On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

sorry for the delay... my computer was down...

my loved ones gave to me...

4 Christmas Bracelets!

i bought a set of 5 bracelets at hobby lobby and as usual, they were too small! so i took them all apart and created 4 bracelets that fit me!

i love them!

very festive!!!

On the Third Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

3 Christmas Concerts!

this year we are attending 3 really great concerts!

we went to forgotten carols...

wonderful!!!

last saturday we attended the voicemale concert!

amazing, as usual!

and this friday we are going to

NEIL DIAMOND!!!!

ok... so he isn't all that christmasy... but he is going to be so great!!!

so that is how i get the christmas spirit, how about you!?

On the Second Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

2 Santa Letters

i had the wonderful opportunity to play Santa for a friends 2 kids! they wrote letters to Santa and i got to write back! how fun!

let me know if you need a letter from Santa! :)

On the First Day of Christmas...

my loved ones gave to me...

a random act of kindness!

this morning i looked outside and saw that someone had plowed my driveway! i can't even begin to explain how grateful i am to have someone do that! i am sooo sooo grateful...

do i know them? i don't know... if so, thank you very very very very much!

if not, thank you too!

what a kind thing to do!

32 years ago...

one of the most wonderful people in the entire world was born...

my sweet husband,

Kevin Ozell Little



i love you babe!





here are 32 things i love about kev...

1. cute smile
2. great hugs
3. kid at heart
4. good brother
5. loves music
6. great eyes
7. hates onions and tomatoes (me too! :) )
8. easy to please
9. intoxicating kisses
10. peacemaker
11. knows "techy" stuff
12. punctual
13. simple guy
14. dedicated worker
15. funny
16. willing to help... most days :)
17. holds my hand
18. loving
19. gentleman
20. eagle scout
21. loves me
22. honest
23. cute bum
24. kind
25. attempts to fix things himself first before going somewhere else
26. takes care of me
27. generous
28. caring
29. fun to be around
30. cuddle bug
31. says "i love you"
32. perfect... for me!

happy december!

happy december everyone!

i can't believe it is here already! so many things to do ... but i am sick!

i woke up sunday morning with a cold! and i haven't been able to shake it!

there are so many things i need to do and errands to run!

* my tree is up, just no decorations- haven't had the energy to put them up!
* some of the lights are not working on the tree and i saw this handy thing at home depot that detects where the problem is! i should have bought it then, but i didn't... and now i need it!
* kevin's bday is this week and i have everything for it, just need to do some last minute touches! we are going to celebrate tonight... but... i am sick!!! that's no fun!
* the good news is that i think i am completely done christmas shopping! i just need to wrap everything! but the tree is not done!!! one thing at a time....
* my christmas cards are done, i just need to buy envelopes and stamps.
* my mom and i are going to see my little brother on saturday! i am excited! i just hope i feel better soon!
* i have bananas that need to be turned into banana bread! just not in the mood to do it!
* i think i am finally ready and excited for christmas to be here! just wished i felt better!

hope all of your holiday planning is going well!

check this out!!!

this is the best adhesive ever!!!

i have gotten rid of all of the others!

give it a try !

and its free!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

i hope that you are surrounded by family, friends, good food and gratitude! this whole week i have been thinking about things i am thankful for... so in doing so, i compiled a list of those things!

here it is!

my gratitude list!

(in no particular order)

kevin

my best friend

my mommy

sam

all of my family... steve and family, dad and marcus, carol, etc...

many wonderful friendships!

Jesus Christ

the Atonement

my job- sam's club

my health

the health of my friends and family

bunco

my new toaster

blogs

good books

movies

my car

music

mircowaves

ice cream

bracelets

cool scrapbook paper!

vacuum cleaners

my bed

loungy pants

crock pots

solar lights

warm blankets

pretty rings

computers

solitaire

the post office

shoes

my dish washer

english muffins

diet pepsi

showers

washing machines

wal-mart

pedicures

tv

cameras

fall leaves

ribbon

candles

cell phones

pictures

electric tools

fun socks

micky mouse

lip balm

pockets in pants

scrapbook adhesive

turkey decorations

mint oreos

peanut butter oreos

ziploc bags

airplanes

clocks

hugs

peanut butter m&m's

my home

aleve

toilet paper

coupons

holidays

kleenex

deoderant

haircuts

my birthday

hot chocolate

thanksgiving day parade!

enjoy your day! eat lots!

gobble gobble!

my list...

my friend, noe, had this on her blog and thought I would copy it and share some random things with you about me...

if you want to play along, just copy the list and highlight all the things you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35.Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67.Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77.Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

i am so excited!

i can't wait to see this! wahoo!!!

all about christmas cards!

i am all about sending christmas cards! love them!

nothing beats checking your mail and finding that someone sent you a christmas card!

