Goodbye 2010!

I know my blog will soon become out of order, but it's all good. I promise to blog about our Christmas soon and it will include photos as well. :)
2010 is quickly drawing to an end and I am SO thankful to be saying goodbye to it. This year has been full of lots of everything.
January was off to a great start. I was very excited to begin losing weight and getting to a healthier me. With that came the pain in my pancreas increasing.
February the pain continued and even sent me to the emergency room that sparked the start of really finding out what was wrong with me. For that I was thankful.
March and April were all fairly calm and peaceful. Easter was fun. I love watching Bayleigh hunt for eggs. :)
May brought the passing of my wonderful friend Candi. Her death brought our hearts great sorrow. Then promptly following the loss of Candi came the loss of our Papa. That was such a great loss as well. Candi's death was so quick and Papa's was so unexpected so May proved to be a very difficult month. R.I.P. Papa and Candi. We love you so much and think of you both often.
June was fun. We took a family trip to Disney World thanks to my father-in-law. It was fun being with him and my brother and sister-in-law and my handsome nephew. I love looking back through the photos and letting the memories flood back in. :)
July came and hopefully started a tradition of Waldron getting the fireworks back and therefore us hosting a summer gathering of grilling out, playing cards, cornhole, and just relaxing in the summer sun.
August brought about the official start of Bayleigh's school career. She loves Kindergarten and is doing quite well I might add.
September I had my first surgery of having a stent put in my Sphincter of Oddi. I was never so glad to have that done! I felt so great afterwards! It also brought about the sadness that comes with the loss of a relationship that I still miss, but understand it is for the best for both parties involved. :(
October brought with it an unexpected hospital stay and a second surgery regarding the removal of my gallbladder. Next came pumpkin patch outings, Zoo Boo, and Halloween. I am sure that I had the most adorable Tooth Fairy EVER! Aunt Teresa and our cousin Angel coming up and celebrating Halloween with us was an added bonus.
November was FUN! Bayleigh turned 6 and this was by far her best birthday party to date. The carnival/circus theme was a blast and the hiring of the clowns was super cool! Thanksgiving was terrific as well. I LOVE hosting Thanksgiving here. We have began many traditions that are so much fun. Black Friday--it was FUN! It was interesting. It involved Bayleigh making a parking lot a potty to say the least. LOL! Man Black Friday was COLD!
December, well it is proving to have it's ups and downs. Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a fan of cold or snow and we have had plenty of both. However, I am a huge fan of our cabin trip and Christmas so it makes up for it.
All in all, I would say that 2010 was just OK. The lows were LOOOOOOOW, but the highs were HIIIIIIGH, so it is very hard to judge. I would say the two major losses in May tend to kick it on the side of not being a great year, but how selfish of me to say such things. Candi is no longer in pain and Papa went very peacefully. They are both in the company of God and loved ones that too have passed and those thoughts are very pleasant.
I am very greatful to have such wonderful family and wonderful friends. I am greatful that we are all happy and healthy and I feel like we are all super blessed. So, here is to everyone having a terrific 2011! May you have health and happiness and more blessings than you are even able to count. Peace out 2010!
Much Love,
Jennifer
**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**

Just Checkin' In.

Christmas has come and gone and our time with family was wonderful. Friday night we went to Kim's and celebrated with Larry's family and then Saturday we celebrated here with mine. I have not posted about our days or photos for a specific reason that will come later. LOL! I will say that it was terrific though. Not long after opening gifts here Christmas morning Bayleigh and I both really started feeling crummy. We are now on the upside of that brief cold, but I spoke to Larry on the phone today and now he sounds like he is getting it. :/ The first day we really felt bad, but the following were/still are just really an annoyance of sounding bad. (Hope I explained that right).
We have one more Christmas this Friday with Eric, Rachel, and Max and then hopefully we can get back into routine and get back into some normalcy. I have throughly enjoyed Bayleigh being home with me. I love having her here and even though we don't do much it is nice just being together. Yesterday I joined Netflix so we spent the day watching movies and will probably watch another after lunch today. :) I am going to try to get us out of the house tomorrow, even if it is to only go to the store, but I feel myself getting major cabin fever.
I hope that your Christmas was as wonderful as mine was. I hope that you took the time to celebrate Jesus and if you have children I hope you explained that the birth of Jesus is what Christmas is truly about. Have a safe and Happy New Year's! More blogs very soon with pictures and possibly even a year end blog! Maybe I can get that one done tomorrow!
Until next blog!
Love,
Jenn
**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**

It's A Good Day For God!

