A Spooktacular Evening

1. Groceries - CHECK!

2. Massage - CHECK!

3. November Bills Paid - CHECK!

4. November Customer Birthday Postcards Mailed - CHECK!

5. Product Order Placed - CHECK!

6. Ask Kennedy about birthday plans - CHECK!

7. Halloween Dinner - CHECK!

8. Enjoyed an extra hour of sleep - CHECK!

9. Birthday present purchased - CHECK!

10. Cute kleenexs and a wall hanging for new space purchased - CHECK!

11. Lil present purchased for my sweetheart to accompany his love letter this week - CHECK!

10. Wash

11. BR Closet

12. Living Room Cabinets

13. Christmas list

14. Set up new blog

15. workout

16. Ate LOTS of Halloween candy - CHECK!!!

Highlights from our Halloween spooktacular evening.

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Best keep a checking!

A Saturday Morning Sleep IN

It is early Saturday morning and EVERYONE including cousin Eric are still tucked away, nestled snugly under layers of blankets sleeping IN this windy and chilly Saturday morning. I woke up to a 'lil puppy' licking my face! (Since when did she earn bed privileges?) Well, since cousin Eric babysat last weekend and decided she should snuggle instead of sleep in 'her shitter'. And so the first few nights back about 1:00 AM, Gracie decided to wake us up with screams and crys from 'the shitter'. Of course, Mr. Milo, with his soft heart, pottied her and in she came to snuggle up and sleep the rest of the night right by my pillow. She is a snuggler!

So her and I have been up, pottied and pooped (TMI) and now she is snuggled up on my lap catching some Saturday morning zzzzs..

Last night Kennedy debuted her Halloween costume of 2009 and FINALLY took first place at the party she attended. Did it help that Milo is best friends with the dad who hosted the party? Lets just say..hmmmm..no. pics later!

She was indeed a BEAUTIFUL fairy and there is NO complaining regarding the multiple angles mom can shoot during her photo shoot because that is the return required on the hours spent creating, sewing, and gluing.

FYI another reason we MAKE Halloween costumes for our beautiful young ladies...have you seen what is in the stores? Let me be frank, I would never put my daughter in something that is just a bit 'too grown up' for young girls. I even thought tights were necessary for her 'short' skirt, which by the way I added 2 additionally inches of fabric to!

As my mom would say, 'keep the bonnet on as long as you can'.

So I survived my first week in my new role at the BIG house, as a Family Service Counselor.

WHEW! Monday I attended a senior expo and helped work the booth all day, Tuesday through Friday spent most of the time processing all the leads generated from working the booth, plus observed some sales appointments and got my 'home away from home' all set up. Cute & Cozy are the words I would use to describe my 'space'. Although I am not to sure on the whole 8 - 5 gig? Honestly I feel like I live at that place and dare I say could probably even sleep there?

Next week, well I am BITING the bullet and going to try to workout BEFORE work! Seriously, what has happened to the Jill of long ago? Well, I said 'I was going to try it.'

So I am anticipating more freedom and flexibility once training commences and I can hit the concrete selling. I am chomping at the bit, however after this week realized there is MUCH to learn regarding systems and product knowledge. I am up for the challenge, but DEARLY miss my dear friend Wendy Wu, who I abandoned at the cremation society, my flexibility, and windshield time. All in due time, right? So in the mean time, my 'get out of jail free card' works for one hour every day, activates again at 5:00 PM and deactivates at 8:00 AM Monday through Friday! I am a fast learner, I am a fast learner, I am a fast learner.....

So what else happened this week at the Japenga household you ask?

Madison debuted her violin talents at a 5th through 12th orchestra concert Tuesday night. I must say, I very much enjoy listening to the blending of the violins and cellos. BEAUTIFUL! The closing number was 'Ode To Joy' played by grades 5th through 12th. WOW! It was moving.

