JENNY FROM THE BLOCK: 2015

How about some fall?

This fall was nothing short of awesome. I turned 4 and I started Pre K.

The weekend after my birthday I went to Mackinac Island. It's a great place! There are no cars. Only boats to get there and horses to pull carriages ~~unless you are my Mom and the you are the horse power behind the cart.~~ Did I tell you? Mackinac Island is famous for fudge! Really, you can't beat that.

My Dad had to work and couldn't join us. Saturday, Isaac an I hung at Grandma's while my Mom headed to Mackinac Island for the famous "Round Mackinac Island 8 mile race". I'm not sure why she was gone so long since she didn't even run for an hour but I'm guessing it has something to do approaching the 4 th decade of life and honoring a proper warm up and cool down.

If I was my Mom I wouldn't be so smiley in that picture. My Mom told me that 20 years ago when she ran that race the age group winner got 1 pound of fudge along with their trophy. She did not win , nor even come close. Well ... turns out fudge is no longer part of the prize purse... and Mama Jen Jen is still all smiles because she "hit her pace" . Hmm...are those rose colored lenses she is wearing?

Don't worry we went back the next day and got it right.

We visited a fort high on a hill. Mom ran Isaac and I nap in the chariot since Isaac still naps ~~and I played get out of bed and explore Grandma's house when I should have been sleeping for what felt like 17 hours to my Mom.~~

Once my batteries were recharged it was time do some exploring.

Free play. I love it!

This is not a tourist trap. It's an imagination stop.

The weekend was over all too soon and it was time to head home and back to the grind.

The grind? Wait a minute . Did I mention this? I only go to school until 11:30 a.m. and Mother Nature forgot to put and end to summer. YOu'd think we were still living in California or something...

I didn't move back to California...But I was born there and I know a beach day when I see one. Judging by the above photo...do you think good old Mama Jen Jen will have her hands full next summer when Isaac will be on the "tear" all day long.

My parents celebrated their 7 year anniversary by riding the Marji Gesick. Grandma and Grandpa held down the fort while my parents rode their bikes before the son came up until after dark...long after dark. Well my Dad did, my Mom rode through breakfast and lunch then veered off course and pedaled home since she's pretty much Isaac's meal ticket.

Finally, we had a few cooler days to coax the leaves into changing color. We started a new fall family tradition. On Friday nights we went to the ski hill and rode the chairlift up and hiked down.

Ahh..the view!

Hiking down single track with a 4 year old is.....Never mind. Picture says 1,000 words

Ask my Mom which is more adrenaline provoking? Racing down this trail on her bike or carrying Isaac in the ergo while I tugged her hand? Dad to the rescue.

Hey I found a souvenir from last week's race. I picked it up. I'm such a good helper.

After that Mom and Dad were ready for a burrito and beer and Boarder Grill.

We celebrated take a kid mountain biking day.

I rocked the teeter toter

And hit the ski hill for one more ride....This time I was successful in convincing my parents to download and ride the chair down.

The week before Halloween we headed back to Grandma's for another day of racing on Mackinac Island . This time the race was the Great Turtle Trail 1/2 marathon. This might be my Mom's favorite 1/2 marathon for many reasons. The hills, the views, the combination of roads and trails, and the always epic weather. This year brought rain and wind.

My Mom knew that 35 mph winds, wet trails, ~~and lingering 2 finger diastasic~~ would not equal a PR...so she focused on racing as hard as she could to place herself in position for a hot shower. ~~Pictures explain a lot ....like why my Mom's calf gets stuck in her skinny jeans leaving her to almost fall over removing them~~

She executed well, passed a horse drawn carriage, took 3 minutes off her time on the course from 2008. She did not run fast enough for a hot shower. Life has no guarantees..finishing 5/648 women seems like it should guarantee one a piping hot shower now doesn't it

Success in life has little to do with getting what you want and everything to do with having grit. Let's just say shaking Mama Jen Jen was 1/648 to find a hot sauna at Mission Point resort. If you have any questions about my Mom's training regime. See pictures below.

Please don't confuse the above photos/efforts with "bouncing back" from pregnancy. When it comes to those passion about sport. I don't think anybody does...like rearing children it is a work in progress always act of love. Love can be defined as the refusal to give up.

Halloween was next on the agenda. I love lions. When I grow up, I want to be an animal doctor. Isaac is going to be my PA. I'm already planning to command multiple OR rooms at a time. ~~Things discussed at the dinner table in our house.~~

Well that pretty much rounds out Isaac's first 6 months

A little long winded but it would be silly to leave anything out.

Speaking of leaves!

Let's Have A Party

So I turned 4. September 10. Yup, I know. Time flies. Where exactly did it go?

Like my dress? Hope so. Not long ago it was a skirt. My crib skirt. Grandma Judi made it.The skirt and the dress.

Isn't it so "Gone With The Wind" repurpose a bed skirt.

For my 4th Birthday I had a party with 4 friends

and about 4 thems

Dad and Isaac were the only boys allowed

Mama Jen Jen and I made the cake and cupcakes. Mmm they were good.

The best gift was my bee keeping suit. More on that later.

Birthdays take the cake!

Isaac didn't get any cake. Poor, poor fellow.

Don't forget to smash the piñata

2015 Summer Memories

So this blog has been a little sleepy as of late.

But it's not because we have been sleepy .

We had a great summer filled with lots of sun, parties for good reasons, parties for made up reasons and party for no reason.

Isaac (aka Isaac -key Bisaac-key)has been a great sport about it all and a key player.

He just follows my lead and rolls with things.

Although the helping in the kitchen is off limits for Mr. Isaac

That's me at the duck pond..feeding ducks and wearing my fleece lined Crocs and long sleeve corduroy dress on an 85 degree and humid day.

I learned to fly a kite this spring/summer with my Dad

I enjoyed the best beach birthday party ever. (ok..soooo I never met those kids before this day at the beach but they let me join in the fun and gave me the biggest slice of cake ever and when it came time to opening gifts I ran to the car and retrieved a box of Tinkerbell band aids to give to the birthday girl. Crashing a party is one thing...not bringing a gift is another)

I visited the Chicago zoo. It was the my 3rd trip to Chicago in my 3 years of living.

Finally I was old enough to really enjoy the city.

The way we traveled is a blog in itself...Let's just say celebrity -ish...but I'll refrain from bragging.

Isaac was happy to log consistent running miles.

Just like my Mom does.

I'm like my Dad and find stroller running a little boring. It's an activity reserve for when I am exhausted from everything else

I still love lions. I think I may be a lion again for Halloween

I'm learning to play guitar. My Dad and I have jam sessions

My hair is growing long..Isaac and my Dad have the same hair cut.

I love hiking to the waterfall...You think this picture is in Hawaii but it is minutes from my back yard

Isaac is a happy fellow. He loves to laugh.

I can do sooo much more on the playground/at parks than years past

Perseverance isn't a word I would necessarily use to describe my Mom's character in sport

Ummm Mama Jen Jen...You don't quite fit so give it up find an alternative line.

We would say that my Mom shows perserverence in the kitchen

My parents subscribed to CSA produce from a local farm. My Mom bought a pesto share (and a salsa share, and, and, and) Any way did I say my Mom has perseverance in the kitchen or perseverates. What mother of two small children takes on making a mother load of pesto? Let us not forget how much time and mess that project took.

But summer produce is a gift and gone too soon.

Morning light at the Ore Dock. Lake Superior is special.

I went to my first fair this summer

I loved it!

I made a new friend this summer. We had 1/2 birthday parties, tea parties, pool parties, and dance parties. pretending to be Anna and Elsa was high on our list.