so, in that spirit, i wanted to share this great idea!

when doing your christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue NW

Washington D.C. 20307-5001

i already added this to my address program! you should too!

tv thoughts...

ok... so i have been thinking about the tv shows i watch... and i feel like there is lots going on with them that i need to talk about...

gilmore girls: i started watching this series again a few months ago. i am watched alot this weekend and only have the final episode left! i love this show! i feel like in know the characters! i want to move to stars hallow and be part of the town! what a great place to be! even if only for an hour or two...moonlight: this show is no longer on tv and i am sad about that! i thought it was a great show ! and he was a cutie! the story line was a good one, and i was waiting for even more to happen! i would love to see it come back on the air...

the mentalist: this is a new show this season and i am really enjoying it! the main guy is pretty quirky and fun! i think he is very interesting and i am having fun watching it!


survivor: this is always a good one to watch! i have only been watching it a few years... but am a faithful watcher now! i like the host and each year the cast members are interesting. this year i have not been disappointed... always a good one!

ghost whisperer: i have watched this show from the very beginning! i love it. i have to admit that i have to record it and watch it the next day... when the sun is out. no nighttime watching for me! i am not happy that they are changing all of the characters though! i am bummed that the professor friend is gone and now the husband! not good! i bawled like a baby on both departures! not sure what is going to happen now!

fringe: this is one of my new favorites! i have to admit, i started watching it because of hottie, joshua jackson! but the show is very interesting! i little edgy, but i like it! and let's be honest, he is really fun to look at!

amazing race: this is another reality show that i enjoy! the people on here drive me crazy sometimes! i have a hard time watching all of the bickering, but it must be very stressful to be on the race with your loved ones. it seems that they are the ones we can "get away" with being mean to! why is that?

the biggest loser: i have always been a fan of this show! someday, i would like to be part of it... not sure i have the courage or strength though! this season has been a hard one for me to watch... a few of the blue team couples are driving me crazy and they are there to win money, not necessarily to loose weight and change their lives! very frustrating!

ok... there you have it! a handful of my favorite tv shows! what do you watch? what are your fav's?

randomness...

so i have been thinking i need to post something all week! but didn't really have anything in particular to say... so now you get to hear my random thoughts!

we went to the african childrens choir this week and it was really good

my new clothes arrived yesterday! but i have this phobia of pants that are too short for me... so i ordered talls... now they are WAY to long! geez!

(anyone want/know how to hem them for me?)

its finally friday... its been a long week.

kevin and i have the weekend off together! wahoo!

my cute friend, julianne, is going to take our pictures tomorrow for our christmas cards.

very exciting!

listening to christmas music for

8 hours a day can be annoying

in the mood to shop... online

i have had tator tots for dinner at least twice this week. chicken nuggets, grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese this week too! am i 6?

i have a few crushes i need to confess (again for some): joshua jackson, zac efron and jacob black

i need a month long vacation

i feel like life is changing...

not sure how i feel about that

think i am gonna write some thanksgiving carols

making my list of gratitude... so much so far!

hope this finds you happy! enjoy!

sweets and sours...

sours:

* this has been an incredibly rough few weeks... i am so glad that they are over! time to rest a bit... whew!

* i am starting to get a cold... my throat is really scratchy... and it hurts to swallow... not fun.

sweets:

* i went to see high school musical 3 !! it was soooooooooooooooooo good! i went by myself... how sad, huh? kevin went to see madagascar and i went to hsm3... no, we are not 12 year olds... just have different preferences in movies! lol !

* bunco went great! i had a turkey theme... complete turkey dinner, all of the prizes were turkeys, turkey confetti, turkey garland, turkey stickers on the score cards... really fun!

* we also had a young women's program this week. it was cute.. county fair theme... fun... but glad its over!

* i am in the middle of a 3 day weekend! lovin it! kevin has his days off right now too! wahoo! time with the cute hubby!

* we are going to several shows... in the next few weeks! african children's choir, michael mclean's forgotten carols, neil diamond, voicemale christmas... i think that's it... i think... i love this time of year! so many great shows to see!

* i ordered some new clothes this week from womanwithin.com! i am so excited for them to get here!

have a great week!

sweets and sours...

sours:

* its been a really long week... lots of crazy overnight and early shifts at work!

* october is over! very sad to have the best month of the year... over!

* ann's mom and sister moved out of our house this week. it is pretty quiet here without them! i miss their company.... good thing they just live a little ways down the road so i can visit often!

* my house is such a mess! i really need to get in there and clean clean clean!

sweets:

* so many great things occurred in october! what a great month!

* we finished the graveyard shifts ! we won't have to go overnights again until january! wahoo!

* i am hosting bunco at my house this week for my neighborhood group! i am so excited! lots of fun things in store! can't wait!

