Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's All Over

Well, now that Thanksgiving is over and we are all filled to bursting with lots of warm Thanksgivingy types of home cooked foods, I wanted to share some fun things that happened this weekend while Dan and I were celebrating with my family in Richmond.

I think some of the highlights include shopping and movie watching and general merriment of the season. There was some touch football action (guys vs. girls...yeah we had no hope for victory), and card games. Wizard is our family favorite. We enjoy a little witty banter while we throw down some cards. There was some hide and seek, football/parade watching, and air hockey.

This year, my brother-in-law Michael, decided to start the First Annual Turkey Trot with the family. We ran/walked around the neighborhood lake. Leave it to Michael to create a ridiculous event like this that will actually more than likely become a family tradition.

Our Christmas movie of choice this year was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Heather's kids have never seen it. It was enjoyable, I personally have seen it no less than 25 times, much to the chagrin of everyone else because I can quote the whole comedy.

I got to show Dan some of the craziness of my family as well as the posh West End of Richmond. We did a little shopping with the rest of the world on Black Friday.

There was so much food. So much food. More food than my poor little body is used to devouring. So, I think it went into shock around 8:00Am on Thursday and is just now feeling normal (it is currently Sunday at 4:00PM).

I will close with two things my nephews said this weekend that will live in Baldwin family infamy.

Nathan, age 3 was sitting at dinner on Wednesday and between all the screaming and general noise-making that occurs with four kids in the room, he goes:

"What is everyone's highs and lows?"

Haha. Are we at Bible Study? It was super cute.

And then, a Jacob-ism...

We were playing hide and seek and after he found me hiding in the closet, he pauses and says to me:

"Aunt Jenny, I am thankful I am not locked in a closet this year for Thanksgiving."

Haha. Ok, hope you all had an amazing, filling, fun, exciting, restful, memory filled Thanksgiving! And I hope none of you were locked in a closet either.

25 Days of Christmas

I can't believe Thanksgiving is over and now we are rushing into the Christmas season! Yikes. I always tell myself I will be more prepared for the upcoming Christmas holiday, and every year I feel like I am doing everything at the last minute! We shall see how it all goes. My lovely friend Tracie and I were hanging out about a month or so ago and she told me she not only had already bought all her Christmas gifts, but had also wrapped them all as well! It's people like you Tracie that make me feel like I am slow on the uptake. You know what I mean? But, I love your crazy Type A personality Tracie...I really do. So, I am going to be ambitous this year and do the "25 Days of Chrismas" Countdown on my blog every day, sharing with you all my favorite things of the season, and giving myself one more thing to do this season. So, I know I am a day early as it is only November 30, but chances are I won't post anything on Christmas Day anyways, so here goes:

Number 25.

Pee-Wee's Christmas Special.

You used to see this played on TV every year, but I suppose there is a lack of Pee-Wee Herman lovers out there anymore. Good thing my brother owns the movie. And also subsequently lost said movie. So, good thing you can You Tube the delightful Christmas Special. Timmy and I grew up watching this show (Heather was a little less thrilled by the humor). And while I am pretty sure our parents did not want us watching this show, Timmy always found a way to watch it when they weren't around..and I with him. So, here is a clip from the opening montage of the movie. Come on, you know you wanna watch.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Well. It's almost Thanksgiving. So, I thought that maybe I should write a blog about what I am thankful for, because well, let's face it...I have a lot to be thankful for. Starting at Number 10, here is:

Jenny's Top Ten Things To Be Thankful For:

Number 10. Target- The one stop shop. Well, usually. I can find anything at Target. Gifts. Clothes. Jewlrey. Food. Tolietries. Purses. Shoes. Home Decor. Car supplies. Storage. M and M's. You name it, I can find it. I love Target. And, I am thankful for it. It makes me happy to shop there. You might be thinking why is she thankful for a store? I just am. It's more than a store to me, it's an experience. And recently, I have been able to experience it with Dan which just adds to the joy. I think I also love that with the changing seasons, I can find all sorts of fun, unnecessary knick-knacks for the upcoming holiday season.


Number 9. Books. I love books. All types. Everything from books on my relationship with God, to children's literature. And, everything in between as I am a huge Twlight fan. Books create a great escape. Also, I have an incredible imagination for an adult. So, reading tends to feed that insatiable desire within me to go to far off lands and meet new and interesting people and creatures (like house elves), as I am also a huge Harry Potter fan.

