Flashback Friday

In my early days of keeping Brannen and Will, the brothers spent their days at 2 different daycares. Brannen kept things interesting at Miss Charlotte's, and the Will-man charmed all the baby girls at Miss Elisa's.

Once Will turned one and started walking, he joined Brannen at Miss Charlotte's, but before then it was exclusively Baby School (as Brannen called it) for the little boy with the golden curls.

Whenever I kept the boys in the evenings, I would always make the trip to pick up Will first. Baby School was a little further out, and since babies tend to travel with a lot of cargo, it was easier to gather all Will's paraphernalia without trying to keep Brannen from pummeling the other infants - or diving head first off of the exercausers that were scattered about the room.

A couple weeks ago, as I was scrolling through old pictures trying to get my little Beach Retrospective post together, I came across a video from those early days of dual pick-up that made my heart flutter with intense joy.

As soon as I started watching it, a smile crawled across my face and I remembered the day.

It had been raining heavily all afternoon, so I set out a lot earlier than usual to go get Will. My goal was to allow myself enough time to gather both the children on time without drowning.

I'm very goal-oriented when it comes to figuring out the best ways to stay dry.

It would turn out that I actually misjudged the amount of time needed and with Will in tow behind me, had about 30 minutes before I actually had to get Brannen.

I decided to just go ahead and grab the big boy early, but as soon as this was put in stone, the rain poured down harder than I have ever seen - washing away all of my pro-babysitter dreams.

The road to unsuccessful child pick-up is paved with good intentions.

I made an executive decision at that time to pull off into a gas station to try and wait out the monsoon.

Unfortunately, the Will-man - usually chipper and easy-going....


...was tired from a long day of playing and eating and sleeping - and not at was not amused with this idea.

Let's just say there was some fussin' commencin'.

Always up to provide entertainment when needed, I crawled back into the back seat and did my best to help the fellow get happy until it was time to brave the storm.

And because I am very innovative, I came up with this really great idea called tickling him repeatedly.

And THIS heavenly little video is what I got.

(DISCLAIMER FOR ASHLEY: Be aware that you will DIE when you see this. Don't worry, I will take the kids and raise them as my own.)

BLESS IT!

Always, Sometimes, Nevah evah

I saw this fun little idea over at sweet Annalee's blog last week and thought it was too fun to pass up.

I always...

-sit with my left leg propped up on the door when driving

-stop by The Country Store in the mornings for a 50 cent Diet Coke on the way to work

-use my cell phone as an alarm (actually a set of 3 alarms)

-tell my family members and many friends "I love you" when getting off the phone

-wish I lived in a world where my laptop would not get to temps of 1,000 degrees and scald my leg area on a daily basis

-drink water throughout the day (with Diet Coke chasers)

-laugh at my parents

-tease my mother about loving my brother more than me even though I know she doesn't. Or does she?? Just kidding, Deb. Or am I??? (Gets her every time)

-make to-do lists that never see the light of day

-carry a mini pink and white polka dot umbrella in my purse (unless it actually rains - then I somehow leave it at home)

-miss my college and grad school friends and long for the days of being back at our beloved Merrywood house or hanging out on Clarke Drive with the Seabolts

-say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" to grown-ups (Southern blood running through the veins)


I sometimes...

-put off cleaning to last possible minute of my sanity (then I go crazy and clean everything in sight)

-have less than desirable behavior towards the ones I love the most (don't we always take the stress out on them?!?)

-make my bed

-wish I could put "make my bed" under the Always category

-desire to have dark brown hair (my hair guy told me to forget it and move on with my life)

-choreograph interpretive dances and perform for my friends or any other unfortunate people who happen to be standing nearby

-make up rap songs and leave them on people's voicemails

-smuggle in drinks and snacks to the movies

-take my shoes off in my car immediately after work and put on flip flops (this sometimes creates a shoe closet in my car)

-bite my nails

-put off figuring out what I am going to wear the next day until around midnight the night before (this is actually more often than not, and it drives my tired self insane)

-call Mama and Daddy by their real names and call Matthew "Brother"


I never...

-wonder if I'm loved

-remember to charge my cell phone/camera until they die slow, low-battery deaths

-ask any woman at anytime if she's pregnant (it only takes that happening to you once to adhere to that rule)

-fall asleep watching a movie or tv (I fall asleep exclusively in the place I am sleeping for the night)

-think "Ew, chocolate."

-leave the house without going back upstairs at least once to retrieve something I have forgotten (usually a couple times)

-turn down a hug from Brannen or Will (or tire to listening to all their funny antics, songs, stories, and saying)

-miss an inspirational true story that's playing at the movie theater or on Lifetime

-tire of making my parents laugh

-leave the TV on the news for too long (I see enough depressing things at the ol' jobplace)

-feel satisfied with my cursive handwriting (pretty cursive is on my list of hand-writing goals)

-forget to count my blessings!


Happy Thursday!

