Happily Forever After

Love, Love, LOVE 2012

2012-02-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

So, every year around this time, I try and remember all the things in life that I love. So, here's a twist on your plain jane list...the ABCs of Adoration

A - Apples. Animals. Adkins (Trace). America.
B - Brothers. Biscuits. Baskets. Brushes. Butter. Books.
C - Cats. Chicken. Cacciatore. Chesbro. Cows. Crayons. Cellos.
D - Dad. Dodge. Dirt. Dishwasher. Ducks.
E - Elephants. Epiphanies. Eggplant. Earrings.
F - Fruit. Fireplace. Fudge. Friends. Football.
G- Grey's Anatomy. Grandparents. Glue.
H - Hot, Handsome, Heavenly Husband.
I - Ice Cream. Ipod. Inlaws.
J - Junk. Jack. Jellybeans. Juice.
K - Kids. Kites. Kitchen. Kitties.
L - Lily. Lunch. Light Bright.
M - Mom. Monkeys. Matching Socks. Manolos.
N - Necklaces. Nighttime. Nieces and Nephews.
O - Opals. Ornaments.
P - Pumpkins. Purses. Placemats.
Q - Quartets. Quilts. Quarters.
R - Red. Rumbi. Rivers. Real Deals.
S - Super Sassy Sports Sedans. And Sisters.
T - TIM.
U - Underwood.(Carrie) Ugly Duckling.
V - Valentines. Violins. Videos.
W - Water. Watermelon. Waking Up.
X - um.....
Y - York Peppermint Patties. Yummo.
Z - Zoo. Zipper. Zigzags.

If I'm being completely honest...

2012-02-04T23:05:00.001-07:00

For those of you that really know me...and I mean really, you know why I'm sad. You know why I've been sad for two months. You know that somedays are unbearable. Today is one of those days. My little heart aches today because I miss her so much. I haven't seen her for two months. Two. A blink of an eye really in the eternities. But still. I can't breathe. I can't go to sleep. If I go to sleep, I'll dream about her and we can't have that, because then, I'm useless and I don't have time to be useless. I have things to do. Yet, if I don't sleep, I have to drink massive amounts of Mountain Dew to stay awake and function normally. What a twisted little cycle it is. I suppose that tomorrow I'll start all over again. Trying to make it. Trying to function. Trying to acheive something, anything. I have to. I will immerse myself in Primary. I will cook dinner. I will do it. I will wake up and the sun will be shining. It has to. I will take it one day at a time. I will snuggle my kittens and appreciate and hug my husband. I will take joy in my Primary kids. I will do it. If not for me, for her.

The Plan...2012 Style.

2012-02-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Howdy. It's been a while. I know. It's okay. You can cry tears of joy if you want. I accept that.
So, because it's a new year, I thought I ought to make some goals. Call them resolutions if you wish, but I'm a simple gal, and that's a big word. So, here goes. You may steal them if you'd like..because I know that I'm amazing. Or something.

1.   Live more.
2.   Cry less.
3.   Cook more.
4.   Eat less oreos.
5.   Be a little bit better every day.
6.   Stand up for myself.
7.   Stand up for those that cannot or will not.
8.   Love more. A lot more.
9.   Be a little bit kinder.
10. Learn something.
11. Teach something that matters.
12. Make a difference.
13. Change the world. Even if it's just a little bit.
14. Learn to be okay with myself. All of myself.
15. Be healthy. Period.
16. Allow for mistakes. They happen.
17. Keep toenails painted. Maybe stop biting fingernails.
18. Be a better housekeeper. Or try to be one at all.
19. Fulfill one dream this year. Not sure what it is yet...but stay tuned!
20. Attempt to be super woman and succeed and then celebrate. with cake. and dr. pepper.

There it is. It's in writing, so shall it be written, so shall it be done.
Good luck to you in your goals...wish me luck in mine!
K

Christmas Letter 2011

2011-12-23T18:53:00.001-07:00

Dearest Friends and Family,
Merriest Christmas wishes to you and yours! Just wanted to send you a yearly update of all the happenings in the Jennings Family.

First and foremost, Tim and I got new callings at church this year. We got called as the Young Men's President and Primary President (respectively). It's sure kept us busy, but we love every minute of it. (I think...) Work is great and life is grand. We've had a fun year that has included work, work, church, work, cats, hunting, concerts, some travel and more work and are excited for 2012.

This year has been an eventful one for Jack the Cat. We start with the new blankie that he got for Christmas from his Grandma Jo. He enjoys snuggling. Also, we moved his food dish from the laundry room to the kitchen. That way he doesn't try to snitch Mommy's dinner quite as much. Jack has decided to try to be an explorer this year. He often escapes to his new hideaway under the front porch. Jack hasn't gone to school yet to learn the three R's as he has no thumbs and is unable to write or turn pages. We've tried to get him to go to Cat Scouts but he really doesn't like all the structure and the uniform. He has found a new hobby in trying to figure out how that other cat got inside the new fireplace...or staring at his reflection. He also enjoys playing with his sister, sharing his Mom's food and being scratched and roughed up by Tim.

As you can see, Lily has been very busy this year holding down the furniture and working on her napping skills. She is a constant joy to us. She has excelled in many things this year. She's become very good at vocalizing her needs and mostly wants. She is also a very talented alarm clock at 6 o'clock in the morning. Lily has been enjoying all of her Mama's piano students and the attention that they give her. She enjoys hiding from strangers and tormenting her brother. She's still perfecting her Princess attitude. She also has not started school as she has no thumbs. We are hoping that she'll start showing an interest in painting as her current favorite television show is "The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross".
As you can see, it's been an eventful year for our family and we are so looking forward to sharing 2012 with you and with our sweet furry children. Merry Christmas to you and yours,
With Love,
Tim, Katie, Jack and Lily

Singin with Grandpa...

2011-08-16T11:18:00.000-06:00

So, I figured that since I posted about singing with my Grammy, I should do this too. I absolutely credit my Grandpa for my vast musical knowledge and for the songs that I love and adore. I learned most of them riding in the pickup or watching Lawrence Welk with him on Saturdays. It has been a bittersweet experience to come up with this list, because I still miss him everyday of my life. And occasionally, I'll hear a song, or smell fresh cut grass or burning ditchbanks and think of him. I like to think it's his little way of reminding me that he's still watching over his family. I love ya Gramps.

Okay...so first, the song he always sang. His words were different, but the feeling is still the same.

Secondly, the song I memorized on the piano for him and my grammy. Don't know why, but they wanted me to play it everytime we were together.

Next, the only song that gives me regrets. He would ask me to play it all the time and I never took the time to learn it well. Now I have it memorized. Granted, it wasn't this version, but this is my favorite one.

Also, the song that he told me was his favorite. And now is one of mine...

And finally, a song that makes me think about him...

I miss you Gramps.

My Grammy Award

2011-08-13T20:58:00.000-06:00

Let me start by saying that I love my Grammy. No, it's not an award for being a stellar musician (although that would be nice too). Nope, this is better. She's my best friend and kindred spirit. And I adore her. Occassionally, I get frustrated when I have to go and reset the remote control 75 gazillllllion times in one week. Tuesday was no exception. So, a little frustrated, I drove over and promptly fixed her remote, tidied up her place, found her blankie, got her a drink and a snack, clipped her fingernails, told her politely that "no, I don't do other people's toenails" and then sat to visit for a minute.
And I am so glad that I did.
Occassionally, there are moments in one's life where you experience something so incredible that you vow to remember it for the rest of your life. That was Tuesday. Here's how the conversation went:

Grammy: Dolly, I need a favor.
Me: Anything. What's up?
Grammy: Well, I can't remember something and I thought about it all night long and it just makes me mad that I can't remember.
Me: Okay....what is it?
Grammy: Well, you know that song? Give Said the Little Stream?
Me: yeah....
Grammy: I can't remember how the stream got down the hill. Can you sing it to me?
Me: Sure...the stream hurried down the hill. (and then I sing...awkwardly)

This sets off a whole chain of events. She starts with "Give Said the Little Stream", moved on to "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam", "Little Purple Pansies", " I Have Two Little Hands" and finished it off with "Bill Grogan's Goat".
By most musical standards that I normally adhere strictly to, my Grammy never was and never will be a Barbara Stresiand, Liza Minelli or Rosemary Clooney. But If I am being completely honest, I love that little, gravelly voice more than anything in the world, even if she can't remember all the words.
I am reminded daily how lucky I am to live so close and to be able to spend this time with her. I would not be the person or the musician that I am without her.

So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sing Bill Grogan's Goat to my cats.
Good night!

