I found this nice write up.  It was dated in Sept.  I;m surprised I didn’t see it sooner.

Yipee,  Time to give thanks and eat a lot of turkey, potatoes and stuffing.  I love thanksgiving more than just about any other holiday.  You get to eat and sloth about.  We are hosting the festivities at our house for the 4 other familes from out of town.  We have a great menu planned and some fun watching the Lions lose and the UT/A and M game.  Good day!

Noah had his school play today.  The kids got all dressed up and preformed their skit.  It was so cute to see all the children all excited.  It was a very hush hush production and Noah would reveal nothing.  Of course Jungle Java provided the turkey roll ups and coffee.  The kids had a great feast as all our parents brought lots of food.  I’m not sure what they are going to do with all the corn bread that was brought. 

The Jungle Java is all set and ready for all the kids that will come this week.  We have had SOOOOOOO many people call about our hours this week.  There is also a cold front coming in Thursday and it shouldn’t get above 62 for the weekend.  We have had so many first timers come into the store lately.  Gregg booked a lot of sports parties this past month and and we got a LOT of repeat customers from that.  I’m always surprised when someone comes in for the first time.  I thought we did a great job of advertising but nothing spreads better than word of mouth and parties.  Due to this new influx we are almost completely booked with parties every weekend.  Some parties are even having to book on weekdays.  We hired two new employees last week and are hiring two more this week.  We just had a staff meeting earlier tonight to discuss the new crowds and management.  I can’t believe we have only been open for less than 6 months and are already finding success.  Getting the award from the Chronicle also helped.  We have a group of moms from South Austin who travel all the way up to us to play.

This Thanksgiving we have so much to be thankful for.  I hope everyone can find something to be thankful for and enjoy the rest of their week!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I went back to Michigan for the msu game.  UGH. not what I had hoped for as of score nor play.  Damn I wouldn’t have cared who would have won if it had been the least bit exciting(sorry Gregg).  The tailgate was wilder than usual.  They had octobongs and an ice luge.  I did participate in the ice luge.  Patrick rented a sound system and the place was hopping.  Sooo many more people than used to be there when I hung.  It’s a nice location only being two parking rows from the stadium-Thanks to Aaron and his contributions to the U of M hockey team-and by the way GO Boston Bruins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found Jamie Morrison working the crowd and giving out field passes to past and soon to be present players.  He commented on two young men shadowing him and mentioned whoe they were.  When I turned to look at them the both said, “Oh My God, Ms, Champe/Mrs. Henson.”  I recognized the boys as Matt and Ryan Leach(sons of ex QB/baseball player R. Leach).  I almost died.  THese cute little boys were grown men.  The first a senior and the latter a freshmen.  These were great guys.  I remember Matt as an outstanding math student.  He is going into Athletic mangement(hence shadowing Jamie) and Ryan as such a ham.  He was such an outgoing guy that I had him do the play by play for the Piston’s MLK game with George Blaha.  The kid was a natural and is still as outgoing.  They were both interningfor Jamie and my friend Joe who is  Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director.  Funny thing is back in college Joe and my friend Pia and Topher and I were all suppose to get married and grow old together.  Oh how things have changed.  Joe has a family and stayed at Michigan(was on swimming team),  It was actually Joe and Pia’s time in Austin that taught me how cool it was here and allowed me to make the jump to move here.  Pia is a Dr. in Santa Monica and saving animals across the country with  adoptapet.com That is Pia with the pigtail braids.  I love that girl!  Topher is?????????????????????  Aspen, San Diego, Some third world coutnry, or somewhere parts unknown.  Please contact me or Kendo if you get this we would love to hear your latest adventure!

I have a ton of pictues to post when I get time.  I am back to tutoring at the middle school.  Great two day a week gig but I had to quit the PTA Homeroom parent chair.  That was hard but between the JJ, MS and kids it was too hard.  It is still nice though because Gregg and I get to regularly have lunch with Noah at school and go on his field trips.  Noah got his first report card and got great grades in music, art, PE, and math.  He got god grades in everything else but I am especially happy he got such great grades in math(being a math teacher and all).  It’s funny, I always thought his strength was in verbal communication of just about anything.  I was actually surprised to learn that he is great in geometry and statistics. 

