MIRLing Jenni
That's MIRLing, as in Meeting In Real Life. And it's Jenni, as in One Thing.
Jenni is one of my favorite blog reads; I first stumbled on her blog about six month ago, when she posted a picture of the xylophone cake she made. My first impression was that anyone who could make a xylophone cake (!) was probably WAY out of my league, but it turns out that she's just as funny and smart and down-to-earth as anyone out there.
And she uses words like "troglodyte" in her posts. What's not to love?
Jenni lives only an hour from me, so this morning we met for a get-together at a swanky shopping center in my city. She had four-year-old Gabriel with her; I had three-year-old Corrie. We let them mess around with the Pottery Barn Kids toys while we sat on the over-priced bedding and chatted blogging and family and faith and miscellaneous.
Jenni's Gabriel is aptly named; he's a little angel of a thing. My Corrie was a delicate flower of femininity all morning, hiding in a display window, biting Gabriel's finger in Olive Garden, and whacking an idling car's headlight with a stick WHILE THE OWNER SAT IN IT. I think that Jenni is probably very impressed with the fruits of my parenting skills.
Here are a couple of photos from our time together:
Corrie and Gabriel spending some quality time at PBKids:
Walking down the sidewalk. Gabriel sauntered at a leisurely trot; Corrie jumped and sprinted so much that she was blurry in all the pictures:
Jenni and me. Nobody should be allowed to look this adorable and fresh and youthful when pregnant with number 12:
She is absolutely lovely--if you aren't already reading her, you should head over there right now!
How fun!
Hubby and I just had dinner with on Saturday night with a friend I met blogging. She rocks, and so does her blog!
SO loving PB Kids. SO NOT loving the prices.
Posted by: Sarah@Short Stop | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Even though I am mostly just a lurker Rocks in my Dryer and One thing are the two blogs I read every day. The only two. How cool that you two got to spend the day together. I am so envious! Thank you for your good writing. Wendy
Posted by: Wendy | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Wait.. hold up.. did you say BABY NUMBER 12!? Off to check it out. :)
Posted by: TracyMichele | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I will add "BABY NUMBER 12!" is that a missprint?
Posted by: alex | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I love it when people who are good at something - do it. We have friends with 7 children and people have said the strangest things when they find out she is pregnant. Large families are a blessing from God - or else there is a big booboo in scripture when it says children are a blessing. Jenni's blog is very witty, well written and she must have good grammar or Shannon wouldn't be recommending her. Cute pics of the kids - funny commentary as always. Thanks Shannon for introducing your new friend.
Posted by: Linda Sue | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 05:17 PM
***BLUSH BLUSH BLUSH!!***
And I'm cracking up. You already posted! I just got home (Gabe and I veered wildly off course and found ourselves at Target before we called it a day, so now I'm POOPED)!
That pic of Gabe and Corrie drawing...what is up with Gabriel's method of holding the marker? Did he think it had an eraser? I feel the maternal need to assure everyone that my son does indeed know how to wield a writing stick. ;o)
You're such a jewel, Shannon. I'd say more here but I gotta save something for my own post. MWAH!
Posted by: Jenni | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 05:31 PM
She's one of my favorites, too! In fact, I was mighty jealous after reading this post. Jenni, you rock!
Posted by: Minnesotamom | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Thanks for sending me her way! Always so happy to meet someone with a big family. Even bigger than ours! :-)
Posted by: Mrs. Troop | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Two of my daily favorites in one photo--I am very much smiling.
Posted by: Ann @ Holy Experience | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:09 PM
12! I knew it wasn't a typo, girl! She has the most precious website about her kids. I have 10 sibs myself and I think I would have asked for her autograph!
Posted by: Christine | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM
She's one of my faves too!!
Mary, mom to not-quite-that-many
Posted by: Owlhaven | Monday, March 10, 2008 at 11:37 PM
I'm SO jealous!!!!
I 'found' Jenni about the same time you did!
How fun!!!!
Posted by: Ericka | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Oh, man!! I am so totally jealous and so totally live in the wrong part of the country!
But I am glad the two of you got to meet.
And I'm also glad that everybody on your list is going to meet and enjoy Jenni.
You know how they say that with every pregnancy you lose some brain cells?
Jenni must have had way more than her share of high-functioning smart cells to start with, because when I read her stuff, I conclude that they're sure firing on all cylinders!
You both are so sharp, funny and creative...it's no wonder you hit it off when you MIRLed.
Posted by: Ann Kroeker | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 09:41 AM
I thought about you two yesterday, knowing you'd both have a blast. Yay for MIRL.
Posted by: gretchen from lifenut | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Baby number 12??? Oh, my!! That's 10 more than I have......I have a couple of friends who each have six kids and I thought that was a lot!!!
Posted by: Sally | Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 02:30 PM
It is just nice to know that I am not the only mom who considers going to Pottery Barn Kids and allowing their children to play, appropriate! People scoff at me when I say I do that. I say scoff away people this momma needs some R & R!
Posted by: HAppy Momma | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 08:55 AM