Let's blog again, Like we did last summer....

Wow, what a whole 5 blog posts and poof, I quit?!?!  What the heck?!?!  Not sure where that time went or why I never re-opened the blog until today.  I was riding the elevator at work this afternoon when all of a sudden I thought about the new year that is quickly approaching and then the old blog popped into my head.  Yeah, I have lots of random thoughts like that.

Soooo, what's been happening in our world?!?!  Hmmm....Noah is still in 1st grade and we are half way through the school year already.  He's growing like a weed and keeping him in shoes and clothes is lots of fun.  He begins basketball league in January and is still playing violin, although he now would like to start playing guitar.  John began a new job right after Thanksgiving.  He is a Union Machinist in St. Louis.  And he is now my personal chauffeur as he drops me off every morning and picks me up on the way home.  It's nice that him and I have two hours of time we can talk every day!!  (And it doesn't hurt to know we are saving some major bucks not having two vehicles on the road along with me not having to pay garage fees!!!!)  And me, well, same old same old.  But wait, I believe I forgot to mention the new addition to the Tepe household (and no, it's not a baby!)  Introducing Cole, our approximately 6 year old beagle/basset hound mix.  I was not a fan of getting a dog as we are gone a lot and well, then there is my whole animal in the house issue I have.  But Cole has to be the laziest and sweetest thing and well, we love him a whole heck of a lot around here as evident in this picture:

(Cole the Great and his 'master' Noah!)

I hope that all of you are enjoying your Christmas and New Year's Holiday Celebrations.  Our Christmas was quiet this year and at first while a little sad by the thought of it, it turned out that I really enjoyed the down time.  Tomorrow evening we will celebrate Christmas with our group of friends at our home followed by a day of nothing (love it!!) on New Years Eve and then Sunday I am hosting a first ever Cousins Gathering on my dad's side of the family that I am very excited about.  Menus are planned and as much as I wanted to take it down already this week, John convinced me to leave the tree and other decorations up through Sunday.  Monday we are all off and that makes me very happy!  Not sure what  I will do when I have to actually work, gasp, a 5 day work week again!!!  ARGH!!!

(Tepe family Christmas Card 2011)

I am totally into chevron print this year and don't know why!!!

So for now, I sign off with the hopes that 2012 brings more than a half dozen blog posts but more importantly a wish for you and yours a very SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My own breathing Ken Doll (without the ascots and high prices)

I will be the first to admit that I kind of have a problem when it comes to my kid and his clothes.  Ever since Noah was a baby I would lay his clothes out and then re-think the outfit depending on where we were going and put together something different.  Now that he is older, he pretty much wears what he wants (sometimes with a little guidance from momma).    I love to shop for him and sometimes am very frustrated by the fact that girls have a section the size of Texas in a store but boys get what is the equivalent of Rhode Island.  Really Not Fair.  I believe John was glad when Noah arrived and it took the pressure off of him a little.  I've been known to look at him and his choice of duds and say, Umm, really in my voice that he knew meant, I can't believe we are going to _____ and you have chosen that outfit.  I have tried to throw out the the crappy tees and jeans but it's as if he has a sixth sense when I have packed this stuff up and finds it.   If you know John in person he doesn't think there is anything wrong with a pair of Real Wear jeans from Rural King and a Case IH tee shirt a pair of work boots and he's ready to walk out the door.  Scary.    


So, back to Noah.  I love to shop for him.  Seriously cannot get enough of it.  But  I only buy for him in the off season.  I have been lucky enough he's never outgrown anything before he has had a chance to wear it.  I love the quality of the brand names but am not a fan of the Ralph Lauren, Gap and Nautica full prices.  No way am I going to pay for Noah a shirt that has jockey on a horse the same I gave for a pair of shoes for me.  It kills me to see $59 shirts for him.  Or $49.99 for a pair of jeans.   So I wait it out.  And that is how I scored six Ralph Lauren shirts for $39.89 and Gap jeans for $3.99 a pair.  One of the shirts alone was originally $65.50.  And during that same shopping spree I scored some shorts for next summer along with two pairs of swim trunks and an outfit he can wear for Easter. I know someday I won't be able to do this as I am sure he will outgrow something before he gets a chance to wear it.  And I know that he isn't always going to want mom's advice.  And God forbid the day he wants to shop in Hollister or Abercrombie where the noise level alone makes me cringe from OUTSIDE the store (yes, I sound like a Grandma here).  But for now I love having my little Ken doll who I hope someday when he grows up keeps the fashion sense his momma is trying to instill upon him.  I want a son who doesn't think it's ok to wear jeans and work boots to a wedding or to a funeral (sadly I have seen both!).  I think he'll be ok...that is of course as long as daddy stays away from Noah & his closet!!!  :) :) :)

Deer Hunting, Fishing and Beauty Bootcamp--which one of these aren't like the other?