Cooper is very much a computer guy.  It is funny to see him move the mouse around and get done what he wants.  He can do just about anything on the computer and we have never taught him it.  He knows how to turn the volume up and down and how to print many documents.  I always ask Gregg, “Did you teach him that?”

Anyway, Good things are happening and I will be writing more and sending pictures in the next week or so.  Sorry for my absence!

Tonight we were invited to a great party.  We were a bit hesitant.  We had received a letter from the Austin Chronicle announcing we had won a “best of Austin” award.  The invitation said we had won an award and that we should arrive at the Long Center for the Performing Arts to accept it.  It didn’t say what we won, so we had to go to find out.  There was no description on the invitation.  We didn’t know how to dress or anything.  The Austin Chronicle is like the Metro Times in Detroit so I assumed casual was they way to go and I was not wrong.  Everyone was there.  oh my the way everyone was dresed>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The mayor was there taking his picture with Uno(spelling).  THat is Gregg’s love…the Westminister Dog best in show winner(he uses Paul MItchel products as said by the winner(as a joke)).  The first ever Beagle.  I finally did pet him and he was so soft for a beagle.  Aside from that it was not a big sell for advertising like Gregg feared.  We got our certificate and then we were ushered into a free drinks and food party.  We met and partied with lots of different people….best pastries, best DJ, Best bumper fixer and best actress/actor.  It was great we even got great contacts for NOah if he wants to go into acting(big ham).  It was definitely a who knows who type of crowd.

It was especially fun since we won a critic’s choice award for best kid friendly coffee house.  Not bad for only having been in business for almost 3 months.  I asked how we were nominated and apparently a writer for the news or some one in higher authority visited us and presented our name and category and the rest of the panel had to agree.  This is great news and hits the presses in the next week.  They say this will be great recognition.  I have no doubt since we have been getting lots of pass holders from the Austin area in the last week alone.

ONe strange thing was………….When we were in line for a drink this girl was behind us.  She was petite had many tatoos and had a dress with combat boots on…I had to do a double take.  I turned to Gregg real quick and said…Oh MY GOD..who does she look like.  It was like a mini Sabrina standing before us.  We talked to her for a while and I couldn’t believe how much she reminded me of her aside from the fact that she didn’t know hockey.  Oh how we still love the thought of Sabrina, she never could be replaced just remembered more fondly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just basking in the afterglow. Oh and Gregg met a Bob Talbert type alter here, John Kelso.  Gregg loved his quote hat his 401 K is now a 201K and if you hated him he is never going away because he can’t retire.  In person he didn’t think it was as funny.  The market sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clay aiken is gay.  OK I think we all knew that and who cares.  I can’t wait until there is a day when no one cares about sexual orientation.  We will one day look back at this the same way we do the suffrage movement and civil rights movement.

On another side note.  I am sick of talking about Jungle Java.  It is going very well and we are booking parties up the wazoo.  Everyone is happy and things are good.

Now on to more important stuff.  Noah is still loving school and the child loves to learn.  I reallly like his teacher a lot.  She sends us emails everyday about what they did in class.  For those of you with kids you know how hard it is to ask them what they did today.  We do a little homework ever day and Noah loves to ask to do it.  I know, what a geek.  He alwasys says.”shold we do some homework mom.”  I love that little guy.  We still have Snoopy Sno Cones every day after school.  I’ve had that Snoopy Sno Cone machine since I can remember.  I am afraid it is going to break one day and I will be forced to search Ebay for a new one.  Sooper Cooper loves school too.  He does not have homework which is a blessing right now.  But he does love to go to the park.  Gregg has been taking him in the Ams when he doesn’t have school.

Cooper and I are very excited to be heading to Michigan at the end of Ocotber for the MSU game.  I don’t think I am going to take him to the game.  He is not the sit down kind of guy that Noah is.  I can’t wait to see Julie, Erica(got to stop getting pregnant when I come to town) and her hubby Patrick.  Even if Michigan is having a building time right now it is still fun to get back and see good friends.

