Aaron - n - Jen

Witch's Fingers [Flickr]

2009-10-31T15:37:06-07:00

So, I learned that the witch's fingers puff up A LOT when they are baked. Next time I'll make them even skinnier. Some of these look more like weird toes then fingers, they are so fat.

I didn't have time to take a really good picture or photoshop, and I was fooling around with the plate, so forgive me my inadequacy and my sins. I'll try for a better picture if any are left at the end of the night.

She's a bat, too! [Flickr]

2009-10-30T07:53:27-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

When Nate said that he wanted to be a bat for Halloween, it was no surprise to any of us that Sammi piped up with, "Me too!"

I see a bat! [Flickr]

2009-10-30T07:51:48-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

Nate wanted to be a bat for Halloween, so we whipped up some cheap costume magic.

Jen [Flickr]

2009-10-29T12:00:39-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

I'm trying to lose weight and get back into shape. I run, I eat well, and I think positive.

Jen [Flickr]

2009-10-29T11:59:49-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

I'm trying to lose weight and get back into shape. I run, I eat well, and I think positive.

End

2009-10-15T11:13:00.001-05:00

Hey guys.This is just my friendly post to say that I am closing aaron-n-jen.com. We'll probably migrate to a free blogger site or just close up shop. I'm not really sure right now.Thanks for visiting.

Sickness | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-09-16T10:11:00.001-05:00

We're battling sickness. I'll get the pictures up when I'm not cleaning up every half an hour.

Photo from Day 2: Illinois 2009 | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-09-11T09:23:00.001-05:00

Click on the picture to read the caption.

The Days of Summer [Flickr]

2009-09-11T07:01:32-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

Something about this picture just grabs me. It reminds me of the days when I'd run outside to play during the summer, having no responsibilities, and we'd pretend that our swing set was a space ship. It reminds me of cowboys and indians. It reminds me of hide-and-seek. It reminds me of those carefree days where I played and played, and it reminds me of a better time. A happier time. Before my parents split.

This picture just grabs me.

Photo from Day 2: Illinois 2009 | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-09-10T12:23:00.002-05:00

Okay, shoot me. I missed a day. GAWSH I'M SORRY.I had my foster care classes last night and that puts me in a tizzy all day. They assign me homework. Homework. Argh.On to the picture.Click to read the Flickr blurb!

Aaron's Forearm [Flickr]

2009-09-10T10:24:29-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

So there we were, pulling up to the Peoria Zoo, when Aaron spotted this playground. His eyes lit up, "It's my old elementary school playground!"

I confusedly thought, "They brought it here?"

He went on to explain that these were put in all over the place by some fitness program.

Nate's First Day [Flickr]

2009-09-08T07:47:46-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

Nate started Alternative Kindergarten on August 25, 2009. Wow. He's growing up.

I'm not happy about it.

Day 2: Illinois - Annual Family Fun Trip | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-09-08T08:51:00.002-05:00

Sunday, August 16 will hereto forth be called "Day 2 of the Annual Family Fun Trip: Illinois 2009." I suppose we could shorten it to "Day 2."Day 2 of our Illinois trip was quite successful. We woke up from Super Ate My... well, you remember... and visited the Peoria Zoo. Nate kept begging to see the snakes (photographic evidence will be coming in the days following this post - one picture a

Setting up the Tent [Flickr]

2009-09-08T06:46:42-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

Sunday, August 16th. Nate helped Daddy set up the tent, and unlike Sammi's help, his help was actually helpful.

When did my boy start growing up?

How does your typical day go? | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-09-04T07:59:00.003-05:00

Today, instead of making an excuse, I thought I'd show my typical day in the month of August and September.5:00 AM Wake up, pull on some work-out clothes.5:05 AM Wake up Denny, make him put on his work-out clothes.5:10 AM Start running.5:40 AM Stop running, want to die. Come inside and take shower.5:55 AM Make coffee, drink coffee, reaffirm my belief that I shouldn't die.6:00 AM Start waiting

GRE Results | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-09-01T07:12:00.004-05:00

For the past week I have been under a great deal of stress because I realized that my GREs were (yesterday) and I hadn't studied! Luckily, on Saturday I brushed up on my geometry facts and Monday I went in for the test. With the new computarized test, you receive your quantitative and verbal scores immediately. Each section has possible scores between 200 and 800. In order to get the

Day 1: Illinois - Annual Family Fun Trip | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-24T07:35:00.003-05:00

We left on Saturday afternoon and arrived in Illinois that night. After cruising Starved Rock State Park we learned that - shocker - it was completely full with no vacancies. Their website told us that they'd be full so we weren't at all surprised, but since it'd been rainy (a little foreshadowing here) we thought someone might have left. Alas, alas, everyone had steel balls that weekend. We

We're Back! | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-23T08:30:00.004-05:00

We have indeed returned back home to our docile and perfectly put together home. We walked in to sparkling tile floors and fluffy soft carpets. Not a single item was out of place, because of course we'd put everything away before we left for vacation, on time and in no hurry.We Were Off Like a Herd of TurtlesOr perhaps that is a violent, vicious lie. Perhaps we left six hours late in a

Pit Bull Love [Flickr]

2009-08-21T16:27:04-07:00

jen of aaron & jen posted a photo:

I love my American Pit Bull Terrier. :) Apparently so does my husband.