* my cute friend, maryruth, had a baby a few weeks ago! i am so excited for her! great things sure do happen to great people.

* another wonderful friend, holly, came home from the hospital after a really horrible experience. holly, so glad you are home! i sure love you! and happy birthday last week...again!

* we got a dish washer! when maryann (ann's mom) moved out, she gave me her dish washer! the house they bought already had one! wahoo! i love it!

* i have been working on my christmas cards this week. i know that i have said that i had been working on them before.. but i never was able to! so this week i did it! i am almost done cutting everything out! now i can start assembling! the big things i left with them are: write my christmas letter and get our pictures taken!

* have you ever tried bread from old grist mill bread co.? oh. my. gosh. so delicious! kevin and i have been really into it the last couple of months! they have the best sandwiches, cold or hot! lately we are on the french dip kick! yummy! also, the loaves of bread are to die for! we are loving the sourdough bread right now! mmmmmm! give them a try! so dang good!

* i am loving facebook! i have been able to re-connect with people all walks of my life! it is so cool! if you are on it... look me up! jennie carroll little! and if you aren't... you should join! its a safe way to find those friends you thought you would never see or hear from again! you choose who gets to see your profile and pics. if you have any questions how it works, let me know!

* i am still loving my solitaire obsession! to add to it, i am now also playing scramble on facebook! that is fun too!

* i got a new phone for my birthday! the samsung gleam... it is really pretty! lol! i like it alot!

* i made a really good recipe this week! my friend julie made it for us for dinner a few weeks ago and i loved it! she sent me the recipe and wah-la! i made it too! so yummy! i included julie's notes b/c i followed them too! serve with rice or egg noodles!

Sweet and Sour Chicken Sauce:

Sauce:

1 TB Red Wine Vinegar

1 1/2 C. Sugar (I used half that)

1/2 C. Pineapple Juice

6 TB Ketchup

2 TB Soy Sauce

1 tsp Salt 2 tsp Accent

Chicken

Corn Starch

Egg

Dip chicken breasts in beaten egg, then shake in cornstarch enough to coat. Brown in hot oil, sprinkle with garlic powder and place in casserole pan. Make sauce and pour over chicken.

Sauce: Combine ingredients in sauce pan. Bring to boil, stirring 1 min. Remove from heat. Pour over chicken and bake at 350 for 30-45 min.

I just grilled mine and cut it into strips, then poured the sauce over the top, then baked until it was warm all of the way through or until the rice was done. I also included the pineapple chunks that I had gotten the juice from.

* the twilight movie comes out this month! how fun! i can't wait to see it!

have a great day!

no news...

hi there!

so, about the previous posts...

no news... just something fun!

kevin and i can't have kids and i thought it would be fun to see what they would have looked like!
fun website!

have a good week!
jen

meet my daughter...

What do you think about my little new baby EmmaLee Ann?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

meet my son...

What do you think about my little new baby Jacob Lorenz?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

the invisible woman...

quirks...

here is a fun little tag about my "quirks" that i found on angie's blog! let's give this a try!



1. toilet paper must be hung correctly! the correct way is to have the paper rolling from the top... not the bottom! it has taken me 6 years of "helping" kevin figure this out! but i think we've finally got it!



2. i have to go to the bathroom and brush my teeth before i can do anything in the morning!



3. i am a pack rat... but sometimes i get on these crazy cleaning binges and wipe out everything! that can be a good thing... but sometimes it's not often enough! lol!



4. i love making lists! i will make a list for any occasion! i love when i cross something off the list. if i do something that is not on the list... i will add it just so i can cross it off!



5. i love mugs! the minute it starts getting cold i have to start making hot chocolate! i have christmas mugs, valentine mugs, gilmore girl mugs and i just got a new pumpkin mug for my birthday! i can't wait to make my first batch of hot chocolate in my new mug!



6. i like the bed "made" every day! i am not too concerned about it being all tucked in and fancy-like, just make sure all of the covers are neatly brought up to the pillows! (another thing i am still working on with my cute hubby!)



i tag anyone who wants to give this a try! it's pretty fun!

happy birthday to me! :-)

today is my very favorite day of year!

have always loved my birthday. a few years ago i got a book that describes me to a tee!
the book is called "Happy to You! It's your birthday!" by Mary Engelbreit.

here are some of my favorite quotes from the book!:

"I have occasionally been accused of treating my birthday as a national holiday. I confess to being guilty as charged!"

"If you woke up today and the sun seemed to be shining a little brighter, the birds seemed to be chirping a little more cheerfully, and everyone seemed to be treating you especially nice, it can only mean one thing... It's your birthday!"

"When it's my day to be Birthday Queen, my first official decree is always to extend the duration of my birthday to an entire week!"