Congratulations to my sis Susan and Dave and their impending baby.  I know you guys have waited so long for this I wish you all the love!  I also have a baby shower for Jamie coming up as well.  They are due in October so it should make for an interesting  month.

Now on to Heroes.  They are on the cutting edge for sure.  Their use of technology is going to do boost them.  That is a hidden talent that for years Greg has been trying to convince radio stations to tap into.  Heroes, whole you decide the future(i’m sure it is limited to some degree) is a great marketing tool.  I found this week’s show to be pretty good.  Even the hour long trailer was enough to keep me glued.  Of course I had tivoed it so I fast forwared through most of the commercials otherwise it would have been unbearable.  On another side note…….I think I mentioned this before but I find the character Mohinder Surresh EXTREMELY HOT.  Ow and yummy.  I however did not care for him being all icky and overly sexy charged for Maya.  You could kind of see it coming but I liked him more as the level headed guys.  Now that he injected himslef he has bcome Super Libido!  Not Cool.  I would rather look at him and listen to him muse.  Speaking of Muse did you all get his references in his speach at about the 1 hour mark.  Big revelations.  I can’t wait to watch it again without any kids in the house.

Lastly did you tivo over the commercials in the last hour>  I almost did.  The commercial for the Emerald Nuts and Swiss Family Robinson almost made me pee my pants.  Yeah that is my kind of humor.  LOL

OK Gregg just infomred me that he is doing a pod cast right now for only 20 min. more gota bust in on that Ta Ta For Now.

TTFN.

Last Saturday was crazy.  We were packed to the gills.  It was good practice for our employees since this Saturday is our grand opening.  Jungle Java is going to be packed with all the goodies, give aways and free admission.  It should be interesting.  Saturday we had our biggest day yet more than doubling our regular busy days.

Being a small business owner makes it hard to find affordable health insurance.  My tutoring job at the middle school doesn’t give benefits so I’m considering applying for a 6th grade math position at a middle school here.  It doesn’t pay nearly as well as Michigan but the hours and benefits are looking well worth it!  We haven’t decided either way if I am going to go for it but it is a possibility.  One big problem with our health insurance is that I have Celiac Disease.  I find it silly that they want a premium for something that requires no medication.  If I avoid wheat, barley, rye and some oats I am totally fine.  If not it still isn’t anything I am hospitalized for nor get medicine for, just some nice physical discomfort.  Gregg has the same thing with his sarcoidocis(spelling?).  He is remission and they say they don’t think he will ever get it again but it doesn’t help that Bernie Mac died of it recently.  I still can’t believe that.  I loved him.  He was so darn funny.

I’ve been helping Noah with his homework, even though he doesn’t really want or need my help.  He is so funny.  I knew since he was a baby that he was a smart little guy.  I’m very impressed with how quickly he picks up things.  He had a word search to do today and he finished it lickity split.  I think he may have my love of puzzles and word games.

Cooper is still in the process of potty training.  We really just started in the last week.  When he is not in school we put him in underpants.  The kid just won’t go if there is something else interesting going on(ie. TV or video game).  I do think that the kid likes to pee in his pants.  The first time he peed his pants I made him take his own clothes off and put his undies in the hamper.  Then I took him to the tub, put him in and used a big cup to rinse him off.  Then I had him get his new undies and put them on.  Well and hour or so after that he peed again and I told him to take them off.  I thought he had gone into my bedroom to put his clothes in the hamper but he came out saying he was all clean and ready to get his undies.  He had gone into my tub and cleaned himself off.  LOL  I related this to my mother and she laughed telling me that I used to do the same thing.  He did it again this evening.  Obviously this is going to be a work in progress.

