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JennPiatt
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Name: Jenn
Country: United States
State: Indiana
Metro: Indianapolis
Birthday: 5/12/1978
Gender: Female
Interests: Pampered Chef, photography, piano, singing, playing with my sons, dinner with my husband, MCC youth, Arbonne International
Expertise: I'm a pretty good Pampered Chef consultant and love that job. It's really not so much of a job as a let-me-show-you-this-great-stuff! I also think I'm a pretty good wife and mom. I love Craig, Aiden and Elijah to death and would do anything for them!
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
8/22/2005
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| It has been a busy couple of months full of roller coaster emotions. The lowest of the emotions came May 9th when I found out my Grandma Bicker had passed away. I was so thankful I had been able to see her during my visit to Ohio in April. This is the last picture I have of her and my boys, and it is so precious to me: 
There have been many good times, too. Aiden just got done with VBS this past week, and he hasn't talked about anything else since. Well, that's not all true, I guess, because we went to Connersville for a "Day Out with Thomas"...the tank engine that is. But I think he talks more about VBS than Thomas. That's amazing and awesome! Craig and his dad went to the Indy 500 and had a fantastic time. Craig got sunburned on his face so badly, though, that he was sick for the next couple of days. Days of Thunder on the Road has started and is keeping us extremely busy. I love this time of year, though. Camp begins this Sunday, and we're all going. I'm trying to get things done and am feeling a bit crazy yet excited, too. We have been spared much damage from the flooding. Here's my garden in the middle of the rain: 
Thankfully, I was late in getting anything planted, so I didn't have to re-plant anything. I'm still having a hard time growing some things, though. The ground is still wet! The main damage affecting us is to the church basement. The carpet was soaked and then everything started stinking. Evidently there was pre-existing mold and when the water hit it, it just exploded. Craig's heard an estimate of $20,000 to fix it. It has to be completely gutted. I feel almost sick after all the work we've put into re-doing it.  The boys are both growing quickly, though I think Elijah has slowed down a bit. He's now a little smaller than Aiden was at a year, though no one would call him small.  He is 31.5" tall and weighs 22.7 lbs. We think he's going through a growth spurt, though, because all of a sudden his clothes are fitting tighter and he's more fussy. I'm not sure on Aiden's exact height, but over 41" and he weighs 43 lbs. Amazing! Well, I think that's my update for now. Maybe if I get some free time after camp I'll get some pictures posted. Have a great 4th of July and don't shoot yourself with fireworks.  | | |
| Well, I feel like I can't catch a break when it comes to hurting myself. Earlier this year (or maybe it was the end of last year) I pulled a muscle in my back doing Tae-Bo. I didn't have to go see the doctor with that, but worked it out with ibuprofen and stretching. In February I sprained my ankle, which required physical therapy. My final doctor's appointment for that was March 27th. This week/weekend, I strained a muscle in my neck, and the only thing I can think of that I did differently was use my Ab Lounge. I think I'm going to give up trying to work out! Anyway, I was in tears Sunday morning because it hurt to wash my hair. I couldn't even eat breakfast because it hurt to open my mouth and chew. So I went to PromptMed and they gave me Valium and Ultracet. They take the edge off, but neither completely relieve the pain. Thank God for Robin Wilson who came and helped with the boys Sunday night while Craig was at youth group! Craig even worked at home yesterday and was a HUGE help! (He said he got just as much done, or more, and was much less stressed. I should drug myself up more often. ) I have piano lessons this afternoon and a Pampered Chef show tonight, and I'm just praying for the strength to get through them all.
On a happier note, I'm heading to Wooster this weekend with the boys to see family. I wish Craig could come with me, but unfortunately he only has so many vacation days. I'm looking forward to getting a break from things and just not having to be around the junk happening here. (I can't really go into details here, but let's just say that Satan is working over-time.) I know the boys will be so glad to see the grandparents, too.