$25 Free Books | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-14T11:05:00.004-05:00

I'm offering a drawing between now and 11:30 PM CDT September 8th, 2009. On September 9th I will be drawing a random name from the list of people who have placed orders on my Usborne site and that person will receive a gift certificate for $25 in free books. Descriptions of the books below with a star come from the Usborne website.So, what could you get with a $25 gift certificate today?Example

Vacation | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-13T15:16:00.003-05:00

We're leaving for vacation in less than 48 hours, and I'm super excited. One of the places we're hitting up has a Thomas the Tank Engine event going on, and I get to take our kids. (Well, Aaron gets to come along too, ;).I'm sure when I get back I'll have 10,000 pictures I won't have time to edit and upload, and lots of stories I'll forget to blog about. There, something for you to look

Aaron | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-12T07:26:00.001-05:00

Isn't my husband handsome?

It's Truly Not a Post | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-07T13:30:00.003-05:00

So there I was, bal--oh wait, this is a family website. Uh.So there I was, sitting in front of my computer screen trying to puzzle out Joomla and how it interacts with templates when I decided that if I didn't walk away right then I was going to throw my expensive Mac laptop out my expensive custom-sized window. I sat, and I sat, and I sat. I pondered. The joy I would receive from viciously

Argh | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-06T06:54:00.001-05:00

Argh.I keep thinking of all these wonderful things to post about. I know what you are thinking - that's a good thing right?But then I realize I don't have time to take photos and edit them.And then I just close the browser and walk away to get embroiled in something else. (There's so much to do!)Just... Argh.

Kindergarten Curriculum | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-04T07:41:00.009-05:00

This year Nate starts Alternative Kindergarten at the local elementary school, but he also starts our homeschooling venture.This year my curriculum revolves around a 40 week flexible school schedule, scattered over all 52 weeks. This gives us 12 weeks for vacations, down time, holidays, or what have you.He will also get to play on the computer as a reward for finishing his work - we love the

Health Challenge, Week 15 | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-08-03T06:48:00.002-05:00

Body Goal: 145 PoundsCurrent: 186 poundsWeek 14: 189 poundsSince I've gained 10 pounds since I started training for the half-marathon, I'm really hoping that I'm building muscle and that's why I've gained weight. Hopefully within the next 4 weeks I'll start shedding?This week's workouts:8/1/2009: Biked 8.6 miles and speed-walked 2.5 miles outside. It was a beautiful day! Sadly, my sit bones

Health Challenge, Week 14 | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-27T08:27:00.002-05:00

BodyGoal: 145 PoundsCurrent: 189Week 6: 180 pounds.I have been working out at the gym sporadically.My last two workouts:7/26/2009: Ran/jogged/walked for 45 minutes. 2.79 miles (?) on the treadmill.7/16/2009: Did my first mile in 14.5 minutes exactly. Altogether 2 miles in 30min 47sec.I decided yesterday that I was going to work towards running a half-marathon February 14, 2010 in Austin, Texas

Baptism and Books | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-23T07:27:00.004-05:00

There is nothing like a little alliteration early on a Monday Thursday morning to make me (miserable? moony? mocha-colored?) happy. [Hey, if it doesn't fit, make it fit. Right?] Last weekend, I put aside my personal beliefs in order to help ensure peace of mind for my husband and his family. Some people will remember that while my husband and most of his extended family (and there are a lot

Oh boy. | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-16T11:56:00.001-05:00

If I could show you the panicky face that I have right now, or share with you the nauseous stomach I have right now, I would. I just signed up for my general GREs (August 31st) and my psychology GREs (October 10th). I'm nervous.Very nervous.

Berres Brothers | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-11T09:11:00.002-05:00

Berres BrothersI have a love affair with Berres Brothers coffee. No, really. I do. It's embarrassing. (I try to hide it from my husband, but I think he knows. When my eyes alight upon that package they cross just a little with intense delight.) When I walk through The Aisle at our local small-town grocery store - you know, The Aisle with the Berres Brothers coffee - I just inhale in pure

Gran Torino | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-05T18:40:00.002-05:00

5 of 5 stars!Gran Torino serves as a sharp reminder to teenagers and to the elderly that they must not forget their roles. Teenagers need to work hard on becoming productive adults, and our adults need to remember to guide our teenagers into their adult roles.It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it inspired me. It's a must watch.

Vehicles? | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-02T08:24:00.007-05:00

Part of the reason I feel so trapped is that we currently only have one working vehicle. We have three vehicles - my 2003 Ford ZX2 that is working wonderfully, my husband's 2000 Ford Crown Victoria that blew a spark plug and ripped out the threading and needs a new head, and my sister's Dodge Dakota which needs a new transmission that she left at our place when she decided to move cross-country

Not so Random Facts | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-01T16:29:00.002-05:00

Aaron left a comment on my original post about my random facts, here. His aren't quite as random though.

Trapped | Aaron-n-Jen.com

2009-07-01T08:40:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, when I tell people that I feel trapped in my own home, I don't think they understand. Yes, I need to get out of my house. I feel this overwhelming burning desire to get out, to run, to flee. To head for the poles. To get some adventure. To be me.The solution derived from others appears to be to go grocery shopping, to walk outside, to just leave the home when my husband gives me

2009-06-29T12:37:00.001-05:00

The baby is very upset today, which makes getting anything done absolute hell.Will try another time.