Milo got an MRI of a bum knee he injured this summer during sand volley ball. Luckily, NO surgery, just rest, ice, and Advil. I was very surprised given his very limited mobility.

Well, I best get moving..much to do on the weekend to do list.

1. Groceries

2. Wash/Iron

3. Massage at 1:00 (compliments of my parents and siblings, 40th bday gift)

4. Halloween Dinner Prep

5. November Bill Pay

6. Send out November Customer Birthday Cards

7. Place Product Order check!

8. Start Christmas shopping list...I know OCD!

9. Send out overstock email sale to customers

10. Workout

11. Get boots for walking in the cemetery..heels don't quite fit the job description

12. Clean out bathroom closet (roll over from weekends past)

13. Clean out living room cabinets (a roll over)

14. Ask Kennedy about birthday plans for next weekend

15. Set up new blog for love letters

16. Blog entry....CHECK!

I think I better skedaddle! more later!

jill

Mr. Stonewood

We met Mr. Stonewood this weekend while visiting our FAVORITE B&B in the world. Not that we are world travelers by any means, but the Inn At Irish Hollow...well can simply be described as heaven on earth.

We discovered the Inn about 10 years ago while desperately looking for a weekend away to regroup, revitalize, and reconnect. When you add children, work, finances, and plain ole life you quickly grow farther and farther away from the love of your life. In recent years, Mr. Milo and I have learned the importance of 'getting away' a few times a year and making it a priority in our family budget. A happy, well balanced couple makes for a more well balanced home, better parents, and a better TEAM.

When we first arrived at the Inn 10 years ago, we drove up wondering what kind of 'dump' had be gotten ourselves into. Within minutes our worries were set aside as we were greeted by the kindest 'inn keeper' and shown to our room in the Inn. Little did we know that the food was literally 'to die for', the service impeccable, and by far the MOST romantic dinner we had ever experienced. Upon our second visit, we discovered the cottages nestled back in the woods behind the Inn. A couple from Chicago invited us to take a look at 'their digs'. I distinctly remember saying as we left their 'cottage' to venture back to our 'room'. 'Although the Inn is nice. We will ALWAYS stay at cottage from here on out!'

So for an early '40th birthday celebration' and a much needed respite for our wedded souls, I booked our 'cottage' 8 months in advance and this weekend...we met Mr. Stonewood.

Mr. Stonewood over sees 'all activity' at the Stonewood cottage. We decided that his motto is 'what happens at Stonewood, stays at Stonewood'. And from reading the multiple entries in the journal by other couples who had come before us, I think Mr. Stonewood could probably share a story or two.

Despite a rocky start on Thursday, leaving ailing children in the care of their cousin Richard which allowed for a heavy dose of 'mommy guilt', we set off for our weekend venture. Luckily by Friday morning, news was received that the girls were on the mend and headed back to school. I was able to shed any remaining guilty feelings and 'officially' start enjoying the weekend.

Although inclement weather prevented two of my planned surprise activities, scooter rentals and a hot air balloon ride, we still enjoyed a couples massage, hanging out at our favorite, local establishment for $2 beers and playing shuffle board on a 'vintage' table worth these days, close to $20,000. OK...so I only won 1 of our 9 matches. I still LOVE shuffle board! A stop at the local winery supplied us with our 'favorite' Grape concord for the weekend, plus some to take home. Even a few Christmas gifts were crossed off my list and I found the NEATEST needlework shop, limiting myself to only 15 minutes and wrapping things up as soon as I heard the first 'sigh' from the far corner of the store. Late afternoons were spent hiking the many trails that surround the Inn. A four course breakfast delivered every day around 10:00 to our cottage, plus a gourmet, out of your mind, romantic dinner served in the Inn on Friday evening by the Innkeeper, himself. It was a weekend to reconnect, laugh, and even shed a few tears.