Well, it's time to get up and get Elijah his lunch. Maybe I'll get a bit of down time later...and maybe God will just be glorfied through the strength and healing He provides. | | |
| What a great Christmas and New Year's we had! Craig's parent's came in on the 20th and stayed through Christmas and went home on the 26th. They watched the boys one night so Craig and I could celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. We always go downtown and spend the night there. This year we ate at the HardRock Cafe and just walked around downtown. It was so warm, I wore flip-flops and my jean jacket! My parents came in on the 28th and both my brothers arrived on the 29th. They all left New Year's day. It was so nice having family visit, but it also make me wish we had a bigger house. They always assure me they don't mind sleeping in the living room on mattresses, but I wish I had at least one guest bedroom for them. I had fun before Christmas doing things with Aiden now that he's a little older. Here's the gingerbread house we made: My grandma Crites made a gingerbread house for all 5 of her grandkids each Christmas and then we decorated them. After making just one, I have a new-found respect for what she did! Aiden & I also made cut-out cookies and then he decorated them with my parent's. (That also goes to show how late I made them. ) Now that the holidays are over, I'm dreading taking down the Christmas decorations. I know it needs to be done, but the house will be so empty when they're gone.  Oh, spring...come quickly! P.S. I updated Aiden's site (AidenRaymond) and created a site for Elijah (ElijahAllen) today if you'd like to check either out. | | |
| I am ready for a break! We have been traveling almost every two weeks since August! We've been to Wooster twice (one of those times for my grandfather's funeral), Myrtle Beach, and St. Louis, and we will be in Wooster again for Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong, all of our trips have been great, but after packing up two kids for almost every trip (St. Louis was Craig & me), I'm ready to be home for awhile. I wanted to post some pics we've taken over the last several months, so that is mainly what this post is about.  Aiden with his new microphone. (This one is a little old...I think this was Easter!)
 I love this pic of my three guys!
 Aiden finally learned to put his thumb up! It used to be his index finger. 
 My family, taken during one of our trips to Wooster. Back row: Craig, Aiden, Dad, Mom. Front row: Kevin, me, Elijah, Dale.
 Talk about looking like Daddy!
Updates on my wonderful family: Craig is done with football. They did pretty well, and I know Craig had a lot of fun again. Each group always gets to him, and he again came home with tears in his eyes after their last game. He & I just got back from a National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis. His parents came and watched the boys, and it was nice to have time to ourselves. The conference was AMAZING and more of a time of eye-opening and personal challenge than a time to get new ministry ideas. He continues to be busy with youth group and other church "stuff." Aiden is a great big brother. He's a great help, picking up blankets and getting me the burp rag or pacifier when I need it. We have to watch him a little because he doesn't know his own strength, but usually he's very good with Elijah. He continues to grow in height and weight. He was almost 40 lbs. at his last doctor's visit, so it was off to find a booster car seat for him. Right now he's all about playing, especially with balls (any type) and trains. Elijah is growing quickly, too. He was 16.4 lbs. and 27" long at his 4 month check-up! I got out the 9-12 month clothes yesterday and discovered I don't have very many! I guess I'll have to go shopping. He is already eating cereal and is getting pretty good at it. He loves tummy time and rolls over onto his back well. He's all smiles when you talk to him, and his giggles are so fun! Personally, I'm doing well. I feel like I'm managing my time well, though there are weeks when no house-cleaning gets done. I just have to not let that bother me. I'm still continuing with Pampered Chef and piano lessons. I'm starting to get ready for Christmas. I've done all of Craig's shopping, and we are planning on shopping for the boys tomorrow. I love this time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I'm especially looking forward to watching Aiden open up presents. I laugh every time I ask him what he wants for Christmas. His answer is always "a ball." What kind of ball? "A red one." Wouldn't life be great to be that content? | | |
| I forgot how tired I would be with a newborn. I think the fact that I have a two-year-old doesn't help anything. I didn't have a bad night last night, but I woke up exhausted, grumpy, and ready to quit. I layed on the couch until 10:00 while Elijah slept in the swing and Aiden watched movies. I realize that makes me sound like a pretty lousy parent, but at that point in time I didn't care. I got a good report at the doctor yesterday for me and hope to have another good one tomorrow for Elijah. It's hard to believe he's a month old already! He's already growing out of some 0-3 month clothes, so I'm anxious to see what his length and weight are. Aiden is adjusting well to being a big brother. He's finally started to give Elijah kisses and will help put his pacifier in his mouth. The other night Elijah was in his swing and started to fuss. Aiden jumped up off the floor, ran over to the swing, said "Don't worry baby Elijah," and pushed the reset button on the swing. It was so sweet! | | |
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