Time to Catch Up

Wow, it's been a life time since I sat down and put the keys to the screen lol is that the same as putting the pen to the paper? I don't know but I know I have lots to tell and more then I can fit in one little blog entry. At least without boring you all to death with the details of my ho-hum life here in Saskatchewan. Yes I said it: SASKATCHEWAN!!! Can you image me in the middle of ass tabernacle prairie land? Now being born and raised in Alberta you would think one would be reasonably used to life here out west but you would be wrong. Dead wrong. A year in Ottawa spoiled me rotten. Pretty malls and great shopping are a thing of the past, along with 24/7 everything. Living in Regina takes some planning ahead and some thinking (stop laughing). The thing is I'm kinda diggin' it here. The people are so nice, my job is fun and everyone at my new store are awesome so I really have no complaints. The best part of it all is waking up and falling asleep every night and knowing Jason is here. He is not leaving for the week. He maybe might not be coming home after five days away cause some wally screwed up. He's here and we are all together and its Amazing. How did I get so lucky?

3 more weeks and we will be all moved into our new place. We have shopped for furniture and kitchen stuff and a fantastic hot pink bathroom set with Betty Boop on it. We are all set and ready to go! All I need now is Ellis, Digdug and a few tequila sunrises and I'm all set ;)

Missing you all where ever you are!
~Jen~

Hot Dogs and Ice Cream

The last week of July is here! Half the summer is gone all ready. The next month promises to be crazy busy for me but more details to come on that later. The girls are loving the warm weather, they are outside right after breakfast and I am dragging them in the door and right to the tub around eight every night. We were busy this last week. Jason was home for 10 days leave and we had a nice little "staycation". We went up to "The Hill" and went to the top of the peace tower, had a hot dog and fed the pigeons down there too. Alexis managed to get an entire hot dogs worth of ketchup down her front as soon as we got there so she had a beautiful stain on her white dress all afternoon. She is defiantly my daughter! We went to the outdoor pool and the spray park and did some shopping. It was a nice relaxing week.

I bought Lexie an ice cream maker on our special afternoon out. I took her to McDonald's and then out to Wal-Mart. It was fun for the two of us to hang out without little sister in tow. She was so excited when she brought it home and said "I'm going to share with Kennedy Mom, she's going to love it!" It was nice to hear that, makes you feel like your doing something right. And she did love it. It's a Disney princess one and it's all pink and girly. The two girls had fun making chocolate ice cream with sprinkles. Honestly it was a little runny but they had a blast and didn't seem to care.

Well off to get a few things done around here. Seems like all I do is wash bathing suits and towels these days!
Lovin' every minute of it.
~Jen~

Canada Day and Crutches

Last Tuesday we took the girls out to the Canada Day celebration here on the base. The whole afternoon cost us $1.25 for some raffle tickets and that was it! That's whats great about the military community. They had a BBQ, cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones. A couple of bouncy castles, some games for the kids, face painting, a DJ and a caricaturist who also did balloon animals. Despite the fact she was dressed in a clown outfit (yikes!) she was really good and I have two great pictures of the girls to hang up. The weather was beautiful and we had a really great time. I think some people were perplexed to see Todd and I out together with the kids but we did it and all managed to have a good time. The outdoor pool was offering a free open swim all day as well but we passed on that and opted for the slip and slide instead. We stayed away from "The Hill" and all the crowds so we didn't get to see any fireworks but we will do more of those things when the girls get a little bigger. All in all it was a fantastic afternoon and a great way to kick off our two months of summer vacation!


Last Thursday at work I was taking a large pane of glass out of a box. I didn't know it was broken inside and it swung down and hit me in the side of the foot, right above my runner. I ended up needing 4 stitches and was on crutches for a couple of days because the bruising and swelling was so severe. It didn't keep me away from St.Jean this weekend though! I arrived Saturday morning just as Jayse was getting off duty and spent the night in the hotel. He had to be back at the base by one in the morning because they were duty platoon this weekend but we still managed to have a good time. We went out to a Karaoke bar, did some shopping, drove out to the Dix30 Mall for a Starbucks and then went for a swim in the outdoor pool on the base. Jason is now the proud owner of a pair of really great swim shorts. Black with Hawaiian flowers. I think they're cute he thinks otherwise as those of you that know him can imagine. But they were good for a ribbing from some of his buddies. LOL...too funny.


