Hello everyone,

First off I have to let you know that am going to Washington, DC in Feb. right after Valetines day. I am so excited. I am going for many reasons, one because I love to travel, and this is once in a life time opportunity for me! The other is to help Head Start!!! Head start been my life right now beside the church.. Anyways the past 5 months. I been volunteering, and be there for the school, and they be there for me. I am very happy how thing have been going for me, and my child because she started going there.

Back to why am going, a group and I made up of other family's from around the 51 states. There is a Bill, S. 1940 that we are opposing. . It a big thing and am also doing this for future children. Even mine if I have anymore (by the way am try too). But back to the trip. I had already got a new pair of jeans, a new swim suit, kacky pants, jeans skirt, and a pink top for this trip. I will also be flying in a plane for only the second time in my life, totally cool. I just what to let everyone know.

I don't think I have told anyone but I been going to a psychologist for getting over the family problems my mother, bother and sister have done to me. The psychologist, my husband, my children, and the school has been helping live with out them, and to not let them hurt my family again or me! I am doing great with all this, and it a great thing for me. I do want to say that my brother Raymond has done nothing wrong, so he is still part of our family.

To a message I posted early on Tuesday, January 06, 2004, I was telling you about my friend that was losing her place on Jan 27, 2003 I helped her move her stuff to a storage unit so at lest her stuff she will kept, but what she has planed right now is to live from house to house until she finds a place to live again. She is trying to find a place that is down stairs, and really cheep. She has a long road to reality about getting her life together.

Wow, it has been two months since I have updated my journal.
I need to at lest try to up load a journal message at lest
once a month. It is be better then nothing at all. "Right" anyways.

Thanksgiving went well for the most part. We were fighting the flu
at that time, and also dealing with my husband being in the hospital.
Christmas went as well as it could have gone. We had to buy a car
right before Christmas, and that took most of our Santa money. We
got a 2002 Ford Focus, red. My daughters favorite color. New Years
came and went, without a bang.

On Jan 3, 2004 I got baptized in my church that I attend.
I love that I belong to such a great church. In attendance
to my baptism were, my cousin Deanna, her daughter, my school
friend Virginia, my husband, our daughter, and some of the
church members. The next Day I had the confirmation done in
front of the whole church. Now I am working on becoming a
visiting teacher. I was asked today while in the store.

Prase to the Lord we made it safe back from the store.
We are in the middle of a snow storm here.

Anyways I went to visit my friend Virginia yesterday to watch
a movie at her house, and one of her co-workers came over to ask
for some help. Her sister was trying to commit suicide. Lucky
she didn't, her sister was very upset, so we stayed with her
until her other sister came home from where the police took her.
Then today I came by with a box of food, as they said they did not
have any. That was the reason the sister wanted to commit suicide.
It made me feel really good that I could help someone else out.
I also got to make three new friends. It is nice to know that our
family is fitting into this little town.

I also what to let you know that I have other friend that just
lost her place again for the second time. I hope she finds a place
by January 25th. It sure is cold and if she dose not, she may
become homeless. So I pray she find a good home to live in.
Also will all of you do that too.

Thanks, Penny

Gees I can't believe it is November my daughter Carolann just turned 4 a few days ago. My other step child is going to be 8 this come December of 2003. She getting very big and Smart she in the 2 grade. Carolann started school in September 23, 2003 and has been doing awesome at her head start. I am also parent representive to her class room. That a big job for me. I been going to her school ever day unless am sick or had a appointment. So I really get to see her in the class room. I just wish I could get to my step daughter's class room to see how she doing in her class, but her dad get to go twice a week so he get to do it for me. Also both girls got there photo take recently Carolann we took her to Salem to get hers done and my step daughter got her done at her school. I been told Carolann will have class photo done more closer to the end of the year. So that will be great to see her grow from when she start school to the end of school year.

Anyways I been going to this parent class meet ever month and we just went to one yesterday. We learn how to cook Pineapple upside down cake. It was so good.

Here the recipe:

2 cups of flour

2 cups of sugar

1 cups of butter

1 teaspoon Baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cans of pineapple rings (keep the juice)

1-2 cups brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

2 eggs

1. Pre-Heat the oven to 350 degrees

2. Melt 1/4 cup of butter and pour it into a 13 by 9 inch cake pan.

3. Spread the brown sugar evenly over the butter.

4. place the pineapple rings on top of the brown sugar.

