Jenny II: And the Original Frying Pan Named Jenny

Meet Jenny -------------->

She's a good pan. I've had her for over 15 years. (a gift from my college roommate and BFF Jenny) So, of course, we named the frying pan Jenny.

Now, I know you must think I am crazy, naming a frying pan. But, it's not so crazy when something so simple reminds you of someone you love! And that's just the way it was, every time I would use Jenny the frying pan, I'd think of Jenny.

So, let me tell you about Jenny. I met Jenny our Freshman year and we became fast friends. And very close. We had as much in common, as we didn't. But, she has a warm, loving heart. And this drew me to her.

In 1990-1991, she and I lived together. I told the story in another post here, about a hilarious joke we played on our roommate. (just scroll to the bottom of the post when you see me and a pretty, pregnant blond girl!)
**ps...this story is really funny and worth looking up to read it**

She was one of my Maids of Honor in my wedding. (yes, I had two...I just couldn't choose one of the other)

Then, later when Jenny and I were pregnant with our first children, she lived with us for a short time while her hubs was in Grenada. I was her labor coach for lamaze and with her when she gave birth.

She and I were really great friends...and after 20 years, we are still in touch! Well, after we met this Summer and I saw her for the first time in years.....we have been talking about old times. One of the things I told her was about Jenny. She had no idea I still had the old frying pan. I told her I did, but that she was falling apart. Her handle was about to fall off, she has stains on her that WON'T come off and she's all scraped up from old age (and being abused by teaching Logan how to cook.) She cracked up.....she had no idea! (Much to my husband's chagrin, I just can't bring myself to throw Jenny the frying pan in the trash!)

Now, if you remember, when I told you about Jenny in my last post, she was 8 months pregnant. Well, she had her baby in August. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Kari. And when Kari was 5 days old, it was discovered that she had a life-threatening heart condition. It's been a hard and heartbreaking road. But, Kari is doing well for now.

So, imagine my surprise when I came home from running errands one day and found a giant box on my doorstep. I had no idea what it could be....until I saw the return address on the box. And then, I burst into laughter! Because I knew what it was......

JENNY II

------->>

What a fantastic surprise! It's true, Jenny loves me. (Jenny the girl, not the frying pan) My gosh, she has a very sick baby and she still made the time to get out and get me a frying pan!

And it's a nice pan, too! It's Calphalon! So, she spoiled me, too!!

Thanks Jenny for Jenny II. I will enjoy her!

But, I love you!

Holy Crap!!!!

(is it wrong to say that on a Sunday?!)

So...you all know how much I admire the work of Emilie Ahern. To be honest, I can't even remember how I came across her work in the beginning, but once I started blog stalking her, I couldn't stop. Between her inspiring work and her awesome personality...."she had me at hello!" (remember what movie that's from?!) So, time passed, and as it did...I began to feel like I knew her. And I started leaving comments. And eventually, she left me comments on my blog.
And so began our online friendship.....

If you don't remember Emilie and I got to meet back in August at the CKC show in Valley Forge, PA. I knew we'd be friends. (read it here!) She was wearing the same shirt I own and had worn the day before we met! Kindred spirits, I tell ya!

So...imagine my surprise when I found THIS, this morning!
(although, she had sent me the pic of the LO a few days ago...
I had no idea it was going on THE BLOG!!)
So, color me happy!!

(Isn't it amazing this LO is Hybrid? It looks like it has so much dimension to me!)
That just goes to show you just how much talent Emilie has!

Thanks, Emilie for making my day! Your the sweetest!! :)

"water-color, misty memories"

This is a challenge from my friend, Emilie. And it sounds pretty fun, so I thought I'd do it.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

( I am leaving to go to my work trip today, so don't fret if it takes me a minute to respond. I will respond, I promise!)

Isn't she beautiful?!

My good friend Kristine got married on Friday night
to a super great guy, Teddy!

I love this pic because it has the Tybee Lighthouse
in the background.....so pretty and serene.......

And I love this pic, because it's so non-traditional. And I'm so glad you two weren't afraid to get a little wet to embrace getting married on the beach.

What kind of beachy wedding picture could be better than this?????


Besides....you won't be needing that white dress anymore.............
(but anyway, that's what the cleaner's is for!!!)

