End of an Era

So, on February 13, 2009, Gramma Josephine Denton passed away. She was my mom's mom. This was another hard time for me. I can't really say that I have recovered from Mom's passing, and now I have to say Good'bye to Gramma Jo. She and I had a complex relationship. I knew her when she was young enough to take me to World's of Fun, and she was there as an extra parent through high school and college, and she had become a source of inspiration for my marriage and parenting. And for some reason, I seem to be the only person in the world that she did not fight to pay for lunch or dinner.

The funeral itself was difficult because the topic of many conversations was condolensces for my mom, as well as for Gramma. But I made it through, and really enjoyed the time that I got to spend with my family. I really do have a great support group, though I rarely let them know that I need them. I need to work on that. The attached video is one that I made for the visitation. It shows how alive the woman really was. Well, I need to go for a bit, chat later. J

The Break In

So, in the last 3 months, my car has been broken into 3 times at home at night.... think most people who I have told were beginning to not believe my story. All the perp does is empty out the glove compartment, and take random items. Once they took my work bag that had a binder from school, a few papers, and my calendar. Once they took $4 - and once we found nothing missing. Bill's work truck was hit also, they took random items, and the last time, his work credit card (gas) they also took my CVS pharmacy - no value, its like a Dillons card. The last time, last week, we filed a police report, and talk to the neighbors, they all got hit also.

So, last night about 1 am, the phone started ringing. First Bill's work line, then the home phone - then his cell rang, finally he got up and got them answered (obviously it wasn't for me, so why should I answer it) and it was the police and they wanted him outside....

Apparently crazy robber lady was out again. And this time she was caught in the act. There were 5 cop cars outside and one screaming lady who apparently only spoke Spanish - face down on the concrete. Our neighbor, the one I call "sarge" for many reasons, saw her and called the cops. This time she went so far as to break the glass out of Bill's work van. My car was fine though. She said she saw someone and came down to check it out. However, my CVS card and Bill's work CC was in her wallet, and misc cable tools were in her possession. I think she had someone in a car with her, but either they got away, or I didn't see them. I was certain that the perps were junior high boys, apparently I was wrong...However, now my story about the break-ins doesn't sound so strange though. It was really all very strange. Nice story though....

So, it has been a veryb long time since I have written. Life started happening, we all went back to school, and everything got busy.

I am doing well, I have been very busy at school, on and off I have taken on a few principal type responsibilities. I have done quite a bit of scheduling, and
what I call "surveillance" - and I am enrolled in our Admin Development Series. It takes time, but I actually kinda like it, so it works for me.

The kids are busy with school and friends. Doni has her first dance on Friday, well, the first one she is actually going to anyway. Ian is in Pre-School - and loves it. He is learning about farm animals and presidents - interesting combination, I think. Kati is loving school. Doni moved downstairs, so now Kati and Ian both have their own rooms, they are still sharing a bed though - if you know of an extra twin bed anywhere, let us know.... This is the first time that Kati has had her own room, so it will be interesting when she actually starts sleeping in her own bed.

Ian had his 4th birthday last week. I managed to be completely sick, so he didn't actually have a party. If you have been around him at all in the last several months you would know he was planning to have it at Chucky Cheese....he was said that it didn't happen, but we hit the McDonald's PlayPlace last weekend and seems to be appeased. I think he is still expecting a party though. He told me last night we could have my party at Chucky Cheese if I wanted to, yeah, I don't think so.... He did get a Choo Car tent for his bed (Lightening McQueen of Cars), so he and Kati have been sleeping in style. It is rather funny to see him, Kati, Wendy (the Lab) and the Cat all under this tent designed for a twin bed...They snuggle.

Well, I am checking out for now. I promise to drop a note sooner this time. Love and Kisses...Jen

Enough About Me, So Tell Me, What Do You Think About Me?

Well, school is on a roll, and life has some semblance of normalcy. Ian's shoulder is well on the mend. The sling is off and he is back to full speed, when he runs in to the wall, or the door though, we pull out the Tylenol. Mostly he is in good shape though.

Doni is loving school. Nough said.

Kati is loving school. She has a new teacher, one that is even new to the building. Oh Cool.

Me, yeah, school is good. I have been taking a bit more of a leadership role, and have raided mom's closet for appropriate clothing. She would not be one to waste good fashion I think we can all agree. It was a bit hard to take some of her favorites, many are still left hanging, but papa shakes his head and pats me on the back. He understands the pain of moving on, even when its the right thing to do. He also understands I am in no hurry. These last few days have been very hard. Toward the end of the summer I was actually getting to sleep without crying, but lately its been harder. Partly I think it is because it is the anniversary of so many last moments, partly because she belongs in the classroom, and partly because she is my mommy. I don't actually know how to get through all the sadness, but I also don't think I have much of an option. My family needs me, and I can honor her most by moving on.