Monday was my 29th birthday. It's nothing to get excited about. To me, my birthday is simply another day. Not that I have a problem getting older, I just don't care to get all excited about myself. LOL! My birthday was good. We had our wonderful friends over for dinner since we missed their daughters baptism the day before. When I made the plans for the dinner I didn't even realize that I scheduled on my birthday--which is perfectly fine because, like I said, to me--it's just another day. I have upset my mother though. I should have taken into consideration her feelings and that she might want to spend the day with me. I didn't, which worked out well because she was able to take my sister out to dinner, but it has unleashed this terrible fight between the two of us. To put it quite simply--I have hurt her feelings and for that I am sorry.
Last night I was rereading the text messages from mom and I was pretty depressed. I was probably in the darkest place I have ever been in my life. I was thinking thoughts that shouldn't be thought. I was basically just feeling sorry for myself to be quite blunt.
I came downstairs to talk to Larry about how I was feeling. Anyone knows Larry, knows that talking to him about this type of stuff is not easy to do. Larry is a very black and white person. Things with him are pretty cut and dry. Now, don't let that mislead you into thinking less of him because Larry is a loving, caring, patient man as well. It takes him a very long time to the point of just flat being done and not caring about the issues at hand. He thinks that I should just let it go. Not let it get me upset--which is most mens thinking, but I am a girl and doing so is not an easy task. I can't count the number of times Larry says, "Jennifer, stop worrying about what everyone else thinks"! I am a self proclaimed OVER THINKER on EVERYTHING.
When I came downstairs he could see that something was wrong with me. (No, I was not crying). I stepped outside and came back in and he hopped up and handed me this drawing that Bayleigh did while I was sitting in my bed feeling so depressed and feeling so sorry for myself.

It says, "I (then she drew a heart) u God. It is a good day for a good day for God." I lost it. I instantly started crying and realized how selfish I had been. While I was sitting in my room feeling so down and feeling sorry for myself. God made his way into my living room and into the hands of my artsy 6 year old to let me know he is here for me. If this were a Footprints in the Sand moment, then this would have been the spot where there were only one set of Footprints in the Sand. Talk about an eye opener. I framed it immediately. While Bayleigh knew nothing about me being upstairs upset she was down here thinking about Candi and this is what she drew. I think it is most certainly a message from God that was meant directly for me. If I had the guts to put in writing exactly how low I was feeling you would more than likely agree with that statement.
I am deeply saddened by the argument with my mother. I am not exactly sure where we stand at this time, but no matter what the answer to that question is--I have the MOST WONDERFUL daughter in the world. I have a husband that loves me with all of his heart and it is 100% unconditional. I have a wonderful family. And yes, we are all hard to get along with, but we typically have our say and then we are good. I have wonderful friends that are loving and supporting and unjudgmental. I love them as if they are my family as well. I have good people in my life and for that I am very blessed.
My hopes are that this storm too shall pass and things will go back to normal between mom and me much sooner than later. I am sure they will.
For the record, this blog is not meant to be a feel sorry for Jennifer blog. It is not a whoa is me blog. I wrote this blog to show you the power of God. He is always there for us even when we feel so alone. Even when we feel there is no hope. Even when we realize all those emotions are nothing more than just flat feeling sorry for ourselves. God really is good. Don't ever lose site of that.
On a side note--HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my bestest friend in the world! Larry, I love you with all of my heart. You are my rock. You are my love. You are my best friend. I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are! xoxoxoxo!
Thanks for checking in.
Love,
Jenn
**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**

Cabin Weekend 2010

Each year, the weekend before Christmas, Larry, Bayleigh and I got to stay in a cabin with the Burris family just to get away before the craziness of the holidays. This years dates were December 17th, 18th, and 19th. We always go to Poland, IN to Wasatch Lake Cabins and it is always a good time. Our menus even stick with tradition being the same foods every year with the exception of dinner on Friday nights. Even kitchen duties stay the same each year. :)

Bayleigh and Steve making biscuits and gravy Saturday morning!

