I had a really nice birthday this year. After our traditional birthday family breakfast of cinnamon rolls (from a can) and opening presents, I had a fun day at work. I mentioned reading my Kindle in a previous post, and this was my gift from Mike and the kids. I also bought myself a "work birthday present" that I had coveted for a very long time- shiny, black patent Dansk surgical clogs, style: Petrol! They look like an oil spill. I looked down at my feet all day and smiled. I didn't want to put on shoe covers and cover their beauty, but common sense took over, as they wouldn't be as beautiful splattered with blood. After work, Mike had a neighborhood girl come over to babysit, and we met Mark and Danielle at Mozza Mia for dinner. It was supposed to be a crazy night, where Mark would drive us all around in the minivan so we could get whipped into an intoxicated frenzy, but we ended up meeting them at the restaurant, as it snowed quite a bit on my birthday. Danielle had a long, stressful, traffic-filled drive to her sisters to drop off the boys, and we had to get a Morgan/Coke for her straight away to ease the tension of the night. The craziness will have to be postponed, maybe for Danielle's birthday in April, since we all sputtered out pretty early (led by Danielle, but eagerly embraced by me), and called it a night after dinner.
Next up, B's birthday. We already have his party booked at a nearby nature center. We are going to have a critter hunt. I think he will really enjoy it. We are doing the 'green party' where they provide all of the plates, cups, etc. instead of buying disposable party ware. I'm excited to hear who he would like to invite to his party. I can't believe our little boy is turning 5! Weaning him from thumb sucking has been quite the battle, and I can't say we're anywhere near cessation, but I do think he's cut down some. And he's been dry at night for a very long time. He still doesn't like to do fine motor things like snap his jeans, or pull on his socks, or take off his shirt, but part of that is his personality, I think, as he likes the attention and closeness when we are helping him with these things. I can't imagine what the next school year in Kindergarten will bring...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Hopeful
I think things are finally looking up, in terms of my social life. Throughout this winter, I've felt like everyone else is out doing fun things, and I am stuck at home, with the world passing me by. In actuality, I bet everyone else is at home much of the time too, but it made my sorry-for-myself mood more dramatic to think that the world was having a fantastic time without me.
On Friday night, one of the neighborhood women with kids of similar ages to mine invited a small group to her house for wine and appetizers. We had such a fun time, and it was so nice to walk down the street right after the kids were in bed, and be there! I really hope to start doing more with the neighbors, and stop feeling like the 'new neighbors.' It's been a year already after all. It will be a great group to socialize with, even with the kids included, once the weather warms up again.
Saturday, A had another birthday party. I headed down to Apple Valley with the boys to visit Becky at her new home, and meet her 5 month old daughter, baby J. This was something that needed to happen, since we hadn't seen each other since our last birthday, when we went out to eat together and she shared that she was pregnant. Mike and A came down after the birthday party, and we had a nice dinner. The kids were all playing so nicely that we stayed out a few hours past bedtime.
On Sunday, I volunteered in the nursery at church (as part of the arrangement for dropping Colin off at nursery each Sunday). I shouldn't have to do it more than 4 or 5 times a year, and it wasn't as bad as I was imagining. After lunch, we went to see Sesame Street Live, Elmo's Healthy Heroes downtown. One of my docs gave us tickets, and we had a great view of the stage. We all really enjoyed the show, and popcorn, and cotton candy. This was the first time that we'd ever done one of these big productions, and it was a positive experience. It was so fun to watch the kids more than the show, to see the rapt attention and delight in their faces. After we got home from the show, and everyone got set up for napping, I went to Dick's to look at yoga clothes, then wandered through Target, and headed to the club with my Kindle and rode the stationary bike. It was amazing how just a few hours recharged me and put me in a great mood.
On Friday night, one of the neighborhood women with kids of similar ages to mine invited a small group to her house for wine and appetizers. We had such a fun time, and it was so nice to walk down the street right after the kids were in bed, and be there! I really hope to start doing more with the neighbors, and stop feeling like the 'new neighbors.' It's been a year already after all. It will be a great group to socialize with, even with the kids included, once the weather warms up again.
Saturday, A had another birthday party. I headed down to Apple Valley with the boys to visit Becky at her new home, and meet her 5 month old daughter, baby J. This was something that needed to happen, since we hadn't seen each other since our last birthday, when we went out to eat together and she shared that she was pregnant. Mike and A came down after the birthday party, and we had a nice dinner. The kids were all playing so nicely that we stayed out a few hours past bedtime.
On Sunday, I volunteered in the nursery at church (as part of the arrangement for dropping Colin off at nursery each Sunday). I shouldn't have to do it more than 4 or 5 times a year, and it wasn't as bad as I was imagining. After lunch, we went to see Sesame Street Live, Elmo's Healthy Heroes downtown. One of my docs gave us tickets, and we had a great view of the stage. We all really enjoyed the show, and popcorn, and cotton candy. This was the first time that we'd ever done one of these big productions, and it was a positive experience. It was so fun to watch the kids more than the show, to see the rapt attention and delight in their faces. After we got home from the show, and everyone got set up for napping, I went to Dick's to look at yoga clothes, then wandered through Target, and headed to the club with my Kindle and rode the stationary bike. It was amazing how just a few hours recharged me and put me in a great mood.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Macy's 8th Floor
This year we found the perfect time to see the holiday display at Macy's (Dayton's for life...). We went on the day before Thanksgiving, and walked straight in. It was a little weird meeting up with Santa when it was still November, but great to not stand in line with whiny kids. (The kids all had a wonderful time, and no one was whiny, even when the cheeseballs packed for snack ran out!) The display this year had a theme of 'Day in the Life of an Elf' and we all really enjoyed it. We also had fun taking the light rail downtown.
