Mac and Cheese Monotony

My daughter is keeping me in line! I should rent her out to Weight Watchers corporate. We went to my friend Heather's to have a Halloween playdate with Zach and Isabelle this morning. We were headed home for lunch, and thoughts of hot salty golden fries were dancing through my head. I thought better of it, and turned in to our alley. I was about to open the garage door, when I leaned my head on the steering wheel, unable to motivate myself to get us into the house to eat leftover macaroni and cheese, AGAIN. I started to drive past our driveway, and head to White Castle or somewhere, anywhere, when a shriek arises from the back seat, "Where Are You GOING???!?!!!" "Mommy was just kidding; let's get inside for another fulfilling home-cooked meal."

I have to write several things down that A has said lately, just so I can look back on this and remember how much fun she was as a 2 1/2 year old. I know it may seem like I'm bragging about how amazing and cute and clever I think my babies are, but I'm doing this blog pretty much to keep a record of what our days were like back in 2006, and this is what I want to remember, so please indulge me (or stop reading this- I don't care- it's my blog.)

Mike came downstairs the other night after doing A's bedtime routine to report, "your daughter requested that we pray for restaurants." Is that a comment on my cooking, or what?

She also said when we were reading Eat Your Peas, Ivy Louise, that the ringmaster of the sweet pea circus shouldn't stand on the other peas' heads, as they are set to be catapulted out the kitchen window on a spoon; "look at that guy, standing on their heads, that is unpleasant."

Also, A asks, "what's that all about?" and says that her brother is, "freaking out of his head." And yesterday when I had to wake her up from her nap at 5:30, and it was dark out already, "where has our day gone?"

Preserving Memories is Hard Work!

Not too much going on this week, yet I've been too busy to get a post up. Mike and I had a great time at the Gin Blossoms/Shawn Colvin/Josh Kelley show at the Fine Line on Saturday night with Danielle, Mark, Hope and Chad. And I don't know what the other girls' blogs are talking about- we are NOT old, and it wasn't hard to stay out that late! In fact, I think we should get together and do wild and crazy things like that more often! I'll plan the next event...

Our little A has been having such a good time at gymnastics class. She really has surprised me- now she is comfortable enough at the Little Gym, that she steps right up to do the demonstration of the skill of the week! She also reminds Teacher Lise about the order of things in class- now it's time for circle time, next jingle bells, next bubbles, and don't forget stamps (for her hands and bare feet)!

Wednesday, the kids in A's class wore their Halloween costumes to class. They were all so cute! Some moms remembered their cameras, so I do have a picture of them. I'll have to ask the rest of the class if it's okay to post it on my blog. Tomorrow is the Pumpkin Party. We went last year with Danielle, Charlie and George, and had a great time. This year Mike will be able to come with us too. I don't know if we will get B dressed as a chick or not- it's A's costume, and he is bigger than she was at her first Halloween, taller at least.

Mike and I enjoyed watching our friend Jeny from Texas on the Rachael Ray show this week. She was in the segment on progressive dinners, if you happened to catch the show. It was surreal seeing someone I know on TV! Good job B!

And this brings me to the title of today's post... Last night we had our family portrait taken. It was absolutely exhausting! We went to Pencil & Lens (www.pencilandlens.com), an in-home studio in Prior Lake. Joannie and Bob were the nicest couple- and so patient! I decided to go this route, rather than get pictures taken at JC Penney as I have in the past, because of A's severe dislike of the camera lately, and her issues with sitting anywhere near her brother. These factors make getting a nice picture of our family nearly impossible. I think we might have gotten a few shots where we were able to trick A into smiling for at least a millisecond, and hopefully the rest of us were looking at the camera too! I'll let you know if any of them turn out. Trying to get a picture of my babies together is definitely going to be a biannual event only! No more pictures of A until she's three! (B, on the other hand, was his usual jovial, drooly self.)

Happy Eight Months to my darling little B! You are such a joy in our lives. B is getting very, very close to creating some kind of locomotion technique. He is pushing up on his knees a little, and moving his feet. And he finally rolled from belly to back yesterday! I thought he was going to skip that skill entirely, and just move on to crawling, pulling up, and walking. Also, B is getting back to being a better sleeper at night. He is also going down for more regular naps during the day- they are looking to be about a 10 am nap, and after lunch when A naps. Yay! I might have a return of some sanity.

Here's to a great weekend!

Pigtail Cutie-Pie!