Grab your popcorn for this one

A couple weeks ago my dad informed me that Hollywood had called and he had been cast in another movie.

Except it wasn't as much Hollywood as it was some student at the Arts college in Savannah.

And it wasn't really a movie as much as it was a 12 minute student film. (Old actors have to start somewhere.)

This is what happened last time he was in one of these things. We're all still trying to recover.


But really, Cardboard Al is just like another member of the family now.


During the conversation about his new endeavor, he excitedly told me about the film - he would be the main character playing a guy who had recently lost his wife of 30 years.

The movie begins by showing the man who is described in the script as "A man in his mid-fifties, face worn and tattered. A faint memory of the handsome man he once was." (I laughed out loud for 5 minutes when I read that.)

He's a very depressed fellow - alone in his house, waking up alone, eating alone, and going about his day alone. According to the script the camera will pan around the house - catching glimpses of pictures that show a previously happy life with his beautiful (now deceased) spouse, their children through the years, and the life he once had.

Obviously it's the next Feel Good Movie of the Year.

Well, the one beacon of light in the film is a repeated dreamy kind of shot of a gorgeous woman in a red dress with her hand extended. The audience is led to believe it's this man's wife - waiting for him in Heaven.

Later in the movie, the man goes to a jazz bar, meets a nice young woman whom he has a lovely time with. They talk and talk and he finds himself feeling happy for the first time in over a year. He later goes home and goes to sleep - only to awaken in a frenzy because he dreams about the lady in the red dress again and now it's the NEW woman and not his wife.

He freaks completely out, overdoses on pills and dies.

I know, I did not see that coming either.

But you know how these people in the movie business work. They make the audience think things are on the up and up - then BAM. They take out the main character.

Thankfully the fellow goes to Heaven, and the last scene is him reunited with his beloved wife, taking hold of her extended hand. and dancing.

And, THAT'S A WRAP.

So the next morning I overhear Al and Deb talking about the movie and hear Daddy semi-jokingly say that my mom should play the wife in the movie, since he thought the director was having a hard time casting that role.

She kind of laughed it off, but I was not laughing. I was thinking that she TOTALLY should.

"Mama," I said later that night. "You should totally play the wife in Daddy's movie."

"What? Jenna, No. I would be too embarrassed. You know me, I can't even smile right for pictures."

"Um that is true and you are welcome for how I have helped you overcome that, but this is not a still shot. This is a teeny tiny little part where you sit there, look pretty, and say approximately 5 words at the end. YOU CAN DO THIS."

I also added this whole spill about the director would probably love it because we could give her a bunch of our family pictures to put around the house and make it look so much more realistic.

"I don't know." She wavered.

"C'mon Deb, do it for your grandkids!"

"I don't have any."

"And you never will if you don't do what I say." (Just kidding I didn't say that)

I actually said, "I mean for mine and Matthew's future offspring, Grandma! Just think of how cool that will be one day for them to have that - to be able to say Look at what my grandparents did, look how young they were!"

Well the conversation continued, Deb got on board, Al called the director-girl, and I sent her a picture of the Debster for her to look at and decide if Deb was the one she had been waiting for.


And what do you know - she thought Deb was PERFECT.

I got a text from Mama that day that read, "A star is born."

And guess what else? She wanted lots of our family pictures. (It's like I am psychic.)


Mama and Daddy are going tonight for the first cast meeting. The movie is to be filmed this weekend.

A few days after Mama got her big break, we were sitting in the kitchen and I asked her if she was so excited about everything.

She smiled and replied, "Yes, I really am. I think it will be fun."

Then her face grew very serious and she added, "And just so you know, I'm doing this for the grandkids."

Friends, houses, food, hair. In that order.

You know you're growing up when, upon leaving your full-time grown-up job, you receive a text from an on-the-brink-of-marriage friend that reads, "We just closed on the house!! Come by!"

My friend Meredith is marrying Russell (a hometown boy from around these parts) and is moving to my little corner of the world come September. I adore Meredith, and I am so excited she is moving here so we can go visit over Subway sandwiches and Diet coke, watch inspirational Dateline specials, and have good God convos like we always tend to do.

And I became even more excited after running by to see their new house this afternoon after I got off of work. It is darling inside and out. Just like Mer!

Here is the cute couple. And we love Russell, too. He's a stand-up guy. We once bonded over a Dixie Chicks CD as we, along with Bri and Earle, drove through the night to ski in West Virginia.


And here is their cute new house to match their cute little selves.


A couple other random things going on in my world this week so far:

-Last week I had not one but TWO mishaps with some cereal and my purse. I usually take some cereal to snack on in the afternoons at work. I put it in a ziplock bag and throw it in my purse along with various other items such as old mail, my camera cord, and hairspray.

Unfortunately, I forgot to zip the ziplock bag a couple days in a row.


I got as much as I could out of the bottom of the purse, but remnants kept appearing as the week went by letting me know I didn't do as great a job de-cerealing my purse as I once hoped.