Number 8. The internet. I got a lap top for Christmas last year and since then many have joked that it is an added appendage of mine. I second that. I realize my addiction is to an unhealthy degree. I don't think this became apparent until I dropped my lap top and the Geek Squad had her in their care for three weeks. Anywho, I love the internet. I love that I have access to people and information 24 hours a day. And, if I were to make a sub list of things I am thankful for it would be:

Facebook
My blog
AIM
itunes
Hulu (online free tv)
Jibjabs (making e cards and sendables with people's faces cut out)

Yes, many of the ways I connect with people is online. I realize it's artifical at best and you can't fully engage in conversation with someone online (nonverbal cues are so essential), I think it's a great way to connect with people you may lose contact with because of distance. I am horrible at maintaining long distance relationships on average, so I enjoy it. Plus, talk about escape!!


Number 7. My Job- I may complain most days about how I have no time to myself. I may even tell you how annoying it is to hear Evie whine all day long. I may even get so frustrated with the fact that I clean up the same toys about 5 times a day, wipe her nose about 3 times as much, and get really bored being alone with a toddler all day long. What you will normally not hear is how thankful I am to have a job like this. It's actually kinda nice. I can go and do as I please (her car seat takes up permanent residence in my car) including getting my groceries, doing my laundry, running to Target, and going out to lunch with friends. Also, I get about a 3 hour break each day while Evie naps to do my Quiet Time or catch up on episodes of 30 Rock and The Office, nap (and God only knows how enjoyable it is to get paid to sleep), blog, and make various phone calls. All in all, I have a really great job and I am thankful that not only am I building into the life of a small child for God (and more recently into the lives of the neighbors' kids as my services are now well known, plus it's like a second job without putting out more hours), but I also get practical application for when I have my own kids. It's a great job, so don't let me fool you when I complain that I have it so hard.


Number 6. Grace. Yes, I mean God's grace. But here I am referring to Grace Fellowship Church. It was like a beacon of light for me before I moved. I had this vision that I would move to Baltimore, start attending Grace regularly (I would visit when in town, so I already knew about it), get involved in a small group, join Exit 242 (the college/career group), and make friends and have some fellowship. Sure enough, it happened pretty much in that order. I am thankful to have fellowship again!! I think I was becoming an island while still living in Salisbury, and no man is an island! No woman for that matter, either. It is so good to be known, to have accountablity again, and to grow in fellowship.


Number 5. My friends. So, my friends are obviously super cool. I wouldn't surround myself around the uncool...ever. Hehe. Yes, I am so thankful for them. As we age, their friendship just seems more valuable to me. Mostly because when I think back on the times we have shared, I realize that we have been through a lot together. So much drama. So many times of absolute joy. We have worked, played, sang, shared, loved, cried, eaten, been crafty, laughed, and even gotten frustrated with one another over the years. Through it all, we have built friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. Without a doubt, I would not be the person I am today without them all.


Number 4. My Family. Where would we be without those who have seen us grow and change into the people we have become today? Where would I be without the love and support my family has shown me? This year, my brother offered me a home for three months while I was getting acquainted with Baltimore (he lives in Towson with his family). Where would I be without my mom's financial support during a rough season of moving? Where would I be without my sister's gentle spiritual guidance and challenges to be more of the woman I need to be (she never lets me settle on being ordinary ever)? Where would I be without the moments of laughter and even the tears? Where would I be without these people who allow me to be me? Living a sad existence for sure. Family is important. And, my family (as weird as we are) is an amazingly, dysfunctionally functional source of love and guidance.


