javajanie

Keeping Busy

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:51:59 -0400

So, I realized that when I have nothing planned and the kids are gone, I really really miss them. The house just isn't the same. Honestly, I really like my kids, as much as they might drive me crazy sometimes.

Steve doesn't have any leave time right now so that leaves me at home while he is working. Thursday wasn't bad. I got to see Marlen for the first time in what seems like forever. I would've like to have stayed longer, but Thursdays are "TV Thursday" at my house. I make dinner for Rob, "the new girl", and Gary, then we talk and watch lots of tv. I got homein just enough time to run around like a chicken with my head cut off attempting to clean and cook dinner. I made a lovely chicken jerky on the grill (unintentionally, of course). We attempted to finish watching the Battlestar Galactica miniseries, but just weren't feeling it. We ended up watching the Colbert Report and calling it a night.

I quickly checked my Vox before bed to see if Kelly wanted to meet up for lunch and she was still ignoring me. That's when a light went off in my head and I realized that it's her "weekend" and she doesn't have internet at home right now! I gave her a call and we made lunch plans. It had been almost a year since the last time we met up! Seriously, I'm not letting that much time go by this time and it's not just because she gave me some Cadbury Flake bars and lent me some awesome books. Kelly is just one of those people that I feel like I've known forever. We talked and talked and then talked some more. We were going to watch a movie from her impressive collection (she has awesome taste in movies), but we were enjoying talking too much. Side note, Sam is ridiculously cute. I completely understand why Kelly is wrapped around his paw.

I could've hung out and talked forever but Steve made plans with Rob and "the new girl" to go to dinner and see Get Smart. Gary and the non-blogging brother, Dan went too. So I had to head home. We enjoyed an awesome dinner that included lots of high fiving over things like meatloaf and Good Charlotte. Ok, Gary and I were the only ones that high fived over Good Charlotte, but we like them and we make no apologies for it.

Get Smart was just good and funny. I didn't go in expecting anything but to be entertained and I was. It may have helped that I have never watched an episode of the old Get Smart, so I had no expectations whatsoever.

Today, Steve and I slept in. We have a cookout to go to later. It'll be weird to go without the kids, but I'm sure we'll have a good time anyway!

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Do You Like Movies?

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:54:04 -0400

Friday was the kids' last day of school. It's been a whirlwind ever since. We had a house full of visitors this weekend, so it started with a bunch of cleaning, then cleaning to attempt to maintain my own sanity and not be overrun with trash, now it's time for the clean up. Well worth the time though. I have seen my oldest sister, her family and my friend Tammy since January. I didn't realize how much I missed getting together with them. We had been doing a family get together once a month, but life was crazy for everyone and it just kind fell by the way side.

Steve's family came over on Sunday for our cookout. We had such a great time. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time. Seriously, we even had a family sing along complete with guitar accompaniment!

Now I'm attempting to gather up the energy to throw some more laundry in the wash, but the leftover crabcakes on the kitchen counter are calling my name. If only we had leftover steak from yesterday. Gary makes the best steaks in the whole world. Seriously, he needs to open up a steakhouse because I have yet to find a steak better than his in any restaurant. We had hamburger and hot dogs too. There was salads and chips too. Although, the food didn't seem to stretch as far now that a good deal of the kids are teenagers. Seriously, those kids can put away some food!

The pool turned a beautiful blue just in time for our cookout yesterday. I'm sure the kids and I will be spending a lot of time out there this summer.

I have some pictures, but I'm too tired to go retrieve the camera. Steve likes to have all the pictures on his computer anyway.

Ok, I'm off to catch up on my Scramble and Scrabulous games. Then I'll turn the computer back over to Victoria. Sometimes I wonder who this thing really belongs to!

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Pride Goeth Before Destruction

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:49:26 -0400

My brother in law, Rob, is here. He came over to watch Jeopardy and The Office with Steve and I. I made him a nice homecooked meal of spaghetti and some carrot cake cookies with cream cheese frosting. Despite all this, he has the audacity to say that he is going to beat me at Jeopardy tonight. Seriously, can you believe this guy?

Now, I'm not saying I'm going to win, that would be prideful, but I'm not going down without a fight!

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Does This Make Me Old?

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:37:13 -0400

My mom turned 60 this week. Funny how 60 just doesn't sound as old as it used to sound to me. Grey hair doesn't seem so bad either. Good thing since I found my first one a couple of months ago. I kinda like it. Who knew I wouldn't mind getting older?