On Monday morning, as I scurried around in a mad rush, I could not find my cell phone to save my life. I ran upstairs to search and finally decided to dump my purse out on my bed in efforts to locate it.

Also important to note - I had not made my bed that morning.

When I went to sleep that night I found that there is just nothing better than crawling into bed full of cereal after a long, hard day.

-My mama and I were looking at some old pictures of our family tonight and I was commenting on the many unfortunate hairstyles of Debra D.

On picture in particular had me troubled.

As I laughed about what was going on atop The Debster's head, I panned over to myself and promptly thanked Deb for cutting my bangs straight across and allowing my scraggly hair to hang down lifelessly against my black velvet dress.


I can't wait to show my children those pictures one day and have them comment on how they didn't know their Mama was white trash.

Her response to my asking why in the world she would subject her child to such hairtastrophe - "Well, I wasn't going down alone."

Motherly love at it's finest.

Well, it's off to pick the last few honey combs out of my bed, get my pajamas on, and flip over to ABC to give Jillian a chance to convince me she made the right decision picking Ed when Kiptyn and his 10-pack were right there waiting.

Sunday to Sunday: A look back

It all began last Sunday. The 19th day of July, in the two thousand and ninth year of our Lord.

********

Sunday: The real fun of that day began by playing the newly-obsessed-about card game that rose to fame last week. (It's called Pashaw, I found out - and it is FUN). We played it right there at the lunch table of the restaurant after church.

(Shout out to the waitress who found us cards to play with. She got a big tip.)

I think I won this hand because even though I got off to a rocky start in my Pashaw career, I now dominate on a regular basis. (And by regular, I mean I've won once.)

Some friendly competitors.


TFran shuffling.


Zach (who I later had to work my 6 years of counseling education on to figure out why he FREAKS out when he loses) and me.


We are also working on keeping our eyes open in pictures more.

Monday: I did a little worky work until 5, ate dinner, and then met up with Marsha who treated her Blog Administrator to a little pedicure. My toes have never looked better in my opinion, but what I really need to make note of is the massage chair. My back was actually sore for days following. It hurt so good.

Tuesday: Hmmm. I actually have no recollection of anything that happened that day. I know I went to work.

Wednesday: After work on Wednesday, I met up with some ladies to eat a yummy restaurant in town to bid farewell to a dear girl by the name of Amy. Amy-girl has been Deb's assistant at work for the past couple years and just moved back to Colorado this past Saturday. Deb is in deep mourning. But we didn't shed tears that night - we just ate and gabbed and laughed and ate some more.

Amy and Anna


Amy and her BFF Deb.


And with The Conster, of course.


(This is where the pictures cease unfortunately. My camera and I were not friends the rest of the week.)

Thursday: Thursday, Thursday - you are but a blur or craziness. Let's just say work was a little thing we like to call out of control. We had visitors, a community event after hours, and a phone that decided to BLOW COMPLETELY UP all day long. Lost of people wanting to get sober on Thursday. We were thankful of course, but my brain was very tired.

Friday: Repeat of Thursday only with the knowledge that once I walked out of that door (even if it was over an hour later than normal), I had nowhere to be. Friday night I hung out with Marlee and Tara over at the Hagan's. We all laid on the couch and watched some Friends - then we followed it with a viewing of the movie, "Life as a House" - which I had never seen and very much enjoyed (minus some awkward scenes inappropriate for young eyes). Unfortunately we had some amoung us - it went down something like this...

Scene which shows why the movie is rated R. Yucky teenage boys who were watching it with us start laughing and talking about said scene. Jenna yells, "Everyone hush and close your eyes! There will be no discussion of such at this time!"

My apologies to all the parents.

Saturday: There were GRAND plans to clean and organize, but the first part of the day was spent sleeping, the middle part on the phone with my girl Lindsay discussing life, and the latter part back at the Hagans playing Pashaw - and then going on a Sonic run with my main man, Jake. We then went upstairs to their awesome movie room and watched "Music and Lyrics". SUCH a cute movie. POP goes my heeeaaaarrrrrtttt. (Sing it with me, Jake!)

Sunday: Church was awesome. The youth had their summer camp last week (it's called PHAT camp, which thrills me to no end - PHAT stands for People Him And Truth) and I just loved seeing them all up at the front raising their hands during worship. Then my friend Josh (the youth pastor) preached and it was just wonderful. After church it was lunch and then some hang out time at the hizzy. Gram came over for dinner, I gathered pictures for Al's new movie (more on this later), watched a little Army Wives, found work clothes for tomorrow, talked on the phone, and chatted on Facebook with my friend Meg. Now it's to bed!

Tomorrow's another Monday - time to do it all again!

My wardrobe and a serious concern

A while back I decided to shop around a little bit for some work clothes. I didn't want to spend a lot, and I wanted some neutral pieces that could be "cuted up" in a bunch of different ways.