On a nice side note, Gregg and I have been spending a little more time away from the Jungle Java.  It is just a few hours but we get to bring the kids home from school and both spend time with them before G has to go back.  WE have some great staff and I feel confident in leaving them alone.  What a nice feeling.  WE have even scheduled Sundays off starting the following week.  We will have family day and I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The temperature here has taken a big hit.  We are in the mid 80’s during the day but I wonder if that is true since we have been leaving the windows open.  I think this is just a cold snap as last year this same weekend it was bloody hot.  It is Austin City Limits time and the town is starting to jump.  Lots of celebritites are in town as well as all the planned acts and those great impromptu acts.  Not a big live music fan so we won’t be going down(plus the grand opening) but it is fun to see the city abuzz.  Plus they rescheduled the UT game for this weekend due to the “hurricane” that didn’t hit here.  It is crowded this weekend at the local hotels.

Well off to watch Air Bud with the boys.  Holes was on the other night.  If you haven’t seen it I HIGHLY recommend it.  It is a GREAT story.  It was very well written and I believe would have gotten better recognition had it not been a “kid’s” book.  I know the fact that it is a “kid’s” book may throw you but I implore you to see it.  Loved it!  For families I would also recommen Secondhand Lions.

He’s a coming!  That is good news for our business but not such great news for C.C.  They are already boarding up the businesses.  It is suppose to hit Sat. Morning.  That is the same day that our community is having a garage sale.  I guess that is off.  Hard to sell things if the wind is at 80 mph.  The good news is that people are booking parties this weekend.  We are almost completely booked.  I have a baby shower to go to(congrats Jamie and Joel) then I must get to the JJ to help out.  Most of us are looking forward to the rain.  Other than the other night(slept through it I guess) I don’t really remember when it has rained.  I also noticed that the temps are suppose to drop by about 10 degrees too.  I know I have said this before but I think the mid 90 are the perfect temp.

Gregg hasn’t acclimated to the temp.  When he went back to MI he said it was great there and hot there.  When we went back in May I was freezing.  Coop and I arew going back the weekend of Oct. 25th so I’m sure it will be crisp.  It will be great to see Julie and everyone at the tailgate.  Thanks Julie for watching Noah during the last half of the game while Gregg was on the field.  He loves his press pass.   Hey, I’m part owner of Sports pages perhaps I can get us ont he field too.  I remember when I was pregnant with Noah I was on the field and soooooo nervous.  First there is the possibility of getting hit then there was the overtime of the game.  I was so stressed and excited I thought for sure I was going to hurt the baby.  Oh to be a first time mommy.

OK so Dove hunting?  What the hell is up with that.  I guess it started a week or so ago and all I hear now is bang. bang. bang.  Who the hell shoots a dove and why?  Do you eat doves?  That just sounds gross.  OK Veggieism aside what the hell.  Occasionally I will eat meat(going back to vegetarian) but a dove?  I remember the uproar in Michigan about dove hunting.  I don’t know if it ever passed.  Speaking of passing.  I am glad that Kwame is finally out of office.  Or should I say out of office until his 5 year probation is over.  I’m sure the city will reelect him once it is over.  I hope not.  How long until his name is off the Detroit zoo?  I hated driving by that everyday and seeing his name on it.  Please keep me updated Detroiters.

I went to Whole Foods today.  I have been waiting to go for so long.  In Royal Oak I had three Whole Foods within a 10 mile radius.  The one in Troy was only 1 1/2 miles away.  Here in Austin where it originated there are only two and one is 10 miles away the other is in downtown and San Antonio.  HEY you don’t have to worry about flooding the market you need another one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I called Carol early this am and she was game.  We hit the market and I was sooooo surprised at all the GF stuff they had there.  I never had a problem finding Gluten Free items in the stores in Michigan and Philly.  Even the little stores in Philly had a great selection.  Here in Texas it is slim pickings.  The only store here is HEB.  They really have shit.  Sorry to be so vulgar but I am sick of going and not finding any crackers or goo Tinkyada spaghetti and noodles.  Their freezer section is lacking as well.  I stocked up at whole Foods not only for me but for the business as well.  I found spinach/feta pizza/ hand rolled frozen cookies, and full beef corn dogs to say the least.  I was very happy.