Our view from the living room in the cabin over looking the lake!

Friday night, I taught Kim, Kaitlynn, and Whitney the very basics I know of knitting that I learned from this YouTube video. It was fun!

Bayleigh and Kaitlynn knitting Saturday morning!

Bayleigh just wanted to help daddy build the fire. She held that piece of wood forever!

Santa always comes each Saturday night to bring the kids gifts. (We even learned that they were all the way in Indy and came back just for this and then went back to Indy the next day)! So nice!

Sunday, before we leave we always stop at the lodge and take pictures and play games!

She loves this piano.

Bayleigh certainly is no pool shark....she gets that from me!

Even our Sunday lunch/dinner even sticks with tradition of going to Cracker Barrel. Let's face it...some traditions are hard to beat.

All in all, the trip was wonderful. It was exactly what I needed....a weekend of doing absolutely NOTHING. I loved it! Thanks for checking in.

Until next blog...

Love,

Jenn


**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**

Just Listen...

I have known for quite a while now that I am not that great when it comes to actually listening and hearing my daughter out. I am so easily frustrated by her whiney voice. Her sassy back talk followed quickly by her STICKING HER TONGUE OUT! (drives me crazy). Her lack of respect. Bayleigh doesn't treat everyone that way, but she does to Larry and I. I try to tell her that of all the people in the world Daddy and Mommy should be the two people she respects the most. As I sit here now, I am aware that by me interrupting her and not hearing her out--no matter what her tone may be, I am not respecting her as well and for that I am sad. I do this so often. I don't think it makes me a bad parent, but it certainly doesn't make me a great parent either.
Last night, December 14, 2010 we took our annual trip to Christmast at the Zoo with Eric, Rachel, and Max. We went into the pavilion where Santa was and while Eric, Rachel, and Max were visiting Santa, Bayleigh and I decided to walk around. We went over to the section filled with toys and this is how the dialog went....

B: Mommy, the penguins are SO cute.

Me: Yes, they are!

B: Can I buy one....(The dots represent me interrupting her)

Me: No

B: But mommy I just want to buy a penguin....

Me: No Bayleigh. We are not buying another freaking stuffed animal.

B: Mom! Please...

Me: No Bay! You have so much junk. I am not buying anything tonight.

Larry: What's going on?

Me: She wants to buy one of those penguins and I am not wasting the money on another stuffed animal. You deal with the whines because I am done....(I walk away).

(Bayleigh walks up to me again)

B: Mommy, I just want one of those penguins....

Me: NO Bay!

Larry: Jennifer, just shut up and hear her out! Bayleigh tell mom what you want.

B: Mommy, I just want to buy one of those penguins for the kids that don't have any toys!

Me: ((I feel less than an inch tall. I am instantly filled with pride, that my 6 year old seen the Toys for Tots box and wanted to give another child a penguin that she thought was so cute)). I knelt down to her level, gave her a hug, and immediately said, Absolutely, let's go!

She couldn't pick just one so I let her buy two and watched with sheer pride as she dropped them into the nearly empty box.

I think a lot of our miscommunications comes directly from me not hearing her out. It instigates her bad attitude and her sassy mouth. This morning while getting Bayleigh ready for school I hugged her again and suggested that her and I work together and try harder to hear each other out so we can get along much better. She threw her arms around my neck and said DEAL! :)
I still feel pretty bad about what happened last night, but I think it was a wake up call that I most certainly needed.

Moral of the story: Just because it's a child talking to you--SHUT UP and LISTEN!!!!

Thanks for checking in. Until next blog...
Love,
Jenn
**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**

Bass Pro, Good Friends and Snow....

