Quote from the song “The Story” by Brandi Carlile. Listen here!

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Linking up with Bits of Bee!

I had fun playing with the app “Diptic” that allows you to quickly do comparisons, when I found this old picture of Casey on the computer. HOLY DIFFERENCE, Batman! I mean, the size of those glasses?

SO then of course I had to do me, because who couldn’t use a little inspiration/reminder of WHY the gym and eating turkey burgers is so important? This is why.

I get flyers for lots of trainings. Here’s one that I could use, along with lots o’ people I know 😉

A peek into my office at the school I work in.

A bouquet of play-doh roses. Obviously I missed my calling as a play-doh artist. I also like to live out my dreams of being a cake decorator through play-doh.

Yoga! My yoga class is going pretty good. I am THISCLOSE from being able to stretch my legs out in a wide side stance and put my head on the floor without bending my legs. Who knew? Today I am going to a class taught by my friend Julie!

Wednesday I spent the day with these two cuties. We had a long walk and then a fight for who was going to be on my lap.

Us wishing Gryffindor a Happy Birthday. My Mom’s dog (who yes, is named after Harry Potter) turned 8 I believe yesterday! We sent him pictures of all of us.

Draw Something feature of the day? Via me! I know, I know, I’m surprised The Simpsons haven’t called me to do some drawing for them.

We had a bust of an open house yesterday. Even the balloons wanted to die. And we were forced to eat all of the chocolate chip cookies we baked. SOMEONE BUY OUR HOUSE PLEASE!

Oh hey. Stacey and I walked this yesterday! Weeeeee. I got a LOT of steps in on my FitBit yesterday!

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Okay, so it was kind of a boring week last week. Hopefully something more exciting will happen this week.

I will say that yesterday was also my Grammie’s birthday, so I will leave you with a picture of a woman that I wish everyday I had more time with.

“Wishing you were somehow here again. Wishing you were somehow near. Sometimes it seemed, if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here.” -Phantom of the Opera

As you know, the quotes that you read here every Friday are brilliant, witty, and knee-slapping funny. 90% of these quotes come from kids who have been neglected or sexually, physically, or emotionally abused by people who were supposed to be taking care of them. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. A month is not enough. Light must be constantly and continually shed upon the abuse of children. If you know of any abuse or suspected abuse call your local Child Protective Agency or the police. You can report anonymously if you feel more comfortable that way. It is not okay to turn your head. It is not okay for us to hide our heads in the sand. It is our job as adults to look out for those who cannot look out for themselves. Please, help make me unemployed!

Deciding to have a baby is supposed to be the hard decision.

When to start trying. How much money to have saved up. Planning for a winter pregnancy to avoid heat, or a summer pregnancy to avoid having to wear shoes.

When we made the decision to try for our first child, neither of us had any idea the world we were about to enter.

We started off in a stage of bliss. Ignorance, really.

1. Trying to Conceive (TTC) should come with a dictionary: There are so much to lean about the vocabulary in the world of TTC. And after a few months when you haven’t conceived using a bottle of wine and a date night, you will eventually Google things like “how to have a baby,” “why aren’t I pregnant yet?” and things along those lines. You will be instantly overwhelmed by letters. OPK, BFP, BFN, BD, DH, EOD, ED, AF and the dreaded TWW (more on that later). Don’t be afraid to ask questions and figure out the lingo. Soon you’ll be reading posts on message boards that will make sense, like “peed on a OPK, positive! BD tonight with DH!”

2. You will begin to live your life in two week increments. TWW stands for the “two week wait,” which is the time between ovulation and the beginning of your next period. AKA the time when you will begin to imagine and hope for every pregnancy symptom under the sun. You will spend too much time examining your underwear, and asking yourself if you’re tired or you’re TIREDBECAUSEIAMPREGNANT. This is where a spark of hope lives, even after many negative cycles.

3. You will likely develop an addiction to peeing on things. Yeah. All I can say about this one, is there are bulk pregnancy and ovulation predictors on the internet. Also the dollar store. Don’t knock dollar store pregnancy tests. And always try to get ones that produce pink lines (not blue).