I found a few items at the love of my life (or at least Statesboro) TJMaxx. One of the articles I bought was an really cute jacket. It was light, and it had 3/4 sleeves, really thin vertical stripes in white and coral, and was adorned with some really darling buttons down the front.

Brown pants, gray pants, navy pants - it could go with them all and would really bring a casual look together in a nice, professional woman kind of way.

I honestly could see outfit possibilities for days.

Well, as it sometimes goes in the world of High Fashion (or Low Fashion as the case happens to be), weeks passed on and I never wore the jacket. It was not for a lack of trying - many mornings, I would try it on - but it never looked quite right to me.

It fit weird, I started loving the color less and less, and my my - was it just me, or were those buttons growing more gaudy with each passing day!?

I had purchased this jacket with such excitement. And now I couldn't wear it.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

I decided that even though the jacket was $10, I'd take it back to store and get my money back. $10 is $10 and it just so happened at that time, I was interested in purchasing a bathing suit.

So in my mind, it was all working out perfectly because now that money could go towards the suit making it (theoretically) $10 less, and that would make me feel so much better about myself and my purchasing.

And, I reasoned, maybe me feeling better would make me a nicer person, thereby helping others to be nicer, and so on and so on - with the result obviously being complete World Peace.

So really, I had no choice. The world was depending on me.

One day after work, I took the jacket back and headed over to CATO to look at bathing suits.

Imagine my disappointment when I realized CATO doesn't even sell bathing suits. I was starting to wonder if the Wardrobe Fairies were waging a war against me - and then. THEN, I saw it.

It was on the sale rack - hanging, waiting, calling to me.

A flowy black dress, pulling in at the waist just right, with tiny little khaki polka dots covering it from top to bottom. Size? Check. Price? $10. It was a merchandise miracle!

I tried it on, loved it, and decided that the Wardrobe Fairies not only were on my team, they had definitely orchestrated this transaction. They knew how much I'd love the dress and the many, many times I would be able to wear the thing to work and beyond.

So.

That point of that whole story is to share that I am wearing that dress today. It has been a long week, and I decided that in order to get through Friday, I would need to try to produce as much excitement as I could into my daily life.

And what better way to bring joy than the feeling of maximum cuteness?

And for me that involves my cute black dress with some cute black tights (I know it's hot - it's more of a safety measure. I want to keep the eyes of my co-workers from the leg brightness).

But here is the issue at hand.

I have a severe fear connected to dress-wearing at this particular time in my life. Especially with tights.

I can't tell you how often through the day I check the back of my dress to ensure that it is not, how can I put this delicately, "jacked up."

I have am intensely scared that a time will come when I, let's say, leave the bathroom and do not realize that my dress in caught up in the back of the tights. Thus revealing all that is sacred underneath my dress.

Can you just imagine walking through the hospital exposed? Has this ever happened to you?!?

What if my boss or one of our doctors ended up walking behind me?

I'd seriously have to quit.

At least I'd look cute (save the jacked up dress) on my way out. :-)

A Beach Retrospective

I started babysitting for Ashley when Will was at the end of his second month of life and when Brannen was about a week away from 3. Ashley and I bonded quickly in the months following my entrance into their lives.

Looking back, I am not surprised - I think such bonds are to be expected when you let God choreograph your relationships. He definitely knew what he was doing when he paired up that newly single mama of 2 small babes and that college senior with a very open schedule and an automatic adoration for the aforementioned children.

I can't imagine why I liked them so much.


It wasn't like they were cute or anything.


I started keeping the boys in November of 2006 and when summer rolled around, Ashley recruited me to accompany them on their upcoming beach trips. Thus began a new phase in our relationship called, Once You Vacay, You're Here to Stay Stay.

We have laughed harder and had more adventures on these beach trips that I could ever express. More tears were she and more fun was had over the past 3 years' trips than I could have really imagined. They've been crazy, they've been whirlwinds, they've been awesome, and they've been the source of some of the MOST fun we have had.

Well, it is with GREAT REGRET that I was not able to keep tradition alive and go with the fam on either of their beach trips this year (one of which they are at RIGHT NOW - deep sadness).

I am so thankful to have a job and know I am where I supposed to be for the summer of 2009. But I am still sad I'm not with them. To help drown my sorrows, I took a look back through some old pics to try and transport myself back there as much as I could.

2006

Will: 9 months
Brannen: 3.5 years

The year of....

...Waking up to a chunky 9 month grinning at us from the pack and play.


...Getting the 3 year old (who we thought looked SO big at the time) to cheese for the camera (we really honed in on our bribery skills that trip.)


...B learning about decision-making. To jump in or not to jump in? Is the spanking worth it?


It was also the year of...

...Will having a double ear infection with a side of teething.



Most memorably, 2006 was the year of...

...The great night-time southern explosion of 06, compliments of Will. (My pajamas, as well as mine and Ashley's relationship were never the same after that. When you are laying in "the aftermath" of someone else's child, it really catapults your relationship to the next level. I don't think we've ever laughed so hard. Prunes on vacay = Bad Happening)


In the end it was lovingly known as The Year We SURVIVED It.

