JENNY FROM THE BLOCK

Christmas to Close 2015

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. This year I did the most important job of putting Angel on top of the tree.

I really like all the gatherings with caroling, cookies, and velvety dresses.

I had my first hair cut to make sure I was properly slammed up for the festivities.

It was a delightful experience.

Inspired by such an event and the seeing my Mom wear something other than bug spray or sunscreen I ~~rifled through her purse~~ and found some lipstick really got into the spirit.
Of note...My Mom is at most times found wearing running clothes or warm ups over running clothes, if not wearing bike clothing. On the rare occasion she is not wearing such attire paired with zinc sunscreen, bugspray, or rungs of post workout salt it can cause confusion. I myself refer to her application of mascara as "having on eyelashes", Once after blow drying her hair and wearing it down with a dress she was suspected of wearing a wig. When a bridesmaid in Miss Stacy's wedding my Mom had her hair and make up done, mutual friends thought my Mom had not shown up to the event and couldn't figure out who was that girl standing in for Jen. This also brings to light another one of the hardest moments of parenting.... seeking and needing absolution for the sins of your youth. This is an absolution no adult can ever get ....So sorry Mrs, Garcia for making all those potions out of your make up and bath products.

Moving on ...It was time to load up the wagon and pick up our holiday share from the farmers market.

It was a heavy load but not much of a U.P. Christmas. Bring on the snow please

Back at home I got to work creating the feast.

This is a 4th generation bowl by the way.

Isaac wants to try his hand at things but we'd like to keep the bowl around for generation #5

At school we celebrated the birth of Jesus

I think we Pre K kids melted some hearts. We were on the news. I was asked what the best part of being an angel was. My answer ...."Wings!"

At home we built a gingerbread house. It was quite an event.

And a family affair...Dad had to lend some structural support

and get out the skewers

After many hours, days, and attempts the job was complete and we got to eat it.

I enjoyed singing Christmas carols. Isaac doesn't speak yet so he taught himself to play the piano. He will do anything to be included.

I got an awesome new bike helmet for Christmas. Complete with a Tiara.

My Mom and I got new cross country skis for Xmas.

This picture is sort of special to my Mom. It's got that ghost of Christmas past, Christas present, and Christmas future.

Christmas dinner was a big hit

Someday we will class things up with linen napkin and place mats...Until then our custom place mats will do.

Stories before bedtime to end the day.

And memories to last us throughout the years.

Thanksgiving 2015

This Thanksgiving we were thankful for a trip to California to see my Grandparent and cousins.

It's been a while since my last visit but "toes in the ocean" isn't something I will ever forget.

It was Isaac's first trip to California and to meet his west coast family

Rachel and I are just better than Disney princess sisters...we are cousins!

Cousins have a special bond....and so do Grandma's

My Mom ran and my Dad surfed. It must have seemed a bit like the old days when this blog was updated a whole lot more often ~~with unedited streams of consciousness~~

California...despite your rule and restriction, over crowding, flooding, fires and earthquakes.....You have a special place in my heart. One can't help but think of the wildly popular Adele song I hear my Mom karaoke-ing from the treadmill

Hello

It's me.

Can you hear me

I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be

When we were younger and ~~wrinkle~~ free ....

So thankful for a week of amazing memories with family and pictures that capture it all.

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.~~