I could love wolves...

So, I'm TEAM EDWARD all the way...

But New Moon is really long & dogs are nice pets!

NEW MOON TRAILER

November, could you get here already?!?

My how they love to swing!

Remember

what it was like

to fly?!

I feel like being silly.

So, I thought I'd share something I wrote a few months back for my man.

Who dis be?

It's the W-I-F-E,

Here to make her man laugh n say tee-hee-hee.

Hee hee hee,What'cha know about me?
I gots blond hair and I cry so easily.
I don't make your bed up and I go to mine early,but when I lay my lovin down I cover you - for surely.

No my name ain't Chloe, or Channel or Fergie,

It's the J-E-S-S-I-C-A,and yes you know just how I play,

I go to my job-ie where I makes ma money,

and if I run out than I call ma honey.

He's Nate,
The Dogg,

the D-O double G,

And now this dogg be answering to me-hee-hee!

You may have to know my husband to fully appreciate this lyrical explosion (LOL), but I get repeat requests from my babies to perform this so at least it's entertaining at the preschool/elementary level. Which is more than I can say for some of the stuff I hear on the radio.

[But seriously... any agents out there, hit me up.]

Our Memorial Day

We spent the afternoon at my parent's house eating BBQ & swimming! Unfortunately, I have misplaced my camera and this is the only shot I got of the day. Still, I took a lot of time (so don't laugh) arranging this and like the colors! Fry's had the most beautiful lemons so I bought a bunch and made fresh squeezed raspberry lemonade! Yummy!

You're digging my vintage juicer, huh?!

My Nana gave it to us several years ago. It works perfectly!

Brenda's Bridal Shower

This last Sunday I was honored to host

a Bridal Shower for my little sister,

Brenda Lynn!

The preparations included a big yard sale a few months back, lots of shopping, some printing and painting and help from the other bride's maids Anna & Emily! And, Brenda's friend Jessica helped out by bringing an ice sculpture!

Baker Wee did the cake and I can not say enough great things about them! From picking up pink ribbon for me, to creating a scrumptious cake that was sparkly and pretty in every way, they were just top-notch and I'm so glad we used them! I will be getting more cakes there in the future, for sure!

Other highlights of the day included, Brenda! She was radiant and adorable and everything a young bride-to-be should be!

The games turned out to be tons of fun. We learned the torrid [ha-ha] story of how Brenda & Tristan met and found out who loves Target the most: Heather, Tara & Lilly! They correctly guesstimated the costs of 9 household items (bought at Target) and summed it up to be only a few cents off the actual cost!

After cake, Brenda was showered, and showered with gifts... most of which will never see the light of day. In a good way. *wink, wink*

There was advice from both novice and seasoned experts on how to deal with marriage. One of my personal fav's was "Always trust in Jessica." [well, it was misread and was supposed to be Jesus, but ya know... you can never go wrong with trusting your Big Siss] Then there was the advice that brought tears to eyes. The kind that has held generations together. Serious, wonderful, hallowed stuff.

It was a beautiful day. The staff at Grimaldi's in Peoria was FAB! Our Server got everything right and I didn't hear anything but compliments on the food.

I hope Brenda enjoyed the day at least twice as much as I did. We sure do love her!

Girls Night Tonight!

Tonight it was me and Keira at home alone!

[Daddy @ work, brothers @ church]

So, we went to Chick-fil-A and had a great time. Keira ate probably two nuggets, and whatever nutritional value she was able to get out of the one she sucked on, then spit out onto the tray! I, like a good girl, ate all of mine. And the fries. BUT, I didn't eat Keira's!

(Surely this negates the calories of the 2 Samoas I ate at work today. You know, food Karma!)

After chicken, it was time to play! I sat down on the floor in the playroom to watch the fun & one little girl started talking to me. First thing she told me was, "My mommy is really good." She went on to tell me about how her mom plays with her and cooks her pancakes.

It was adorable!!

I hope I'm a good enough mom that my kids will tell an occasional random stranger how great I am!

N8 turns 32!!

Happy Birthday Dear Nathan!

Friday, May 15th, was my hubbie's 32nd Birthday! We had Macayo's Mini's & cheesecake at our house to celebrate. The food was delish! And the company was even better. We heard stories about Baby Nathan from Blanchie! There was dancing, oh there WAS dancing! Me & the kids got Nathan a kick stand for his gun (bipod) and a new outfit. I can't wait to see him in plaid shorts!! ;) He also got cash & gift cards which he took to Cabela's the very next day and spent on more gun accessories. (Spoild boy!) The sad, sad part is that my camera was dead and I only got a few crappy little pictures to share. It's too bad, because a hubbie only turns 32 once!