5. In a different bowl sift the sugar and flower

6. Melt 1 cup of butter and add it to the bowl with the flour and sugar.

7. To this, add the eggs, baking soda, pineapple juice and salt.

8. Stir until completely mixed,

9. Pour the batter into the cake pan,

10. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

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I will also put in Spanish.

Pastel de Pina Volteado

2 tazas de harina

2 tazas de azucar

1 taza de mantequilla

1 cucharadita de carbonato

1/4 cucharadita de sal

2 latas de anillos de pina (guarda el jugo de la pina de la lata)

1-2 tazas de azucar morena

1/4 taza de mantequilla

2 huevos

1. Calentar el horno a 350 grados.

2. Derretir 1/4 taza de mantequilla y echarla a una cacerola para cocinar pasteles de tamano 13 por 9 pulgadas.

3. Polnle una capa de azucar moreno encima de la mantequilla.

4. Encima del azucar, pon los anillos de pina

5. En una spoera pon la harina y azucar

6. Derretir 1 taza de mantequilla y echarla a la harina y azucar.

7. Agregue los huevos, el carbonato, el jugo de la pina, y sal.

8. Batir todo hasta que sea completamente mezclado

9. Echa la masa a la cacerola.

10. Hornearlo por 35 a 45 minutos o hasta que un cuchillo metido sale limpio.

(Sorry if I miss any spelling arres in the spanish part.)

==================================================================================

I also learn yestday how to make playdo and learned about stress. I realy enjoyed this class as it teaches me more about myself and how to take better care of our childern in the long run.

I realy ot to be going. I have to go pick up my step child around 11:00AM and I still have to get dress. The family take her to CM2 Childeren's museum in Portland, Oregon it be lots of fun for both the girls. Take care and I hope you all try make pineapple upside down cake later on. Bye. Penny

Gess this is not such a good day for me. I start not feel good after dinner last night. My tummy hurt so bad. I think the fish made me sick last night. Still a little sick this morring. Have more of a headache then any thing eles. Dishes and clean up the front room still has to be done. I still even have to have lunch and get dressed for the day. I hope Carolann will be good for the day. I just not in the mood today to be pissed off. I better be going I need to get to that stuff and stop messing around on the web.

I though I should update my journal again! Today Mike had to go to Jury duty at 8am this morring. Last night I hung most of my photos up on the wall of my aprtment, with my family. It is starting to look like a home. We had got our table, sofa and my boul chair out of storage. Thanks to my mother for help bring it over. For dinner tonight we will be having fish and tater tarts and making Blackberry Cobbler I let you know how that turns out. I also made some yummy apple bread yesterday, it turn out good. Here the recipe if anyone whats to try it and let me know if you like it please tag me or gustbook me all about it.

Apple Bread

3 eggs
2 cup surgar
1 cup of oil
3 cup of sredded apples
3 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp baking powder
3 cup of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (opl)
3 tsp cinnamon

Beat eggs untill lemon colored add surgar and oil.
Beat untill well blended. Add remaing stuff beat untill well blended.
350 for 45 mins or longer teb on your oven.
This will make 2 loafs of apple bread.


************************************************************************

I got to get going I have to finsh my laundry and go get more stuff out of storge and get home to make dinner tonight.

We just got back from seeing someone about getting money for rent, they gave us $200.00 plus Mike mom is sending us some money today to us for rent. So Mike going to send off $250.00 to Bob. That will get us hopefully get back on track.

We also around the same time took back a stupid movie we rented think it would be good. It was called Real Women with Curves. I think it end just wrong. I don't think I tell anyone about this movie.

Anyhow I better be going because I need to get Carolann dressed for the day. Right now she working on her breakfast and watching her movie Dragon Tales.

Were to start out. It has been quite awile since I have updated my jurnal. Alot has happed since June 5, 2003.

First of all my in-law's are still in their trailer. It seams like the house is taking forever to get done. They also just invited us to have Thanksgiving with them. I hope it will be a good holiday with them.

July 7 we moved in to are new place. We now live a small town called Mt. Angel. It is a 3 bed room apartment. The bath room is very small and so is the kitchen. The rent is very high for us. I hope we be able to move in to other place cheeper then $575.00 a month. In about a year or the sec 8 comes soon, one or the other will help. Mike don't like the idea of moving, and I don't either, but that is sometimes how life is.