Off to enjoy the beautiful Ottawa sunshine with the kids. It's 10:30 and all ready feels like 30 degrees. We will be hitting the pool today!
Cheers,
~Jen~

September To June....Where Did The time Go?

September 2007

June 2008

Here is the princess on the first and last day of school. Report card says she is recommended to Grade One. Yay Alexis!!! First day of the new school year is September 2. That's Kennedy's Fist day of JK too but it's more a meet the teacher kind of thing. Her first real day is September 5th.
Sending Love And Laughter From Sunny Ottawa,
~Jen~

Happy Friday

Where did the month go? Hard to believe that its the end of June all ready. The summers always fly by but holy crap! This one is moving ahead full speed. Not too much to tell really. We had Kindergrad last week. Alexis got her "Diploma" and she was very proud to be "Graduating". I teared up a few times during the ceremony, especially when they had all the kids walk into the gym to "Pomp And Circumstance". Seems like just yesterday I was graduating from Highschool and next year will be my 10 year reunion. Crazy! So she is off to first grade come the fall and little miss Kennedy is going to Junior Kindergarten. They are both really excited. I'm sitting on the fence about it. It's going to be strange not to have a little one here full time. But on the other hand I will be able to work a little more and that's a good thing. I'll keep busy. My house might stay a little cleaner!

Tuesday is Canada Day. A big event here in Ottawa and I am not going near any of it. After the remembrance day fiasco I'm staying home (check out the blog about it). There is too many people, not enough parking and I get mental. The base has a little carnival thing for the kids in the afternoon so I am going to that and then might meet up with some friends to watch the fireworks. From as far away as I can get and still see them!

The girls are enjoying sunny days outside. They love the slip and slide and there are a few little kids around for them to play with. So all is well here. Going to hang out this weekend with Jason and the kids. No excitement, I Love it!

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Cheers,
~Jen~
xoxoxoxox

That Quote

I have had a few questions about the quote on my facebook status. It's the lyrics from a Norah Jones song called "Turn Me On". Here it is:

Like a flower waiting to bloom
Like a lightbulb in a dark room
I'm just sitting here waiting for you
To come home and turn me on

Like the desert waiting for the rain
Like a school kid waiting for the spring
I'm just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on

My poor heart, it's been so dark since you been gone
After all, you're the one who turns me off
You're the only one who can turn me back on

My hi-fi's waiting for a new tune
The glass is waiting for some fresh ice cubes
I'm just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on
Turn me on

Enjoy. Cheers!
~Jen~

Slip N' Slide

Don't do it, it hurts, 'nuff said. The kids had a good laugh at my expense. Didn't stop me from going a second or a third time though! Too much fun.
Cheers,
~Jen~

BIKES...... YIKES!

I have two speed demons in the house now! We got Kennedy a two wheeler with training wheels. It's second hand but you would never know it, it's a really nice little bike. She was getting too big for her tricycle. Alexis was the very proud big sister showing her how to ride. After a little apprehension Kennedy got on and just went. They were so cute "Parking" them beside the house tonight with the promise of riding them to school tomorrow. Loving every minute of it.
Happy Trails,
~Jen~

Miss Kennedy

Trouble Times two!

The Princess

Lessons Learned Revisited

After I got home from basic I made a list of things I learned there. I thought maybe it was time to write a list of things that I have learned in the time I have been home:

1. Dancing in your underwear to bad 90's music can solve all the days troubles
2. Don't touch the Gretsch
3. In one second your world can fall apart. Just breath
4. Alvin and the Chipmunks should be shot
5. If you can't find Alvin and the Chipmunks find the guy who let your kids listen to it in the first place and shoot him instead or at least deny him sex.
6. Ugly tea pots will make you pee your pants laughing
7. "Definitely the ganja"
8. Buy more pillows for the bed
9. Worry about it when it happens, thinking about it now only makes you crazy
10. Friends make the world go round
11. Work is a necessary evil
12. Pick your battles. Bathing suits look great with tights!
13. Text messages have a tone, be careful
14. There is one person in this world for everyone. When you find them you'll know
15. Love people for who they are not what they are
16. Wet cat smells worse then wet dog
17. In the end every one gets what they deserve
18. Pray. It works.
19. Sometimes the worst chain of events can bring the happiest endings
20. Laugh till you cry. It will make you feel better
21. Listen to those little people in your life. You'll be surprised what they have to say
22. Getting divorced has made me a better parent
23. "We all hate the same people"
24. I secretly love that he leaves his wet towel on the bed because it gives me something to nag about
25. Children will slam the front door no matter how many times you tell them not to. Just be thankful your 4 year old is finally tall enough to reach the door knob.
26. Mommy's need summer vacation just as much as kids do
27. Friday to Sunday goes way faster then Monday to Wednesday
28. Find out the things that are making it hard and stop them
29. Do whats good for you. Who cares what others say
and.....
30. He is not him. He is he and he is amazing

Chipmunks and Sunshine

Good morning y'all! It has been ages since I have blogged. I guess life has gotten away on me. I am in a comfortable little routine here with the girls. Jayse comes and spends the weeknds hanging out with us and the girls adore him. The first weekend he came up he let the girls listen to an album of Alvin and the Chipmunks. OMG....I have had to listen to the song "I Love A Rainy Night" at least 8 times a day since. They love it. Kennedy dances around the living room to it and as soon as it ends she says "Mom, One more time? " Between that and the High School Musical soundtrack I think I am going to lose my mind! The good thing is we haven't been spending too many days inside. The weather here is beautiful. I take the girls out to Mooney's Bay to play at the park and yesterday Alexis rode her bike to school. I followed behind on my roller blades. Last night I thought I would try blading my running route. It started out fine until I got a rock caught between the wheels and wiped out. Thank god I was wearing jeans and still have the ghetto bootie lol. Made out with only a bruised butt cheek and a scrapped hand but if I would have had shorts on it would have been ugly. I might stick to running for a while :)

All is well here in Ottawa. I will try and get some pictures of the girls up this week. They are getting so big!
Cheers,
~Jen~

Trips And Turning 6

Wow. It has been a busy week here! I just got back from a great trip to Edmonton and a LONG drive back. That's right folks, the trip I said I would never make again happened. Edmonton to Ottawa by car! It was a great trip though. I flew out to Edmonton last Sunday and was met by my sister and my dad at the airport. It was a nice sunny day in Ottawa when I left and a nice balmy -14 with blowing snow when I landed in Edmonton. The Crocs were quickly retired! I got to stay at my sisters new apartment. It is really cute and so is her boyfriend. It was my first time meeting Jeremy and her first time meeting my new man as well. Jeremy is a great guy and the two of them are adorable together. It's nice to see her so happy. Jason pulled into Edmonton on Sunday night and met my Dad and Andrea.We stayed with Meg and Jer, the four of us in that little apartment was a tight squeeze but we had fun. Monday we headed out to West Edmonton Mall for some shopping and roller coater fun. For future reference it would be best if you did not get on a ride with both Jason and Megan. Neither of them can really appreciate the fun of amusement park rides. I was laughing so hard at the two of them I had tears in my eyes. Too funny, it's one of those things you wish you had on video. Jeremy and I rode "The Mindbender" (the big coaster) it was so much fun. Even though I have been on it a million times it still freaks me out. It was nice to have some of the things that we don't have out here. Olive Garden and Purdy's Choclates....yummy! Then it was back to the apartment to have a late dinner cooked by chef Stewart. Awesome. Tuesday morning Jayse and I started the first leg of our journey. We arrived in Regina late Tuesday night and visited with Mr. and Mrs. Stewart before heading to bed. Wednesday we drove around town and did more shopping, had lunch at Taco Del Mar (something else we don't have out this way) and then it was time to pick McKynleyMcKynley is Jason's daughter and let me tell you, there is no mistaking who her Daddy is. She looks just like him! We went out to dinner with her and Mrs. Stewart and then went to the playground before we took her home to her mom, loaded down with candy. Her mom is going to love me lol. Thursday we got back on the road. It was a crappy start to what turned out to be a great day. One trip back to Regina for someones dress uniform and and a stop in Indian Head and we were on our way. We drove to Dryden on our first day and stayed at a motel for the night. Friday we got a late start thanks to me not wanting to get out of bed. We were on the road by nine and drove straight through to Ottawa. When they say it takes 24 hours they mean it! We pulled over in Sudbury and tried to get some sleep but it didn't really work out. Two of us in the back of his PT Cruiser was a tight squeeze. He is a big guy and not very flexible lol. An hour later I was laughing my ass off while he struggled to get back into the drivers seat, he didn't think it was so funny :P He drove while I slept for a few hours and then we switched. The weather was really bad and we were driving at a snails pace at some points. The rain was coming down in sheets! We finally pulled into Ottawa Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately we lost so much time and we so tried of being in the car that we didn't make it out to Kingston to see Rhonda (Digdug) but there will be another weekend and she is only two hours away. Jason headed back to St.Jean yesterday afternoon but not before we had a chance to walk around Rideau Hall and see 24 Sussex Drive. It was a beautiful sunny day in Ottawa so it was a great afternoon. It was a fantastic trip but way too short. And mark my words that will be my last trip across the country for a while!

