JennyKate's Spot: Out To The RHOK

JennyKate's Spot: Out To The RHOK

I Confess

So, one of these days, I'm going to book a trip with the gals who tore up Austin!

I confess:  My kids are laying on couch watching Charlie and Chocolate Factory.  I haven't heard from them in 20 minutes.  I think they are asleep.  It is 9:22 PM.  Damn Arizona sun comes out at 4:30 AM, so the first thing they say to me in the morning is, "Is it wake up time?"  Usually, that's at 5 AM, so they are sleeping by 8 PM.

I confess:  I went to a Kindergarten Orientation on my 10th anniversary and they stated you should have your 5 year old in bed at 7:30 PM...and I laughed out loud.

I confess:  Once school started, my little boy was in bed at 8PM and out cold!!  There was a good 3 weeks of very bad behavior after school, which is normal development stage. I was doubting whether he should have went to Kindergarten or stayed home an extra year....by the way, I'm glad he went!

I confess:  I let them stay up late tonight, so they will at least sleep till 6 AM.

I confess:  I talk about my kids more than my job.  I am a blog following Mama because of my kids, not my job....so why do I only have 13 followers...that's really sad!

I confess:  I just checked on my kids and put each one to bed. It's now 9:30PM.

I confess: It's tough to transfer a six year old who weighs 51 pounds and a 4 year old who weighs 43 pounds.

I confess: I'm sad that they are not little  anymore....

And I'll leave you at that...I have two happy (for the most part), healthy, boy and girl.  I am done with kids (although the tubes haven't been tied...and don't even ask about the snip, snip with the DH).  He won't do it.  But, I do miss some of the toddler days...enjoy it while you can!

 I confess:  My camera needs to be charged (like for the past 2 months), so I can't take a pic of my kids sleeping on the couch...it was a great pic too..ho hum!

And, now I'll take a sip of the red...small bottle that I've had this evening!

We Want To Know Wednesdays!

In the attempt to get to know me better, I’m going to try my hand at We Want To Know Wednesdays!

Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn are the brains behind this one!

This week Janette is asking the questions and she wants to know...

1.)  Everyone seems to have a quirky family situation. What is something unique about your family dynamic? 

I’ve always prided myself that my family is relatively normal compared to the drama many other families may have.  Over the past 4 years, I’ve learned that every family, EVERY family has some sort of disfunction (well, except my husband, two children and I). Let’s just say, there’s been some interesting times with extended family and religious cults, rehab, materialism…but let’s just focus this one on me and my family!   My husband is a police officer, so I pride myself in being a very independent and strong woman.  There are times when I feel like a single Mom since our schedules are different.  But, this allows us not to spend money on after school childcare since DH can pick him up.  But in the end, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  We balance each other out nicely.  Each one of us knows each other so well that he is my best friend.

2.) What is the most stressful aspect to blogging {aside from the network going down}? I have to be careful what I write.  With my husband’s profession, I’ve learned there are a lot of freaks in this world!  Plus, there is a level of professionalism I want to maintain, yet I want people to see me for who I really am.  Therefore, my alter ego, Stella!  Oh, and can someone help me out so I don’t have 13 freakin’ followers anymore!

3.) We all end up on a blog at some point in our day, but name your top three favorite websites you flock to daily {non blog}.  

I am on Facebook several times throughout the day!  My full-time job is teaching faculty how to teach online, so I’m on Blackboard and my college website all the time too!   I tend to go to News sites like CNN and my hometown newspaper.  But, I have to always see what the pop culture industry is doing so, I go to http://www.people.com and http://www.tmz.com. 

4.} What's your sign? Believe in it or not, does any part ring true to you? I’m a Virgo.  I remember when I was in 6th grade, a very mature 8^th grade boy asked my sign and I told him I was a virgin.  He started to laugh and I really didn’t know what a virgin was at the time. 

Virgo is a very independent zodiac sign. They are fully able to put their intelligence to use and get things done for themselves. (Very true, and I believe I just stated I thought I was very independent.)

They are truthful, loyal and determined. Some people might find them cold or emotionally detached because they live in their minds, not in their emotions and feelings. It might be hard to pin down how a Virgo friend is feeling because they easily live in denial.  (I try very hard to not let people see how I am truly feeling. However, I am very sensitive inside and tear up at everything.)

