Playcation! - March 2012

"Hi Auntie Jen! I've missed you! Come on let's Play!", squealed my niece and signaling the beginning of Playcation 2012!

My brother-in-law is an awesome Daddy! It takes a very confident man to walk the Plaza carrying a pink Dora backpack.

Me & my beautiful niece

Grammy Sue & M

While she is an expert pouter (gets it from our side of the family), poor little thing slipped while trying to climb up onto the bench and got this bruised, fat lip. But she quickly turned it into a positive and for the rest of the visit she kept saying, "Look at my lip Auntie Jen, it looks like I'm wearing lipstick!" Cutie!

It was a week filled with "Huggie Snuggies" and hand holds! :)

"I want to be just like her!"

Somebody's Auntie Jen has been practicing making balloon animals, flowers & hearts!

I *Heart* my family!

Bubbles

Mum & me

My sisterbelle & her beautiful family

Hands down! THE BEST Margarita I have EVER tasted!! The "Senorita", lime juice & salt are blended into a froth on top. Mmmmm!!!

My beautiful family

Pampered Maidens!

Fun in the pool!

I wonder who brought the clown noses???!!! :0)

A celestial celebration...Moon.Venus.Jupitor

President's Day Weekend with the Weiners (Feb 2012)

(A long overdue posting, I know.) There's blood family and then there is the Family we choose for ourselves...here's highlights from my recent trip to Maple Grove, MN to see my best friends Angie & Jeff and my nephews Ben & Cam and my niece Ainsley.

The first of MANY tea parties that weekend...

Cameron showing off his artwork...

Then it was time for a quick trim and styling at Ainsley's Beauty Salon...

We didn't get pictures from Cameron's Karate lesson but he sure was the cutest little green belt in the dojo. Mid-day was spent watching the Wayzata 4th grade basketball team in a close game. Sadly, our team lost but our #15 Benjamin sure looked like a Champion out there! Great game Ben!

The afternoon was spent, just us girls! Here's Ainsley & Auntie Jen snuggling up and watching Tangled. Which by the way, is a great flick!

On Sunday, Ang & I gave Jeff the morning off and we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese's! Big winners!!!





The sweetest thing ever, Cam was down to his last token and he came up to me and said "Auntie Jen! This is my LAST token. Will you come over and take a picture with me?" My heart just melted. He's a keeper! (As you can see, we didn't know where we were supposed to look. hee, hee!)

On Monday,the boys were invited to a birthday party at a roller rink. It was their first time on skates so Jeff & I showed them a few things we picked up skating in Fenton back in the 80's! Things started off pretty rough for the kids but by "last skate" Benjamin was circling the rink by himself and Cameron skated under the limbo stick with me. I am so proud of these kids, they showed real courage in their willingness to try something new, getting up after every fall and trying again.

Here's Ainsley, dolly & me reading Thomas the Tank Engine. "Go Thomas! Go Thomas!"

On our last evening, we all got into our comfy PJs for Disney Movie Night!!!

Silly Pose!!!

Family!!!

It's WORTH it!

Anything worth having is worth working your ass off. Accomplish Goals. Follow Dreams. IT'S WORTH IT. Don't ever give up!

Seeking Inspiration & Escape...

I FOUND IT!
...under Cirque du Soleil's Grand Chapiteau!!!

Aerial Photo Shoot - Feb 2012

Flight Club Fitness @ CrossFit Mean Streets - Los Angeles, CA

In tribute & thanks to my Fearless Tribe...

"Look beyond the confines of your inner circle, and you will learn that there are many others whose heartbeats match your own. When you find them - Cherish them, Support them. For these are the ones who will stand the test of time, amidst the glory and troubled times; they will weather the storms of life with you and will be the faces you look for when you find Victory."