I am the mother of a babysitter!

Today was a special day here.  My oldest daughter, Meg, graduated today from babysitting academy.  She spent 3 out of 5 days of her spring break at the New Lenox Fire Dept. training in first aid, CPR, AED, and fire extinguishers.  Today she graduated with her Certified CPR/First Aid card.  I am so proud of her!

Here she is accepting her CPR/First Aid and diploma for Babysitting Academy.  She learned so much in those 3 days.  The NLFD brought in a librarian the first day to show the girls how to make crafts with simple items you find around the house.  The second day a safety officer from the NLPD came in to give the girls some tips on keeping their kids safe, and how to react in  stranger danger situation.  The graduates also learned how to properly use and AED and Fire extinguisher.

After the ceremony, the NLFD generously  provided cake, juice and coffee.  It was such a great event for the girls and their parents.  I am beaming with pride!  Great job Meg!!

Her graduation class 

Me and my baby girl ♥

I still can't believe my "little" girl is almost 4" taller than I am!  They grow so fast, days like these remind me to cherish them while they're young.  

Congratulations Meg!  I love you so much!

Cheers!

Jeni

Jake's first REAL race

My middle child, Jake, ran his first race two Thanksgiving's ago.  It was the kid's one miler at Pilcher Park for the Poultry Predictor 5k.  He did really well for being 7, coming in at about 11minutes.  Jake is a burst of energy and all boy.  He is dirt, bugs, cars, guns and mud 24/7.  It was no surprise that he wanted to come out and run with me and F'NRC.  His sister has been running with us for about 6 months, so I knew it was just a matter of time before Jake would get the competitive bug to race his very tall, very fast sister.

Here we all are, on our Wednesday night run.  I have another picture, but I can't find it. Jake is VERY confident, and thinks he can run faster than anyone, but when it came down to actually running, he was a bit big for his britches.

On May 19th Megan, Jake, and I are signed up for the PTO 5k. The kid can almost make it a mile without stopping, so we have about 10 more days to get him conditioned.  I know he will do fine, but his feelings might be a little hurt when his sister kicks his ass.  I'm just gonna let him think he's 10' tall and bullet proof for now.

Happy Thursday!

Cheers!

Jeni

The power of music

This morning is absolutely gorgeous.  Sunny, 60°, fresh and crisp.  One of those mornings you walk out side and take the deepest breath and are grateful to be alive.

I am sitting here finishing up a few small jobs, facebooking, and listening to my new favorite app, SPOTIFY. As I am sitting here listening to The Cranberries, Veruca Salt, The Breeders, Belly, and Juliana Hatfield.  Reminiscing my high school years.  I was such a emo/hippy chick.

My flowers are blooming and today is so gorgeous.  I thought I would share in my bliss.

Today is "Teacher Appreciation Day" at school, so I made my famous delicious guacamole for the teachers to fight over.  It's fabulous, just ask me.  I got to take Jake to school, which is rare.  He was excited to get to school today, because he checked out the new BONE book at the library...Bone 5, rock jaw or lock jaw...something like that.  Anyway, he found books he loves, so we go to the library anytime he asks.  The kid just is not much of a reader-so if he is asking for a book, I am on it!  Rory got her library card yesterday too, so it was a big day!  While we were at the library yesterday we took a walk across street to our beautiful town common area.  I snapped a few pics, because out village has down a phenomenal job making our town so pretty!

 Megan is reading a book to Rory.

 Jake Enjoying the pond.

 You think he is posing?

 Meg and Roar

Aren't my girls beautiful? 

Have a wonderful day!

Cheers!

Jeni

Spider bite...EEP!

Friday night was a typical one, here at the homestead.  We had family movie night and watched a marathon of America's Funniest Home Videos, all night.  I went to bed early, as I had a long 9 mile run Saturday morning.  Set my alarm to wake up at 5:30, and hit the hay

I woke up Saturday morning, and my left eye was swollen shut!

I put an ice pack on it and went on my run, thinking I must have gotten bitten in the middle of the night.

