas. I turn around again and it is Easter. I turn around and it is Christmas' You get my point!

Time flies when you are having FUN!

I love my life and although packed from sun-up to sun-down I would NEVER want it any other way! It is a life that is NOT busy, but balanced! Life is all about choices. We are who we are by the choices we make or the choices we allow others to make for us.

Who knows, one year, 6 months, or 2 weeks from 'a day in MY life' could be completely different. I welcome change and will NEVER do something that doesn't bring me joy. Life is WAY too short to dread what you have to do to EVERY DAY!

My mom, gave me some great advice growing up, 'There is never a decision that you make that you can't change or choose to react differently to.' So true! Life is all about how we react to things. Are you reacting positively or negatively?

I would like to think that 90% of the time, my reaction is a positive one! Afterall, NOBODY is perfect!

What does a Day in YOUR life look like?