Primary President- Week Number Uno

2011-07-26T09:42:00.000-06:00

Success!
We had our first presidency meeting and we had a blast. I am so incredibly grateful for the women that I am serving with. They are all so different and so much fun! We are going to do great things, so watch out, world.
I am still alive and did not have a massive panic attack on Sunday. I seriously considered it when the pianist told me she wouldn't be there- 10 minutes before Primary started and then asked me "Should I find someone to play?" Um, yes. Maybe you should have done that YESTERDAY. But, I digress. I played the piano for her, which is very possibly what kept me from having the aforementioned panic attack.
I do have to mention - as I did not last entry- that in addition to me being the Primary President, they asked Tim (my eternal pest and companion) to be the Young Men's President. What?!?! Not fair. So, we both had to do the ward council thing on Sunday- which is great, because it means that he has to get out of bed too and I don't have to do it alone. Ha.
But, my favorite part of all was Sunday. As nervous and as unsure of myself as I was feeling, I still got up and took a minute to talk to "my kids". The minute I stood up and looked at their little sweet faces, I knew everything would be alright. I already love them SO MUCH and cannot wait to get to know each of them better.

El Presidente...

2011-07-18T11:19:00.000-06:00

So...as of Sunday, I am officially a Primary President. WHAT?!?

I struggle enough being a normal person and a Sunbeam teacher and they've put me in charge of other people's children. WHAT?!?!

As nervous (terrified) as I am, I am also incredibly excited.

I have some great women to serve with and cannot wait to see the things we can accomplish together.

So, in looking for some kind of inspiration, I came across an article about a woman that I knew when I was growing up. I thought she was incredible then. Then I came across this article in the Church News from 2004 and realized that if she can do it, so can I. Thanks Sister Cook. I still admire you...just so you know.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/45235/Service-dog-helps-Primary-president.html

Brothers...

2011-06-29T10:37:00.000-06:00

I've been working on my Primary lesson this week and it's inspired me...The topic this week is "I Love My Brothers and Sisters". For those of you that are not LDS, I teach a class of 3 to 4 year old kiddos. In every lesson, there is a scriptural story of some sort. The story this week is about Miriam, the sister of Moses. It references how she feels a deep sense of responsibility for him and his well being. It talks about when he was born and they were ordered to throw all baby boys in the river and her and her mother set Moses in a basket in the bullrushes. I'm sure you know the rest of the story. Anywho, as I was preparing this lesson, I felt so inspired. I love my brothers so much. I'm not sure I tell them that enough. As the oldest child and the only girl, I, like Miriam, feel so much responsibility for their well being and their happiness. I want them to know how much they are loved, and needed, and appreciated. I wasn't always nice to them. I wish I had been. As I've grown old(er), I have realized how important they are to me. I have realized what good men they are. I have realized that I would not be who I am without them. So, dear brothers, I love your guts.
I Love My Brothers and Sisters Lesson

Dear Blank, Please Blank....Part Deux.

2011-06-16T09:09:00.000-06:00

I am feeling this urge again. You know, the urge to tell people what I REALLY think...without actually telling them. So, here goes...

Dear Weight Watchers, Dare I say that I love you?
Dear Mother Nature, C'mon, can it be summer already?
Dear Allergies, Enough already.
Dear Slimy Coworker, I dislike your actions and it's starting to make me dislike you.
Dear NBC, Thank you for The Voice and Dia Frampton.
Dear Color Yellow, Why must you fight me so? Just be the right shade for my skin! (and I love you..)
Dear Skinnier Jeans, Stop mocking me.
Dear Diet Coke, Thank you for adding lime.
Dear Soda companies in general, Why must soda be soooooo expensive? It's not like it's made out of silver or anything. Give it up.
Dear Lady who is sitting in front of the library with a petition for me to sign, as much as I respect your right to free speech....you're blocking my entrance to the library.
Dear Stomach, You're really not hungry so please stop growling.
Dear Kittens, my pillow is not your bed. Especially when my head is on it. And you have plenty of food. You're fine.
Dear 4th Ward, Who has the fastest pinewood derby car? That's right, my husband.
Dear Summer, WHERE ARE YOU?
Dear Sleazy Coworker, How much did it just cost for YOU to complain? Figure it out.
Dear Dia Frampton, Thank you for existing. You're right up there with Adele in being my new best friend.
Dear Jessica, Thank you for eating cupcakes with me.
Dear Lindy, Thank you for being dependable.
Dear Husband, Thank you. For everything.
Dear Little Girls, Fairy tales are just that. Fairy tales. Sometimes, they come true. Sometimes, they don't. And it's better.

Greek Cheese Burgers

2011-06-07T08:35:00.000-06:00

For anyone who cares, I joined Weight Watchers. Why? Because I am tired of being the fat girl and because the commercials are so darned enticing...so henceforth and thus and whatever, I will occasionally post recipes that are healthy and tasty. (what?) I know, healthy and tasty? Really? Is that possible?
So, starting now...I made some incredibly tasty (and only 8 points) Greek Style Cheeseburgers. I must give some credit to the Weight Watchers website for this recipe, but next time I will make a few tweaks of my own...
Enjoy...

Greek Cheese Burgers
1 lb. lean ground beef (think 93/7)
1/2 tsp oregano (or less, I think)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 c minced onion
4 light hamburger buns
crumbled feta cheese (yum!!)
3/4 c baby spinach

Combine first 6 ingredients and mix well. (yes, with your hands) Pan fry. Top with feta and cover until feta cheese gets melty. (yes, melty) It won't melt with the consistency of cheddar, but it will soften. Place on light hamburger bun and top with baby spinach. Serve with home fries, coleslaw or some other healthy and delightful something or other and then....ENJOY!
So, for all of you that asked, there it is...

My Momma

2011-05-06T15:16:00.000-06:00

First of all, Mom, don't be mad. This is one of my favorite pictures EVER of you. It makes it so other people can see what a fun momma we have.

Second, I love you to pieces. A bushel and peck and all that jazz.

Third, I would like to say thank you for the following things...

* For always believing in me and my brothers.

* For teaching us the right way to live, even though we don't always do it.

* For being supportive of our weird habits and interests and hobbies.

* For standing up for us.

* For letting us be ourselves, no matter how weird we were.

* For not being afraid to get dirty.

* For letting us play golf with frozen mice off of the deck.

* For being the kind of mom that all of our friends wanted to have.

* For loving us, unconditionally, to the point that it sometimes hurt you.

* For understanding why we needed to dig a large hole in the garden and fill it with water.

* For trying to shield us from the world, but letting us learn on our own.

* For not killing us.

* For being a best friend and at the same time, remembering that you were still a parent.

* For making dang good food. Obviously.

* For learning to adjust. Quickly. And often.

* For not only teaching about the good in the world, but more times than not, showing us how to do it.

* For many more things that I can't currently think of because chances are, they are mushy.

And fourth, I love you. A lot.

Happy Mother's Day!

I LOVE THIS BOY!

2011-04-10T14:41:00.000-06:00

For anyone that cares, it has been dang near 10 years since Tim took me on the best picnic of my entire life. I know that a picnic doesn't sound THAT exciting, but it was. It was the day he proposed. On that sunny afternoon, at that beautiful picnic spot, with the love of my life, I was sure that I could not love him any more than I already did and that it was impossible for me to be any happier than I was at that moment. Now, for those of you that know me, you know that I hate admitting that I'm wrong. But, I was wrong. SOOOOOO wrong. I love him more today than I ever thought I could and he makes me happy every single day. I do believe that I am the luckiest girl in the world and thank my Heavenly Father every day for my best friend and Scrabble nemesis, Tim. (and...I haven't even lost my engagement ring once!-knock on wood...)

For My Sake...

2011-04-01T00:38:00.000-06:00

I am pathetic. For the most part, I have spent my winter in a depressed 'funk', if you will. I have spent months moping around and feeling like I am just not good enough. So, today...there was a very cleverly placed on my side of the bed Ensign article. For those of you that are not a member of my faith, the Ensign is a monthly publication-magazine- with tidbits of information, instruction, information and advice. It has stories and anecdotes and direct teachings from our living prophets. You may want to check it out at http://www.lds.org/. I have avoided the Ensign lately, because I just feel like I'm not good enough even though deep down inside I know that's not true. This article got me back on track. So, Ensign editiors....Thank you. I cannot thank you enough. Here's the link-you should read it. http://lds.org/ensign/2011/04/faith-and-infertility?lang=eng

Also, kind of on the same topic, is Thursday. Thursday = Grey's Anatomy. This time...with music. It was beautiful and haunting and strangely Glee-like. There are just some things that cannot be expressed any other way. Anyhow, my favorite character, the one I most relate to, Meredith, is in an elevator with her gorgeous genius brain surgeon husband as one of their friends and coworkers lays upstairs in ICU fighting for her life-and her unborn child's. Meredith expresses that at the baby shower the day before, she was jealous. And now she feels terrible. She asks her husband why the universe would give Callie a baby and not her and then put Callie through a windshield. "Why is the universe so unfair and so screwed up and so mean?"
I AGREE. I once heard that when you have a trial that tests you once, it's helping you increase your faith. When you have a trial that is a recurring thing, it's perfecting your faith. Alright then. I will have perfected faith, darn it. So here we go. It's on.