2007

Will: 1.5 years
Brannen: 4.5 years

The year of....

...Major Brannen cuteness and funniness.


...The Curls making an appearance at the beach for the first time! Not to mention the year of Will being able to walk, talk, have opinions, etc. (Whole. New. Ballgame)


It was the year of...

...B and W offering Ice Cream Eating Tutorials for their family and friends.


...Having a policewoman explain to the boys what happens when you do not follow directions.


...Saving children from imminent death as they tried to catapult themselves off the pier.



It was also the year of....

...Jenn Jenn taking family pics on the beach. (Making 2007 the year of the Ultimate Christmas Card)



I think looking back, we'd all agree 2007 was The Year of Pure Exhaustion on All Levels by All People.


2008

Will: 2.5
Brannen: 5.5

This was the year of...

...2 little fishes swimming around like big boys in the BIG POOL. (Huge milestone)

...Lots of fun pool time with Mama!


This was the year of...

...Miss Lindsay joining the craziness (she actually was there for our inaugural beach trip in 2006 - God love her). We don't know what she was thinking either time, but we were glad each time she joined us because we LOVE "Miss Wincie."


2007 definitely turned out to be the year of....

....Brotherly love.


...Some of the most extreme meltdowns we had ever witnessed in all our days of living.


Later that year, during their family vacation, it was the year of...

...Not so great weather, but lots of fun alternate plans like visiting the mall and riding the carousel (A thrill of epic proportion).


It was also the year of...

...Watching more Spiderman than we believed was humanly possible.


...Getting Brannen to, you know, come out of his shell. Such a shy child.


It was the year of...

...Long days on the beach playing, digging, boogey boarding, and hugging up on our best friends.


It was the year of pure, unadulterated beach joy.


And it ended up being The Year We Realized it Gets Better (easier, more interesting, more fun) Every Year.

******

I am so sad I'm not there this time, but I am totally planning on 2010 being The Year Jenn Jenn Returns!

I'm disturbed.

Missing: Cardigan

Color: Grassy Knoll
Origin: Old Navel
Last Seen: 6+ months ago
Personal message from Cardigan's family: Please come home soon. There is no limit to the amount of outfits you can be added to. This makes you invaluable in the eye of this beholder.
Reward: Hug

Missing: Dress

Color: Midnight Ebony
Origin: TJMaxxalaca
Last Seen: May 30, 2009 at Mel's wedding (note: dress not shed AT wedding)
Personal message from Dress' family: Where in the world did you go? You were on a hanger one day and gone the next. My tights and my work wardrobe are lost with out you.
Reward: 2 Hugs (I really love that dress)

Missing: Cardigan2


Color: Creamed Corn
Origin: The Wallymarts
Last Seen: Unknown
Personal message: I am sorry I forgot that I lost you until the other day. The time I didn't realize you were gone has only intensified my quest to find you, wear you, and never lose you again. Word.
Reward: High fiver

Missing: My Sanity

If you have any information on the whereabouts of these wardrobe items or my mind, please contact me at seriouslywherearemyclothes@ineedthemback.com

The Prince

Look who's 29 years-old today!


There is an infamous video that is hidden within the depths of my parents' house from one of my brother's birthday parties.

He was probably turning 11 - making his sister the (very cute and not annoying at all) age of about 8.


(This was not the birthday, just for the record - I generally wore pumpkin suits only on Halloween.)

On that particular birthday, he had invited a small group of boys over for food, cake, and fun.

If you watched the video for very long, you'd most certainly hear my father's voice ring out from behind the camera. You'd see my mother as she scurries around organizing the food and the fun. You'd see me (wearing orange and white gingham shorts with some random t-shirt) frolicking around in the middle of all the party-goers.

You'd also see the faces of the boys - all of whom were obviously pumped to celebrate their bud, while simultaneously wondering why the baby sister got a party invite.

And about 30 or so minutes into the home movie, Matthew and all of his friends gather around the coffee table.

The upcoming scene? Present Opening.

(It was supposed to be the highlight of the party.)

(Not if the little sister had anything to do with it.)

If you watched the video, I'm sure you'd smile and laugh - the antics of tween boys, Deb's perm, Alan's witty comments from the helm of the video camera - all very entertaining.

Unfortunately, what you'd also surely notice is a high-pitched voice overriding all that you hold dear about the video.

"Maaaaaaa-ttttthhhhheeeeeeeeeww!!!!" rings out from the scraggly blonde - the shriekiness reminiscent of an unwelcomed bird outside your window on a Saturday morning.

What did I want? I have no idea. If I were a betting girl, I'd say it was for a little thing called attention. What baby of the fam doesn't thrive on it?

And was it really my fault if I had a point of interest to share about one or two (or every) present the poor boy opened?

"MAMA!" Matthew pleaded with our mother after he couldn't take it anymore (approximately 20 seconds). She understood his encrypted message and instructed me to bring it down a couple of notches by saying, "Jenna Babe, please."

