My name is Jen.

I have been a mommy blogger since June 2003. Since then I have had some great experiences because of my blog. I have had the opportunity to start writing for several different places which I never would have guessed would happen when I first started this blog. I have done several articles for Birthing Magazine, Birth Issues Magazine and GNMParents.com. I have done small articles as well as large features and I have enjoyed every minute of it. If you are wanting an article for your magazine, newspaper, ezine or website please email me the subject, the deadline and who the article is for and I will respond quickly.

I have also recently taken the DONA doula training workshop and am working towards my certification to be a birth doula. I am excited to be helping women in one of the most emotional and important moments in their lives. If you are looking for a doula please have a look at my doula page.

You can contact me through my email address: jen AT jen the mom DOT com

Now, on to the detailed stuff!

I was born in July, which means I am a Leo so beware. I will eat you alive!

I was born in North Las Vegas, which you can read about here. I later posted a little more here.

I moved from Las Vegas when I was 16 to Bellingham, Washington.

I met Chuck in Vancouver, B.C.

We moved to Calgary almost 10 years ago.

We dated for 2 weeks before we got engaged.

We were married 5 months later.

We were pregnant 6 months after that.

Surprisingly, we’re still married.

I was 19 when I got married, 20 when I had baby #1, 22 when I had baby #2, 26 when I had baby #3 and 28 when I had baby #4.

We are all done having kids and I thank my husband every day for being willing to make sure of that.

My kids are one of the most important parts of my life. Oh, and they’re perfect. Except for today. Not today.

I used to work at a retirement center running the activities department for the Alzheimer’s unit. That job was my life.

I would rather be a mom than go back to my old job.

I didn’t cry on my son’s first day of Kindergarten.

I bawled like a baby on his graduation day. I was so proud of him!

I started homeschooling in 2007 when my two oldest were in first and second grade. I love homeschooling and am always reading or writing something related to homeschooling.

I hate feet! Don’t touch my feet and don’t put your feet on me. I will cry and run away. It’s not pretty, and neither are feet.

My daughters remind me how to be feminine. They’re beautiful!

I come across as an extrovert but really I don’t like confrontation and I don’t like having a lot of attention on myself. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I love a good party but I need lots of time alone at home to recuperate afterward.

I do NOT like chick flicks so don’t invite me to the chick flick night. I won’t come. (I recently saw Just Like Heaven and the Traveling Pants and loved them both and I DID cry so if it’s a GOOD chick flick I might come…if there’s a lot of chocolate.)
(I am making an amendment to my hate of chick flicks. I have seen quite a few chick flicks that I really enjoyed so rather than hating anything chick flick I dislike movies that go out of their way to make you emotional. I don’t like that. I also dislike historical movies or war movies. My husband loves them so I surf online while sitting next to him while HE watches the war movies.)

I love action movies. Especially martial arts movies (Tony Jaa is the next Bruce Lee). My favorites are Ronin, The Professional and Transporter. Jason Statham is my boyfriend. In my own little world, anyway.

I want to travel. A lot. I want to live for a year in several different countries. That’s the only way I can imagine really getting a different culture. Chuck and I have traveled to France a couple times and loved every second there.

I would never want to relive my high school years. I loved it then but I’m horribly embarrassed now. It was not my greatest time. Right now is.

Chuck and I go on a date every Friday night. It’s tradition.

I have been blogging since…… I can barely remember a time before my blog. It’s been since June 2003.

I am both proud and embarrassed of my blog. I don’t like drawing attention to myself from strangers but I’m proud of the things I’ve written and how much has gone into it.

I have a very loving family. The MOST loving family I’m sure. They’re amazing people and I am grateful to have them.

I have found two of the greatest women on the planet and then bribed them to be my friends. Luckily it didn’t take more than chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

My husband is amazing and every day he reminds me of why I married him.