Remembering...

2011-03-23T21:51:00.000-06:00

I did it. I spent the weekend with my family. I relaxed. I had fun. I laughed. I watched a BYU basketball game with my husband, daddy and brothers. I felt like myself again. I remembered how it felt to be myself again. I remembered how it felt to be happy again and to be valued. I spent time with my sweet baby Palin, playing playdoh and monster and being her personal horsey. I ate scones in the middle of the night at a disgusting little diner and listened to Van Morrison from a jukebox. I remembered why I love my job again. I remembered what it feels like to be completely inspired by a song, a place or an event. I went to the temple and remembered who I was again. I am a daughter of God, and He does love me. He does have a master plan for me. I spent time with my mom and my sisters in law and remembered how lucky I am to have a family that loves me. I spent a lot of time with my husband. I remembered (like I try to every day) how much I love him, what a good man he is and how lucky I am to have a husband who loves me and takes care of me. I love remembering. It was the best thing I could have done. I needed it more than I knew. I needed to feel like myself and like I am valued and appreciated and not all the things that I have been told that I am recently. So, again, "faith in God is having faith in His timing." I just have to REMEMBER that.

I Love My Brothers...

2011-03-17T10:49:00.000-06:00

Who has the most awesome brothers in the world? Yep, me.

Example A:

Tough as Nails...

2011-03-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

I love self discovery. Today, I have discovered something about my little self. Through a highly unpleasant experience with a person who I wouldn't have though could be so hurtful, I discovered that I am stronger than I thought I was. I am a thirty year old woman and I am tough. As nails. I don't need to be pushed around, talked down to or bullied. I simply do not have time or patience for it. And today...I proved it. So, to the mean people of the world, I will NOT let you push me around any more. I'm simply not going to accept it. So, put that in your juice box and suck it.

What I Needed...

2011-03-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired by my dear friend and fellow blogger Stacy Chandler... so I thought I would follow in her footsteps and post my favorite picture and quote as of late. I often forget how MUCH my Heavenly Father and His Son love me and know me better than I know myself. I often get too involved in my silly little trials and forget the real purpose of my life on this earth. I forget that there is a master plan that I don't understand right this minute...so, here is your inspiration for the day. I am also including my favorite portrayal of the Savior. I love the feelings that it evokes. He loves me. And you. And believe it or not, He does have a plan for us, whether it's the one we had worked out for ourselves or not. So, be inspired. Pass it on...And Stacy, thank you.

"Faith in the Lord includes faith in His
timing." -Neil A Maxwell

Let's Be Honest...

2011-03-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

Here's the truth. I need some spring. Now. Immediately. I need baseball and green lawns and new flowers and sunshine and the hope of something better.
I am usually a lover of winter. At this point, however, there is nothing more I would enjoy than a good tropical vacay. Also, I work in a music store. THIS prevents me from taking said vacay.
I am finding myself being somewhat cranky...I was tempted to run over a pedestrian last week. I have also had the desire to poke someone in the eye. With a stick. I sometimes curse at people that are driving slow, crossing in the middle of the road, scanning coupons at a self checkout, getting between me and mountain dew, or insulting my college basketball team.
I am hoping that Mr. Sun will come out soon, otherwise, I may be liable to end up in jail for murder or something stupid. So...come visit. Bake a file into a cake and pray for sun.

I grant to you this gift

2011-02-28T00:19:00.000-07:00

To the sweet person who lit my dumpster on fire...I give you the gift of reading. It's time to find a new hobby.
To the Mountain Dew people...I give you a hug on Monday mornings.
To Monday...I give you this advice. No one likes you.
To the lady who asked me if it hurts when people talk to me about being a mother...I give you the gift of a lemon. Squeeze the juice and then pour it into a paper cut. Then we'll talk. There. I said it.
To the person that I admire the most...I give you a weekend of not worrying. I have it under control.
To my kitties...I give you..EVERYTHING. Stop begging, we all know that I'll give it to you anyhow.
To that certain person who gets on my last nerve...I give you the gift of growing up. You're an adult. Act like one.
To the Girl Scouts...I give you the gift of Diabetes. I blame it on the summer of the Samoas at Trefoil.
To Adele... I give you the gift of being my new best friend.
To the Academy...Thanks for finally giving Christian Bale what he deserves. I give you the gift of me changing the channel when he's done.
To Christian Bale...I give you the gift of staying in our guest room and watching Batman with us whenever you would like.
To my blog readers...I obviously have given you the gift of extreme sarcasm and hopefully laughter. Have a lovely day.
Love Katie

Saturdays...

2011-02-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

I love love LOVE Saturdays. It's the day for Bountiful Basketing, primary lessoning, kitty snuggling, truck riding, college basketball watching fun.
I spent this morning sleeping in and snuggling my kitties. Then I woke up and went and froze my buns off (wouldn't that be nice if could actually happen?) and ran my BB site. We got coconut and mangos today. How great is that? Now, I'm sitting ony my squishy couch with my hunny watching BYU basketball. JIMMER! Later, I will finish making an umbrella and raindrops out of cardstock form my sweet, wonderful Sunbeams. How does life get any better?

Oh yes...Mountain Dew...with lime. :)
Happy Happy Weekend to you. And to me!

Dinner Tonight

2011-02-21T10:24:00.001-07:00

I want you to look at this website. I love it. I use it. In fact, my dinner of pineapple salsa chicken is currently in the crock pot waiting for me to come home and scarf it down. Dinner is exciting again!
http://www.melskitchencafe.com/
And here is my dinner....
www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/.../pineapple-salsa-chicken-slow-cooker.html

Except...I will be adding grilled orange bell peppers and sweet onions and a sweet tomato rice to serve it fajita style. I'm so excited!!!

Must Watches....

2011-02-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

I occassionally become obsessed with things. This month...it seems to be YouTube. Shocker.
So here are a few of my favorites to make you laugh, cry, think, question and observe.

A sweet, heartfelt video by my favorite band.

The emotion is real and raw and inspiring.

Oh. My. Funny.

Enough said.

This makes my cat look sooooo normal.

Still, my favorite band. Take a listen. I promise you'll like it.

I apologize if this is offensive to anyone.

I find it highly entertaining.

Important to Me...

2011-02-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all...
I stumbled across this today and thought it was worth sharing. It's a trip back to the core values that I embrace. And, it's important to me. This one's for you, Tim.

L-O-V-E

2011-02-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Valentine's day coming up, I have decided to blog about things that I love-which, might I add, is so not typical of me lately.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE...

Tim.

Mary Poppins.

Julie Andrews.

Blizzards.

Books.

The smell of a Library.

Dr. Pepper.

Family.

Brothers.

Tim.

Jack and Lily.

Good Parents.

Fresh produce.

Country Music

The smell of Preferred Stock.

Tylenol.

The color red.

Sunbeams.

Sugardoodle.net

Facebook.

Yellow shirts.

Comfy Jeans.

People who understand.

Cheese Dogs.

Red shoes.

Tim.

Inlaws.

BFFs.

Nephews and Nieces.

Earrings.

Clearance.

BBQ potato chips.

Singing in the shower or car or wherever I may be.

Thrift Stores.

Bon Jovi.

Juke Kartel.

My Job.

My House.

Smushy Beds.

Bandanas.

Dirty Dancing.

Photography.

Cell phones.

Primary songs.

Lip Balm.

Ipods.

Good Customers.

Bath and Body Works buy 3 get 2 free sales.

August Rush.

Idaho.

Mountains.

Dodge Rams.

My cute Trailblazer named Clyde.

Riding in the mountains in a Dodge Ram with Tim

eating cheese dogs & BBQ chips while drinking Dr. Pepper

wearing comfy jeans, a yellow shirt, red shoes and a yellow bandana

while listening to country music on the radio and taking pictures.

and last but not least, Tim.

Dear Blank, please blank, Love Me.

2011-01-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Again, I've been writing letters to random people in my head. I need to get them out, because if I don't, they'll just swirl around until I become crazier.

Also, I have found a website that makes me laugh.

www.dearblankpleaseblank.com

So, in the same token, here you go.

Dear Black Eyed Peas, Who in the world gave you the right to remake "Time of My Life"? First of all, it's a classic. Second, it's Dirty Dancing personified in a song. It's not like you would remake that song from Casablanca. (sigh) Also, your version sucks.

Dear City of Idaho Falls, Please fix the potholes. I'm tired of having my tires aligned because they are unavoidable. Or, make a quality road in the first place so that you don't have to fix them every two weeks.