John has decided to go deer hunting this year.  And I am thinking of going with him. 
My sister and sister in law are both hunters who don camo and get up at the crack of dawn to follow their menfolk into the woods and for years I have laughed at their endeavors.   But this year I may follow in their footsteps.  I even caught myself checking out a deer stand at Rural King this past Sunday when we stopped in.  I have found myself excited looking at the Cabela's catalog and think we need a food plot and trail cam.  My goodness, what is wrong with me?  I'll keep you posted as the time draws near if I decide to go.  With my luck I would have a nice big buck approach and be shaking so much from nervousness, shoot my own foot. Graceful isn't exactly word I would use to describe myself...

One sport I do love is fishing.  I guess fishing is a sport, although I am not sure about the amount of athleticism that is involved.  But I am old school and still believe the best way to catch a fish is via cane pole.  A lot of my favorite memories with my Grandpa Linnertz was going to Randolph or Washington County Lake and fishing with liver on a cane pole and always catching a fish.  And I was lucky the one time Noah and Great Grandpa got to go fishing together I had the camera along:

Great Grandma & Grandpa Linnertz with Noah @ Krause Lake 08/09

In re-doing Noah's bedroom coming up, I am blowing this pic up for him. 

Onto Beauty Bootcamp.  My sister in law sent me a message yesterday about Studio J in Waterloo hosting an event to raise money for the Robert Mathews Foundation for Families in Need in Monroe County.  The message stated:

If you've ever wanted to recreate that perfect blowout or smoky eye at home but didn't know the first thing about it, this is the place to be! Our professionals will walk you through all your challenges with skin, hair, makeup and nails. There will be free drawings, refreshments and discounts.

SIGN ME UP!!!!

Yes to all the above.  First, GIRLS NITE.  Second, SMOKY EYE.  I try, and try, and try again to do the smoky eye and most of the time look like some sort of Halloween/Drag Queen gone wrong.  And that is no joke.  I know it is limited to just 24 participants, so if you are interested, call Studio J in Waterloo 939-3661.  Have fun while helping a great cause!!!!

Speaking of Girls Nite, I am meeting some of my girlfriends tomorrow evening for happy hour and couldn't be more excited!  You need good  GREAT girlfriends.  I have some of the best and know how lucky I am.  Maybe I can talk them into switching our upcoming Girls Weekend in Kansas City for a hunting expedition or fishing excursion.  Hmmm, wonder what they would think of that?!?!  Guess I better stick with getting them to join us at Beauty Bootcamp.  Seems like a safer bet!

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

John went to an auction on Saturday and took Noah with him.  I meanwhile got a massage and ran into work for a few hours.  While at work, I got a phone call from John- NEVER a good sign when he's been at an auction!  Seems like Noah worked his magical powers over John-and by magical powers I mean it probably went down something like this:   Hey Dad, check out that cool riding lawn mower with no mower deck that we don't even know that runs.  Will you bid on it? John: Yes son, of course I will.   John is a pleaser and Noah is a smart cookie and knows this.  And that is how we, a term I use loosely because it's really John and Noah, became the owners of a riding mower with no mower deck that luckily DOES run.  It belongs to my six year old because I guess that Cub Cadet battery operated job we spent hundreds of dollars on a couple years ago just doesn't cut the mustard anymore.

Noah told me last night while he clearing the table from dinner that he is going to use this for LOTS of things.  I asked him, like what?  And then he looked at me blankly like I was perhaps the dumbest momma on the face of the earth.  Like taking the Cub Cadet trailer and hooking it up and helping you when you work out in the yard.  I need to make some money so when I turn 16 and buy Uncle Wally's big truck I can put a new engine in it.  I think I will charge you $20 a time.  Umm, excuse me?  You expect your parents who paid for this to now say, hey kid I'll give you $20 for helping clean up our yard. Sorry bud-your dad may be a sucker, but momma knows better.   Besides I don't pay to do things you are EXPECTED to help with.  So then he told me he would use it to make lots of money and I won't have to pay for him a truck when he is old enough to drive.  And that my friends I think I want in writing!!!