Well, this blog has been mostly about me. I have been reading a book about Zen, and it is challenging me to look for the meaning in my emotions and actions. One of the items I have no faced was the openness of admitting my sadness. I have said I am doing okay, and I am fine so many times I almost believe it, until I quiet down and think. The truth is, I am still sad, sometimes. And sometimes I am strong, and sometimes I am happy, and often I am funny...at least I think so. Just in case you were wondering what it feels like to lose your mom about the time she retires and I can fully appreciate the free babysitting...

Seeing Right Through the Matter

Well, I promised pictures, and this is the best I could do. They give you the CD with the pictures, and I can look at them, but I can't save them or print them. So I did what any tech savvy person would do, I took a picture of the monitor.....

Ian is doing well, and the doctors are now in agreement that it will heal fine on its own. We need to keep it in a sling a little longer than originally planned, about 2 weeks, after that he can start to use it.

I went out to Sushi tonight with Ariana and Laura, it was fabulous. I feel so honored to have such good friends who listen to the crazy stories of my life, and help me laugh about it all. And we eat well too.....

There was some question as to why no pictures of myself... so I have included a picture from Graduation. I completed my Masters in May in Education Administration. We will see where life goes from here. Who knows what the Universe has planned for me next.

Not One For An Uneventful Week

Well, in an effort to fit every event in the summer possible...the kids and I spent Friday visiting Gramma Jo in Atchison. We took her to Marigolds for a spot of pie, it was a nice visit. She is struggling with her memory, originally we were going to visit Denton, but her directions were all wrong, and I didn't have the heart to tell her, so when she suggested we just stop by a garage sale instead, I agreed, and we avoided getting lost all together.


We finished Friday at the Washington County Fair with Gramma and Grandpa Dixon. Kati and Ian jumped on inflatable big thingys until they could just jump no more, Doni was just too cool for such nonsense, however, it became a great deal more interesting as the night moved on and the boys came out...Now you would think that those events would make an exciting enough weekend, but we had to Perkinsize it.


Saturday afternoon out at the farm I took the Ian and Kati out the pet the horses, and everything was fine, right up until it wasn't. Something spooked one of the horses and it knocked Ian over. The horse then proceeded to trample on him. Iam took a front hoof directly on the chest, and the got kicked and rolled as the horse ran over him. I dove on top of him, and got him moved before any more damage could be done. Of course, after I grabbed him I thought shit, what if his back or neck are hurt, but I just ran. I got the kids out and ran him into the barn to check him out. He was screaming, so the lungs were good. After I laid him on his back he seemed a bit okay, but his right collar bone bent in a few too many places. Dad and I took him to the ER.

Marysville has a very small town ER. As I have been to many ER's in Kansas, this one was really, un-High Tech. But once they figured out Dad and I were not kidding, they became much more helpful, and things progressed. Within an hour, we where in and out. Ian came out of that horrific event with a broken collar bone, and a few scrapes. They put his arm in a sling and tried to send us on our way. Ian had to correct the Dr though. His arm was FINE, it was his SHOULDER that hurt. So after a medicinal band-aid on his shoulder, and another discussion with the DR about how this would not work because SPIDERMAN needs 2 ARMS to FLY, we headed home with some tylenol and an ice pack.

Dad had offered to let me change before we left, and I just looked at him and said, THIS IS NOT A FASHION SHOW, and we went on our way. After we left the hospital I looked down. I was mud and road rash from head to toe, and there was some horse poop mixed in. I was truly a mess. I let Dad go into the store to pick up the Motrin.


Ian is doing well, he has a sling and needs to keep that arm immobile for 4 days, and then he can start using it a bit. But he can be as active as he feels. He is bruised and covered in BATMAN Band-Aids. I hope to have the X-Ray pics to post soon. When I asked for the x-rays to take to our Dr, he laughed and commented this would be a great Scrapbooking page....I TOTALLY FELT OUTTED......But I got em......Chat later. Jen

My Crazy Family

I have 3 fantastic super children, and that ensures that there is no mellow time in my world. If there is one thing my family is good at though, its laughter. I love the way my children make me laugh. They are incredibly lucky to have a mother as funny as me - and I remind them of their good fortune daily. Doni is my hard-rocking mama's girl. She scares me every day by her beauty and heart. Kati is, well, most likely to dance on the table top, but I am not supposed to say that. And then there is Ian. He is wonderful, funny, and completely adored. He is a dare-devil with blonde flippy hair.

Oh, by the way, it took me forever to get the computer back from Bill, ask for help, and he fixes it all. Oh, well, that way I just have to do the fun stuff.