Dear McDonalds, Please stop having the 2 Big Macs for $3. I then feel obligated to eat two of them, partially because I love a bargain, I hate to waste and Big Macs are tasty.

Dear People who are crafty, stop it. You are making me feel bad about myself.

Dear Old Ladies that I work with, Please stop growling. It's weird. And kinda creepy. And annoying.

Dear Dr. Pepper, Please make your beverage less tasty. I need to stop drinking it.

Dear Redbox, Why do you not have Dirty Dancing (the real one) inside your deep abyss? Also, why do you have all kinds of crappy movies and no good movies?

Dear Mountain Dew, Could you just include some extra lime flavoring in your beverage so that I don't have to search all over town for a gas station with lime?

Ode to JoAnn's.

2011-01-19T09:17:00.004-07:00

There are few words that can send a girl like me into full blown panic. Two of them are "STORE CLOSING" at JoAnn's Fabric. I understand that they are just 'moving' but I also realize that they are moving to the other side of town. I don't go over there. It's scary. Also, JoAnn's has been a 5 minute drive from my house since I moved here.

It's a wonderland.

It's also where I go to relieve stress, find myself, celebrate, mourn and visit my therapist at the cutting table.

They recognize me as a 'valued customer'

(at least that's what the fliers and emails say...).

Consequently, now I will have to drive 15 minutes through traffic to enjoy the same benefit. WAAAAHHHHHHH!

So, in essence,

Dear JoAnn's Owners,

I think it's quite rude for you to leave me stranded in downtown with no fabric.

I need you. I love you, please don't go.

But if you must go, I understand.

I will still visit, I'm just afraid that we won't be as close as I once was.

But, I'm sure that once I walk through the doors in the 'new and improved' JoAnn's Fabric, that everything will feel the same.

Squishy, happy, warm, snuggly and generally happy.

Age 30...day 3

2011-01-11T10:07:00.005-07:00

I am feeling very picturesque

today...hence this post...

This is how I am feeling...better with age.

This is what I am listening to. New album...good stuff.

This is where I am going tomorrow...warm. sunshine. freakshow.

This is who I am currently angry with. You cheat. And you play dirty.

And you don't deserve a championship trophy.

Or a Heisman.

This is who I still love. Better to be the second place team with the most class.

I love my Ducks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_P1PPy7FTo

Also, I need a nap.

And a Dr. Pepper.

And some shoes.

And some Panda Express.

Pre-30...Really?

2011-01-05T09:25:00.004-07:00

As most of you know, my birthday is coming. There WAS a list of things that I wanted to do before I turned thirty. Didn't happen. Surprise. So, being as I am turning 30 and have accomplished NOTHING...I thought I would start my list over except that it is now a things to do before I am 35.

So, here goes....

1. Go to Yosemite.

2. Get back to my pre-marriage weight.

3. Grow my hair out again.

4. Be successful at something.

5. Get out of debt. Completely.

6. Make a difference in the world.

7. Adopt a baby or six.

8. Change a life.

9. See the Yankees play baseball. Live.

10.Grow my own garden, complete with tomatoes.

11. Be organized.

12. Make my own skirt.

13. Make my own purse.

14. Go somewhere incredible.

15. Take a class.

16. Laugh until I cry.

17. Be a better wife, daughter and sister.

18. Go to a concert and see an artist that I admire...

19. Spend more time on the important things.

20. Spend less time worrying about stupid things.

Benefits of Being a Kitty Owner

2010-12-28T12:59:00.010-07:00

First and foremost, I love my cats. Anyone who doesn't know that doesn't really know me at all.

I believe there are many benefits of owning a kitten or two. Of course, I am slightly biased, so I researched it. And then I added some of my own. Enjoy.

* Emotional Support-kitties are always snuggly when you need them to be.

* Significant reduction in cholesterol and blood pressure.

* Attention provided to you by a cat provides a significant reduction in feelings of stress and loneliness that lead to depression.

* Weight loss- my kittens often want to share my lunch. This results in me eating less. :)

* Humor- my cats do the funniest things. See picture below.

* Entertainment- cats provide hours of entertainment. I could watch my cats do silly things all day long.

* As an added benefit, when you have no children, you have no one to dress up. They may fight you, but dressing up cats is also fun.

* One more thing, I just love them. They are the best kittens in the world and keep me entertained, happy and healthy. They are such good companions and listeners and friends.

(actually, this was just an excuse to post pictures of my kittens...)

Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T12:51:00.002-07:00

Here is a variety of links that make me laugh about Christmas, which is a great accomplishment, because I am currently a giant scrooge.

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2010/12/12-wrecks-of-christmas.html

http://kraftmstr.com/christmas/humor/confuse.html

Christmas Letter 2010 from Scrooge.

2010-12-15T17:32:00.003-07:00

It's that time of year again. The time of year when my mailbox is FULL of letters about you, your children, their activities, etc. I don't have children. So, I figured that very few people actually care what Tim and I are doing. Everyday. Because it doesn't change. So, here is my Christmas letter. If you read it, great, if not...then you are obviously not seeing this. I thought about making things up to sound amazing and wonderful, but that's just not who I am, so here you go.

Dearest Family and Friend(s)-

This year has been rather eventful, if you consider having burst sewer pipes, stitches, dead trucks and vet visits eventful.

We added two furry children to our family: Jack the Cat in December, and Lily Belle as an Un-Mother's Day present in May. They don't play soccer, go to school, or have ballet. They sleep, eat, purr, scratch my couch and eat my lunch when I am not looking. And I love them.

Tim and I have been busy. We work. Sundays we go to church. Then we come home. That's all. We are grateful for our jobs, our home, our cars and each other. We love our family and our kittens. We love each other. Nothing else matters.

I went to Girls Camp as the Head Chicken in Charge in July. Tim came too. The cats stayed home. We went to Yellowstone for Mothers Day weekend. It was awesome. The cats stayed home. We visited my Granny Hippo in Rexburg once or twice a week until we moved her to IF to be closer. The cats came along. My brother got married to a girl that's a great cook. I like her. We went to Boise for that....and you guessed it-the cats stayed home. I started teaching piano lessons. It's pretty fun. The cats watch and Tim listens from the other room.

Welp, that's all there is. Sorry it's not more exciting. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Best Solstice wishes and whatever else I'm missing. Hopefully next year will be much more entertaining and I'll send a real letter. :)

Love,

Katie

All I've Ever Wanted...

2010-11-24T15:17:00.002-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving! It's that time of year when we all feel thankful for everything we have, until Black Friday...the day when we all feel the urge to spend tons of money on useless garbage we don't need. So, this year, I'm going to work on being grateful for what I already have. I have started a daily "Gratitude Journal" in which I am trying to find SOMETHING to be thankful for everyday. It's not always easy...In this process, I've come to realize that there is something to be grateful for in every aspect of my life, even in my trials. There are lessons learned, friends made, qualities gained, relationships strengthened, and skills sharpened. For example, in dealing with a certain trial in my life in the last few years, I've become much more empathetic towards others trials and have gained a softened heart. So, in honor of this realization, I'm going to post some of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs by Michael McLean.

What I Need

All I ever wanted,

All I ever dreamed of,

Everything I hoped and all the things I prayed for

Couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given,

I've been given what I need.

A mansion on the hill or love like in the movies

Perfect little lives, where no one has a problem

Instead of all those things I thought I really wanted

I've been given what I need.

Even when I didn't understand,

When I thought you had no heart,

Thank you for rejecting my demand

And always giving me the better part.

All I ever wanted,

All I ever dreamed of,

Everything I hoped and all the things I prayed for

Couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given

I've been given what I need.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, I'm grateful for each one of you!

Love, K.

October~where did you go?

2010-11-02T13:31:00.004-06:00

Okay, hullo. Been a while, right?

First and foremost, we celebrated our 9th (yes, 9 years) anniversary.

Reasons that this is great:

I love my husband.

I love that he is nice to my cats.

I love that he supports me and my family.

I love what a good uncle, husband, friend, brother, person, hero blah blah blah that he is.

I love that he makes me laugh everyday, even when I'm miserable.

I love that he is my knight in shining armor.

I love that he lets me drive his big, awesome, new to us pickup truck.

I love every minute of our life together, even when I say I don't.

I love him.

So there.

************************************************************************************

Second-we went to Boise to hang with my fabulous fam. It was Palin's birthday. And everyone was there. I made her a tutu, gave her a magic wand, some jewelry to match and have thus, created a monster. :) She put it on and ran around the living room full of people who now think I am nuts hitting them with her wand and screaming "TaDaa" at the top of her lungs. It's her party and she'll "tadaa" if she wants to.

All in all, been a fabulous month. Bring on the next one.

hugs.