In other exciting news we are thinking of having our entire house interior painted (with the exception of the dining room and guest bath which we did after we moved in five years ago).  I have spent hours (literally) late into the night pouring over home magazines and paint chip samples and believe a trip to get some sample colors may be needed this weekend.  I learned the hard way once upon a time that what looks good on a paint chip is not the same on my walls.  John is your basic white wall kind of guy so introducing him to Ashes and Poppy Seed for a wall in our bedroom isn't going to be easy.  But I think a little persuasion should work.  Then again I could just send Noah to do it for me.  :)  Wish me luck!

Twas the night before school starts...

Noah's been in bed since 8:15 PM.  His clothes are all laid out so tomorrow morning we can get up, get ready and get going without me thinking much about it.  Kind of like how it has been all summer.  I love routine and schedules and new school supplies and all but I also love the carefree days of summer where Noah rolls out of bed two minutes before we need to walk out the door, throws on a clean tee shirt, gym shorts, flip flops and meets me at the door.  When school is in session it is not just getting dressed, but socks and tennis shoes, the book bag, packed lunch etc etc.  But little man is excited about 1st grade so I am excited as well.  Crossing my fingers this excitement is still going on in a few weeks (a few months) too.  He told me tonight he can't wait to do homework and take spelling tests.  I bet that will change!  HA!

On a totally different note, I got a brazilian blowout on my hair.  I cannot tell you how much it has changed my morning routine.  Twenty minutes more everyday I have back!  Heck yeah, I will take it.  If you have unruly hair like I did, I highly recommend it.  You can thank me later!!! 

Have fun kiddos tomorrow!  And smile pretty when your mommas want to take that 1st day of school picture!  You will be glad you did someday!!!   :)

Here I go again....

Do you have strains of the Whitesnake song in your head now like I do???   :)  I have started a blog now for the third time...which is about the same amount of times I have began working on getting the weight off of my body in my life (and been really serious about it).    Third times a charm, right?  I decided this time to keep a blog to keep a journal of my progress as well as use this as a reminder of all the things going on so when I finally get back to scrapbooking and need to remember details, I have a reference guide!

For those of you reading who know me in real life, you probably don't need the 'about me' but for those of you visiting and saying, who the heck are the Tepe's, here's a description (straight from my facebook about me-hey, my alarm went off at 3:30 am for work today, please forgive me.  So, without further adeiu, here you go:

Married to my best friend, , momma to our little dude. Lover of family, flip flops, cupcakes, and great friends.  People say I'd talk to the wall if it was the only thing there-I tend to believe they may be right.

I'm Jeniffer aka Jen, wifey. momma and Aunt Jenny. I live in the small town of Red Bud, IL and work in downtown St. Louis. I am married to John, a farm boy turned city slicker (ha ha)...we have been married since 2002. We have a very cool little man, Noah, who arrived in May 2005. I have two great parents, a sister and a brother I love, 4 sister in laws, 6 brother in laws, fifteen nieces and nephews (and 2 nephew in laws), my two grandmas and a bunch of people I am lucky to call my friends.

Things I heart besides those great people: my coworkers--they make me laugh which is something else I love to do; bar bands; date nights with my hubby; coloring and pushing Noah on the swing set; babies; my house clean; shopping; wearing jeans, heels and dangly earrings; reading magazines; cooking; spa days; no traffic on my way to work; taking Noah to the movies; dinner out on Saturday night; Sunday brunch and drives to no where in particular; road trips; anywhere there is a beach; sunny days; a glass of wine and wearing flip flops....

Things I am not a big fan of (not even a smidgen): gas over $3; snow unless it's Christmas Eve (actually all aspects of winter); the smell of cigerettes; snakes; mice; big spiders; my vehicle dirty; lazy people and those who belong in the slow lane but drive in the fast one....

Other things to know: I believe in love, God, that it is mind over matter, and not to seek revenge as karma is a bigger you know what than I could ever be.

So, that's me in a nutshell.  I hope not to bore you to tears, but I can't promise anything.  Til tomorrow...