Then a few days ago I found out why my sister was in jail, that breaks my heart. It don't help to know that my half bother and my half sister are in jail. They both deserve what the did. My other bother Raymond, I have't seen for over a month, but drive passing him when we were in the same town in Woodburn. Very sad as my dauther Carolann has not seen
any family but Grandma Briggs for quit some time, on my side of the family.

Monday we just got a 72 hour notice about were we live. We going to Family Resorce center this morring to hopefuly help pay our rent. Life been crazy. Then after that Mike has to work tonight, and I still have a lot of cleaning to do around the house. I also still got to find them dame nails to hang up the photos of my family and children, most my child and us.

Now it is August, I am working on finding out if Carolann is going to be start school in
September we just got back on WIC, which helps with food in the house. We have to take a class next Wednesday to get money for Saturday market. The next day on Aug. 14, 2003
I have a vocational rehab apointment at one PM, I hope that will turn out okay.

Well it been awhile seen I last up dated my Blog! How time flies when we are having fun. Lots have been happening since the last up date. My mother and father in law moved to Florence, Oregon we just visited them. There house is still not finished yet. They have been living in a trailer for the past 3 months, I would hate it. When we visited them, they took us out on a dune buggy ride over the sand duns. Carolann sleped the whole ride, and it was a 1-hour and a 16-minute ride. Totally awesome but hated that I got the wind burned on my face. Mike’s parents are getting dune buggies them self after they move in to the house and sell the trailer off. That will be so cool, Carolann will love it. Anyhow, Two month ago we try to get on housing. We just see the movie, and we had our first appointment this last Tuesday. Wait to hear now what next to happens.

Qustion I had to send to PPFF (Penguin pals & Froggie Friends). I hope people don't go by this and say well she not good anofe for us. That stuip. I hope this is just a fun way to get to know someone. So don't take some of this stuff to heart. I hope you understand. Hugs, Penny



1. Name: Penny Ann Zeigler
2. Born: (date and location) 9-7-1979 Salem, Oregon
3. I now live in: Woodburn, Oregon
4. married: 3-4-2000
5. Kids: Carolann Zeigler Stepchild Sharon Bales-Zeigler
6. Pets: Cat named Ziggy
7. Hair Color: Brown
8. Eye Color: Hazel Green
9. Glasses: Nope don’t were Glasses
10. Height: 5’3
11. Weight: To Much not saying
12. If one of your friends had to describe you they would say: Good hearted, always there for you
13. Favorite hobbies: Family Tree
14. Morning/noon/night person: Night
15. Favorite drink is: Pop
16. Favorite TV show: Charmed
17. Best characteristics: Loving mother
18. Most annoying or bad habit: Chew on towels
19. Most embarrassing moment: When my husband proposed to me
20. My favorite graphics are: fairies, ladybugs
21. Pet peeves: Some one that judges me for my spelling
22. Favorite foods: Pizza, strawberrys, Italian, mexican
23. Car you drive: Chev. Corisica
24. Favorite color: Forest Green
25. Number the following in order of importance to you...9 fashionable and/or expensive clothes, 1 spending time with family, 2 spending time with friends, 4 quality of health, 5 time for hobbies, 7 enjoyable job, 8 amount of money, 3 loving pets, 6 good weather
26. On vacation, I like to go... lots of rides
27. Dream vacation: Disney land
28. If I could choose a new career choice or my dream career, it would be? being a teacher
29. Favorite Font: 12
30. Favorite html code: < /br >, < br >
31. Type of computer: Intel
32. Favorite free programs: Any
33. Dial up or DSL. cable: dial up
34. If you had to choose a stuffed animal what would it be: ladybug
35. Favorite soap: Roses
36. Favorite perfume: Honey from Avon
37. Favorite lotion: roses
38. One of my favorite smells is: baby powder
39. Smells that make me sick: puke
40. Snakes, spiders, and creepy crawly things make me..... screem
41. I love to wake up to: pancakes
42. Don't mess with me when: I am on my period
43. People or I'd describe my temper as............. ok
44. When I'm sick: cranky
45. Do I tease people, and if so, what on? not at all
46. Favorite music: country
47. Do you cook and why? no, my husband dose
48. Do you like to clean house and why?: no
49. Shopping in person or on-line? in person
50. Favorite store locally: K-mart
51. Favorite store on-line: Wal-mart
52. On-line groups you are a member of: 6 groups
53. Favorite websites: my daughters
54. Favorite sport: baseball
55. Favorite teams: sf giants
56. If someone came in the way of you and your favorite game, you would: depends on the person
57. Cell phone, letter or telephone? Any special situations for each. letter, or telephone
58. When I open a newspaper, the first section I read is: obits.
59. Favorite comic strip: garfield
60. Favorite magazine: step family
61. Favorite restaurant: Olive garden
62. People describe me as always prompt, a few minutes late, early, or it varies greatly. varies greatly
63. Assuming there is a major disaster...you have one minute to choose what to take with you...it has to be something that you can carry on foot...you would take? my child
64. When my computer messes up or other things in my life do not go as planned, I usually: get frusterated
65. When someone takes the last piece of toilet paper which leaves you with none, you ... Is your reaction different in a public bathroom? just grab another one
66. When looking at the stars at night, what do you think about? My life
67. What do you consider as the event(s) that changed your life or made the greatest impact upon it? my child and meeting my husband
68. Other comments about yourself that have been missed that are unique or different: I can not write or spell very well, or express myself very well