My Thursday evening surprise after we collected our favorite wine, strawberries, cheese and crackers was to cozy up in our cottage next to a warm fire. I had brought all of the letters we had written during our courtship 20 years ago. Of course accompanying us in the background was Air Supply, Barry Manillow, and Lionel Richie.

The letter reading took us well into the night and even through the next morning. We laughed and cried remembering the all encompassing love that brought us together 20 years ago. We were reminded that we were each other's biggest cheerleaders, faithful confidants, and best friends. The past 20 years have brought children, careers, conflict, and the craziness of life. Before you realize what happens, suddenly everything comes before the one thing that brought you together in the first place, each other.

And so we have committed to once again writing love letters to each other. This week we are going to start a 'private' blog site and begin to enter all of these letters, cards, and pictures so that we can create a book. Our intention is one day when our daughters are married and consumed with LIFE. They too will begin to drift farther and farther away from the ONE person, whom they connect the most. Milo and I will wrap up our book, take the grand kids for the weekend, and send them away to 'the Inn'. The Inn, where they can find again the LOVE that gets smothered with LIFE. We hope that someday our love will serve as an example of faith, perseverance, and hope instilling that marriage is NOT easy, always fun and romantic. But anything worth living for is ALWAYS worth fighting for.

And according to Mr. Stonewood, he couldn't agree more.

Enjoy some pics of 'the Inn'.

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Mother May I?

Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Parmesan, Cheesy Spaghetti, Cookies (no-bake), Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Danish, Cheeseburger Roll-Up & NO I didn't plan it with all C's, it just happened. But don't you like it when things 'just happen'?

2 1/2 hours later my cooking extravaganza is complete, now 'mother may I please be excused to leave on Thursday for a 4 day weekend in the rolling, beautiful hills of Galena, IL to stay at my 'all time' favorite B&B with food only to DIE for? 4 days with no one else but my handsome Mr. Milo. Mother, may I PLEASE be excused? Food has been prepared in advance for the children, childcare is all lined up, transportation issues resolved, & activities covered. Mother, May I PLEASE be excused?

So to give my weary feet a rest, I thought I would pop in for a bit before I methodically plan out all my outfits and make-up for our upcoming 4 day weekend. Trust me, I take this stuff SERIOUSLY cause it only happens once, sometimes twice, and if I am REALLY lucky..three times a year. Trips away with only me and my man! Trips that I count down the minutes to, plan meticulously for (ok..may be I plan meticulously for some other things too), and wait with EAGER anticipation.

Do you think I am excited?

So this weekend, me and the girls laid low. Mr. Milo aka...dishwasher boy and garbage man left on Saturday AM for his annual Green Bay Packer weekend with the boys. I refer to him as dishwasher boy and garbage man because of all the things in the world for him to be psycho about, it would be those two things. Thankfully I have successfully accomplished both tasks not once, but even TWICE in his absence.

BTW...when your hairdresser speaks, ONE should always listen. On Friday, I needed a little tweaking on my most recent hair cut. It seemed that a few weeks ago, Beth (aka.. my hair dresser) didn't quite do enough texturizing and my football helmet was starting to show with still 3 weeks until my next cut AND a very important weekend coming up. So a quick 911 to the salon and imagine that, she had a cancellation on Friday morning, that I managed to squeeze into my schedule.

So I shared with her my 'secret mission' for the weekend - more later - and she thought that instead of just gathering all my supplies and waiting to put them all together on the day of, I should really put EVERYTHING together before hand! WHEW! Am I lucky, that I needed a quick tweak on my hair in order to grab that piece of wisdom. 7 hours later, my secret mission was complete, which by most standards encompassed MOST of my Saturday. more later..but I do have to say...'They ROCK'! I seriously think I should consider a career outside of caskets and cremations.

So one last thing before I head up to wardrobe central, last September I started this notebook and VOWED to do it for one ENTIRE year. Now trust me there where moments when I thought I simply could go no further. It was painstaking, but so worth all the time, energy, and thought. YES! I am talking about my 'meal planner notebook'. YES...laugh all you want, but one year later...is my life EASIER?

