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Blizzard (sort of) 2008  

Posted by: Jenna

This was Ashley and I last night after work...the storm was just beginning...it took me an hour to get home because the roads were so horrible! Thank goodness I had the SUV!!
Me, Coop, Em, and Bran hanging out after our snow adventure


James dropped his pacifier in the snow so I retrieved it...:)

Mommy and James in the snow!























Making a snow angel...it had been SO long since I had made one!







James and Aunt Jenna







Dad's car this morning!

Last night we got 12 inches of snow...the most Louisville has seen since 2004! So, today my parents and I forged our ways to Brandon and Emily's to help get their driveway cleared off. While dad was doing the snow blowing thing, James, Emily, and I played!

"Jen-na" and Other Updates...  

Posted by: Jenna

Well, it's official...James can finally say my name! The other day he was over at our house and I was taking a nap on the couch. All of a sudden I felt this tapping on my back and a little voice saying "Jen-na..." I heard my mom say "Did you just say 'Jenna'?" And then I heard it again..."Jen-na!!" I quickly opened my eyes in disbelief and rolled over to see if I was dreaming...I wasn't! There he was, my sweet little nephew, grinning at me like he had been saying my name all of his life. Once he realized I wasn't sleeping anymore he lost interest in the name game and found something new to entertain himself with. But, the whole exchange pretty much made my night! One of the first words he ever said was "Ja-kie" (for uncle Jacob) and I was so glad that he finally learned how to say "Jen-na" as well! At this point he calls my mom "Mom- Mom" or "Maw-Maw" and he calls my dad "Bobby" for some strange reason...haha. He is spending the night with us this Friday so I will post new pictures soon! By the way, Cooper is doing great...he has the prettiest blue eyes and can hold up his head so well now. Emily said he slept through the entire night for the first time this week, so I know she and Brandon are happy about that! He rarely ever cries or fusses and is just such a sweet-tempered little guy. We love baby Cooper!

We had 4 inches of snow this week so mom and I both enjoyed a snow day on Tuesday. Although we were supposed to stay off the roads, the bad weather didn't keep us from getting out for lunch and seeing James and Cooper :)

I am almost half way through my spring semester at UofL. So far I'm doing well in all of my classes except for one upper level Psychology class that is causing me some trouble. But, with the help of a tutor and hard work, I hope to get raise my grade significantly by the end of the semester. I've also been volunteering at A Woman's Choice Pregnancy Center (anti-abortion clinic) and it has been a wonderful eye-opening experience so far. More to come on that...

So far I have no spring break plans, instead I've decided to work the entire time and save up some money. As for summer, I am still trying to decide between Rowanda and Batswana for a mission journey. Also, mom and I are planning a possible girls trip to Cozumel!! I will also be taking a few summer classes and working A LOT, so all and all it should be a busy summer!

Dad returned safely from Guatamala and LOVED it! He did get sick one time and had to miss a work day so he could rest, but besides that the trip went very smoothly. He learned a lot about the people and the country and I know it is an experience he will never forget. I will try to post some pictures on here but I can't make any promises because he didn't have a digital camera with him...only a disposable.

That's all the updates for now...love and miss you all!

Twenty-Four...  

Posted by: Jenna


On January 31, I had my 24th birthday. It's crazy to sit and wonder where the years have gone. Seems like only yesterday I was living in FLorida, celebrating my 16th birthday with all my high school friends. Or back in Kentucky, when I turned 18, and my best friend surprised me during my campus visit to Boyce by having our friend Aaron dress up in a gorilla suit and scare me half to death during the middle of class. On my 21st birthday I was in Lubbock, Texas with Brandon Ruez and some old guy who was playing music at the western bar sang "Brown-Eyed Girl" for my birthday dedication. Now, I'm 24, and I'm at the point where birthdays aren't something to look forward to anymore...they are just a constant reminder that I'm getting older!

It's A New Year!  

Posted by: Jenna































I got admitted to the Social Work program at UofL for the spring semester, so I am really excited about that. It's a two year program so I'll be in school a little longer than expected, but I am fine with that. I started school about two weeks ago and so far I'm staying super busy between classes, work, volunteering, church, and social activities. I'm looking at possibly going to Rowanda to do orphanage work this summer...so I'll keep everyone posted on that.








Speaking of mission trips...Dad leaves tomorrow for Guatemala...please keep him in your prayers as this is his first mission trip ever and he is a little nervous.
















Cooper is now 6 weeks old. He weighs 14 pounds and is already smiling on his own instead of just as a reflex. James is talking all the time and learning to connect words together. He loves to look at his little photo album and say the names of each family member. He also loves his little brother and fondly refers to him as "baby" or "Coo Coo."

Christmas 2007 with the Shields' Family  

Posted by: Jenna


















We had Christmas at our house in Louisville with Brandon, Emily, Cooper, and James. It was nice and relaxing. I also got to see Julie and Jeremy while they were in town visiting from Wentzville. We played games, ate lots of good food, and played Guitar Hero (probably the highlight of my Christmas!).

TFA Annual Alumni Party/Christmas Vacation  

Posted by: Jenna

My best friend from Orlando...Darla Adamson
More Class of 2002. Molly Hammond, Rob Colclasure, me, and David Duany

One of my favorite guys from high school...Jake McGee. He was two years behind me and my mom taught him in English...he was one of her favs as well. We love this guy.


Autumn (Skellenger) Stallings, Natalie Pounds, and me at the alumni party



Jordan Cronlund (high school friend) and myself one night hanging out at Sam Sneads



I was excited to be able to attend my old high school's (The First Academy) alumni party in Orlando for the second time. Last year I had a blast, so this year, I scheduled my vacation around it. It's always good to catch up with everyone and see where everyone is in life. Hopefully I'll be able to go next year as well.

A Weekend With Aunt Paula  

Posted by: Jenna

Cooper all bundled up in his seat... ready to go home... after a night of visiting with Aunt Paula
Sweet Cooper

Mom, me, and Paula in our matching pajamas...









This past weekend my mom's sister came in town from Atlanta to see little Cooper and do some Christmas shopping. Aunt Paula is one of the head haunchos at Macy's corporate, so it only made sense for us to take advantage of her discount and do our shopping there! We got lots of good stuff, hit up Target and Marshals, and then ended our night at Ernestos for the best Mexican in town! Aunt Paula also got to spend some quality time with Cooper and James on Friday night. Cooper even kept his eyes open the whole time while she held him! She was also excited to see James and hear all the new words he is saying. Speaking of which, some of James' new words are: "Jay-kie" (for Uncle Jake), "Jen-dah" (for Aunt Jenna), and "Coo-coo" (for Cooper). Also, while Paula was here we happened to receive our Christmas gifts in the mail from Grandma Charmaine (which is my mom's and Paula's mother). She sent us all matching p.j.'s so we just had to take a picture together. Thank you, Aunt Paula, for coming to see us...we miss you so much and can't wait to see you again soon!