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you are doing well. I am doing great. Been loving this week my husband took a week off to be with me thou out the weekend as it was also are annivsery this week. We went out to eat at Chaves were my husband proposed to me 4 years ago. We been married now for 3 years, that’s great for us to be together that long. He was so sweet he got me some beautiful flowers and an Eyore towel. I got him SimCity 4 and a stuffed ladybug. The ladybug represents my husband loves for me. He has called me ladybug ever sence we started dating. He has not stopped and probably will not. My nickname for him is knucklehead and bubble butt as I love his butt. He also makes me fall for him when he gives me that look with his baby blue eyes.

Anyhow the rest of the week we took Carolann to swimming class my husband sees his daughter at school and we took her also to the Oregon Zoo. That was fun. I took some good photos, hope to post them. Don’t know when I have them scan yet!

Also on an update we also seen my in-law’s before they moved to other town by the coast. It went very well. There did seam to be any feel fly around. Or at lest I did not see. But who knows I could hear about some thing later down the road about it.

My mother-in-law is the most hurt full person alive. :(( She can't seam to understand that I am not perfect.
She just love to make me so upset. She does not seam to understand I am just trying my best for my child
and myself. I never had anyone just brake me down so bad. This are kind of people I stay away from
but I can't and her daughter Cindy is the same way. The just like or love to push my button on things I
can not change. The don't even know my daughter has the same thing. That what make me so upset
as I can't fix her and I love her just the way she is. But they can't even from the date she was born. I thought
this was all done and over with. No but they bring it back up. I just wish this would all stop.

P.S. I can't say the are both bad. I mean the do try for Carolann the best the can. Some good thing the have done after
me tell my husband that it hurt me and Carolann if the don't. They finley do do it. Like Carol my mother-in-law
has come to all Carolann birthdays, and been to two Christmas, and came to the birth that the came to us in send of us
come to them all the time push for the to exp me and Carolann there blood grandchild. Cindy on the other hand has come
to see Carolann at her birth but that it. No Christmas or Birthdays or even a HI I can baby sit or why don't you bring over
Carolann. I mean Cindy and me "Penny" all was had a hard time connect. But that should not stop her from call or ask
about Carolann. They both can work with me and my daughter to get a better family relationship with us.

My husband just called say Carol would call to say sorry for what she did to me tonight about get all bent out of shape about
my spelling. She called and it was sort of weird talk to her. But she did say sorry and I told her it hurt my feeling. Then she
ask if me and Mike were okay I told her "Yea I think so". It just bug me she does this and I bet it was hard for her to do it.

Well Carolann has been in big girl underware from the 31st till today the 2nd. She has had only 2 accents that was when I was gone and the other time was when we took of to her grandma and grandpa Zeigler's house. But she try tell us as much as possible. But when she has to go she has to go. She try to hold it tell we get there but she some time still wets her big girl underware. But I and everyone has to remember this is only her first week. We hide the pull ups. So she would not know there still around because she what to go back to them and we tell her she a big girl now. We think that hide them she will not think about them. We did the same thing with the bottle when she was little and going to the cup and it worked.
Post by her Mommy.