Snickerdoodle Muffins

2010-08-31T13:38:00.000-06:00

I demand you try these...

http://creatinglineuponline.blogspot.com/2010/08/muffins.html

Girls Camp!

2010-08-11T09:40:00.004-06:00

G is for the Great time that I had.

I is for the Itchy feeling I got from the horseflies on steroids.

R is for Rest and Relaxation of which I had none.

L is LOVE! (that's something I have a lot of...)

S is for Smorritos-what else? Oh, yeah...and Starburst.

C is for the Christmas Carols we sang in the rain.

A is for Action-it was nonstop.

M is for Mischeif that we certainly got into.

P is for Party!

I had the time of my life! I worked harder than I ever have, but it was the most REWARDING experience ever.

To my little Chickens- I love you to pieces.

To my Directors with a K- my newest bestest friends.

To those of you who volunteered your time-I love you forever.

Can't wait for next year!

Being Bountiful...

2010-07-07T11:07:00.004-06:00

I am a girl who LOVES a bargain. (note all the Deseret Industries bags at my house...) So, may I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bountiful Baskets. It is a heck of a deal. Tim and I have become faithful followers/contributors/whatever-ers. Maybe we should call ourselves Basket Cases...perhaps not. Anyhow, for the low price of $15.00 (plus a $1.50 service charge) we get TWO laundry baskets of produce. And it's usually awesome produce. Example-

last Saturday- Watermelon, pineapple, canteloupe, carrots, celery, lettuce, brussel sprouts, bananas, tomatoes, and bunches more. Two weeks ago, we got almost two full pounds of cherries and a whole bunch of plums as well as the usual apples, bananas, lettuce, etc. If you add all of this up at the grocery store, it will usually total up to around $70. In a world where we need to making more healthy eating choices, this seems to be the most economical way to go. Also, they support local farms when they can, recycle all containers and the entire operation is run by volunteers. (like me) We are currently working to open our own site, so stay tuned for that.

The other thing about Bountiful Baskets that I adore is that often times, I receive produce that I would not normally purchase such as artichokes, avocados, baby bok choy, brussel sprouts, and many other things. This encourages me to try new things and forces me to find new recipes. I have found that I don't love baby bok choy, I do love artichokes, and adding avocado to anything makes it better.

I also love the special bargains they offer. For example, my friend Jenn and I purchase 25 pounds of fresh peaches for only $12.50. This week I purchased 12 pints of blueberries for $20. The first time I contributed, I purchased 8 pounds of Strawberries for $1.00 a pound! Unheard of in this area...

I am strongly encouraging all of you to give this a shot. Head over to www.bountifulbaskets.org today! It will give you all the information you need to get started. There is a one time $3.00 set up fee, but really? Still a great deal. Caution-in this area-they go fast!

Love, K

Just so you know...

2010-06-10T15:42:00.002-06:00

Because music is such an important part of my life, I have decided that I am going to occasionally post song lyrics that reflect my feelings as opposed to typing 8000 words and having completely un-organized thoughts. Enjoy!

Happy Family!

2010-06-10T14:34:00.011-06:00

I love Mother, she loves me.

We love Father, yes sirree.

He loves us and so you see,

We are a Happy Family!

I love my brothers, they love me. (i hope...)
We love our sisters, yes sirree.

They love us (i think...) and so you see,

We are a Happy Family!

I love Jack the Cat, he loves me.

We love Lilly Cat, yes siree.

They love us and so you see,

We are a Happy Family!

Happy UN-Mother's Day to me...

2010-05-08T18:53:00.003-06:00

Happy Un-Mother's Day to me. Yes, I said it.
Normally, I would not advocate skipping church, however, I don't do church on Mother's Day. Regardless of what others say, or the reasoning they give me over and over, it's not the easiest day of my life. Partially because I miss my mom and partially because, well, let's face it...being a mother to a CAT is not something extraordinary.
So, my AMAZING husband (who I adore) made reservations at a GORGEOUS hotel in West Yellowstone, Montana and we have been blissfully exploring the park today and will continue to do so tomorrow. It has been a beautiful, unstressful and guilt-free day. We have acutally discussed making this a tradition. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Yellowstone Park. There are so many things that I can see and learn and do every day here and NEVER get bored. Like today,for instance, I learned that a petrified tree is not actually a tree that got very, very frightened. It was actually covered in water, mud and volcanic ash and is now basically a rock. Also, I read in Yellowstone Today that personal pepper spray will NOT work on a bear. I am super visual, so I am picturing a small Asian woman spraying a bear with the pepper spray that you find in the check out aisle at WalMart and the bear laughing (mwa ha ha ha) and eating her anyways. Terrible? Yes. Funnny? Pretty much.
Also, today, I have become re-acquainted with Tim. He is funny and gentle and goofy and has better eyesight than anyone I have ever met. He is also very friendly and helpful and not at all afraid to share the fact that he just found a huge Grizzly Bear on the second ridge 8 gazillion miles away with strangers. I am reminded of how much I love him and how much fun we can have together. This was just what I needed this weekend. To remember that my life is NOT empty and meaningless. I am important to someone and he needs me and he will always love me...no matter what. So, happy Mother's Day to all!

AMAZING WOMEN

2010-04-26T18:04:00.004-06:00

Here is my list of today-Women that I think are amazing.
Mom-you're my mom. that's why.
Mom Jennings- you gave me tim. thanks.
Terri (yes...you in CA)-you always make me feel better!
Lauri-fish-what can i say? you're my lauri-fish.
Jess-just love you.
Rachel Ann- and you too.
Jamie Lee- the sister i never had.
Krista Lynn-ditto
Becky Ann-ditto
Heidi- ditto
Crystal-ditto.
Julia- ditto.
Mary - supermom, super RS president, practically perfect in every way.
Colleen Ricks-for still being vivacious, amazing and beautiful through all your trials.
Natausha-best VT partner ever.
Kendra-just love you to pieces.

There you go. If I forgot you, give me a day or so to add more. :)

Obviously...

2010-04-24T17:17:00.002-06:00

So, the hard part of this for me is keeping this silly thing updated. I obviously stink at it. So, here goes-a massive update. :)
* Weight Loss for Team Jennings-doing it. I am going to the gym three times a week and just spent a crud load of cash on the Wii Fit. Must. Be. Skinny. 15 pounds down-60 more to go.
* Jack the Cat- Love him. A lot. So much in fact that we are buying Jack a sister so he won't be lonely. Name suggestions for a little girl cat will be appreciated.
* Girls Camp-AARRRRGGGHHHHH! Old ladies gossip too much. Girls Camp WILL be successful, despite the doubts of certain people about me and my abilities.
* Family- busy. In Utah this weekend for Birthday Partays, in Boise in four weeks for *sniff* my little brother's wedding. *sniff* again.
*Work- :/ Enough said.
* Life- AMAZING! Just realized that it was 8 years ago that Tim proposed to me. How lucky am I? And how smart am I for saying yes?!?! I love him too too much.
There you go. See you in a couple months.

Jack the Cat, American in Paris, New Job, Blah, Blah, Blah.

2010-03-23T08:28:00.002-06:00

Let's pretend that I have actually been doing this like I am supposed to. Ha. Slacker. Due to my lack of internet and my lack of actual caring, I have not updated anything since December. Currently, I am at work. Some of my sweet customers have been after me to update. So, that's what I am doing.
Okay, first big news, Tim got me a cat for Christmas. He is the most precious and precocious siamese kitten in the whole world. I named him Jack. After Captain Jack Sparrow, Jackalope, Jackie Chan, etc. Tim has been out of town for a week and Jack has been uber protective. He is always on my heels and has taken to sleeping in front of my bedroom door so if there is a monster or a mouse or a burglar or a stray piece of cheese trying to attack, they will have to get past him to get to me. I have been finding him in the strangest places like inside the washer, the kitchen sink (full of dishwater of course) and calmly sitting amid flannel, polycotton and fleece in my sewing room on the shelf. He is just like a kid. He likes to be rocked and covered with his blankie. Wierd.
Okay, next. My dad got a new job. In Wyoming. No, not as a cowboy. He is managing a store and seems to enjoy it, but really? Wyoming? At least it's a job.
And next, the highlight of my life lately, has been watching old, classic Gene Kelly movies. I had forgotten how much I love him! I advise everyone to watch these two movies-An American in Paris and Anchors Aweigh with Frank Sinatra.
Tim has been off in New Mexico hunting antelope on steroids (oryx?) with his sister. Sounds like they had fun, but I'll be glad for him to be home again today!
So, life in a nutshell. Not exciting. Still, it's mine and I LOVE IT!

I Need Your Help!!!