Friday my little princess turned the big 6. We are going to have her party this week and I will post some pictures. Thanks to the Grandparent's for sending out her gifts. She loves them!

Cheers,
~Jen~

Kennedy Turns 4!!!!

Remember when? 7 months old and cute as a button.

The Cake "Made To Order"....White Icing and Sprinkles!

Opening Memere and Pepere's Gift Over the Web Cam

Baby Alive Sip and Slurp...Thanks Nana!

Opening Grandma and Grandpa's gift...it was on the fridge for a while before her birthday so she was so excited to finally be able to open it!

Loving the hair clips with the "Jewels"

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

So my baby turned four. Hard to believe my little Kennedy, my sweet little round faced baby girl is getting ready to go to Junior Kindergarten in the fall! In case your wondering she is as cute as she looks in the pictures and her little lisp will melt your heart. Adorable. She had a good birthday. She doesn't really have any little friends around here so it was just the four of us celebrating but she didn't care. She had cake and balloons and that's all that mattered! Todd and I got her a craft kit with markers and glitter glue so she was in her glory with that. She wanted a scooter but we are holding out for the warmer weather. No place to ride it yet, still too much snow! Thanks to the grandmas and grandpas for sending out her gifts. She had a good day and loved talking to you all on the phone.

Cheers,

~Jen~

Count Your Blessings

We all have moments that make us stop and take stock of our lives. I had one yesterday and I am still reeling from the effects. You spend so much time wishing you had more than you do, griping about your bad days and being frustrated with others that you don't stop to think things could be so much worse than they are. Get up in the morning and be thankful that you are alive to see the sun shining in the window, tell the people in your life that mean the most that you love them and make sure they know you do. Be thankful for your friends...they are not like your family, they don't have to stand by you but they do because you mean the world to them. To my friends and family and everyone I hold near and dear to my heart: I love you all and I am so blessed to have a life filled with such amazing people.

Take Care,
~Jen~

The Girls and Brussle Sprout Tea

All right....time to sit down and force out a half decent blog.

The girls are doing great. Little miss Kennedy has a birthday this Sunday. I can't believe she is going to be 4! Where did the time go? She fills my days with kisses, smiles and frustration! As cute as she is she is the most stubborn child I have ever met. The only thing that saves her from spending the days in her room is her natural humour. She is the funniest kid I know and that little giggle she has cracks me up. I guess she has always been pretty funny, even as a little baby she would do things to get a reaction out of us. I have video of her at about 6 months shaking her head to everything I say and then laughing about it. Quite the little character. I pray her teacher can handle her when she starts JK in the fall. What she lacks in size she makes up in personality! She is still sitting in the 25% for size in kids her age but she is healthy so I don't worry about it. Alexis on the other hand is still long and lanky. She is one of the tallest in her class. She just got her spring report card and is doing great in everything right across the board. She loves school and can't wait to go everyday. I knew when she was doing flash cards at a year old the academics wouldn't be a problem for her! She is so much more sensitive than her rough and tumble little sister. She wears her heart on her sleeve just like her mama. She is a good girl and I am very lucky because I don't think I could handle two wild ones!

