I am here.

Been out of town for over a week and I have nothing brilliant to say to you all. I am sure inspiration will strike soon and I will be back. Until then ... miss me. And enjoy a picture or two ...

Riddle me this ...

I don't understand the concept of spending money to have someone tell you how to save money. A friend of mine is a big proponent of Savings Angel . And I am no way critiquing her use of it -- she really does seem to make it work for her. But I have looked at the website and I don't get it. I mean I get it but I don't know why I'd want to shell out $20 for someone to tell me where to get a coupon. Plus most of their "success" stories show piles upon piles pre-packaged crap. And while I love my Ho-Ho's as much as the next person, I want to know how to save money on stuff that's actually GOOD for my family.

On another tangent ... is there a new 11th Commandment that states: "All Christians shall follow Dave Ramsey"? I am going to pay money for his videos, books, lectures, etc. -- so he can tell me how to save money? Contradictory much? Meanwhile Ramsey is becoming a fat cat off of all the people Americans who can't figure out saving money is better than spending money. Here's some advice for free: STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE! There ya go. I just saved you from having to buy anything from Ramsey.

If you are looking for some good FREE advice on how to save money, here are a few websites I frequent:

Money Savings Mom
STL Mommy
Freebies 4 Mom

Jacob meets his favorite author ...

We traveled to Battle Creek on Thursday evening so Jacob could meet his favorite author and illustrator Mark Crilley. Jacob acted a little shy but he was really thrilled to meet him. (Even though the picture might have you thinking otherwise.)

Unlike a certain "author" (ahemkategosselinahem) I met last year, Mark was extremely gracious and personable. He knows how to hold the interest and attention of his audience regardless of their age. And he genuinely seems to appreciate that you want to read his books.

If you have a child who likes to read adventure stories -- especially humorous ones that take place in outer space -- check out Mark's Akiko series.  Jake is reading the series for the second time around - he liked it that much. And I find it just as entertaining as he does which makes it bedtime reading a lot easier. 

P.S. Mark also has a manga series called Miki Falls that might appeal to an older child or teen.

Life's lemons ...

are tomorrow's lemonade. Right?

Well frankly I am sick of lemons and I don't want to make any lemonade. Yes, my friends, this is another edition of Jen's Pity Party. I will be honest in saying I don't cling to God as tightly as I should in these moments.

I'm trying.

Morning person am not I

I am not fully human until I ingest at least one cup of coffee in the morning. It takes me close to an hour to finish that cup of coffee. (I am also very, very slow in the morning.) Until that point, I like to keep my human interaction down to the lowest level.

Really, in a perfect world, I would be left alone until at least 10:30 a.m. This not being a perfect world, I am forced to get two kids ready for the day. Two kids who when their feet hit the floor instantaneously turn into bouncing, talking and otherwise active little beings. How I produced such morning people will forever remain a mystery to me (I blame their father).

Land Shark ... A Monday giggle ...

One of my all time favorite Saturday Night Live skits ...

(No YouTube copy of it, sorry.)

http://www.videosift.com/video/Plumber-Maam?fromdupe=Saturday-Night-Live-Land-Shark

(I admit to having an irrational fear of sharks. There have been no truly substantiated cases of sharks making their way into the Great Lakes BUT just in case, I will stick to pools.

In the immortal words of Cole Porter ... "Give me pool, lots of pool and the chlorinated waves! Don't make me swim (in a lake)!")

Five years ago today ...

A little peanut came into the world  ...

She was due to arrive on Christmas Eve but decided that All Saints Day was a better option. She weighed four pounds, 8 ounces and was 18 inches long. From the start, Miss Molly has done things her way and in her time.

Happy Birthday sweet, beautiful girl!