.....All my love and Best Wishes to Kristine and Teddy!!!!


Congratulations!!!!!

Hi, My name is Roxann.....

...and I'm a Weight Watcher.

Geez, where do I start? So, I get up this morning to pouring rain. Good thing I am supposed to meet Kathy (the GM at Ike's station) at the WW meeting, otherwise at 7:45am in the pouring rain, I might have found myself....OK, definitely would have found myself snuggling right back up to Big Daddy and skipping the meeting! But, I put my feet on the floor and began my day.

As I left for the meeting, feeling like a girl about to throw herself into a volcano as a sacrifice (I know, I know, but I'm a drama queen....) I was nervous. Very nervous. My stomach was torn up....(ah, and now I see how it works, the thought of getting weighed by a stranger that is not a medical professional freaks you out so bad, you don't want to eat...)

So, I get there and find I have to park 4 rows over (hmm..... apparently I'm not the only one with a weight issue) and I run thru the pouring rain. Kathy is at the door, waiting on me and waving. Boy, it sure is easier with a friend.

We go in, where the WW welcome lady, deluges me with information and asks me which plan I want to pay for. Of course, I knew it would cost money...but I was in no way prepared for the amount of things they would sell, that I would need. So, I began making the mental list.... ($20 join fee...$12.00 weekly meeting fee....$??? books....$??? food.... yikes!!!) I started stressing out and I really wanted to make a break for it! Again, thank goodness, Kathy was there.

So, because I am still not sure I want to go to meetings every week....I am thinking of joining online....so I ask about the "free" try a meeting deal listed on the internet. Quite frankly, the lady seems irritated with me. She finally admits we can sit thru the meeting and join after. (good choice sister, because that's what I was doing...with or without you!)

The leader was a cutie who lost 75lbs in 2006 and has kept it off! She motivated us with her "Happy THIndependence Day!" speech, complete with a cute pledge re-written to motivate us to make good food choices at our celebrations this week!
And, she did motivate me. Just by her tag proclaiming she lost 75 lbs in 2006. (maybe there is hope for me, yet...)

So, after the meeting, we need to join. (Kathy wants to do weigh-ins, so I will do it with her, instead of on-line.) We need to pay for meetings. We need books. We need resources. So...$192 later...I am joined for 14 weeks (well, 13 more after today.) And, I have all the books I need to calculate points at the grocery store, the restaurants and a little slide calculator for doing it while reading food labels.

I think I'm ready to do it.....

So...in the interest of being honest...I have to decide whether or not to share with you my weight. I mean, this is ~the Real Roxann~ right? I mean, it's just a number. What does it really mean? You all love me, no matter what that number is, right?! You support me...you don't judge...right?!

Ok...here it goes. Why is this so hard to admit, it's not like you all don't know I am big. Ok...try again. My weigh in was 272. Gosh....272. I really need to do this....and I need your support. It could save my life.

So, my first weight goal is 10%. 27 pounds. Wow. That's a lot. 27 pounds. I can't even think of something that is 27 pounds. But...that's what I have to lose to start with.

Long term....I should probably lose 150 (my best guess,) but lets see how this goes before we start talking about losing enough weight to equal another whole person.

And now, I want to say to Big Daddy... thank you for your support. Thank you for not rolling your eyes as I calculate points, even if you think I am nuts! Thank you for supporting me, by doing it to. You are really willing to give up sugar, just because I have to? Now...that's love. Thank you for always accepting me, no matter if I am 272 or 125. Thank you for loving me and telling me I am beautiful. You will never know how much this means to me...really.... I love you.

And to you, my loving friends, thank you for your kind words of support. Although, you guys think I am strong, I am not. I am weak and I am scared to death. Most of all, I'm afraid I will fail and disappoint you. But, thank you for your belief in me. And thank you for listening. But, most of all, thank you for choosing me as your friend and accepting me, just like I am. I really love you guys!

Our trip to Tulsa....

When I got to G-ma and G-pa's house on Saturday night....boy were the kids excited to see me and their sister!!!! They were so hyper!!