Rhonda bought the ugliest teapot. It is supposed to be a rose with a little butterfly on top but it looks like a cabbage with a moth. I don't know what on Gods green earth possessed her to buy it but it's good for a laugh. We have decided she is going to take it to the Antiques Road Show but not before we make some brussel sprout tea in it! "Smells like ass....tastes like spring!" I'll take two sugar and a milk in mine please! If nothing else it would be a good place to hide the gonja....yep defiantly the gonja ;) Some days the two of us are right off our rockers but we laugh. It's so good to have someone to be silly with.








Sending love and laughter from Ottawa!
Cheers,
~Jen~

The Basic Training Times

I sent an e-mail to Rhonda (Digdug) a while ago and she thought I should post it up on my blog. I'm not sure any of you will get it but trust me it's funny as hell. Keep in mind I sent it to her with the idea of no one else seeing it :

Going to start a paper at the base...."The Basic Training Times" . The front page will have a picture of Stewart and I with the caption "The Mega's Most Interesting Couple Finally Tell Their Secrets" The next page will be blank. Some of the articles inside will be " How to avoid doobie doobie doing", "What to do if you get button duty", "A guy in a cape you say?" and "How to be a Trailer-PAT Girl". Of course it will have a sunshine boy chosen by the two of us. It will be whatever recruit we think is a total hottie that day. Neilson will not be featured. There will also be classified section and it will have all the regular crap...For Sale: 1 LAV still heavily armoured but a little IED damage. Would be great for those nights drinking at La Fiesta, Personals: Looking for someone to spend the night at the Comfort Inn. I'll wear my uniform if you will ;)..... a military themed crossword that will be all abbreviations and of course an announcement section. But this one will have things like "New To PAT", "New To PAR", "Make-up's, Break-up's, and Fuck-ups" and "Warrant Superman's Daily Horoscope". You can write the self-help column "Ask Digdug". We will let the boys have a sunshine girl but we get to pick. Harstien will not be featured.

If you spent any time at The Mega it will be good for a laugh, if not you'll think I'm out to lunch. Whatever lol.
Cheers,
~Jen~
xoxoxox

Spring Break, Snow and Tattoo's

It's been well over a week since I have blogged! Yikes. But really not to much to tell you all. Things here in Ottawa are going well. There is still 50 feet of snow out there but at least the weather is starting to warm up and it is melting a little. With Easter coming this weekend it is difficult to find things to fill the girls baskets with. Normally I would put in bubbles and skipping ropes and all those fun outdoor spring things with the chocolate but it's going to be weeks before they are able to play with any of it!

Last week Alexis was on spring break. It was nice to have the week to relax and hang out at home. Her and Kennedy drove me nuts though. Alexis has decided that she doesn't like anything and will complain every opportunity she can. Kennedy, being the little shit disturber that she is, is going through the copying phase. So every time Alexis says something Kennedy repeats it and that just gives Lexie more to complain about. By Friday I was ripping my hair out! I was doing the happy dance when I dropped Lex off at Kindergarten yesterday and Kennedy was happy to have me all to herself all afternoon again. I wait for summer vacation with baited breath......

Two weeks ago I sucked it up and got a tattoo. It didn't hurt at all and I can't wait to get another one! It's like some kind of crazy addiction. Kennedy is so funny though, she says to me "Mom don't go in the bath...your tattoo will come off!". She doesn't get that it's going to be there forever. She wants a tattoo of Piglet on the back of her neck. She is defiantly my wild child!

Sending love and laughter from Ottawa.
~Jen~
xoxoxoxo

SNOW!!

The first real snowfall we had November 21st 2007...view from my front porch.

March 10th 2008 after our last 56 cm!

The front Yard...I can't get to the back yard to take pictures. Too Much snow!