2009-12-03T14:47:00.003-07:00

Howdy all-
Being as this is the season of giving, I have decided to have a more Christ-like Christmas at my house. In this spirit, I am trying to do a large scale service project. Please check out the following link and let me know if you are interested in helping me out. I probably won't be ready by Christmas, but we can start up in the new year. This is a great organization and would be a very simple way to give back to the world and pay it forward. It's not time consuming and all talents are welcome. Let me know if you would like to help by emailing me at timandkatiej@gmail.com. Or, you can just give me a call, or whatever.... Help me help these little munchkins-and Merry Christmas.

http://www.conkerrcancer.org/

NEW!

2009-12-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Just want you to know that there are new pictures at www.jellybeanjunctionphotos.blogspot.com.
Check it out!

Thankful for...

2009-11-21T12:47:00.002-07:00

I am thankful. Period. That's it. I found myself grumping around yesterday about my roots showing and about my job stinking and about the trashy, slow people at WalMart that extended my shopping time because they are slow. Then I thought to myself- Katie Jean (that's what I call myself ...) SHUT UP! You should be thankful that a.) you have hair to complain about. b.) you have a job and c.) you have a WalMart. So, I am thankful. This year, I have so MUCH to be grateful for. So here goes....pay attention, you might be in here. I AM THANKFUL FOR... 1. the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. An amazing husband. 3. Awesome parents who get more dear to my heart everyday. 4. Super duper in-laws. 5. Brothers who are also some of my best friends. 6. Mrs. Buffy. 7. Nieces and nephews. 8. Forever Families. 9. Sistas from other mistas- Rachel Ann, my Jessicas, Jenn and the rest of you. 10. A cute little house. 11. My Job. Most days. 12. Fun customers that are also friends. 13. Cough syrup. 14. Good hair. 15. Grandmas. 16. Fuzzies 17. Potatoes. Shhh. 18. the time I spent with Palin. 19. Temples. 20. Sunbeams. 21. Ipods. 22. Pianos. 23. Thrift Stores. 24. Cell phones. 25. sunglasses. 26. snowflakes. 27. fabric stores. 28. the color red. 29. squirrelys. 30. Tim. Oh wait, I already mentioned him? Well, then I am SUPER thankful for him.
I could keep going...but my time at the library is running out. :) oh yeah. 31. Libraries.
So, this year....be thankful. not for anything specific, but just thankful. My Heavenly Father gives me trials on a daily basis that I pay attention to, but He also blesses me EVERY DAY! So, here I am....thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.

Love is having a Grandma Hippo

2009-10-23T11:02:00.004-06:00

Yes, I love this little hippo...

I've never been sure why I've called her that, but I have always called her Grandma Hippo. She has been sooooo sick lately and it breaks my little pea pickin heart. It has been a great opportunity to reflect on all the things that she has done for me and helped me to be.

First of all, Grandma taught me that having hair in your face is bad. It doesn't matter if that is the style or you just don't care, she always had a tacky, little, plastic barrette to pin my bangs back.

Grandma also taught me that it's not necessarily a bad thing to swallow water from the canal. You shouldn't actively drink it, but unlike Mrs. Swagger, Grandma never told me that I was going to die or be severly deformed because I like to swim in the canal.

Popsicles are okay for breakfast. Nuff said.

Said popsicles must have a paper towel square underneath them.

Pig tails are still an acceptable way to do your hair, not matter how old you are.

If you are 80 years old, you can eat whatever you want.

Little old ladies are excused from everything. That's just the way it works.

Everything can be fixed with a bandaid, a barrette or a needle.

(and a popsicle)

Toys that make loud noises are great revenge.

You must wear nylons. Women who don't...welll.....

If you drink, chances are, you will be made fun of FOREVER.

(aka Mark Lutz)

Just because the world is going to end doesn't mean you won't need toilet paper.

A flour sack dish towel can be used for EVERYTHING.

Wagons are an acceptable mode of transportation. So are lawnmowers. And roller skates.

If mom says no, chances are...Grandma will say yes.

And last but not least-

Love your family. They will choose your nursing home. :)

All joking aside-my grandma is an amazing person. She is a kindred spirit and I will love her forever and ever and ever and ever. She is the kindest person that I know and the closer she gets to heaven, the more I can see her little heart of gold shine through.

There. Reminiscing done. Now, I have to get on with life and go be a strong person.

Jellybean Junction is Here and you're all invited!

2009-09-30T14:05:00.005-06:00

Just wanted to invite you all you to view and follow my newest venture...
www.jellybeanjunctionphotos.blogspot.com
I love any and all comments you have-one way or the other.
Also, I am considering doing Halloween shots - what do you think?

The Benefits of Being Us... Just us.

2009-09-11T14:48:00.004-06:00

The Childless Couple
Okay, so I have spent wayyy too long dwelling on the fact that I am obviously not meant to be someone's mommy. In the last little while, I have come to the realization that this is not necessarily a bad thing all the time. So, I have decided that I am going to blog today on the benefits of being DINKs. (double income, no kids)

1. Just that! Two paychecks, no human responsibilities.

2. We can sleep through the night.

3. Only 2 suitcases to pack.

4. We can get up and go whenever and wherever we feel like it.

5. No diapers or barf.

6. No macaroni and cheese.

7. I get to watch Disney movies because I WANT TO!

8. Blissfully shopping.

9. Clean car.

10. I get to keep my parents all to myself.

11. We are the favorite aunt and uncle.

12. More time to spend with each other.

13. I don't have to get anyone ready for church but me.

14. I only have to entertain one person during sacrament meeting- Tim. :)

15. No diapers or barf.

However, there are disadvantages... for example...I think that my husband will be the greatest dad ever! My parents deserve to have more grandkids. I want to sew baby clothes. All of our friends have kids and hang out with other people that HAVE KIDS. There are so many negatives about this whole situation, but there are also a lot of positives. So for those of you that feel bad for me, stop. I am happy. I am blissfully happy. How many girls get to be married to Superman? (who, might I add, is my best friend in the whole world..) And maybe, someday, I'll even have a cat! ;)

Hugs and kisses to all!

Things that make a small town girl happy...

2009-08-10T14:54:00.006-06:00

I have officially decided that there is no better way to spend a weekend than doing things that make you smile. Life is way too short to stress out about all of the garbage. So, this weekend, I took a break from the fast lane that I call my life and spent my Saturday having fun. Tim and I went to the "grown-up" side of the Idaho Falls Roaring Youth Jam. We went to the car show, watched the boat races and had a heck of a time! It helped me re-discover that simple things really can make you smile! I am so in love with Tim, with being outside, with classic cars, with life! Funny, how a few shiny cars, a snowcone and spending the day with your best friend can make all the little annoyances and stresses in your life dissappear!

Newest Shenanigans of the Jennings Family...

2009-07-13T14:48:00.006-06:00

SHENANIGANS OF THE JENNINGS FAMILY!

Hopefully, you haven't noticed that I have been neglecting my blog. However, I am making amends right this minute while I should be working, because honestly...I would rather do this(tee hee)

We have had a busy, crazy summer already. Yellowstone with the parents (Tim's), to Boise for Dustin's graduation, to Henry's Lake and Yellowstone and all over the country with Becky and family AND Girls' Camp. I have recently taken to photographing everything as opposed to writing it down, so hopefully, you enjoy the pictures~

Here is the whole fam at the zoo-minus the picture taker...(me.)

Then, after the zoo to the ice cream parlor, to fatten ourselves with creamy, dairy, goodness. I think that maybe Jared enjoyed it more than the rest of us.... :)

Here we are at Bear World-obviously "beary" happy to be there....

More to come - stay tuned. Same bat time, same bat channel!

NEW BLOG!

2009-06-18T10:37:00.001-06:00

Okay, I am soooo over looking at everyone else's displays of homemaker-y-ness. So, check out my new blog listed below...awesome embroidery patterns today!

http://www.katiescraftiness.blogspot.com/

Tribute to my Mommy.

2009-05-08T13:57:00.003-06:00

M is for Momface, Mama and Marie.

O is for OhBoy, OhNo, Oh Brother and Otha Motha.

T is for Turkey, Treats, Trouble maker, and thank you so much.

H is for Hairbrush-you know, the one you beat me with. :-)

E is for Eggplant Suit and everything-which is what you are to me.

R is for Rowdy, Rambunctious, Respected, Revered, and Retarded (which is what your kids are.)

Mom-I could have written something tender and touching and completely unlike me, but who are we kidding? I am no good at that. Thank you for being the best mom anyone could ever have. I love you more than I can say. (even though you did beat me with a hairbrush...)

To all the rest of the moms: (including mine...) Thank you for your timeless devotion and selfless actions.