My new FAV place in the world! (pretty much)

I found a new favorite thing today! MP told me about the Take Care Clinic at Walgreen's! Tonight was the perfect chance to try it out since Tyler has been complaining about "strep throat" symptoms for the last day and half. I didn't want to do the norm, Good Night Pediatrics, because I needed to take all 3 kids. And while GNP is simply amazing when you need urgent Pediatric care (x-ray on site has caught Keira's pneumonia twice), it is often packed full of very sick little kids. I didn't want to take 1 possibly sick kid and come back with 3 really sick kids! So, I went to try out Take Care Clinic. We walked in and were seen immediately. There was no one else there! Test determined Tyler doesn't have strep, but allergies. Allergies! Go me! Mom of the year! (I HAD NO IDEA!) Oh, well. Makes me even more glad I didn't do GNP tonight!

Anyhow, consider Take Care Clinic if there's one near you. They will see you (and your children

+18 months) for things like ear infections, strep tests, allergies (ha-ha) and a list of other minor health care needs. Also, verify that they are contracted with your insurance company. My work insurance isn't currently, but Nathan's was. It saved me a lot of hassle tonight!

P.S. I threw away the lilies, I believe them to be the cause of the allergies in this house:

Too bad, because they are pretty.

Getting your own house!

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time;

for that's the stuff life is made of." -- Benjamin Franklin

Trabby is having a hard time dealing with his Auntie Brenda moving out of his Papa & Gaw's (Grandma's) house & into her own house. Yesterday when she left to go home he cried and cried and made all of us cry too!


So tonight, Travis was asking me what holiday is "After Mudder's Day." I told him Friday is his Daddy's Birthday & he said, "I don't want it to be Daddy's birthday. Then he'll be bigger and get his own house!" Growing up is a hard thing to understand. From every different angle.



My children have been so spoiled/blessed to have both of their Aunties (my sisters) live "at home" and very close to us for their whole lives. Emily was 9, almost 10, when Tyler was born and she's always been so sweet to play with him. As he got a little older, he used to get mad when her friends came over to play, because sometimes they'd shut the door and leave him out! Once he even knocked on the door and told her friend, "You can go home now!"

Now Tyler's 9 & Brenda's moved out. Trabby's sad & Keira's still not sure what's going on. And sorry Momma if reading this makes you cry! I guess I'm still dealing with this too. I love my family!!

Thankful for Mothers!

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

The Mothers in my life! I ♥ Them! They pray for me!

For Mother's Day:

T.M. gave me a picture he colored with a song he wrote on it, saying "[My] smile is the only thing that keeps [Him] going." His heart is so tender and mature for his age. My goal for this next year is to help him enjoy his youth & suck every drop of childhood he can out of it!








T.A. sang "Happy Mother's Day" to the tune of "Happy Birthday" to me. Adorable! This next year, I'll get him eased in to school as a Kindergartener and make sure to hold him every chance I get. Give a little, take a little.







K.R. gave me patience. Well, she forced me to summon it! And humility. She showed me a lot about myself. For her, this next year I will help her learn to manage her feelings better. We will also sit in her Rose Petal Cottage and play babies as often as possible!

Mattie Monday!

[This is a special request post!]

Happy Birthday dearest Mattie, Happy Birthday to you!!

He's 26 years old today. Welcome to the later half of the 20's!

Even if you don't like him or his game, you have to LOVE this: http://www.mattleinartfoundation.org/

Too amazing not to share!

Part of what I want to do with my blog is share things I come across that impress, amuse, delight or intrigue me.


My first one, curtsy of my friend MP:





Guess what it's for? I guess in Japan this "boneless belt" is used to, in theory, split your back, side and tummy fat into more managable sections for losing weight. Interested? Read more here: Boneless Belt



If anyone is interested in ordering, let me know. Maybe we can save on shipping! (JK!!)

Something New

Here I am, trying something new! Expressing thoughts for the world to see and hoping I don't make everyone I know hate me. Or think I'm crazy, or lame or full of myself or anything I hope I'm not!

The name Simply Shabby Jess is really a tribute to my most favorite style, "Shabby." Which, I'm learning (from looking for backgrounds) is a whole lot more than an isle at Target with soft, pretty things to put on my bed. Although, that IS what turned me on to the look so I have to give props for that! For me, Shabby Chic is a fresh take on everything I loved from my Granny's house. As a little girl I always loved things like the pattern on her china & the pitcher and basin set in the guest room, with the "manual hair curling iron" next to it. It is the soft, feminine patterns that existed in the middle of a time where life was generally rough (I mean, really. They had to use outhouses!) that are to me, so very romantic. I just click with that.

Unfortunately, shabby also describes me, myself! I'm a jumbled mess of a person, inside and out. I'm not fashionable although I love fashion. My house is never together, my kids are a little wild, and my cooking skills are not lacking, but cripplingly limited! June Cleaver is my fantasy role model. But such hallowed status is about as likely for me as wining the lottery. Still, I try. I pick out the parts I do best and arrange them together into what I hope looks sweet, soft and romantic. Genuine & Simple, but still and always shabby.