After a long hiatus due to adversity to smiling for the camera, my little ham ball is back!

Pear Mojito- Yum!

Drink It - One can drink too much, but one never drinks enough

We had a really great time last night at our friends Chad and Karen's house. They had a dinner party, and invited the gang (UMM housemates) and their wives and girlfriends. Chad made some excellent pear mojitos- see above recipe. But be careful- they are so drinkable! Or as Karen, who works in the restaurant biz, said- they would refer to a drink like this as a "patio poundable." A and B stayed at Grandma's house, and we were able to stay out late relatively guilt-free, because Steve, Bridget, and Maren came into town last night, and stayed at Mom and Dad's, so they stayed up with B until we got there. We picked up the kids after midnight, transferred to carseats relatively easily, and got them into bed without any fuss!

Tonight is another night of reckless abandon- Mom is staying overnight at our place with the babies, so we can go see the Gin Blossoms at the Fine Line Music Cafe. Too bad I don't have anything cool to wear, to match my new look. Yesterday, I had a wonderful spa day at Juut Salonspa in Wayzata- a gift from my loving husband for our 7th wedding anniversary. I started the day with a rejuvenating facial, then color/makeup/cut. Yay! Maybe I'll post a picture of the new 'do... Have a great rest of the weekend- I will!

Diagnosis: Bronchiolitis

Last night was the straw that broke Mommy Camel's back. B cried from about midnight until 3. At 3 I exclaimed to Mike, "tomorrow I am calling the doctor!" I then went down downstairs and sat amidst all of our boxes and junk and read a really bad book until about 5, when I went back upstairs. Yes, B was still crying, so I nursed him sitting up in bed until about 7:30 when A woke up and B woke up soon after. That was the start of our day. I was able to get a 10:40 appt, where B had perfectly healthy pearly white tympanic membranes. Arrghhghgh! Otitis Media would have been such a welcome illness. But no, we have a lame diagnosis which may very well stretch out another 2-3 weeks! Yippy! We did get the wonderful advice of, put a few books under his mattress, so he'll breathe a little easier.

A bonus of today's appointment was that A and I both got our flu shots taken care of for the season. A was such a trooper- not even a whimper or frown when she got her shot in the thigh. Tomorrow is gymnastics class for A, she is really excited, and keeps asking what day it is, because she knows that we go to The Little Gym on Tuesday.

So Tired

We've been having a heck of a time with B the past week or so. He hasn't been feeling well (stuffy nose and wheezing/crackling breathing), and might also be working on new teeth, but he has not been sleeping well at all- not at all during the day, and for short intervals during the nighttime. The car is no longer my magic trick; we went to Mall of America on Saturday, and I looking in the carseat when we got there, and to my surprise a pair of big browns was staring back at me, same thing during the stroller ride in the mall, as well as when I opened the car door to remove his carseat when we were back in our garage after the outing. He only slept for about twenty minutes in Mike's arms before dinner last night. Today called for tough love- we let him cry it out for naptime and bedtime tonight. He fell asleep in about 10 minutes each time. I hope he learns how to put himself to sleep soon- listening to him cry just kills me.

I went to my friend Candy's today for a catch-up on crafts session. It was such a great idea- everyone brought their scrapbooks, photo albums, card making supplies, etc. Now if I could only focus on my own project- baby books. Next time, I'll come better prepared with what I need to make some progress on the books. A's is pretty much completed, I just have to fill in some blanks and put in pictures from her first and second birthday parties. B's should come together pretty easily- I hope.

Tomorrow I think we'll go to story time at the Wild Rumpus bookstore, and Tuesday we start gymnastics class- A is so excited!

Tidbits

Maren and Bennett- both at 4 months old

Just a few items for those of you paying close attention to Milk and O's.

Broccolini went over very well the other evening at dinner, that is, I enjoyed it so I will be making it again. It kind of tastes like broccoli crossed with asparagus or green beans. Really good lightly coated with olive oil and sauted garlic.

Also, we didn't go to the apple orchard when Mike had the day off yesterday, because they wouldn't have had the hay rides. So I think we'll plan a Friday afternoon trip, of course only if Mike can get away from work a little early....do you think that might happen, wink, wink?

I don't think I've mentioned yet that our darling little boy now has teeth! Mike noticed his first tooth (bottom, on the right) on Sunday the 24th, just 4 days shy of B being 7 months old. He cut another one early last week (bottom, left). This is a change from B's sister, where we waited and waited and waited until after 9 months old for her first tooth! And speaking of first teeth- my niece Maren now has her first tooth, and she is just four months old!