Even at such a young age, I could interpret her encrypted message.

It read: For the love of all things birthday - PLEASE HUSH.

I'm sure I quieted down for as long as I could (approximately 20 seconds), and the video wore on until all the candles had been blown out and the Matthew-man was appropriately celebrated.

We do like him around here. Especially this annoying little sister of yesteryear.

I haven't seen that infamous video in years, but we still talk about it - and laugh about it - to this day.

It's hilarious to us now - mainly because my voice is no longer high-pitched, I no longer aggravate my brother to the ends of the earth and back, and because the intensity by which I annoyed my brother back then is now matched only by the love we now share (as big ol' 25 and 29(!!!!) year-old adults).


Happy Birthday, Brother! I couldn't have picked one any better than you. :-)

(And again, my apologies for that whole bday party of 1991 thing.)

No pictures - for which you'll thank me

Throughout the day on Thursday, I kept thinking to myself, "I feel weird."

Couldn't put my finger on it.

After I ate supper that night, my finger started zeroing in on the situation at hand. And it wasn't pretty.

Call it "eating something bad" or "24 hour bug" or "will I ever not be repulsed by food again?" - but whatever it was, I was left to wonder Is this the end?

I got up on Friday determined not to let it take me down for the day.

It is way too early in the work world to be calling in sick, I thought to myself.

But, it only took about 30 mins to realize whatever little friend was making waves in my stomach needed some more time to, ahem, make it's way out.

Lovely. Slash nasty.

Work was called, apologies were made, and thanks were given (from my co-workers to me for not bringing the yuck into their presence). Saltines were bought, blankets were gathered, and into the recliner I went for the rest of the day.

It actually really was lovely. Brought back good memories. Minus the gastrointestinal woes.

(P.S. When I first typed that word I spelled it "gasterointerological." Um - not quite there, Jenn.)

Thankfully, as the day progressed, so did my health, and by the end of Friday I was feeling much, much better. For this I was very thankful.

(Not trying to be picky, but I'd rather not spend my highly anticipated 2 days of freedom miserable, if at all possible.)

When the clock struck 11pm that night, I retired to my bed (that lays on the floor due to an unfortunate bed collapse). My resting place being so close to the earth did not deter my eyes from staying closed til 11am the next morning.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Gotta enjoy it when I can, while I can.

The rest of the day....let's see, what did I do?

Oh yes, there was...

Lay out contemplation (the heat beat and deterred me, my skin regrets to inform you)

Computer action (caught up on blogs, researched useless information, wasted brain cells on various youtube videos)

A book was read (Memory Keeper's Daughter - thanks to Bri T. was the loaner)

Food was eaten (I was glad to know that my stomach and I were friends once again)

Clothes were washed and dried (and this is where I'd say hung up, but you know...2 out 3 ain't bad)

Today I woke up 100% my old self, which was good because I was in need of some churchin.

(Although my prayer life had reached an all-time high Thursday night when the Nasty swooped in. Funny how that works).

After church I went to eat with some friends TFran and Matt, then came home to figure out how in the world to spend the rest of the day.

Just as I began to contemplate, Bon Qui Qui rang out on my phone (she's my text message ringer, although will be changed AS SOON as I can remember how to do it. BQQ embarrasses me in public every day).

Turns out, it was TFran texting me to let me know she was chillin at Marsha's pool if I wanted to come (the Hagans were laking it).

That sounded perfect, so I let the sun make-out with my skin for a while.

Get it? My skin was getting sunkissed?

(Why is this post so gross today?)

After I could stand the heat no more, we called it quits, and I came home. I laundered some more clothes and am currently settling in for a little Sunday night TV.

(On deck - Next Food Network Star. In the hole - Army Wives.)

It was not really a weekend for the memory books, but one in which I am thankful for nonetheless.

Indeed, it started off dicey. But I have to say - it's ending quite nicely.

:-)

A table full of Aces

On Tuesday evening, 6 ridiculous people gathered for a card game experience, the likes of which none of them had ever experienced.


The name of the game cannot be revealed because the author of this post does actually know the name. And she can't tell you how to play it because the rules are complicated, and she definitely did not master them - which her final score showed.


But, despite the diversities she faced on the score sheet and the amount of times she had to proclaim, "It's FINE, people. I am learning by error!" to all of those who looked on her with pity, great fun was had by all.

Marlee was there. She provided score keeping, funniness, and a safe place to lean on when the girl on her left doubled over with loud, obnoxious laughter at the antics of her fellow competitors.


Marlee's sweet friend, Heaven, was there providing moral support as she very studiously worked on some summer homework. We all wanted to be like her and resist the temptations of recreational card games in the face of other more pressing matters we should have been attending to. (Sleep, work, homework, etc.)

You go, Heaven! Love, Us


At one point in the night, a particular person (the one using her camera phone during this whole shindig because she was too lazy to go get her real camera out of the car) tried to take a picture of her hand of cards.

