It's been a LONG time!

This is the last time I am trying this. Hopefully the third time is the charm.

Feeling slightly miffed. I had a partially blog written up, and *poof* it was gone. So, I will try again. This time I will write it on Word – and just transfer when I am ready.

Sorry, it has been so long. I have been quite busy. Currently, at the moment, I am on vacation ignoring EVERYTHING. We just had our big “to-do” in our town. The annual Dixon Petunia Festival, which happens to be the highlight of my summer. Carnival, festival, parade…it’s a lot of fun.

My Cub Scouts and some Boy Scouts that helped and I, volunteered to help at the fest. For four different days, four hours a day, we picked up litter, cleaned up tables. There was a write-up in the paper; I will try to post a link to it here. But if it doesn’t work, it is on my facebook page. I am very proud of my boys. I was misquoted in saying it was hard work. It wasn’t really hard work; it was more of a challenge because of the heat. That and the knuckleheads who thought it was funny to throw trash on the ground. A few times we came across people who saw us picking up litter and would purposely and repeatedly toss garbage on the ground, just so the boys would come get it. After a loud, “Logan, don’t play that game,” and a dirty look from me, they would eventually stop it. I mean really???? Is that all you have for entertainment is watching a 9 year old clean up your garbage, wait till he walks away to do it again and chuckle when he comes back? Grow up dude……
Hopefully this works – a link to the paper write up. http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2011/07/04/r_kv_prje1rhuvxr28zvjjug/index.xml


This year, my oldest turned 13….can you believe it? 13….dang. He went to Boy Scout camp in late June and was voted into the Order of the Arrow. To attain this achievement, they have to be voted in by their peers. Then after the “tapping out” ceremony, they have to sleep under the stars, wake to a meager meal, be quiet for 24 hours and do a lot of manual labor. To prove their sacrifice to the cause, to prove they are worthy. Uriah passed and is now a part of the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow. 13…..I’m getting old

I have joined a little venture of my own. I don’t know if you are familiar with the product, but it is a safer alternative to the open flames of candles. I sell Scentsy products. If you are interested, here’s a link to my website. Great warmers and awesome fragrances. http://www.jenswildlywickless.scentsy.us

I also have started another venture. One that scares me to no end and I have wanted to do it for a long time and have finally bucked up and done it. I am a freshman at Ashford University. Ashford University is not too far from here, but all my courses are online. It is a 4 year program and I am working on my Bachelors in Business. So far doing OK for now…working full time at the big D, part time on my Scentsy and school…is a lot. So there you go; I’m a poor college student LOL buy a warmer  PwEaSe!

That’s it for now – Dave will be home soon. Love you all!

Pictures from the Parade



The pictures from Boy Scout camp:

A-w-e......s-o-m-e

A-w-e.....s-o-m-e
awes ome, awesome
to-tal-ly

Football season is over. Leaves are falling. Fall is here.

We had been busy as all get out. Logan and football....Uriah and football....practices/games. I truly enjoy the game, but glad the nub bub is ending. Football season for the little ones is over, we have about 1 more week of equipment turn in, parties and the like.

Uriah's team won third place in the I-5 conference...he is a part of the Dixon Junior Dukes. He did not get to play much. The 2nd day of camp, he overdid it. It was hot, he was out shape....and he experienced chest pains and light headedness. He was born with heart defects, but nothing that really should have triggered that. He was pulled from the team for playing until we had clearance. He saw his cardiologist and we found out his heart is actually better and stronger than it was the year before when they checked it. Uriah got in a little over a week of practice in. He was supposed to play his first game that weekend, when at school, he was getting off the bus, and some 8th graders he claims to not know, were playing tag by the bus load/unload....'accidentally' pushed him, forcing him to break his fall with his hand......breaking it. Of course I am getting no assistance from the school. They are supposedly not at fault...it was an accident. What I would like to know is what the hell kids are doing playing tag/running/goofing off....where busses are loading and unloading students. Those are some awful big tires those busses have if you get my drift.

Logan is a part of the Northern Illinois Youth Tackle Football team. Their team I think is either 4 losses and 4 wins or 5 losses and 3 wins. NIYTF does not have conference games....it is strictly all in fun and teaching kids the basics of the game. Sportsmanship, teamwork....those fundamentals. Not necessarily who is the winner and who is the loser.

Here's some piccies :) They are handsome young men if I say so myself :)

Uriah age 12





Logan age 8

Been too long

Sorry, it is if I fell off the planet. I didn't, but I have been overwhelmed.

School started, football started and work is hopping. I did end up having to give up my job as a cashier at Wal-Mart to retain my sanity. They wanted more hours and I just couldn't give it.

School started and so far so good. Logan is in third grade, Urith in 7th. Both seem to like their teachers. Logan is doing excellent. Uriah though, we just got his progress report and he is slacking off in turning his homework in. So far he is sporting three failing grades :(

Football started and the 2nd day into football camp, Uriah complained of chest pains and light headedness. He was pulled off the field and unable to play. I was unable to get a decent dated appointment. It took me a month to get him in to see his cardiologist. So for a month he was "equipment manager". Early September he as cleared to play any and all sports. His heart is actually better than it was the year before. One of his murmurs is closed, the other barely noticeable. The valve still will not open fully, but his doctor doesn't see it to be so much a functionality issue as a cosmetic. So, Uriah is realsed and he gets in one full week of practice in. He was scheduled toplay in a game on Saturday...and that Thursday afternoon, he comes home with a swollen hand. Some kids knocked him over in school. Doctos visit and x-ray show that he broke his hand. Again knocked out of playing football. He is helping out with the team....so far. he may not be able to play the rest of the season.

Logan is going full force. He plays center, right end, tackle and special teams.

Go Dukes!

Anyway, just letting you know..... I have not fallen off the planet. Matter of fact, I just celebrated my 36th birthday last week. I was spoiled. Dave took me out to dinner, made sure I had plenty of warm fuzzies...then took me to my parents for cake and ice cream.

Scouts started back up again....I just can't wait...in a month....football will be over and my evening will be back to being mine and maybe it won't take "warm fuzzies" to retain my sanity. I have a bad feeling that, with football being over, will just lead to more hours at the job trying to play "catch up" with everything. It has been an expensive medical summer.....and my car STILL needs fixed. But the money tree died and I haven't found a sapling to grow one.

Seems like...the more I work...the worse the bills get rather than better :(