OK well I have been interupteda few times by Gregg at the JJ on my day off.  Yes he was sweet enough to give me a day off.  I SUPER cleaned the house so he is ready to give me many days off.  LOL

I hope everyone is doing well.  Chris I have been trying to send something to you and Josie for  a while now.  One day I will get it right and order it.  Computer illiterate.

PS.  Have you seen Victoria Beckham’s new hairdo?  Love it.  I already cut all my hair off but I wanted to go shorter.  Next time I get it cut I will go all the way.  Loving the new hair here in Texas.  LOL

WOW!  The weather took a sudden nice turn.  Seems like we were in the 100’s everyday and then when I cut all my hair off it got cool.  It heated up a little bit but now is back to the mid 90’s where oddly enough I think is perfect.  A 95 degree in Austin is beautiful.  Now I am not running around in the sun or anything but from my back porch in the shade it feels great.  It is even better when there is a nice breeze.  The am and late pm is even better.  Every morning the obys and I have our hot chocolate on the back patio before school.  We watch the golf course buys set up for the day.  It has been a nice treat as it takes them a while to wake up.  I get the hot choc. ready and wake them as we chill on the porch and wake up.  THey kid that it is their coffe.

Speaking of coffee……I love the smell of coffee.  It is a treat working in a place that has that smell.  I have never liked the taste of coffee nor really drank it up until about a month ago.  Now of course my Dad, Bumpa, and Gregg wouldn’t say what I drink is coffee but I love our peppermint patty.  It is a latte with cocoa and peppermint.  YUM.  I try not to drink one everyday as I don’t want to be one of those people who have to have their coffee to function.

Noah and Gregg are in MI. right now.  Noah is having fun hanging with Gma and going to the other Jungle Java’s in town.  I know Gregg is excited to go to the big house Saturday.  The one person who isn’t excited is Cooper.  He cried when he found out Noah and dad were in MIchigan.  He cried even harder when he realized that Gma is also in MIchigan.  I assured him we would be going back in Ocotober for the MI MSU game.  He keeps asking me when we are going.  This all made matters worse when he alsoe learned that he would be starting his new preschool that day.  It was  rough drop off to say the least.

Any whoooooooo  things are going great here.  Football has started and we have a new season to cheer.  I don’t even recognize the Detroit team(thank god) so I will cheer for the Cowboys.  Noah loves the Cowboys but Cooper still calls them the stars since they have a star on their helmet.  Noah keeps reminding him that that is the hockey team not the football team.  Cooper however bleeds orange.  He is a big UT fan.  BEVOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HIs favorite color is orange and he always wants to wear his bevo shirt.  I guess that is right since he has lived here longer than anywhere else.  Noah’s days as a Notre Dame fan have also diminshed.  He still mentions the Wolverines much to Gregg’s joy.  I guess Noah is what you would call undecided.  Which is just fine by me.  There are many good schools here in TX but I would like him to go somewhere out east.

OK this is way longer than I had anticipated so good night.  Get ready to tailgate Jules.  Can’t wait to see you and the gang!

Noah started his first day of Kindergarten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was flawless.  Jungle Java provided the coffee and food for the kinder comfort so I was up and at it by 5:30 am.  Since I cut all my hair off(yep-pics to come later) it is a breeze to get ready.  Most of you know I always had short hair up until about 1997.  It is just too hot for long hair.  Anyway I digress.  I got everything set up in the cafeteria trying not to get in the way of the TV camera crew that was at the school at 6:30.  Teravista is a new school and they were doing a special on new schools  in RR and most specifically Teravista.  Then I was off to pick up G-ma, dad, Cooper and Noah to take NOah to school.  Cooper was actually the first one up this morning(after me and mom).  We walked Noah in and he took to it like a duck to water.  I guess it was all that Stepping Stone and other preschools that prepared him.  Mom and I came back again at lunch time to help the newbies with their lunches and opening things(milk cartons, applesauce, etc.).  I got to spend time with Noah and the other kids we know from Stepping Stone, neighborhood, and our JJ regulars.  It was fun to see everyone.  After school we picked Noah up at the front door and that was a GOOD thing.  HOLY cow the driver pick up line was son long that some of those mom’s sat in the line for quite a while.  Rachel and I had a nice long chat while she waited in the car pick up line to get Taelyn.  I had come home had a snack, Gregg showered(again), and then drove all the way to Sam’s club by the time she got Tae.  I will definitely be picking Noah up at the front door until they get that line manageable.  Noah had fu although he didn’t want to discuss what he learned.  He had a slight fever last night and an hour after we got him home from school it spiked.  It is better now and he ate 6 nuggets and some of his shake and temp wis feels much better. 