So for one entire year, I planned all our family meals one week at a time. Every time I tried a new recipe, the rule was EVERYONE had to give it a thumbs up, in order for it to stay in 'the' notebook. Now one year later, I simply flip to the designated week, make up my grocery list and DONE, well with the exception of thumbs DOWN recipes, those I replace with new ones. Little to no thinking, meals change with the seasons, it has provided a VARIETY of things for us to eat, and it has freed up one last task on my to do list every weekend. My goal is when all there is in the notebook is thumbs up meals & snacks, to make a cookbook to give to the girls, so they to will have one less thing on their weekend to do lists.

Well, that is about it...Mother May I please be excused now to comb through my closet to find the perfect combinations for my upcoming 4 day weekend? Did I mention I was just a BIT excited?

toodles..

A Week In Review

A twisted shot, ham and cheese cal zones, a secret crush, Coach Mo, the short straw, exhaustion, school conferences, a secret mission, no school, and a football game.

THAT sums up the week at the Japenga household.

So how does all that work together, you ask?

On Monday, Kennedy had her yearly sports physical, which of course ONLY MOM could take a young lady to her physical. In route, she asked if she would be getting any 'shots'. We laughed hard when she reminded me when she was 5, her and I were at the doctors office to receive her 'shots'. Right before the nurse gave her the second one, Kennedy 'twisted' her leg and up until just a few years ago, she seriously thought that she had been given a 'twisted shot'. O! how we tried to explain to her that the nurse did not give her a twisted shot. But rather because she twisted before receiving the shot was the real reason she felt she received a 'twisted shot'.

Monday night I arrived home from work to find Mr. Milo making ham and cheese cal zones for supper. I laughed hard when I found him with the tape measure, measuring out the exact 12X14 dough measurements so that our cal zones were 'just right'. AND they were JUST RIGHT!

Tuesday morning and evening brought thumbs up for school conferences times 2.

Then some sisterly advice was shared on 'what exactly does it mean when a guy flirts with you?', Madison was determined to find out if Zach, her desk mate was just an enamored with her as she was with him. Kennedy shared her advice on flirting to be 'any time a guy punched, kicked, or kidded around with you.' All in the playful text of course. That was a positive since Zach often times would kick Madison under the desk. So with her plan in place, ie..girlfriends set to ask his friends if there was any reciprocation of feelings, we all waited with anticipation for supper time on Tuesday. Thankfully, it was reported via Zach, through Mic and Jeff, then via Paxton and Meg and back to Madison that 'well may be he kind of liked her.' Whew...no hearts broken!

Only my heart on Tuesday night, when Coach Mo felt the need to fall on the sword for his teammate Tracy, who by all my accounts VERY much needs a ticket home!

Wednesday morning, I drew the short straw of course for crabby kids. Wednesday is my drop off at school day and of course, it seems that they save ALL the crying, complaining, and drama JUST for me! So Kennedy in all her tiredness, caught a few more zzzs, not only Wednesday but also on Thursday. We are hoping extra tiredness doesn't turn 'nothing' into 'something'. Those extra zzzs, however did bring a STRICT ban on sleep-overs for this 4 day weekend.

It seems that we will not have 'Mr. Calzone' around for the weekend, as he is headed out for his annual Green Bay Packer football game weekend with the guys.

I have a 'secret mission' on deck for this weekend or in other words..I must make hay, while the sun shines. No school Friday or Monday for 'fall break'. Me and the girls are laying low, outside of some household projects that need to be accomplished, ie. the 'this weekend to do list' that is currently staring me in the face.

5 days and counting until Galena and am hoping that the weather man is dead WRONG on his 10 day forecast. I would hate for a little rain and cold to spoil my 'birthday surprises'.

more later....

Our French Puppay

Is going to be a FRENCH MAID for Halloween

Sneak Peek!

sneak peek