Number 3. My move. Many of you know that I moved to Baltimore in March of 2008. It was an impulsive decision on my part. I decided to quit my job and move in one day. It was crazy. Impulsive for sure, but a decision I had been weighing on for years. I had wanted to move, but never thought it was the right time. Never felt like I had the resources or the energy to follow through with it. For sure, moving is a stressful time. And put on top of that quitting a job and becoming homeless, as well as working through one of the deepest depressions I have ever faced all at the same time and you're looking at a season of hard times and misery. I went from seemingly having it all pieced together so nicely, to not knowing where I would lay my head at night (literally). But it is through our seasons of darkness that I believe God uses for us to trust Him more and lean on Him for understanding. And, you can only move forward in life. Times were hard for sure, but those who sow in tears will reap a harvest of joy. Which leads me to my Number 2...(For the full story ask me about it sometime)


Number 2. Dan. You didn't think I would make a top ten list and forget to include you babe, did you? I am thankful for Dan Fockel and I am not ashamed to admit it. He has been one of the most amazing additions to my life. The more I make room for him, the more I want to make room for him in my life. I enjoy our conversations, our witty banter, our dinner dates, our lazy time, our time serving with each other, our phone conversations. I am thankful that I have someone who is caring and sweet. Someone to share my thoughts with and bounce ideas off of. He is becoming a trusted confidant and friend as well as a man I respect and adore. I look so forward to the times we get to spend together. Dan, your companionship is already something I cherish. I believe fully that God is so good to me for bringing you when He did. :)


Number 1. My Relationship with Christ. Obviously, I am thankful that God has created me, loved me, saved me, disciplined me, sacrificed for me, and given me good gifts. Without Him in my life, I would be leading a bleak existence. Everyday I grow more thankful to be known by Him and it makes me want to use my life to glorify Him in every way. Why wouldn't I? I was bought with a price. I no longer live, but Christ in me. God didn't die to make bad people good, He died to make dead people alive. Think about it.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Confession Time...


So, as I sit here with my sweet Evelyn watching Elmo in Grouchland (part of our morning routine) for probably the 5th time since we bought it about two weeks ago, I am reminded of two things.

First story:

Evie and I were at Shopper's Food Warehouse around lunch time.

Side Note: It's the worst possible time to go to the grocery store in the city. Everyone else had the same idea we had...grabbing something for lunch real quick. Except "real quick" quickly turned into a "quick eternity". It always seems like when you are the only one in need of a rush, everyone else is taking their sweet time (ie. sauntering down the aisles, purchasing every item in the store, etc.). And, just when you think you are the only one who notices how slowly the cashier is moving, someone else in the cue pipes up with some snide comment that makes you snicker because you were thinking the same thing. But, I digress.

We were in the store. Imagine I am carrying her, mostly to save time as I only needed to buy one or two things. But of course my little friend can't go anwhere without an entourage of stuffed animals, babies, toys, sippy cups, and snacks. In this particular incident, she just had a sippy cup of apple juice (her favorite) because we seriously were going to be in and out. We turn down the aisle I need, and I am secretly thinking how heavy this blasted child has gotten when this old man goes:

"Ah, that's the life."

Yes, he's not the first to comment on how good children have it. I get many comments on how cute she is and how she has it made in the shade. Honestly, I agree on both fronts but again, I digress.

"Yes." I say back.

He then goes on to ask her if she likes her juice, if "mommy" realizes what an angel she has.

Another side note: Often times people assume she is my child. Sometimes I choose to not explain I am just the nanny. One time, this guy swore up and down that she and I looked exactly alike. When I kindly told him there was no relation, he got very indiginant and mumbled something under his breath about how I didn't know what I was talking about (seriously? seriously.).

Back to my story. The old man then goes on to ask, "So, how are you today?"

Assuming he was now directing that question at me, I told him I was,

"Great. thanks for asking".

Ok friends, I kid you not when I say this is the response I got back,

"I wasn't talking to you."

Oooooh well excuse me.

Sheesh.

Second Story...

Then while we were in the store for what turned out to be 30 minutes or more, I heard the song from Dirty Dancing on the radio. The one at the end of the movie "I've Had the Time of My Life". And, I realized how much I abhore that song.

Ok, stop gasping! Geez. I'm sorry people. I just don't get that movie. Never have. It's a cult classic, much like Grease. I am just so over Grease. And, so over Dirty Dancing. People automatically assume that if you are a child of the 80's, that you love this movie. Now, granted in it's day I really did enjoy it. Watched it a gagillion and a half times; however, ugh now I hate just how anything that triggers someone to remember that movie there is so much commotion about it.

Really?

Then there are the sleepover tragedies. You know the ones. All the girls are together hanging out (no, we are NOT pillow fighting gentlemen) and deciding upon what movie to watch and someone ALWAYS suggests it. There are a few breathless gasping noises and it's all over, a done deal.