"Some people consider their birthday a solemn occasion- a time to reflect on the past year in solitude and quiet contemplation. To that, I say "Phooey!" "

"I truly believe that there should be nothing ordinary about one's birthday -even for adults. On ever other day of the year, we are defined by what we do and the roles we play... but on our birthdays, we are more... we are royalty! It's a short reign, so when it's your turn on the throne, make it count!"

"Rise and shine and prepare for the royal treatment because today is all about you!"

"...My best advice on having a happy birthday is to spread the fun around. Invite all your friends to join in, but accept your place in the spotlight. Revel in it! Tomorrow it will be someone else's chance, so enjoy your moment of glory."

i couldn't have said any of these wise words better myself! here are just a few more random quotes about birthdays!

"One cannot have too large a party." -Jane Austin

"A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return." -Bhagavad Gita

"Make your birthday a one-of-a-kind event." -Wendy Webb

what a day!

thanks to you all for all of your birthday messages and wishes!

things i miss...

i am usually very excited about the future and what it has to bring, but lately i have been thinking about a few things that i miss from the past...

* bella, edward and jacob- i finished the last book in the twilight series last weekend, and i have to say... i am missing them! for months they have been part of my everyday! whether i have been reading or thinking about what i read! i may just have to start the series over... again!

* fall- let's be honest... haven't seen too much fall yet! lately it has been winter! and that is just not cool!

* my friends from college- i hung out with some very cool people while attending adams state college in alamosa, colorado! we had many great adventures! i miss them the very most this time of year! tara, jeff, leanna, jim, wendy, mandy, darrell, marlo, logan, ami, cody, jeremy, alyson, kristi, kim, craig... the list goes on!

* my indiana family!- family doesn't come any better than that!

* the rib tips at ruby tuesdays- they were my fav! they were served over mashed potatoes! yummy! they took it off the menu a few years ago... i haven't really been back since!

* the excitement of dating/flirting- the butterflies when the cute boy walked in... the way he smiled when he saw you... man...

* my cute scrapbook friends!- we had some good times on those scrapbook trips! dinners were the best! so many laughs! maryruth, kris, carma, laura, micaela, vicki, teri, doris... love ya!

* parties at school- i loved the holidays at school: valentines day, christmas, halloween, birthdays! the parties were so much fun! i remember in the 5th grade we were able to have a ice cream sundae party for valentines! that was so fun! my mom came as the parent helper! i loved it!

* getting real letters in the mail- don't get me wrong...i love modern technology... email, text messages and IM! but i loved getting a letter in the mail from a friend or family member telling me all about the happenings in their life!

* my beautiful grandmother- was was one of the most amazing women i have ever met. talk about classy! that was her! she was fun and kind and loving! i think about her often!

* playing monopoly and eating sunflower seeds all night on the weekends with my best friend as a teenager- this was before we could drive! we would spend hours and hours playing! it was fun! i never was very good, but it was still fun to play with her!

even with missing all of these things... i still "don't miss" many many more! lol! i am very grateful for what i have. i need to make a list of things i love too!

about me...

i have seen this on a few blogs and thought it was really cute...

About me....

20 years ago I was:
1. turning 16
2. high school volleyball manager
3. with my best friend everyday

10 years ago I was:
1. enjoying single life
2. hanging out with great friends
3. working 2-3 jobs

5 years ago I was:
1. married to kevin
2. working at sam's club
3. trying to have a baby

3 years ago I was:
1. excited for my brother to come home
2. moving into a home
3. getting to know my new ward

1 year ago I was:
1. going to celine dion for my birthday
2. buying a car
3. traveling to scrapbook conventions

So far this year I have:
1. bought a truck
2. gone to time out for women and scrapbook expo
3. joined Curves

Yesterday I:
1. went on a drive with kevin and carol (his sister)
2. went to dinner for carol's birthday
3. learned a new game... free parking

Today I:
1. took carol to the airport
2. watched iron man
3. cuddled with kevin

Tomorrow I will:
1. go to work
2. meet with our financial advisor
3. work on my christmas cards

one week ago...

a miracle was born!

my cute friends, maryruth and joey francks, had a beautiful baby boy last week!

after more than 10 years of trying to have a baby, their prayers were answered!

welcome to the world little joey! you are one loved little boy!

may you all be blessed... everyday!

a good reminder...

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than
the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure,
than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more
important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a
company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice
everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot
change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a
certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am
convinced that life is 10% w hat happens to me and 90% of how I react to
it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes."



Charles R. Swindoll quotes (American Writer and Clergyman, b.1934)

while i was on my mission, i had this quote in my planner. i read it probably 3-4 times a week. i love it! i believe in having a good attitude and the direct result that attitude will play in your life!