Happy 235th Birthday Marine Corps

On a cold winter night back in college, my car went off the road heading up Sunset hill in Spokane.  I was terrified, cars flew by one after another and the snow was coming down fast.  I could not get anyone to stop and I was freezing.  I crawled back in to stay warm.  Then some lights of a big truck shown in my window and two very burly men with kind eyes said "OORAH!  We will get you out in a second, stay put".

And in a few minutes I was up on the road again.  They saw the sticker in my back window, a simple round sticker with a very familiar symbol, Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.  USMC.  They consider themselves a brotherhood, and this is what "Brothers" do. 

I am the proud wife of a United States Marine.  Cpl Nathanial Ryan Wood was active for 4 years but the truth is (and any Marine will tell you this) "Once an Marine, Always a Marine".  It is a title we in this household carry with much pride.
Nathan joined the service out of high school with a lifelong desire to have that title.
I was proud the day (after a 3 month boot camp and many letters later) That I saw him in the crowd of 2/7 Fox Co walk up the field singing the Marine Corp Hymn.  He followed his dream.

The Marines were there 9 years ago the day we were married, to welcome me into the family.  They have kept that word of "family" ever since.  After Nathan suffered a head trauma they checked in.  They helped move our home from St. Maries ID to Standpoint in 2006.  They serve our country every day, whether it is handing out a toy to a child at Christmas (The Marines run Toys for Tots) or being the men on the front line.  First in and last out.  I cherish the fact that I can hang that red and yellow flag in my yard.  I am proud of Nathan.  He is one of the few, one of the Proud.  My Marine

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job--
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

The Farm Chicks Christmas Book

As many of you know, We had our storage Unit broken in to and they stole my Christmas box. My Christmas decorations dating back 4 generations.   With that said, I have still been a little bummed with Christmas coming. Don't get me wrong, as stated in my last post, I am looking forward to the Holidays and starting traditions for Glenn and our little family.  But as far as decorating goes, I have been stumped, uninspired and a little "Bah Humbug".  That was until I received an early gift from Nathan, my Farm Chicks Christmas Book!  I was sooo excited because the cover alone was thrilling, but then I opened it...AMAZING!

Inspired by the pages of this book I found a great use for the old Buddy L!

Chaps and a plethora of Farm Chicks Christmas books!

Celeste, Sally, Nancy, Glenn, Me, Serena and Chris.

I was so thrilled to open the book and feel the excitement of Christmas page after page!  Inspiration filled me as I read the stories, looked at ideas and studied the beautiful photographs.  The women featured in this book have incredible talent, but more than that they have an endless imagination to create such whimsical displays and enchanting homes. 
Today I went to Chaps for a book signing party, to have my book signed and meet up with the amazing women featured in The Farm Chicks Christmas. It was a wonderful treat to see everyone, catch up with old friends and meet others who love the book and decorating as much as I do. 
Then on the way home I found my new beginning pieces towards my new Christmas box, I stopped at Hollies yard sale and found some glittered trees for $3.  I was inspired by the old toy trucks filled with decorations in the book.  Remembering the Buddy L I literally dug up under the old barn last summer, I put ideas in motion!  I think I am on a good start!
Thank you Serena, Teri, Nancy, Sally, Celeste & Chris.  I have to say I am actually "giddy" again about finding new ways to decorate for Christmas, ready to hit the junking trail in search of new traditions and beautiful things.  Love, Jennifer
You can find the book at www.thefarmchicks.com , http://www.amazon.com/ , Costco, Chaps and many other locations. 

1st Halloween as a "Mom".

I have heard for years that having children makes you feel like a kid again.  I have to say I had a very happy childhood, My mom always decorated for every holiday...EVERY holiday!  Grandma too, even if it were just paper cut-outs for the window.  I have always loved them too, counting the days to the next celebration, sending cards adorned with stickers and love. 

But, as the years have gone by I must admit that I have been decorating less, watching the calender less and stopping to see all the window displays and festive homes around town less.  I got caught up in schedules, rushing, shopping at Costco (where there are no windows, much less window displays), living in a hurry. 

On top of that, last year our storage unit was broken into and of all things they stole all my grandmothers decorations and my Christmas box, so I was not too thrilled to "get into" the seasons and Holidays this year.

Then it hit me, I am a mom now, it is up to me to make things fun, to bring festivities to my home.  I have an obligation to Mr. Glenn Kelly and even if he IS only a 5 month old he deserves a Halloween as much as the rest of the kids!  So, I got proactive!
I took him to a pumpkin carving party and stuck him in a pumpkin.
I dressed him in Halloween pj's all October.
I put him in a duck costume and paraded him around town. (and dressed up too, along with Nathan!)
And I Finally found a good use for that old pedal car!

3rd Generation in the old pedal car!

mmmmm pumpkin guts!

Glenns treasure.

Daddy is Juan Valdez, Mommy is Prof. Trelawney

Silly Duck!

7 year old me, won the cake decorating contest at Oden Hall!

Thank you Glenn for bringing me back the magic.

And do you know what happened?  I found her...I found little Jennifer.  You see, as we carved pumpkins I remembered how much I LOVE the smell of pumpkin guts!  As we walked around town I heard the leaves crunch under my feet flashing back when I was trick or treating at 7 in a bride costume and moon boots (in case of snow).  I took a minute to breath in October, and really LOOK at the yellow vibrant trees the way Glenn was seeing them for the first time.  I remembered that old pedal car under the cedar tree and how I believed with all my heart that it took me to enchanted places, and hope someday my son will feel the same way.  I felt...like a kid again, who knew parenthood would make you younger?!  So, now I am packing up Halloween decoration and pulling out a few paper turkeys.  planning a trip to Goodwill today to look for a cornucopia, and booked "Mouse on the Mayflower" on Netflix.  And don't even get me started on Christmas!  The calender is getting filled quick!!  I even have Glenns' Stocking already!  Happy Holidays, from a Mom!  Love, Jennifer