Virgos are very intelligent, they have an excellent memory and a highly analytical mind. This makes them good investigators and researchers. They also have the ability to probe into a person's emotions and they can often see into people and detect what their motives are. This makes them great policemen or interrogators. (I live through my husband’s police work.  Actually, I can totally see through people.)

Before a Virgo plunges into anything, from a problem to a vacation idea, they need to analyze all the facts and know all the details before they plunge in and make a decision. This makes them seem indecisive and slow.  (I am very indecisive.)

Deep inside, Virgo is very sensitive and they need to be appreciated for all the things they do. When is Virgo is offended or hurt, they may never show it.  (True)

Virgo exists in the mind, everything is inside. To the world, Virgo presents a calm and collected exterior but on the inside, nervous uncontrolled intensity in the mind, trying to figure things out, how to improve everything, analyzing and thinking. Virgo can tire itself out without even moving! Virgo has a constant drive to improve and perfect, this can lead to extreme pickiness and finickiest. They are pure, their motives are honest never malicious and they want to accomplish something.  (I guess Virgo is the perfect sign for me!)

5.) Ice cream!! ICE CREAM!! We all scream for ice cream! Name your favorite flavor/brand! 

Always chocolate chip.  Or chocolate chip cookie dough.

6.) Name the blog you credit for linking up with us today? Seriously Shawn.


7.) Suggest a question you want to see in future WWTK's! 

My 4 year old daughter likes to walk around and poll us.  She asks us, “What do you like about your family?  And then goes on to ask us “What do you like about (insert each family member’s name)?”  

Yeah, that would be a good one!

OK folks, drop on by and say hello!  Until next time....

One Year Later

Guess who's back, back again, hell no, it's not Shady, it's Stella!



I'm sure all 13 of you followers missed me!  But, go ahead, tell all of your blogger friends, Stella's back!  I'm excited because I just booked a nice 3 night getaway to Greer, AZ. Check out the last post from August 2010.  Same cabin, same husband, same kids....one year older!!!  I'm telling you, there's nothing like getting back to nature! 

Yeah, I may be all about the beach (St. Pete Beach, Feb. 2011), but it's nice to be cozy in a cabin in the woods eating Smores by the campfire with lots o' Coors Light.  I'm an easy gal'....;)  Until next time!

Everybody Needs A Little Time Away

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen. - Leonardo Da Vinci

No Internet, No Cell Phone Reception, Just The Ones That Mean The Most

I may not always be about the beach....some days I take the back woods with a Coors Light.

Are You There God, It's Me Stella?

Isn't that a catchy title?  I bet everyone of you have read that Judy Blume book when you were 12 over and over and over again.  Judy Blume wrote awesome books when we were growing up. The only adult book I know of it Sisters and it was good.  Well, yep, it's been almost two months since I've blogged.  What excuses do I have?

• My Daughter's 3rd Birthday Party
• Coordinator of a 3 day Summer Institute Conference with over 40 workshop sessions for faculty
• Upgraded to a new online learning system
• Ended a semester teaching 3 courses in addition to my full time job, starting a new semester teaching one.
• Visited with family
• Trying to organize my home
• And oh yeah, I have a 5 and 3 year old keeping me busy.....

Boy, I sound like a dork!  As my DH is working, kids finally asleep, I decided to not lay in bed with Blue Bistro by Elin Hildenbrand. Instead, I wanted to give a shout out to all my 13 followers...woot! woot! 

Now, this weekend I'm off to see Toy Story 3 with the kids....has anyone noticed the advertising on Toy Story 3 inside every single store you walk into? My kids are drooling at the mouth. But, you know what, out of all the Disney movies and toys geared toward kids..Toy Story certainly gets two thumbs up.  No mama deer is being shot (Bambi), dog gets caught in the fire (Bolt), flying monkeys and witches (Wizard of Oz), crazy chocolate man (Willy Wonka), you know the drill...although I did hear Toy Story 3 was sad from the adult perspective. 

Now, maybe I should rethink this..because we play Toy Story 3 Dominos and I don't know how many times I have giggled like a naughty school girl when I saw, "Does anyone have a Woody?"  and my son says, "I have two Woody's."  Or, "Does anyone have a Buzz?" and my daughter says, "I wish I had a buzz." Well you know what girl, I wish I had one too. ;)

To Be Young Again

So, this is my daughter JoJo. We were at her big brother's t-ball game.  Where could you find her?  She was off in left field dancing to her own beat.

It makes me think of the song:



That's my little right brained child!  So carefree!