That isn't what I was here to blog about. I was actually going to post pictures of my mom's birthday party from yesterday. I started to do it earlier, then Hannah called and I got a little sidetracked. Although, I think the braindumping I did while I was on the phone with her did me good. I feel all ready to blog and take on the world.

So yeah, pictures. First we have the birthday girl opening her gift while my dad looks on....

justwhatIwanted.jpg

My mom just bought a new(er) car to replace the one she totalled in a lovely accident with a state trooper (long story). She was upset that her new car didn't have a cassette player. We all pitched in a bought her an adapter so she can play her cassette tapes. She's silly.

This was just after she blew out her candles. Well, my adorable blonde nephew, Noah, blew several out from way up in his daddy's arms. Grammie blew out what was left....

happybirthdaygrammie.jpg

This is Marlen's youngest, same kid that blew out the candles....

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This is her youngest daughter...

karebear.jpg

Nicole's teenagers fighting it out. Kay definitely had the upper hand...

siblingrivalry.jpg

I made a lemon pound cake for my mom. Here I am getting ready to make Steve try some. It was surprisingly good....

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Some pictures of the grandkids with my mom's (formerly my) beloved dog, Harrison...

spoileddog.jpg

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This is Nicole's youngest, but the thing I love most about this picture is Kare Bear in the background about to lick her ice cream while trying to find a place to sit....

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I think they could've fit a few more people in the chair, don't you?

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My mom and her older brother...

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Steve, just because I think he's cute...

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Sophia, looking all serious...

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Alex modeling some really big shoes while standing with me...

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Ashley and my cousin's daughter...

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It was a good time. Lots of food, grilled salmon, burgers, hot dogs, loads of doritos, broccoli salad, deviled eggs, ice cream (seriously, can you have a bad time if there is ice cream?). The real blessing is just being able to have big ol' family get togethers like this. After years of being apart from my sisters, I'm thankful to have times like this with them and their families.

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Raccoons In My Ceiling

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:56:08 -0400

For the sake of my friends, I hope the new tv season starts soon. My husband and his brother have taken to prank calling people and harrassing them with their bad foreign accents. If you enjoy that sort of thing, then PM me your number and I'll have them give you a call.

Also, I think I have raccoons living in my ceiling above my living room. Well, that or a rather large man.

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Weekend Recap

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 17:35:38 -0400

The last of the guests have left. Steve is off spending some father/son time with Alex. Ashley and I are vegetating in front of the tv waiting for Victoria, Sophia, and Josiah to get home from visiting their father and stepmother in North Carolina for the weekend. I missed them, but I am sure they had an awesome time.

We had an awesome time this weekend here at the Steve and Janie abode. It all started Saturday when Nicole, Rob and Tammy arrived. We discussed whether Tammy ever had a mullet. Nicole decided Steve and I needed a "Hollywood" couple name, you know, like Brangelina or Bennifer. She wants you all to vote on whether it should be "Janeve" or "Stanie". Rob, Nicole and Tammy all thought it should be the later. I don't think I have laughed so hard in a long time.

Oooh avocado

We made a lot of guacamole. We ate a lot of guacamole too. Seriously, can you ever eat too much guac?

Sunday, we got up early and headed off to church. After church, we broke out the rest of the homemade pizza I had made the night before and waited for Marlen, Rick, my parents, and Steve's brothers to show up. Mr. Bill did the grilling for us.

Mr bill manning the grill

I don't think we should allow him to do it anymore....

Mr bill burned the burgers

The boys spent most of the day playing "Guitar Hero" and making homemade weapons...

Guitar hero

Alex and his homemade ax

Guitar heroes

The adults did our usual stuff, ate, talked and played a little poker...

Rick chocolate mint torte

Sisters

Tammy eating deviled eggs

Nicole and rob

Janeve or Stanie?

Uncle robby

Of course, the kids also enjoyed the pool for one of the last times of the season....

Take a picture of my splash

Cannonball

Kari soaking her splinter

Ashley jumping

Ashley hiding

And last but not least, one of the cutest little boys ever...

Wanna play polly pockets

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The Labor Day Festivities Have Begun!

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:32:54 -0400

Nicole, Rob and Tammy have arrived with children in tow for our annual Labor Day festivities. Homemade pizza, guacamole, chocolate chip walnut cookies, and brownies have been consumed in large quantities, along with old Robin Eggs.

Leftover from easter

It's amazing what you find when you clean out your cabinets for the first time since Spring.