What she didn't realize was that the picture was showing up on the screen that faced all of her opponents.

All of her strategies to win out the window in one fell swoop.

Marsha tried to make her feel better by showing the idiot HER hand.


The idiot was most appreciative.

The author of this story would like to note that she has a competitive nature the size of a mustard seed. It's kind of like Faith.

Except, unlike Faith where a mustard seed is an adequate amount, you really need more in the area competitive natures should you want to not shock those around you with how BADLY you can strategize and lose.

Marlee, for example, had a hard time taking it all in. She gave this look of wonder to her buddy many times throughout the night, as if to say, "Are you really this bad at this game?"


Why yes. Yes she was.

Some people, on the other hand, did a little better in the winning department. In fact this lovely lady in blue, pictured below, took home the gold that night - facing off with her friend Tara who narrowly escaped a victory.


In card games, spelling out your first initial with the cards is equivalent to a victory lap.


If she won, why was Marsha crying????


Oh. Not crying. Just putting poker chips on her eyes. That was going to be our second guess.


"It's my POKER FACE," she shared.

Clay got in on the action as well. Say it with me now - NOT. RIGHT.


This is when things started spiralling downward, as others in the group started busting out THEIR talents.




And, it was pretty much over at that point. The clock neared midnight, and people started getting delirious.


Perhaps the most delirious comment came when The Girl Who Has a God-given Knack for Losing Card Games told Marlee she really thought she played well and really had a shot at winning next time.


Either way, it is believed that - win or lose - all those involved that night would gladly gather around the table again ANY time for another game. :-)

Cause I eeeaat at Suuuuuuuubway

My girl Kelly sent me a link to this video earlier, thus making my day.

Have ya'll heard I enjoy Subway? Yeah...just a lil bit.

I have always thought meeting my future husband at Subway would be extremely hilarious/romantic.

Yes (future) children. Your Daddy had me at "banana peppers."

Who knows if this dream shall ever become a reality, but I think this video reinforces that the goal should definitely be meeting Mr. Right, you know, IN LINE at Subway - as opposed to falling in love with the sandwich artist behind the counter.

Although I think the boy featured below and I would be FAST friends. He makes me LOL in a serious, way-too-loud-for-human-ears kind of way.

Enjoy!

Sunshine and Summertime

On Saturday I loaded myself up and hit the road to my brother's town to celebrate July 4th with the rest of my crew (who had been there since Thursday).

When I finally got to my brother's 4 hours later, I was greeted at the door by this woman, who was wearing a swimsuit cover up with a level of cuteness that stopped me in my tracks.


I neglected to even say hello before I said, "Oooooo Mama, that's cute." I gave her the once-over and said, "Yeah. That's so gonna be mine one day." Poor Deb, I really do steal all her cute stuff. Can you blame me?

Her response - "Um. Doubt it." Oh well, off to the pool we go!

Big Al was already there soaking up the sun, which, incidentally, was the same color as his hat.


Her is a little something to know about Deb. Here 3 greatest loves in the world are 1.) Family, 2) Laying out by some body of water (natural or pool), and 3.) Birthday Cake.


Her smile is large because on that day, July 4 2009, she got all three at once. It's a wonder her head did not explode into 1 million happy pieces.

Me and the main men in my life.


My dad was making fun of my brother at one point of the day because Matthew (whose skin usually gets black as night in the summer - he got all the good genes, P.S.) was looking a little white since he works all the time now and is never outside. I then inquired sweetly, "Do you think I look tan, Daddy?"

I'm still waiting to hear back as he suddenly heard someone calling his name in the distance and had to go.

Pool time is fun. Here are the love birds.


We were so excited to be invited back to Larsen's parents' pool for another Independence Day Celebration.

It brought lots of people I love together. Aquatics can do that to families.


It was fun hanging out at the pool with a bunch of people. Some even took part in death defying acts off the diving board.


Did you know my brother took gymnastics when he was 4? True story. LOL. That bit of history has had me laughing since 1990 when I first found out.


But in all seriousness, I think you can really tell - look at that form.

Big Al was pretty happy to wish America a great Bday.


By the way, this is a classic Alan smirk. It is Level One of Alan's Laughing Continuum.

I love my brother because he is very sweet, because he is very protective, and because he took gymnastics when he was 4.


My girls! Larsen and Mama went shopping on Friday (the trip that brought about the cover-up I will one day steal when Deb's not looking). Larsen got a cute cute bathing suit (seen below).


Upon making it into town I stopped by Target and got the SAME cute bathing suit (seen above). We were twinkies that day and it made us happy.

Same people, different spot in the pool.


Big Al and Matthew. They are twinkies every day. In every way. Believe what I say.


Here is Matthew and Larsen's stepdad, Jim who is HIGH-LARIOUS. We enjoy him immensely.