Throughout the day my eye was itchy, but the swelling stayed down.  My husband moved my pillow and a Daring Jumping Spider started hopping toward him, so he did what any strong, courageous husband would do-he killed it.

And there's the ferocious, rat-bastard!  So I put it in a baggie and went about my day.

Sunday was gonna be a BIG day for me.  The Southwest Half Marathon was this Sunday and a shit-ton of my pals from the Rucking Funners-Frankfort/New Lenox run club were running.  I was planning on going out to Palos with my girl friends and cheering on our friends.  My alarm went off on Sunday at 5:30 and I looked like this: 

 HOLY SHIT, is right!!  I called my friends and said "leave without me, I look like I'm auditioning for Rocky VIII". I posted these pictures to FB and everyone was saying to get my swollen head to the doctor, NOW!! But my face didn't hurt (maybe to look at) but I felt fine!  I started to wonder if that little critter laid eggs in my eye and they were growing, so my fear got the best of me and I went to urgent care.  The Dr. confirmed my original thoughts (SUCK IT UP, PORKCHOP) and said keep putting ice on there, and take benedryl.  He also Rx'd a steroid dose pack to tell my body's histamines to "back off". But by 2pm I wasn't looking that much better. 

This morning I woke up at 5:25 without an alarm, feeling FAN-FREAKIN"-TASTIC!  I am currently on an ultimate body reset, eating foods that are whole and fresh, and I am on day 7 of 21.  I can't believe how wonderful I feel, and how fast my body is recovering from my 9 mile run.  This morning I felt like I could run a quick 10 miles, no problem.  Amazing what eating good food does for you body.  ANYWHO...that's another blog :)  This is the way I looked this morning.

Not 100%, but I will take it!  

Have you ever had to deal with something like this?  What did you do?

Have a fantastic week!!

Cheers! 

Jeni

CrossTraining

For the last few months I've been getting up at 5:00 am to swim at the local high school pool, as a cross training  exercise and in preparation for the one lonely triathlon I am doing in August.  This particular tri is in open water.  Honestly I love to swim, in a pool...but I am really afraid of open water.  I can handle a river, it's narrow enough to be able to swim  across.  Open water, like a lake, is just scary for me.  I'm not used to being scared, so it's humbling for me to realize that I'm gonna have to suck it up and just do this.  In preparation for my open water swim, I am trying to make my swim portion of the the tri the easiest, and fastest leg for me.  I am not a fast cycle-er or runner.  ANYWHOOOOO...these 5 am rendezvouses (<-- is that a word?)  are starting to cut into my sleep.  I can't drink and if I do it can't be much on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.  I can't over-eat or stay up late.  I have to be this responsible adult, cause my pals are depending on me (and I on them) to get my ass up the crack of dawn to exercise.

In all honesty, though, I really really enjoy getting up that early and being DONE with my exercise by 6:30.  It's so good to know that I don't have to do anything else, if I don't wanna.  If you're an early riser; what do you do?  How do you deal with being tired, the sleepy part of you, begging to stay in bed?

Are you planning on doing any athletic competitions this spring/summer, what are they?

Cheers!

Jeni

Resetting yourself

As I go through these stages in life, learning more and more about food and nutrition.  I become constantly amazed at the way FOOD impacts our life.  I want you to imagine for a second if you could not smell or taste.  You would only be able to eat food based on what you see.  Do you think you would be more likely to eat this:  

 or this

The amazing things that food can do for your body are just phenomenal.  It gives you life or death, right?  Food can fuel your body, mind, and soul or stop you dead in your tracks, literally.

We take advantage of the earth in so many ways, taking for granted food.  WE HAVE THE POWER to choose if food will kill us or truly give us a healthy life.  WE HAVE THE POWER to skip the drive through and prepare a healthy meal.  It's in our hands.  I am begging you to eat for life, not death.

Food can equal:

• Energy or lethargy
• Gas/bloat or healthy digestion
• Strong heart or heart disease
• Invigorating breath or barely breathing
• Running a marathon or sitting on the couch.