Tonight is the last night that G-ma is in town..  We are going to miss her and I am going to miss her cooking.  The boys didn’t realize that she was leaving tomorrow and a part of hopes she gets held up with this fiasco happening at the airports.   I know she wants to get back home to bu,pa though so we hope not too strongly.

The Jungle Java ads have hit the mailers.  Gregg and I sent some out today by hand but our mass mailing hit the hoods today.  We had one mom call very excited.  She is going to email the 300 people in her mailing lists.  I love it when other moms get so excited.  Did I metnion the nice plug we got at our school for donating the treats today.  We also gave each of the teachers at TVE a free pass so they can bring their kids.  Things are going so well.  Thanks to Laurel for helping train our new staff.  We got some GREAT hires this time around.  Not to say our last batch was bad but our new group is proving to be a great asset, especially since we lost some day time help due to school.  OUr grnd opening is around the corner and I’m sure will be big.

I have been really bad about posting pictures but that is because I blog from my laptop and the picture program is on the computer upstairs.  I have to actually go up there to do this.  I will get up there one day.  For now I am busy with the JJ, my PTA chair(homeroom parent) and getting Noah and the family ready for school.  I do promise I will get up there.

A BIG Happy Birthday to my cousin Jacque!  I don’t know where in the world you are but I hope you are somewhere fabulous for your birthday(Bimini, Canary, Germany,  Spain, Mexico or where ever.)  Congratulations to Jessica for being named a partner in your firm and for the upcoming birth of your baby.  I can’t wait until we find out the sex.  I hope you and Al have a boy this time!

PS Dad I am going to call you soon but it always seems the time difference gets in our way.  I am up by 6 am 7 your time, ouch I know.  Gregg and Noah are coming to town WEd.-Sun for the U of M home opener.  I will be back for the MSU game with or without family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Hope the house in Naples weathered the storm and I will call you son.  Gotta get the boys away from that silly show wipeout and put them to bed.

Nighty night to all our new school age children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was our busiest “day” yet.  We did more in 3 hours than we have done on some days.  It was insane!  Boy was I tired at the end of the day.  G-ma and the boys came up and helped us out.  Noah was good at shouting “order up.”  Impact magazine came up for a photo shoot later that day.  The boys were all smiles.  Tae Tae even got in on the action.  Look for them in the next Impact.

After all the action we headed to Chili’s for dinner.  Cooper loves Chilis.  I think he is in love witht he cheese fries more than me.  After dinner I asked Gregg to change Cooper’s diaper.  He took him to the bathroom and then came back to the table saying there was no diaper changing station.  I was upset so I said I was going to talk to the manager about that.  I also wanted to talk to him about some advertising they are doing as well.  I went to the front of the store and as I was about to talk to the manager Gregg and the boys went running out of the store.  I asked Gregg to come back to talk about the advertising but he just smiled and they ran away.  Turns out Gregg thought I was berating the manager for not having a station when in fact they DID!  He ran out to avoid humiliation.  Turns out Gregg was just trying to get out of changing a dieaper.  He ended up having to do it in the back of the van while I talked business with the manager.  We are working on a St. Judes campaign.  WE all got a big laugh out of Gregg sneaking away.  Once home we all fell into a food coma(maybe some tequila/margarita at dinner coma) and went to bed early!

Now we are off to the Inner Space Caverns.  I got vetoed on Fredricksburg, Lukenbach, and Sea World.