On Sunday morning, we went to church. Of course, about 5 minutes before leaving, I realized I could not find M's white sandals. I knew I had put them in the bag, but they were not there. Argh! So, M and I made a detour at 8:30am to Wal-Mart to buy shoes. I was not going to bring her in hot-pink, dirty Croc knock-offs with her pretty dress!! Was NOT going to happen!!! So, I did arrive at Sunday School late. Oh well, would you really expect that I would be on time?!?!

But, wow! What a great day! During Sunday School, we saw a Beth Moore movie. Wow...if you've never heard her....you should read one of her books...Well, within 4 minutes I was in tears. Just as I walked in late, she was talking about being held hostage by things in our past....Wow! Can you say this lesson was meant for ME!

Then, the preacher's message was also very good, except I got paged by the nursery in the middle of it, because M was crying her eyeballs out! Poor sweet angel! She was brave at first, but that faded away into panic of "where's my mommy?" But, she did pretty good.

I saw my old youth sponsors, Steve and Sonja B. I love them!!! Sonja updated me on their girls, who are 21 and 25 now. (that is just wrong! I changed both of those girls' diapers!!!!!) Just seeing them brings back such good memories...memories that are very close to my heart!! I seriously love these people...they are fantastic!!! I also saw so many people that are important to me and have known me since I was a little girl. Such love there. And I was super excited to see a friend of mine, Jennifer, who went to college w/ me. I got to see her adorable daughter, Camden, who is close in age to Marinne. It was so good to hug her and I was sad to hear she's going thru a divorce....Jen....call me if you need someone to listen.....((hugs))

Anyway, several people mentioned after seeing my kids how much they looked like me (and Ike, too) but I was surprised how many time I heard that Marinne looks like my mom. That warmed my heart.

Speaking of Marinne.....



Grampa wanted this picture.....
...it's not great, as the camera battery was dying and it only let me take this one....but he loved her hair in the double ponytail, so he asked me to take this picture.

On Monday, I took L and J to see their friends A and R. They all went to school together. We have gotten together every summer since we moved. We spent the day in the pool and even though it rained/sprinkled about 5 times while we were there...they still had a blast! A and R have a little sister who is 4 months younger than M and she goes off the diving board. So, you guessed it, M was going off the diving board after seeing A do it! And these tiny girls did this like 25 times each. As A warmed up to me, she wanted me to catch her off the board and she started calling me "other mommy." Isn't this cute?!?! I can't believe how brave these little girls are!!!


Here they are....minus R and M. R was getting kinda grumpy and M had already gotten out of the pool and was having a snack. There was no way she was going to give up fruit snacks for our picture!!

I snapped this one poolside, while she ate fruit snacks. I changed it to B/W because her suit is pale pink and the floaties are bright orange!

Doesn't she look so sweet?!


On Tuesday night, I was so happy to be able to see our oldest couple friends...the Warwicks.....you see, we go WAY, WAY BACK!!! And I seriously love this FAMILY!!!! All 4 of them!!!!

So, the dad....Matt and I met and dated for a few weeks over the Summer of 1990 at Oklahoma State University. He's a great guy. But he's Catholic and I wasn't, so it just wasn't meant to be. (plus I'm a little too high maintenence for him!!!) But, we remained friends as the years went by....tied together by a love of Melrose Place. Over the years, he met my hubby and they became friends. And I was quite busy trying to set him up on dates w/ my friends. But, he could not seem to find the right girl and the wrong girls always seemed to find him....

Then, one day, Erica was brought into my life, by circumstances that were unfortunate for both she and I. But, nevertheless, we formed a bond and became good friends. And as I got to know her...I realized, she had a LOT in common with my good buddy Matt. So, I got them together over a movie and they hit it off.

Fast forward over a decade and they are married with 2 kids and still our best friends.......and I miss them sooooo much....
and I love them even more!!!

So, everytime we get to visit.....we try to snap a pic of the kids so we can see how much they've changed and grown.

Here's the June 2007 version:

Logan 11, Jensen 8 1/2, Danny 8 1/2 (5 weeks apart,) Marinne 2 1/2, Josh 5 and Griffin 4 1/2.


Except for the sudden departure....the visit was fantastic. We spent a bunch of time just hanging out, which is what I love the best. Oh, and I started reading a Beth Moore book that my step mom has graciously loaned to me, so I could finish reading it.