I was never so happy to get out of the car on Saturday! :) We got up and decided since Bayleigh was feeling better and not contagious that we would go visit David, Jennifer, Benjamin, and Ethan in Bloomfield. The ride down was nice. It's a 2 hour drive. Our plans were to go to Clarksville to the Bass Pro Shop and visit Santa and then go to dinner. We decided that since money is tight for all we would just get together and go to dinner and just be together. Drew, Stacia, and Nolan were unable to attend because they had to get their Christmas shopping done. :/
Once we got down there, I helped by giving Nolan his bath. I forgot how different it is to bathe a tiny, tiny baby! We got all done and loaded into the truck and all rode together. We met a friend of David's and his family in Bedford and carpooled down. It was rainy and yucky, but it was great to get to sit in the back and just catch up with good friends. We did Bass Pro, got some Christmas shopping done--which officially ends our need for big gifts. Minus Eric and Rachel, but it's just a matter of getting to the store to get theirs because we already know what we are buying. We celebrate with them on New Year's Eve so we have time.
After finishing at the BPS we headed back into Bedford and hit Golden Corral. It was good. By the time we got there we were all starving, so the buffet really hit the spot. We then went back to David and Jennifer's and watched a movie and headed to bed.
Sunday, upon waking, the snow was already falling. David made us breakfast and then I took Ethan's newborn pictures. That is a lot harder than I expected. I think I got a couple of good shots though. :) After taking pictures Drew, Stacia, and Nolan came over to visit on their way to lunch. Nolan is growing so quickly! He is quite the handsome baby as well. :) After that we headed home. HOLY CRAP! It was SLICK! A 2 hour drive took us over 5. We did stop at Steak-N-Shake in Bloomington because right off the bat we got hung up in a wreck. The traffic was backed up for miles. I pray everyone involved was OK, but it looked pretty bad.
I am just happy that we made it safely home. Slow and steady wins the race and that is the mindset we drove with. I say we drove, but really Larry drove! LOL!
Hope you are all ready for the Christmas holiday! I know we sure are. If you have to be out in bad weather please use additional caution and be safe. Thanks for Checking in!
Love, Jenn

Saturday, December 11, 2010, Clarksville, IN Bass Pro Shop.

Sunday, December 12, 2010: Ethan James!!!

**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**

Scratch That Pink Eye!

So, we got some great news, eghhh news, and some bad news....
I took Bayleigh to her eye doctor's office this afternoon and the great news is.....she does NOT have pink eye! YEAHHHH! She has Episcleritis which is inflammation of the eye and that caused the blister on her eye ball as well. It is NOT contagious and any discomfort she has is as bad as it will get. She has to have 1 drop in her right eye, 4 times each day, for 7 days. I take her back on Friday, December 17th at 8 AM for a check up because sometimes the drops require a second round to work. So YEAH for that great news.
The eghhh news is.....since January her vision has changed again. BOOOOOO! Before her glasses she was a 20/30 and a 20/40 and now with her glasses she is a 20/30 and a 20/40. :/ She goes back in January for her annual exam and so we picked out her glasses she will get in January tonight. I hope that maybe after this new set her eyes won't continue to get worse. I know that as of right now that isn't bad, but her dad's eyes are terrible and it is looking like she is getting his vision problems from him. Yes, I have glasses, but he is basically blind without his.
The bad news is......as soon as we were leaving the office, Larry shoved Bayleigh out the door, while I waited for the note from school and medicine and she puked all over the lawn! CRAP! He shoved her because he heard her starting to upchuck. LOL! I thought we were over that. I am HOPING that it was just her nerves that made her sick because she was so worried she was going to have to get a shot. I pinky promised her she wouldn't, but she was still scared. Luckily she is feeling much better.
So, that is what the update is. I thought for sure pink eye because Allie just came off pink eye last week, but it just is a fluke that she gets this right after. Even the pediatrician thought pink eye after I explained the symptoms. I am so glad I had Shelley, (we LOVE her), from eye doctors office call me last night. What a relief. :)
Thanks for checking in.
Love,
Jenn
**On the RIGHT hand side of this page ABOVE the OWL you will find older posts if you are interested in checking them out. They are listed by month. Just click on a month and the posts will expand and you can click on each post individually or if you double click the month they will all pop up. Also, you can bookmark this page to your favorites and check back often for updates without having to look up the blog address. Feel free to post comments too!**