The girls next to one of the snow banks surrounding our driveway. At least it's not cold.

My poor car!

Our front porch...there is no where to put the snow anymore!

Never in my life have I ever seen this much snow! We got another 56 cm this weekend to bring the grand total to 413 cm all winter. It's insane! I am afraid of what will happen this spring when it all starts to melt. I might open up a public pool in our basement 'cause I know it will be flooded! Thanks to our attached neighbour Myles for coming by with his snow blower this week. We would have been digging out for days if we had to do it by hand. Happy shoveling!

Cheers,
~Jen~

xoxoxoxo

PICTURES!!! And More Lessons Learned.....

Me and Digdug at the Bistro

Ta-Da

Cheers!

Donavan and I

Hanging at the Bistro!

My first time in full uniform and I look like a goober lol!

So here are some of my pictures from basic. There is more on my facebook page if y'all want to have a look. Don't mind the uniform...it adds 20 pounds. Yikes!. Everyone looks fat though so it makes it OK.

After some thinking and consulting with my "Mega" buddies I've come up with a few more things to add to my list of lessons learned at basic. The list will continue as we look back at our time there so stay tuned. Here are the latest updates:

21. Every platoon has a "Shit Pump". Some have more than one
22. If you have a run in with said "Shit Pump" the platoon will have your back
23. If you drop your tray at the mess you will get a standing ovation
24. 2300-0700 fire picket SUCKS!
25. "Shut up or I will come over there and stand on your chest!"
26. Make friends with the Officer Cadet in charge of assigning weekend duty ;)
27. Know who has the key to the linen room and make friends with them too
28. Beware the little man with the pink i-Pod
29. If you see the Warrant before 0700 you know your in for it...he's not a morning person
30. The PPCLI instructors are awesome...the Vandoo instructors will scare the crap out of you

Cheers,
~Jen~
xoxoxo

Nicknames and Lessons Learned

Well my pictures haven't made it up yet. They are on Digdug's camera so as soon as she e-mails them I will post them. So about Digdug....how did that nickname come about? When we met I couldn't remember her last name for the life of me. It's Dreager but I kept calling her Dugger. Dugger turned into Digdug one time and it stuck. So she will always be Digdug to me just like I will always be Sticky Buns to her lol. Sticky Buns because I knocked over a coffee on a desk and later when I sat on it my combats stuck to it. Bet you were all thinking it was something dirty :P. In the military everyone is on a last name basis, even more so at Basic I think. It's hard to switch over to using peoples first names. Even now that I'm back home they still call me Blanchette when I visit. I don't mind though, it's better than Big Red lol.

Those of you who know me well know that I believe everything happens for a reason and if something is meant to be it will be. I have been thinking about the reason I went to St.Jean for the last week or so and think I finally know the reasons. Going there taught me that I am a strong woman and I can fight for what I want and win. And I will keep on doing that. I also learned that I can be a mom and still have a good time. I love my girls so much and I missed them like crazy but I can still take care of them and love them and be myself. I'm a different person than I was even 6 months ago and that's ok, I'm happy with the me I am now. I know now that I was supposed to meet Digdug there. She is a friend that I am supposed to have in my life and I love her to bits. We have been through so much together: Platoon, RFT, PAT, and PAR. We have laughed together and shared a few tears and I thank god she is only two hours away. Funny thing is we lived together in Edmonton for a few years and never really knew each other but "The Mega" brought us together! I learned a lot of valuable lessons as well, time for the fun stuff:
1. Don't drink tequila at the mess, it's just asking for trouble :)
2. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
3. Your bunk mates will make your bed upside down if given the opportunity but paybacks a bitch!
4. They will also turn your lockers around just to fuck with you but you love them anyway
5. Don't wear your heart on your sleeve all the time, it doesn't look good on combats
6. Whatever crisis your going through your friends will be there to pick up the pieces
7. The Warrant doesn't like doobie doobie doing in his halls but not as much as the Master Seaman hates laughing in ranks.....change parade anyone?
8. Keep your shit lockers closed and your arms straight.
9. While wearing your wet weather boots walk carefully on the ice
10. Beware the shack hack....it will make your life miserable
11. Everyone gets the same thing at the MIR....cough syrup and Ibuprofen
12. Everyone looks like a bag of smashed assholes the first time they try drill and it's funny as hell but see #7
13. If the PO knows your name it's probably not a good thing
14. Combats are not flattering but everyone looks fat in them so it's OK
15. PT sucks...unfit or otherwise
16. Issued swimsuits are hot if your 75 years old
17. Wear your red letter proudly
18. Wool socks are itchy and boot bands are annoying...now I know why there are so many cranky instructors
19. It's fun to be a trailer-PAT girl. AND FINALLY.......