Iowa- Campers' Paradise?!

We had a wonderful time on our family cabin-camping trip at Dolliver State Park outside of Lehigh and Fort Dodge, Iowa. Grandpa J with B in the bjorn, Grandma J, Mike with A in the backpack and I went on a nice hike on Saturday, and the colorful fallen leaves were gorgeous. After lunch at our cabin, someone's making a deposit in the potty prompted us to visit the Nifty Fiftys ice cream shoppe in nearby Lehigh. Time has stood still for this little Iowan town.



Nok and Pat's wedding reception was very nice. We visited with some of my relatives, whom we rarely get to see, and A was excited to wear her fancy "two year old picture dress." B was a hit with the bride and her mother, Wasana, visiting from Thailand. Wasana treated us to a Thai song, accompanied by the karaoke machine after dinner.












This morning we went to a trial gymnastics class- A loved it! It was great to see her holding herself up on the parallel bars, and she did a backwards roll (with spotting from teacher Lise). She also ran around on the mat with the boys in class, which was surprising for me to see. We are definitely going to sign up for a weekly class; it will be some nice mother/daughter time for us.

This and That- Lost notes

1. Mike and I have to start watching Lost on Wednesday nights, otherwise we have to hide from the world at large until we get around to watching it. Danielle and I had an abbreviated phone conversation today for fear of her divulging key plot twists; I peeked at B's blog and saw that it also discussed yesterday's season premiere.

On a more fun LOST note however, are some more neat things we learned last night while watching the Lost Survival Guide. Like for example: 4 + 8 + 15 + 16 + 23 + 42 = 108!
Woah. They also showed a scene from when Hurley was riding a scooter through the airport, he went past a volleyball (or some sport of teenaged girls) team and they were standing around in a group, and their jersey numbers, in a line were, yup, you guessed it...

2. Innocence Lost. Tuesday evening I poured myself a luscious cup of Mountain Dew on ice, and left it sitting on the coffee table for a moment when I went into another room for some reason. Mike walks into the room, and I hear, "Annie, what are you doing?" A puts down my cup, and says, "mmmm, tasty-- like lemonade!" Now you know how I feel about JUICE, imagine- she didn't have juice, and not just pop, but the champagne of all pops- my toddler did the Dew! She has never had a sip of any kind of carbonated beverage before, never shown any interest in trying it, and here we are, with her guzzling it! Never again. Please don't chide me about this, I feel bad enough as it is.

I did my grocery shopping for the Iowa cabin camping weekend last night; tonight will be our packing night. Other than packing, I plan on cooking a little Rachael Ray meal to snack on, when we return this evening from some family errand running: toasted spinach and cheese ravioli with tomato/garlic/roasted red pepper dipping sauce, mozzarella sticks, and garlicky broccolini. I've never tried broccolini before- I'll let you know what I think next post.

Gorgeous Day!

October 2004
October 2005- the famous "cheeseface"
October 2005- A at Emma Krumbee's in Belle Plaine, MN

The beautiful sunshine and warmth were welcome companions as the kids and I walked the Northern trail at the zoo this morning. We got to the zoo bright and early, and watched the 10 am dolphin show, did the outside animals, and then headed to Mike's office to whisk him off to lunch. We lunched at Quizno's, and a good time was had by all. Mike is going to a going-away happy hour for a co-worker, so I am on my own with the kids for supper tonight. I think I'm feeling like popcorn...

We are going to Fort Dodge, Iowa this weekend for my cousin Pat's wedding reception. We are staying in a family cabin at a nearby state park. I am looking forward to plenty of fresh air, campfires, and walks in the woods. Hopefully A will agree to a ride in the backpack carrier, otherwise it will be a pretty slow, and short, walk with her on foot.

School continues to be lots of fun for both A and myself. Most moms in the class actually have older children; there are only a few of us with younger babes at home, so maybe there will be a lot to learn from the seasoned veterans. Our house is quickly filling up with artwork. Luckily Christmas is coming up- we'll have plenty of wrapping paper without ever having to buy any at the store.

I am planning on a family day at the apple orchard next Monday, since Mike has Columbus Day off from work. Otherwise, we don't have too much going on- just a happy hour in the works for Thursday night. Have a great week!