Another thing to note about Jim. He is Italian which explains why his skin is as dark as the darkest night. Upon discussing his darkness, I let everyone know that the only way I would ever be that tan was if I happened to DIE outside in the summer and no one knew or found me for like 3 weeks.

Then, and maybe then, I could achieve Jim's tan-ness.

I didn't get any pictures of Larsen's sweet mama (which disturbs me greatly, as she was an AWESOME hostess). I think it was because she was up and down making sure all was right in the way of food, drinks, and people's happiness levels.

Pretty soon, it was time to eat. Big Al whipped up some Brunswick stew to serve as the Tyson's contribution. Matthew and I assisted as taste testers.


If you cook it, they will come. (Ribs, chicken, corn, baked beans, pasta salad, stew, and happiness)


Even some canines lined up for a plate.


And some even got some Rib action. Lucky dogs.


The Debster is my friend.


How cute are these people, I ask you?


Sadly, as the sky darkened (lit up only by fireworks in the distance) it was time to go home. Here is Larsen's dog Millie (aka Mildred) when I gave her the news of our impending departure.


I know, Mildred. It hurt us more than it hurt you. But we were so tired.

You can relate.


I think L's expression is a great representation of how we all felt about the good times shared that day and night.


The next day we got up, grabbed a quick lunch, and hit the road back to the Boro. It was a quick trip, but a great trip.

Happy Bday, USA. Thanks for being born/declaring your independence! We think that was a great idea.


Love, The Tysons

3:00 - Time to re-fuel USA style

I'm starting my Independence Day celebration a little early - as seen here in my choice of afternoon snackage.


Doesn't get more American than Cracker Jacks and an ice-cold (Diet) Coca-cola!

Hope ya'll have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Sam's: July Edition

When we entered the concluding days of June 2009, I brought a plan to my dear friend Marsha for her to consider. A plan that involved a trip to a place like no other.

July was coming. My budget was calling out for something that only she can give me.

Sam's, baby. And yesterday was the day.


I guess you could say Marsha is my Sam's dealer since she holds the card and the membership, thereby controlling my use.

Luckily she loves Sam's with an unbridled passion and was totally up to make a trip so I could once again stock up on my monthly goods. This is a key element to keeping my little budget intact.

Last time Jake went with us, but this time he wasn't interested - so we swapped him out for our friend Tara.


As we were getting off the car I realized an almost fatal mistake I had made. My camera was left in my car at home.

What is happening to me that I am forgetting my camera at life's most important moments?

Thank goodness for cell phone cams.

Once we got inside, Marsha and Tara left me and my calculator to wander to aisles trying to figure out what we wanted to buy in order for me to win this little "Financial Planner of the Year" competition I have going with myself.

But as I wandered, all I could think about was how grateful I was to be there and how I really wanted to thank Marsha for bringing me and for supporting my new-found Sam's addiction.

It wasn't until I approached the refrigerated meats section that I knew what I could offer her.


How 'bout a little cow tongue, Marsh? I've heard they are the international sign of thanks.

I finally met back up with M and T just in time to re-live last month's unfortunate run in with an undersized life jacket.

Little did I know last month, when I offered to model some perspective life jackets, I would wind up with a self-esteem smaller than the mini-vest that would barely wrap around my body.


Thankfully, this month's Life Jacket try-on session went much better. I am choosing to believe it's because I shrank.


When Marsha called her husband to describe the size to see if it's what he wanted, she said, "Jenna has on the large right now and it is really big on her."

I swear I heard dozens of angels break out in a hallelujah chorus.

Angels come in bulk at Sam's, you know.

Pretty soon, it was time to grab a little something to wash down the cow tongue.


Then before we knew it, we were done. Here is Marsha's cart - obviously she has a love affair with Sam going herself.


After we left, we did what any self-respecting southern women would do. We crossed the border into South Carolina to buy fireworks....


Once inside I found Tara and Marsha camped out in front of the TV that showed how each type of firework worked. It was very educational. And somewhat frightening (Re: the skull on TV).


While they watched, I started looking around, and I was SO glad my eyes found their way to this sign.


I was totally about to light up right there in the middle of approximately 1 million explosive devices.

Close one, friends, close one.

Printed on the outside of the Fireworks building was the theme which woven into our entire trip.


It was like a sign that we were exactly where we needed to be in that moment.

Cue the Fireworks.

After we loaded up, we grabbed a quick bite and then hit the road home.

Jake greeted us back at the house, and I insisted he and I take a picture like we always do when we get back from Sam's (you know, all 2 times now).


At first the little punk tried to refuse. He likes to ruffle my feathers - I think it's because he knows he is my favorite and nothing he can do will ever tarnish my love.


All in all, I'd have to say it was a very successful and entertaining trip.

Can't wait til August!

When it's this hot, we use the F words

Funny Faces

(Can't see Hayden's face on this one, but the braids had to be documented. It's the law.)

Flying, Flailing, & Floats

Food

Family & Friends

Summer Pool Party = Fun (the most important F word of them all!)