20. "IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, THE ANSWER IS NO!"

"A guy in a cape? Where?"..... ROFL
Cheers,
~Jen~

Digdug

OK people...pictures will be up tomorrow!!! I can't wait till y'all see me in my uniform. Should be good for a laugh. I went back to St.Jean to visit this weekend and had a great time. I was so happy to see everyone again and it really cheered me up. Poor Digdug didn't have the best time, three stitches and a tetanus shot didn't make for a good weekend. Don't worry Hun, I'll come see you in Kingston soon. I'll bring you a Vanity Fair and some Campbell's Soup to cheer you up!!!! ROFL. For those of you that are wondering Digdug is my friend Rhonda from basic. How she got the nickname is for another post but I wouldn't have got through the last two months without her. She rocks!!!!!

All is well here in Ottawa. Going back to work today...Woohoo! I'm going to be working in the frame shop at Michael's. It will be good to be around all my friends again. I need people in my life that make me laugh right now and you guys all do that! I'm so blessed to have such great friends.

Well off to get Lex ready for school and get myself ready for work. I'm starting to feel normal again. THANK GOD.

Sending y'all love and laughter from Ottawa.
Cheers,
~Jen~
xoxoxox

There's No Place Like Home

So by now you all know that I'm home. Yep it sucks! I'm happy to be here with my girls but I am pissed that I had to come home. I wanted nothing more then to stay and train. After my car accident last year it took months to get back full use of my arm. I thought I was ready to go but I didn't realize how hard basic training would be on the body, both mentally and physically. I was tired and one wrong move and that was it. My neck was re-injured and I had lost feeling in my fingers again and I have limited range of motion. That combined with the fact that I struggled being away from the girls was enough to make me come home. When they are a little bigger I will try again. Maybe a year or so when they are both full time in school. It's going to take me at least that long to get back in shape but with a little physio and a lot of determination I will be ok.

The five weeks at the Mega weren't a total bust though. I had a good time and learned a lot about myself. I can carry a full ruck sack up 12 flights of stairs and still be alive at the end of it! Who knew? I learned I have a lot of fight in me and if I want something bad enough I can get it. And damn if I don't look hot in a uniform, lol ;) I also met some amazing people and made some great friends. People that will be there for the rest of my life I'm sure. I love you DigDug and I can't wait to visit!!!!

I have lots more stories to tell but I will leave you with my favorite quote from the 5 weeks:

"There will be no doobie doobie doing in my hallway! March smart people!!"

and of course as soon as the Warrant was out of ear shot we all started to "doobie doobie doo". Funny but maybe you had to be there, lol.

Stay tuned for photos and some great stories.
I missed you all.
~Jen~
xoxoxoxo

See Ya Soon

Today is the day. Emotions are running high. Those that have been there the last few months I thank you and I love you all. Make sure to send some letters...I wanna know the latest and greatest!