4. At some point you will begin to learn that the infertility community has a twisted (and argued) hierarchy. There are people who will tell you that your pain isn’t as bad as their pain. There are people who say secondary infertility (inability to get pregnant for a second/third, etc child) is not as bad as primary infertility. There are people who will tell those who have miscarried (like us) “at least you can get pregnant!” There are people who have been trying for 2 years (like us) or 10 years. There are people who cannot afford treatment (like us) that are told they don’t want it enough, and people that are undergoing constant physical treatments that are told “why don’t you just stop and adopt?” And then there are the misfits- the people who experienced infertility but have babies now. Where do they fit in?

There are harrowing stories out there, but do not let any of them take away your own experience.  I have thought to myself on more than one occasion – “wow, I don’t have it so bad, she’s had 2 miscarriages and I’ve only had one” or “they’ve been trying for 3 years and we’ve only been trying for two.” It doesn’t do any good to downplay your own experience. We all have what we have. Being empathetic with people is a good thing, but don’t feel bad for feeling bad. Infertility sucks. No matter what stage you are at with it. In my opinion it does no good to divide ourselves.

5. You will begin to feel like you are rapidly cycling through the grief process every month. Denial (there’s probably nothing wrong with me! this is the month! yeehaw!) Anger (I don’t know why I bother peeing on these things, it doesn’t matter anyway. I can’t believe I wasted all my money on birth control for all those years. I’m never going to get pregnant. I should just buy 20 cats and call it a day.) Bargaining (hey, universe! If you give us a baby I swear that I will never let it leave my sight, I’ll be the best parent EVER! No TV! No candy! PUHHLEEASE?) Depression (Period is here again. This sucks. Pass the Ben &  Jerry’s). Acceptance (okay, I haven’t gotten here yet – well sometimes I think I have but clearly I really haven’t – I mean I just deleted my Facebook so I wouldn’t have to see pregnant people).

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week and the theme is “Don’t Ignore.” I encourage you, whether you have experienced infertility or you have not – to spread the word. Don’t ignore us because it feels awkward, or you don’t know what to say. Don’t ignore us because you don’t understand it. You know us. Help take the shame away from infertility, and put awareness in its place. It is closer than you might think. It is your family member, you neighbor,  your teachers… it is us.

We are the faces of infertility. Don’t ignore us.

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Resources for Infertility

Resolve – www.resolve.org

Two Week Wait – http://twoweekwait.com/

Male Infertility 101 – http://www.inviafertility.com/blog/uncategorized/drbrannigan/male-infertility-101

Stirrup Queens (Support and Information) – http://www.stirrup-queens.com/

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Linking this post with Shell of Things I Can’t Say for Pour Your Heart Out

(because my heart is all over this blog post)

I love so many things about my life.

Waking up. Stretching out my arms.

Getting up and having some breakfast.

The best part of the morning is the snuggles.

Wedged in between two of my favorite people.

Warm, content, happy.

Sometimes the quiet of the morning lulls me back to sleep.

My days could be anything.

Sometimes I go to work, sometimes I lay in bed all day.

Sometimes I go for long walks, sometimes I listen to people’s problems all day long.

But always, my days consist of savoring quiet moments with people I love.

Soaking up the time I get to have dance parties around the kitchen, stick my head out of the window to feel the breeze, give hugs and snuggles, and kiss away any sorrows that befall those I love.

Someday I will have to leave them, because even though it is insisted of me by those who love me, I cannot live forever.

So I give them all the love and kisses I have now. I drag my prized toys to them when they are sad. I greet them when they get home from a long day without me. I let them take incessant amounts of pictures of me. I make them laugh. I fill their lives with joy, because they are my favorite people on Earth.

I love so many things about my life.

 “I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. 

For me they are the role model for being alive.” ~Gilda Radner

Hey everyone, how was your week!?

I know you are wondering. Gee, Jenn. How’s the house selling going? Notsogood. And to add to it, this sign that says “Suspicious Activity – Call it In” was added to the end of our road due to a lovely arsonist who decided to begin their career in destruction just in time to lower our property values! Super. Anyway. We’ve had only one showing 🙁 Hoping this week will bring more!

We had some nice warm days this week, and the kiddos are on school vacation so I had a week full of looser schedules and time to take my main man walking. Hi, Skeeter!

Here’s my work badge. Meaning, I worked this week. Not that that is unusual, or anything. Just taking random pictures. Ahem. Moving on…

I surprised Casey and ordered him another wedding ring! Do you like it? Seeing how our wedding bands were originally engraved with “so this is love,” I’m going to get this one engraved with “so this is love… part two”.. 😉

Draw Something feature of the week again comes via Casey! What are your guesses? When I asked around I got, sink drain, fallopian tubes, and the map of a cow’s leg. Guess what it really was? AMERICA. Apparently the arrows are pointing to Alaska and the Continental United States. Right. Totally got that.