I am so proud of my little Girl. She start on Jan 28, 2003 to ask to go pott. She been doing great ever day to this day she has not poop her pants she has wet them but Daddy and Mommy are work on that with her. Tonight she was put in big girl underware. She still dry to this min and she even had a full 12oz cup of Juice. I keep my hope up and she stay in big girl underware all the time now. We Love You Carolann Your Such A Big Girl.
Post by her Mommy.

Carolann Breakfast
One 12oz Diet 7-up 2 slices of Western Family singles cheese 2 slices of Western Family Bologna.
Post by her Mommy.

Wow today is the day! For my little one to do swimming all by herself. Hope she swimming and stay in the class. I hope she don't have to go back to parent tot swimming. I realy what her to grow on her own. I let you know if they keep her there. I just what to let you know. She has her swimming lesson at 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM today. Hugs, Penny

Two Days ago I was look for how to go about get my food hander card update and found out you can do it over line. So I did and passed. I just have to send a check now for $10.00 dollars to get my award and cards. It sure helps if I have to get back in to the work force. I also what to take first aid when I went look for info about that I found I have to take CPR witch is fine with me. I seem to what to get educated again maybe because am think about going to collage. I hope I can. But it may have to wait as long as other 3 years before I can enter college as long as I don't get pregant again. I went look at thing that I like and still think am going in to childcare. I really love children even if mine are little monsters.

Anyhow back to the first aid for the class for adults it $40.00 dollars that for adult first aid and adult CPR
But I have to take a different class for infant CPR and First Aid and that other $40.00 dollars. I hope to take one soon. Not sure when because I what other things first and there not a whole lot of money come in.

Anyhow my baby and me were sick. Me with my tummy and my Carolann just got a cold yesterday and she not feel to hot with the idea. I seam to jump ever time she cry's out. But she has one of those patch on to help her breath better. She should start feel better soon.

Well I better get back to my e-mail a lot is coming in because I join a new group and just got approved.

Of couse it one in the morring and your think what am doing up so late. My husband just got home and is making cookies. Do you think you could go to bed with cookies dancing in your head. Only a few more hours and the new year be here. I also just found out that I am Angel of the week December 30 to January 4. It great to ring in the New Year with a great suprise. I love it. Any how I end up going to the doctor on December 30, 2002 and had my feet frozen. I have to come back in two weeks to get it done again tell my sours on my feet are going, what fun that is.

Anyhow I had a great day. I help my firend Clarice get a date tonight he ask her again to have other date on Wensday, I hope she go thou with it. He sould realy nice the way she talk about him. But who knows. I got a bad cold. On December 29, 2002 and it just got worst tonight. Yuck can't wait till it over not the way to enter a New Year. Well I better head off to the kitchen to find me some cookie's and milk before I go to bed. I know bad for my weight eat just before you go to bed.

Night,
Penny

Today so far is very well. Carolann took her first class called "Indoor Playground". It is were the little ones play in this big room. It went very well, the only sucky part was that Carolann was the only girl there. There was a told of 6 kids 5 boys and my little one. It run by parents volunteers. Which need some training. I need to call about a class called "Mom & Me Dance & Movement Class" to find out what day, and when she can start. She will also be takinge a class for swimming too. But that will not start untel January. Any how get up early is the big suck part for home schooling. Well I need to go and find some thing to feed my baby. Hugs, Penny

I got my first blinkie that says, "I am a proud StepMom" I love it. It is so cutie. I all ready thank Dawn for making it for me. As you can see it to the left of my blog.

Anyhow, today is a pretty quite so far. Did not do to much this morning got up got everyone up and ready for the day. My husband had to go to the post office to mail out the last of the letters for Christmas cards. Then he went to the store to get me a bagel, yesterdays bagel were so good. I hope he bring me a hot chocolate too. Carolann and me are watching Dragon Tales one of her movies she has. She got them for last Easter from the Easter bunny. We also have to go to a birthday party tonight and see my niece Samantha. She is four today. She grown like a weed. However, Carolann not much behind. They're almost the same height.

Anyhow, I had better go my hubby back. Hugs, Penny

Today did not do to much. Sat around and was lazy. A perfect day. Got some family tree entered. Got to sleep in till 10:30AM totally cool. Well of course staying up till 3AM did not help. Me and my husband went grocrie shoping. We bought alot of veggies and of course he bought me a hot choclete with a oatmeal cookie. yum I sure can tell I love food to much. I must be pregent! Not j/k. It was just a plan lazy day. I need to get back to read my e-mail and get my husband to enter more family tree for me. :)