Robin eggs

Since we didn't see each other at Easter, we had to take the opportunity to paint our lips with the robin eggs.

Huh

Seriously, the stuff you find on the internet is just amazing! Steve is completely perplexed.

Enough with the pictures already

Would you just leave us alone and let us enjoy the homemade guacamole?

So far, we have discussed whether the candy is Whoppers or Whoopers. (The girls say Whoppers, the guys say Whoopers. We win. They are outnumbered.) We have also decided that Tammy had a Tam-mullet back in 2000. We have photographic evidence.

A little mullet

Here Nicole is saying Tammy had just a little mullet. Rob looks quite skeptical. Tomorrow, the rest of the family will be joining us, so more pictures to come.

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My Vox Family Tree

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:32:56 -0400

Not sure how many of you have noticed, but Steve and I have a decent amount of family blogging here at Vox. I figured some of you might be interested in who is related and how.

Let's start off with my side of the family. First, we have my oldest sister, Nicole. She is married and a mom to 3 kids, including 2 teenagers. She's funny and a bit snarky, but in a good way. It took me a long time to become friends with her. There was no love lost between us when we were growing up. Eventually, I was able to forgive her for stealing my bedroom while I was at a roller skating party and for giving me the nickname, "Afro-Fungus" when I got my first perm (in her defense, it was a bad bad perm). Now, she isn't just my sister, she's my friend.

My other sister, the middle sister, Marlen, also blogs. She is also married, to Rick, my wonderful brother in law. Together, they have 5 kids like Steve and I. Marlen and I always got along, when she wasn't hanging out with Nicole. She would play barbies with me when Nicole wasn't looking. She let me climb into bed with her when it stormed at night and I was too scared to sleep alone. She drove me around until she got tired of it and forced me to get my license at the age of 20. I'm very blessed to not only have another sister, but also another friend. As for my brother in law, Rick, he's a funny guy, good cook, and has a heart of gold. I'm glad my sister found him or he found my sister, whatever the case was.

On Steve's side, we convinced his younger brother, Gary to start blogging first. Gary is a master story teller. He is also a whiz at Microsoft Paint. Seriously, I don't think he has photoshop. I'm pretty sure he does all that photo wizardy on good old Paint. I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, Gary is one of the nicest guys I have ever met.

Actually, Steve and his brothers are all extraordinary men. That is all thanks to the godly upbringing of this lady, Grandma-P. I know her as Mrs. P. She not only gave birth to four wonderful boys, she's also funny and sweet. I always feel bad for people that complain about their in laws. I have no complaints at all.

Speaking of the wonderful boys Mrs. P. raised, there is one more here on Vox. Steve's youngest brother, Rob also blogs. He has the same great sense of humor that Steve, Gary, and Mrs. P. have. I feel like a broken record, but he's a really genuinely nice guy too. Rob has another blog of his own, but he comes and plays here at Vox sometimes too. Despite Rob's young age, he is very knowledgeable in the Bible. I love sitting under his teaching at church, or listening to him lead our worship in song.

So there you go, that's my Vox family tree.....for now.

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Happy Happy Birthday!

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:12:54 -0400

Today is my sister, Marlen's birthday*. I'll be nice and not tell you how old she is. I will say she is older than me! Anyway, go wish her a Happy Birthday!

*Mom didn't even have to call me and remind me!

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All Blogged Out

nobody@vox.com(java janie) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 23:12:06 -0400

It's been a long day. We didn't get in til after 2am last night. We went to dinner and to see this comedian/hypnotist for my friend, Shelby's birthday. We had an awesome time, but then I had to get up at 8am to go teach Sunday School. Somehow I managed to get me and the 5 kids ready and out the door by 9am. Steve slept a little longer and met me for church. Brat.

I fully intended on napping at the in laws' abode, but that never happened. We had a church family meeting about some important stuff at 4pm. That ended up lasting 3 hours. It was depressing too, but I won't get into that here. It's too long of a story. After that it was back to the in laws' to watch the NASCAR race. Well, Steve, Gary, and Mr. P watched the race while I dozed and Mrs. P. surfed the net while watching the race. She is such a whiz at multitasking.

My brain is fried. I would love to tell you all about how much fun we had last night or some funny anecdote about the kids. I don't even have pictures to share to make this interesting. Hopefully after a good night's sleep, I'll have something more interesting to share. Seriously, this is like the 5th time in a week I've blogged like this. I'm totally losing my will to blog.

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