Friday brought a LOT of cancellations. I’m sure it had something to do with the gorgeous 70 degree weather, school vacation, and general irresponsibility. I was not impressed, but I did take a minute to put my feet up and read….

The new book by The Bloggess! If you want to pee your pants laughing you should probably buy it. SO good.

The three year old I see put together an amazing force of “stuperheroes” to protect her from her bad dreams. Who would guess that Bart and Lisa Simpson could join forces with Spiderman, He-Man, the penguin from “Happy Feet” along with many others to protect a sweet little girl? Miracles can happen.

Stacey humored me on Saturday and agreed to go for a walk. A five mile walk! Yup, it was epic. And can I just say long walks go by so much faster with a good friend?

Skeeter sayz… “Walks are for the birds.” But even when I said “Skeeter, wanna go for another walk?!” he jumped up ready to go again (but hoping I was joking…which I totally was).

Just looking at this picture of us from last night, made me go WOW. When did we get so grown up? The picture on the right is from our senior year in high school. I know, we’re all happy Stacey grew out of the bangs phase 😉 But really. What a difference 11 years can make, no?

Well, the finale of the week was joining a whole bunch of awesomely-decked-out-in-neon-and-teased-hair ladies at a Pat Benatar concert! It was AWESOME. My one and only complaint was that it was only a little over a hour long show. I know that she’s not 25 anymore, but she should have at least gotten someone to open for her – because we got there a few minutes before the concert started at 8 – and were out by 9:30. Kinda lame, Pat, kinda lame. But singing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Love is a Battle Field” and “Invincible” with tons of other fans was soso awesome.

I will leave you with a youtube upload from last night’s concerts. I’m glad my fellow concert go-er was so on the ball to have already uploaded this! Good job, whomever you are!

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Have a great week, everyone!

22 days ago, I lost something…

…something that was purchased spontaneously while immersed in the thrill of being enganged…

…something that was worn several times over the next few months, at times while I was “fake married”…

…something that was put on my finger by my soul mate after reading our wedding vows on a beautiful September morning…

…something that I tried very hard to protect, as it tended to slip off my finger…

…and 22 days ago, it slipped off my finger for the last time.

Goodbye, Wedding Ring, wherever you are.  May your future replacement help fill the void.

Welcome to another edition of Kid Quotes! Link up your favorite story about your kid, someone else’s kid, or your significant other acting like a kid! (Button is over there —>) Oh and Happy Friday!

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Me: TGIF!

Kid: IDKWYMMG

Me: What?

Kid: I don’t know what that means Mrs. G. –11 y. o.

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Me: So are you supposed to be cleaning your room like your brother is?

Kid: I’m not aware of that.

Mom: Yes you are supposed to be cleaning your room. Are you aware now?

Kid: Oh, well, I’m aware of other things right now. You know, like, lunch. —10 y.o.

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Kid: I found out about the tooth fair.

Me: Oh yeah?

Kid: Yeah. I’m kind of relieved. I was super scared that a fairy was flying around my room collecting dead teeth. I mean, really, that’s the kind of thing nightmares are made of!

–8 y.o.

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Me: What do you think your parents did before you were born?

Kid: Oh. Hmm. Probably not much. I make life exciting for them, you know? –9 y.o.

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Kid: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME.

Me: Why is that?

Kid: Because my parents are so old. They probably were never even 13. They were probably born 35 years old and completely clueless. –13 y.o.

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A contribution from Lea!

Lea: Ri, eat 4 pieces of mango then you can have some pirates booty.

Ri: Mom. I have a compromise. I’ll eat 3 pieces then you give me the booty. –3 y.o.

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Get linkin’ folks!

I took this picture on a walk over the weekend. Trees never cease to amaze me, with infinite analogies to life. Strong roots. The need for both rain and sun to create their strength. Their ability to withstand storms. Branches that sometimes crack and fall. New branches that grow and take their place – even stronger. Their willingness to reach for the sky, even with the odds of wind and gravity against them. They bend, they break, they grow, and they leave people around them in awe.

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Linked up with for Memories Captured!

and Frankly My Dear…