Pte. Blanchette - OUT
xoxoxoxo

3 going on 16

She's so cute isn't she? All that blond hair, the chubby cheeks and the smile. Well let me tell you girlfriend has an attitude! Yep, I'm talking about little miss Kennedy. Alexis is very sweet natured. She says bless you when someone sneezes, will cover me up if I'm laying on the couch watching TV, loves to help out around the house and just generally has a very caring personality. Then along comes trouble with a capital T. I go between wanting to laugh at her and wanting to string her up by her little toes. We were at Wal-Mart the other day and she says to me: "If you don't give me that I am staying right here" and she plunked herself down on the floor beside a rack of tights. Now it took all the self control I had not to pick her up and drag her from the store. That's what she wanted though....a battle. So I said "OK then, you can stay there but I'm going to finish my shopping." I started walking away and sure enough she followed me with her arms crossed. Then she stops and looks up at me disgusted "You were just going to leave me there, mommy?". Today she told me she didn't want to clean up her mess "Just leave it.Daddy will clean in up when he gets home from work". That earned her a nice little time out. Todd says she is 3 going on 16. Stubborn and strong willed....I wonder who she gets that from?;)

Cheers,
~Jen~
xoxoxoxo

Blog Tag

I've been Blog Tagged! So here are my 8 random facts......

1. Never again will I be a dog owner. Don't get me wrong, I like dogs. I would just rather borrow someone else's for a little while and then give it back. Kinda the same way other people feel about children.

2. I am a closet Trekkie. Enough said.

3. I hate clowns, they freak me out. I dunno if its the make up or the shoes or what. I think it stems from three very scary clown pictures I had on my wall as a child. My kids have never been to a circus and I will never watch "IT" again. Ever.

4. When I was pregnant with Kennedy I developed a Slurpee addiction that I just recently gave up. But only because the nearest 7-11 is 20 kms from our house. My butt is thankful for those 20 kms!

5. I've never been outside of Canada...not even to the United States! I have had the chance to see a lot of Canada though. I need to venture out the the east coast so I can say I have been to both. Mind you if I ever go back out to the west coast I can't promise I'll come home...it's one of my favorite places to visit. Put the coffee on Ghislaine!

6. When I was about 13 I went through a scary movie faze. I think I rented every horror flick our neighbourhood movie store had. One night while some of my girlfriends and I were having a sleepover and watching "Child's Play" my mom brought out my "My Buddie" doll. Remember him? Scared the crap out of us! We still laugh about it.

7. I've read the Harry Potter series about 5 times. I can't wait for the new movie to come out so I can complain about how it's not like the book at all. I also love historical fiction. My new favorite is "The Other Boleyn Girl".

8. I am becoming a scrap booking addict. I belong to a group called "The Scrap Booking Mama's". (I had that listed on the activity portion of my military application and the recruiter had a good laugh about it). We meet once a week and scrapbook and chat for a few hours. It's one of the things I am really going to miss when I'm away!

Lisa is the only person I know that blogs...come on people get with the program here!
Cheers!
~Jen~

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a great time ringing in 2008. It was a pretty low key affair at the Blanchette house this year. It was just Todd and I and a bottle of champagne watching the ball drop on TV. Alexis was very upset she wasn't allowed to stay up till midnight and told us she was going to lay in bed and wait....she was fast asleep by 9:00.

Yesterday was an interesting day. Todd and I had to go down to city hall and get the girls OHIP sorted out and we also hit the Canex and then the mall for lunch. As far as we know the closest Canex to us is located at NDHQ. Anyone that has ever been there knows you have to clear security and get a pass before you can enter the building. Not an easy thing to accomplish with the girls but they thought it was pretty cool that they got to have a little card on their jackets . So we got our passes and went down to the teeny tiny Canex to get the last couple of things I have on my kit list (boot bands and a shoe polish kit and all that fun stuff). I swear for the amount of time it took and the cost of parking downtown it would have been easier to drive out to Petawawa! It's things like this that make me miss living on a "real" base.

Only 7 more days and I'll be in St.Jean! Hard to believe, the time has really flown by. It seems like yesterday that I was handing in my application. I never thought this would be the road my life would take me down. Those of you that know me at all know that I am apposed to women in the military as a general rule and that hasn't changed at all. But I do think that there is room for us in SOME trades as long as we can keep up with the men! You won't see me in line for a job in the infantry though, that's for sure. A lot of people ask me why I didn't go Air Force or reserve and my answer is that it's all or nothing for me, I've always been that way. Besides....redheads look better in green :)

I'm off to bake Todd a birthday cake! The big 2-8 for him today. I of course stopped having birthdays at 25 lol.

Cheers,
~Jen~
xoxoxoxo