April Highlights

2009-05-05T10:24:00.002-06:00

Oh my gosh! It's already May! April totally flew by for me and I didn't even do anything horribly exciting!
Easter came and went without much celebration-because, really? Who wants to see two adults outside looking for eggs in their jammies? We did dye eggs with our favorite cohorts-Nate and Jess. It was interesting. Tim and Nathan are always good for laughs and dirty jokes when we decorate ANYTHING-be it cookies, eggs, cakes, gingerbread houses-together. They're just a couple of knot heads if you ask me.
My mom came down for a while and we did the whole nursing home thing. We played piano and made Grandma proud. It's still tough for me to do that-I used to play for my Grandpa and still think of him often whenever I play. We also got to see my sister in law Crystal (love her!) and my sweet, gorgeous, perfect niece Palin. I just love to hold her and play with her and talk to her and everything! She is so precious and I adore her.
My little (but bigger than me) brother turned 23 on the 30th. I can still remember when he was just a little munchkin. I remember the day my mom and dad brought him home. From the minute I met him, he was MY baby. He is still one of my very best friends and I don't know what I would ever do without him.
The very last day or two of April , Tim's parents came down. We went to Yellowstone and I met some buffalo face to face. Yikes! Thanks Tim for rolling the window down. It was a beautiful day and we had SOOOO much fun. It was fun to see Tim's mom in a different environment and capacity. I always knew that she was fun, I just didn't ever realize how much fun! And it was good to see Tim so happy!
Welp, can't think of much else-so there you go!

Fab Five

2009-04-15T15:59:00.002-06:00

five
THE FAB FIVE:OK! So this is how this works...The first 5 people to respond to this post will receive something made by me, just for you. Of course there are some restrictions and limitations:1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! :)2. What I create will be just for you.3. It will be done some time within the next year :)4. You have no clue what it will be... Could be lint from my dryer :D) Who knows? Not you, that's for sure. ;-) 5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.6. I will send it anywhere! It doesn't matter where you live!The catch? The catch is that you must repost this on your own blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!!

March Highlights

2009-03-27T10:59:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I am very aware that I am slacking this month in the world of blog. So, here are the highlights....

March 2nd- Jamie and Danno's 7th Anniversary

March 13th- Trip to Nephi for Derek Timothy's birthday. We bought him a horse that makes noise. Yay for Uncle Tim and Uncle Katie. No, I did not make a mistake. I walked into the room and this is what came out of his sweet little mouth..."UNCLE KATIE! There her is!!" Then, his parents convinced the little scamp to name his new horse, what else, Uncle Katie.

March 18th- Ice cream day with Rachel. I have not laughed so hard for a very long time. I hate that you are leaving, my Rachel Ann. I will miss you bunches.

March 20th- Anitques and lunch with Jenn face. Wow, I love other people's junk. Tim took me to Bubba's Barbecue for dinner. Oh my yummy.

March 21st- Shopping Saturday with Jess. I found the cutest bunny lamp and had to have it for my Easter decorations. I got to go to all the fun places that I never get to go to with my husband. Thank you Jess.

March 22nd- Taught sharing time. Wow, lots of kids. Listened to little primary singers. Made life worthwhile. Had the Noah's Ark lesson....I made an ark out of posterboard! Yay!

March 24th- The beginning of my "I am going to make dinner" project. So far, successful.

March 27th- (that's today) My mom is coming to visit! I am so flipping excited!

So, there it is....the highlights of March. Let's hope that April proves to be a touch warmer and Spring shows itself. Love you all!

What I Need...

2009-02-26T15:15:00.002-07:00

I found this highly entertaining....try it! it's fun!

Here’s how it works: Google “[your first name] needs” and share the first 10 results.
That's it: it is that simple. But be honest! These are actual quotes from the top ten results.
Tag the person who tagged you, and pass it on...

1. Katie needs...HULA LESSONS. (right....)
2. Katie needs...YOUR HELP. (no really, I do...)
3. Katie needs...TO WORK ON HER POSTURE. (whatever.)
4. Katie needs...TO BE ON HER OWN. (okay, that's really true.)
5. Katie needs...AUSTRALIA.
6. Katie needs...TO SMILE. (with my newly cleaned teeth...shiny!)
7. Katie needs...PARENTING CLASSES. (what the heck for?)
8. Katie needs...NEW JEANS. (levi's preferably..)
9. Katie needs...TO HIT THE RESET BUTTON.
10.Katie needs...DESSERTS. (no kidding.)

Okay, now it's your turn. Copy, paste, fill in. Not too hard. Consider yourself tagged.

Love, Love, LOVE!

2009-02-13T08:25:00.003-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I think that sometimes I focus a lot on the negative....on the drama, on the things that don't matter. So, I thought that I would try and list some of the things that I love!

1. My Husband-He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. No Joke. He may be obnoxious at times (shocker...) but he knows me better than anyone-what I need, how to make me laugh. He is so supportive and kind.

2. My Family-I have the best family anyone could ever ask for. I have an amazing mother and a wonderful father. My brothers are awesome! I have the best in-laws ever...no kidding. And my nieces and nephews...don't even get me started!

3. The Church- Families can be together forever? Thank you. What better thing to strive for? The promise of that is enough for me.

4. My sunbeams- I love my sunbeam class. They are so sweet and open to learning. And really, there is nothing better than hearing my sunbeams sing primary songs at the top of their lungs.

5. My job- Sure, it's stressful, but what isn't? I cannot think of a better use of my time at this point in my life. I have wanted to work here since I was a little girl and now I'm here!

6. My friends- You know who you are. I love you and would not be the person that I am without you. (and your cute kids...)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Something...

2009-01-26T14:38:00.002-07:00

1. Something I want to see: Italy, the Eiffel Tower, a Yankees game, a Broncos game, my husband as someone's daddy, my family to all be happy.
2. Something that inspires me: Priesthood, family, my husband's patience, my mother.
3. Something that makes me angry: people that are okay with abortion, ignorance, assumptions that don't make sense, complete stupidity.
4. Something that hurts a little: being ignored.
5. Something I've gotten used to: not being perfect all the time.
6. Something I collect: water globes, movies, memories,
7. Something I always carry with me: cell phone, purse, hair brush.
8. Something I want to be: Someone important. A good wife. Somebody's mother.
9. Something I dread: going to work.
10. Something that I have learned: to be patient, to be more understanding, to be okay with who I am.
11. Something I read: books. any.
12. Something I want to understand: everything. I question everything.
13. Someone I'm going to tag: Anyone caught reading this (Yes, that means YOU!) [Directions: copy and paste this into your text window, then erase my answers and add your own.]

I wish they all could be California Girls....NOT!

2009-01-20T14:04:00.003-07:00

No offense to my Cali friends, but I am thankful to be a small town girl. I was away from home for 6 whole days! YUCK. For those of you who don't know, I was at the NAMM show in Anaheim CA. Now, seriously. The weather was beautiful, the food is great, the events were exciting, the show was great. However, I was so glad to get home, I cried the last ten minutes of my flight into IF. Seeing Tim at the airport was the highlight of my year. (so far...)I had forgotten how much I love him and need him on a daily basis just to talk with or hold hands with. Sounds silly, but I really mean it. I am not a fan of traffic or smoking or alcohol everywhere I look or people who don't like Mormons. I am not a fan of the neverending sea of trashy celebrity seekers who look like a) they haven't showered. b) they forgot half of their clothes at home and c) really should be wearing more clothes...for jiggling reasons. Also, I experienced some new things while there. I ate Kobe Beef-which is super tasty. I watched someone eat soup that had something's face in it. I ate Creme Brulee. Yum. I went on my first lesbian date, I think. Not so great. Weird, awkward, actually. Un-fun. Also, I was the only white person in a restaurant. I've never had that happen before. Really. The biggest thing again, was how much I realized that Tim is the center of my world. I missed my bed, family, tv, etc, but none of those compare to how much I missed my husband. I am so glad to be home and back in my little bitty town. Thank you IF for being just the right size!

SURPRISE!

2009-01-05T16:08:00.003-07:00

I DID IT! I kept a secret from my beloved for a whole month! My sweet hubby turned the BIG 3-0 on New Years Day. Holy cow. That sounds really old when you write it down. Yikes. Well, anyhow, for the first time in my life, I successfully threw a SWEET surprise party. I successfully invited his family and cooked and decorated (with the help of his awesome sisters and mom...) without ever telling him! It was pretty fun, with the exception of some depressing news in the middle. It was good to see family and people that we haven't seen in a very long time...(little Larry). So, happy birthday to Tim and....it was Rachel's birthday too! So, happy birthday to Rachel, also.

L is for...

2008-12-30T13:08:00.002-07:00

Game time!!!! I thought that this might be fun to play. All you have to do is make a list of ten of your favorite things. But there is a little catch. Everything on the list has to start with a specific letter of the Alphabet. That letter is randomly assigned by the blogger who you are playing with!
I was assigned the letter L by Rachel Ann!
Here goes...

L is for...