We are now forced to watch this movie for the 100th time where all the girls in the room not only quote the whole ghastly mess, but can even (EVEN) do the dance at the end. Oh, it's like watching a train wreck.

Ok, that was a hard confession to make. Don't judge me ok?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (A Jib Jab)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Tori, One Blog On You Could Never Be Enough











Here's some more on my Tori:


Remember the day we were headed to Grace, but got caught in Hershey Worlds' fabulous chocolate factory?
Remember the night we stayed up really late and talked on the stage of Caruther's Auditorium for a long time?
Remember Our Lake?
Remember the weekend of Thanksgiving, Potter, football, and playing video games with Tom, and the boys' dumpster fun and Seth's stitches?
Remember the Abnormal Semi-Formal and then watching Catch Me If You Can?
Remember when we would sit in your room and not want to go to class and watch Moulin Rouge instead?
Remember the time when we would eat in the Common's Bistro and specifically the time when Brad started belting out "O HOLY NIIIIIIIIIGHT"?
Remember the day you and the girls came over to "Aunt Jenny's House" for some lunch and hot chocolate on our day off from school?
Remember our Wednesday lunches?
Remember Mildred and Agnes? (And how no one wanted us to do away with those characters and instead we had to "Fly Them to the Moon")?
Remember your crazy calendars?
Remember how I always seem to be at your parent's house on a major or minor holiday?
Remember our Oscar Parties (Mad Eye Moody, Mad Eye Moody, Mad Eye Moody)?
Remember "I'm leveeeeeeeeeling up!!" or "I am Peter, I am the HIgh King and I have a stick!"?
Remember Snood?
Remember our 80's rock band (and our first song "Jesus, He's everything you nee-heed")?
Remember The Parable of the Lost Son in Masterpiece Theatre? ("Check it, check it...I stole it")
Remember "The Cell and You"?
Remember Death Loving Squirrels?
Remember our running commentary on all the Dance Shows?
Remember the Bake-Off with my mom (yikes) and then our equally as fun one last year with Katie?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Happy Birthday Tori!!!!!

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY TORI!!!!!!!!!

My baby is growing up! This blog is dedicated to my beloved Tori. We have been through a lot together and I have loved all the memories we have shared.
Remember the day the gas got a little out of control at the gas station?
Remember the time you fell in a bush on "musical day"?
Remember when I fell out of the car?
Remember when we were driving home from Thanksgiving break and talked on the phone the whole time?
Remember the day we would go to the weight room to lift and were surrounded by some of the biggest men we have ever been in contact with?
Remember..."MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, WE HAVE A SITUATION HERE PEOPLE!!!!" ?(makes me giggle even writing that)
Remember planning for the BAD and trying to get everyone to see the "vision"?
Remember our ER visit very early in the morning?
Remember going to the beach and reading Potter?
Remember family dinner nights?
Remember our Cool Beans visits where you had to cut me off from my Snicker Frappes by 6PM?
Remember our Busch Garden visits and ALWAYS getting pelted with rain on Apollo's Chariot?
Remember when we were chased by the zombie men?
Remember watching Hocus Pocus and making crafts?
Remember going to the Outback every year when we go to the OC Convention Center?
Remember the coloring book that had the picture of David from the Bible, I cut it out and gave it to you with some encouraging words? ;)
Remember our fun roomie reuniouns and getting dressed up to go out to eat?
Remember going to Applebees with our girls?
Remember playing Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter video games? (The best was when your dad caught us in our blanket "fort" trying to beat the troll that was running rampent through Hogwarts)
Remember our Rita's runs (Rita's what?)?
Remember..."Move over mama's tryin' on her boots"?
Remember the Holy Ghost party?
Remember shopping at Michaels and other random stores for crafts and then watching movies, being crafty, and eating some delicious taco ring?
Remember Williamsburg with your dad? ("He actually corrects the tour guide...it's really embarrassing")
Remember playing Quelf?
Remember Tracie's wedding weekend of fun?
Remember the sanity flower?

Tori, I love you. I need someone like you in my life (as in I need you to stay in my life...since you are already here. This comment was for Fockel and our little miscommuncation this morning). You make me smile. You make me laugh. You are always there even when others are not. You always, always support and encourage!! So, have an amazing birthday. You deserve it!!!