FOOD is energy, life, and health.  Every time you take a bite you are one step closer to life or death.

A friend of mine said something so profound to me it has stuck: "ONE BAD MEAL CANNOT MAKE YOU FAT; ONE HEALTHY MEAL CANNOT MAKE YOU THIN".  These are our every day choices, in moderation that make us who we are, and after all, we are what we eat.

When you stop and make a good choice, you will feel no guilt, no bloat, no weight gain.  Making a good food choice is setting the example for your spouse, and your children.  Make a small change a REAL goal to drink more water, or do 10 push ups for one full week.  When the week is done, pat yourself on the back and set another goal!

My goal this week is less alcohol.  I like a beer or whisky at night before bed to unwind and relax.  this week NO BOOZE!  What will you do for yourself this week?

Cheers!

Jeni

Tap Tap Tap, is thing on?

My, oh so humble, apologies for leaving for 3 weeks.  I am back, bitches!

So there are a few things I want to talk about today the first is my up and coming garden.  I would also like to touch on grandparents moving away, and finally Spring Break at my house!  I've had much going on here the last three weeks.  I've gotten a bit of blog bog...I really didn't know what one thing to write about.  It stinks for you, if you love this blog, and stinks for me because I get the guilt of not keeping you updated.

So let's start fresh...Hi!!  I'm Jeni and I am SO FREAKING excited that you are still here reading my blog about all things I love to talk about!! (yeah, I'm screaming at you). I am 35 short, spunky, mama of 3 and wife to what may be a real life Paul Bunyon for nearly 13 years.  The yin to my yang.  I am a runner (but this isn't a running blog), I garden, I can (as in veggies from my garden), I knit, I sew, and I LOVE NUTRITION (and beer).   Enough about me, let's talk about my garden.

In the beginning of March I started seedlings and my wonderfully handy, hot, husband built a greenhouse for me.

 This is a picture of my beautiful daughter, Megan planting a bulb.

I am growing lots of great things: tomato, cucumbers, squash, beets, spinach, watermelon, melon, okra, bell peppers, banana peppers, and flowers.

All my plants have been enclosed into this greenhouse, but a week ago we had a hard frost, and I lost my cucumbers and some of my watermelon.  It was sad day.  they looked beautiful, green and strong, but the frost got them even though they were in the green house.  I almost cried, but instead of crying I replanted.

These are my growing plants before the frost.

 these are my beautiful cucumbers before they died.

Now we are back in business, a little late, but still back.

So my in-laws have purchased their new home and moved to Florida.  It was a heartbreaking few days of tears and goodbyes, especially for the kids.  They are gone and their house is empty.  We've been going there often to get the house ready for their estate sale.  Depressing is the only word that can describe how the kids and I feel.  We knew it was coming, but it was still sad to see my mother in law go.  We had a little party here for her with our cousins, it was a good night with great family: 

Jake, Shane, Meg, Thea and Barney, Bill, Rory, and Pat

 Jake, Meg, Rory and Roxy

 Thea and Danny

 The Cooks: Jimmy, Krissy, and Danny

 Rory...LOL

The after party: Thea, Pat and Meg

Jake, Roar, and me.

Last week was Spring Break for our schools, so the kids were out Good Friday through the following week and went back to school Monday.  We went over to my In-Law's old house a lot and tried to get some stuff organized.  Pat took Megan and Jake to see THE LORAX and Roar and I went to see MIRROR MIRROR.  It was a super cute movie!  Julia Roberts was a great evil queen.  We baked lots of stuff and ended the week grilling out. Pat and I are getting ready for my middle child's birthday.  Jake will be 9 on April 19.  He has requested waffles and eggs for his bday bfast and ribs with baked potato for dinner.  I can't believe it.  Time really flies, when you're having fun.

And that should bring you up to date on me and mine.  Hope everyone's spring break was happy and healthy!

Cheers!!

Jeni