Loving Husband- enough said.
Lemon Bars- best way to pay your friend for moving your fridge. ( and tasty too!)
LDS Church- not sure where I would be without it-p.s. eternal families are AWESOME!
L Street- where my cute little home is.
Licorice- Any kind-as long as it is soft. Yum.
Lasagna- Yum.
Laughter- I LOVE to laugh, loud and long and clear...
LaLaLaLa- I love music-it is my life.
Lions- They are brave and furry.
Locks- They keep us safe.

There we go. If you want to play, let me know!

Christmas is...

2008-12-16T13:39:00.002-07:00

Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more." (the Grinch)

We had so much fun building gingerbread houses with our favorite people (uh, Nathan and Jessica..) this last week. It really helped to get me back in the Christmas spirit. I have been kind of out of it this year with all the stress and unpleasantness of it. This year, we won't be doing a whole lot for Christmas, but like the Grinch said-Christmas doesn't come from a store. I have been humbled this year into remembering that Christmas is about the birth of our Savior. In this day and age, it is so easy to forget about Him and all that He did for us. I know that I need to take the time to remember that every day. It might make life a touch more pleasant. So, thanks for the gingerbread you two. And thanks for bringing your cute baby. It made my day! (of course.) On a lighter note, Tim and I are going to my mom and dad's in TWO DAYS! I love it! I am so excited to see my parents and my cat! And everything else! So, Merry Christmas to all-and to all, uh, other stuff too.

Oops.

2008-12-03T10:28:00.002-07:00

Okay, so I lied. Malibu Barbie will not be fine....I have to buy a new car because-(drumroll please....)my car is totalled. I apologize Malibu Barbie. We had some good times, really sorry for mangling you. Bon voyage!

I'm a WRECK...(literally)

2008-12-02T14:38:00.002-07:00

Okay-so for those of you that don't know yet-I mangled my malibu. (that was good alliteration, right?) Yes, it was my fault. No, I didn't get a ticket. No, no one was injured. It is on days like yesterday that I am reminded that I have a purpose on this earth and Someone upstairs was looking out for little Katie Jennings. The accident could have been so much worse had things been a fraction of an inch off. I am so thankful for the protection that my Heavenly Father offers me and the daily reminders that I have something important to do here. I am also thankful for an amazing husband who didn't even get mad at me for crunching our car. He has been so kind and supportive. He amazes me daily. So, don't worry- I'm fine. Malibu Barbie is a touch mangled, but she will be fine too!

Thanksgiving Dinner

2008-11-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort." -Dave Weinbaum
I did it! I made my first solo Thanksgiving dinner and no one has died yet! It may not have been the best cooking ever, but I gave it an effort and it was certainly made with lots of love. My aunt and uncle came over for some much needed relief and company. AND they brought Bubba the dog. He ate turkey with us too. Thank you Jess for the Cherry Chocolate Cake recipe. It was DIVINE! Who needs pie when you have tasty cake? Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Thankful

2008-11-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a year. This time of year always gives me time to reflect on things that I am thankful for and probably could not do without. I have been inspired by Jess to list all the things that I am thankful for. Ready? Ok. Tim-best thing that has EVER happened to me. my family-all of you. my awesome friends. the gospel. my eternal family. mrs. buffy. my job. my cute new house. the ability to be able to pay all of my bills. a warm, soft bed. my new couch. my piano. my mama-most amazing person ever. my grandma-past and present. my auntie leanna-seriously...just a 2nd mom. my awesome mother in law. nieces and nephews. brothers. health insurance. modern medicine. a gas furnace. a big bathtub. a big kitchen. washer and dryer that does not squeak. literacy. libraries. my friend's kids. email. facebook. prayers. music. ipods. computers. good coworkers. ability to serve others. a good ward. good books. cable tv. the food network. popcorn. chocolate. snow. sprite. pictures. my guitars. mom's quilts. pasta. calendars. country music. avon. greys anatomy. (weird, I know.) the ability to reconnect with friends. my big feet. sweaters. Payless shoes. the D.I. clean water. bubble bath.
I'm sure that I can think of so many things, so, to everything I forgot...I'm thankful for you.

2008-11-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

You've heard of Holiday Barbie, Dr. Barbie, Skater Barbie and more....Introducing the newest member of the Barbie Family.....

Devil Barbie!

Enjoy it while it lasts....comments are welcomed...just don't be too mean.

"You're my person!"

2008-11-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

Everyone has a person. I have four. (other than the husband and my mother...) You know who you are. Hopefully. If you don't, sorry. These are people who listen to me for hours blabbing about nothing. They dress up like idiots with me. They think I'm funny and pretty and smart. Bless your hearts. I'm sure that I take them for granted on a regular basis. For example...I haven't seen one of you for at least 5 years, if not more. Sorry about that. I still love you bunches. The other one, well, you know I love you. Admit it. You love me back. I know you do. You're my best facebook friend and even though I work with you all day long, you are one of the few people that I want to come to my house and watch Grey's Anatomy with me. And still, the other one....you are the craftiest, most talented person I know and a dang good mother. And the last but certainly not least...I miss you and I don't spend nearly enough time with you. We should remedy that. You made my life bearable when it really wasn't...thanks for that. You all inspire me on different levels to be a better person. You make me push myself in directions that I would never go in. Rachel-I'm so glad that you are back in my life. I've missed you SOOOOOO much. What a blessing! Jenn- I'm still glad that I met you. Work would never be the same without you. Jessica-you are amazing in every way, shape and form. And of course-Stef- we are kindred spirits and really, we need to hang out more....

To my people-Thanks for all you do. I wouldn't be who I am without you.

What a RIDE!

2008-11-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Utah and the big day. For those of you who don't know...Tim's sister, Becky, got married last weekend. It was quite the visit this time. I felt like I was busy all the time as the self appointed "super-aunt". I don't think that I was much help, but I tried to keep all the kiddos wrangled. It was interesting to watch the wedding prep. It made me realize how SUPER TALENTED my sister in law Jamie is. She can do dang near ANYTHING! She is a fabulous cake decorator, awesome cook, super organizer and wedding decorator and a freaking awesome mom. We had SO MUCH fun. It is always good to see the fam, but even better to see their kids. The nieces and nephews are pretty much the loves of our lives, (that sounds like a soap opera...) and we love to spend time with them. I watched Tim at the reception and the wedding and realized what an amazing dad he will be someday. (hopefully soon...) The kids just adore him and he is so patient and kind to them. Being the favorite aunt and uncle is pretty much awesome!

Just putting it out there.....

2008-11-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

Hey, I just would like everyone's opinion on this. It would settle a long going "disagreement" between Tim and I. Is Mary Poppins a witch or a magic nanny?

My Grandma...

2008-11-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

Today is my Granny's 82nd birthday. I am sitting here, waiting to get off work so that we can go to dinner with her tonight. It makes you think, when someone gets this old. She certainly isn't what she used to be. She doesn't see well, or hear well, or even walk well and I know that makes her unhappy. She has changed SO MUCH physically that it is even hard for me-trying to remember what she used to be, although, I know it is much harder for her. HOWEVER, it doesn't change what is inside. She still has the same BIG heart and kind words (sometimes they get hidden in between the other words, but still...) She still has good advice and is the matriarch of our family. She is the little glue that holds us all together. I have no doubt that if she were not here, we would be in a much different, more difficult place. I know that she wants to be with my grandpa again and misses him so much, but, I don't know what I will ever do without her. Grandma-I know you will never read this, or probably even hear about it, but I love you. You are still one of my best friends and a kindred spirit. Thanks for everything and Happy Birthday Hippo.

2008-11-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

"It is not the years in your life, but the life in your years that counts." - Adlai Stevenson

Well, here we are again. This picture was actually taken at , gasp, a Poison concert. I know, so not typical. We had so much fun. Hopefully I will be able to post our Halloween picture soon. It is hilarious. I wish I had something exciting to say about us, but like I mentioned earlier, we are just normal. Yikes. Maybe, I should just tell you about us in general....Does anyone really want to know? If you do I will tell you....tomorrow. :-) Ha.

Our Little House

2008-11-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

This is probably the most exciting year of my life. We just bought our first house in June and I LOVE IT! Tim and I love the neighborhood and the yard and the house....and really, everything about it. It has been so much fun to be able to do anything I want there. I can put holes in the wall, tear out bushes, and pretty much anything else without even asking anyone! I LOVE IT! Our ward is great too. They have been so nice and kind and friendly. We feel so welcomed there. It has been great to live in downtown I.F. We love the downtown area, and since we both work there, it seemed like a good idea with gas prices and everything to buy a house. We are within walking distance of the temple, the river and the ballpark. Summer was so fun! We went to the baseball games and walked to the river a lot. We had family come through a couple of times. We are so looking forward to winter being over and re-doing our backyard(which is huge and awesome!). And really, anyone who wants to visit is totally welcome. Just warn us first so we can make some room!