Happy Birthday, C!
Looking through my photos, I realized that along with lots of things, I failed to blog about Colin's birthday. We had a party with the theme of balls- footballs, basketballs, baseballs- Colin loves them all. And that boy has got an arm! He has a way of throwing a ball at you from point blank range that is cute and scary at the same time. I'm happy to report that our television screen is still intact. The thing I would like to remember about this birthday was how Colin savored his birthday gifts. He would inspect the wrapped box, then gingerly peel the tape from one of the side flaps, then repeat on the other side, before sliding the present out of the paper- it was hilarious to watch our two year old hold the whole room of guests in suspense, while he stopped just short of folding the wrapping paper as he unwrapped his presents.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Seventies Stylin'!
These are just a few pictures we took at home before Mark's party. I need to get some copies of the photos taken at the party, to help memorialize such a fun night.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Hello? Is Anybody Still There?
Poor, poor blog. We've been going through a rough patch, blogging-wise, not life-wise. Life has been pretty wonderful, actually, which is probably inversely proportional to the speed of my blog updating. So, here is a super speedy rehash of the last few months of 2010. As well as a renewed effort to blog more frequently in 2011...
1. NOVEMBER
Seventies Redeux- Danielle hosted an awesome 1970's themed party for Mark's 40th birthday. Mike had a full beard leading up to the party, and accessorized his polyester with a 1970's era mustache. It was pretty freaky, and while it was fun for the night, I was glad to see the razor come out the next day.
Thanksgiving was a wonderfully low-key event. Bridget and Steve were on their rotation with the in-laws, so it was just the five of us at Mom and Dad's. We had a great meal, and a really relaxing day in P.L.
2. DECEMBER
I was fortunate to have some PTO to burn, so it was nice taking off some days in early December for Christmas shopping (as well as the week of Thanksgiving). Thanks to G and G for watching the kids, so Mike and I could have a really productive day. We were able to swing through the old neighborhood and have a nice lunch at Blackbird, in its new location- 38th and Nicollet! I definitely would like to plan a shopping day sans kids next December.
Bridget and Steve joined us in celebrating Mike's birthday this year. We went to the new Psycho Suzy's for a drink, before heading to Jax for too decadent of a meal. I hope next time, Bridget will be able to enjoy her meal.
We had a really terrific Christmas this year. Colin really got into opening presents, and it was so fun to watch him rip off a corner of wrapping paper, and squeal in delight, as if he knew what he was opening. The tree went up the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the elves came to our house quite early this year, to check in and report back to Santa that we were ready for his visit. However, such an early visit from the elves made for a long wait until the Big Day.
I had fun making batches of cookies, so I was ready with a cookie plate whenever we went for a visit somewhere. I made cardamom cookies, almond triangles, molasses cookies, pumpkin cookies, double chocolate cherry cookies, and orange/dark chocolate dipped cookies. I really enjoyed the cardamoms and plan on making them again for sure, and the molasses cookies were also a hit.
I gave Mike a package of Gopher Basketball tickets for his birthday this year, and the first game was against South Dakota on 12/23. Mom and Dad graciously agreed to let the kids sleep over, so we dropped them off, went to the game, and went back to our house childless, to wrap presents, and then sleep in a bit on Christmas Eve morning. I think that was hands-down Mike's favorite Christmas present.
We tried Christmas mass at Pax this year, since St. Mike's has always been so packed, and while we were relegated to the downstairs gymnasium, it didn't feel as chaotic and useless as past years in P.L. Steve stayed home with Laurel, and had dinner all ready to go when we arrived back home.
Favorite toys opened this year included Annalise's soccer cleats, ball, and shin guards. She looked so grown up when she tried it all on. Now we have to find a soccer league... Bennett handled the disappointment well of his Cars Piston Cup racetrack not working. Mike got it all set up, only to find it wasn't working. After depleting our supply of D batteries, I schlepped to the Super America in my pajama pants to buy their overpriced D batteries, and was disappointed to find that it was not a problem with batteries, but with the toy itself. Once we got it exchanged at Toys R Us the next week and set up all over again, all the kids had a lot of fun with it. Colin doesn't really have a standout favorite toy, although he probably enjoyed the goofball that Santa brought him, because it was immediately available, fun to touch, and ready to throw at unsuspecting family members not ready to catch it at close range/high velocity.
We had fun playing in our pajamas Christmas morning, and didn't head to Okabena until late afternoon. We had Christmas on Sunday morning, and headed back home on Sunday night. We had to get home, as A and B both had swim camp Monday through Thursday the last week of the year. It was fun to be at home that week, able to watch swimming lessons, and see so much of the kids and Mike, but of course I wasn't as productive as I would have liked.
I don't want to chance getting this post erased, as I've hit the "add photos" button several times without anything happening, so I will just get this posted, and add photos later. I really will, I promise!
1. NOVEMBER
Seventies Redeux- Danielle hosted an awesome 1970's themed party for Mark's 40th birthday. Mike had a full beard leading up to the party, and accessorized his polyester with a 1970's era mustache. It was pretty freaky, and while it was fun for the night, I was glad to see the razor come out the next day.
Thanksgiving was a wonderfully low-key event. Bridget and Steve were on their rotation with the in-laws, so it was just the five of us at Mom and Dad's. We had a great meal, and a really relaxing day in P.L.
2. DECEMBER
I was fortunate to have some PTO to burn, so it was nice taking off some days in early December for Christmas shopping (as well as the week of Thanksgiving). Thanks to G and G for watching the kids, so Mike and I could have a really productive day. We were able to swing through the old neighborhood and have a nice lunch at Blackbird, in its new location- 38th and Nicollet! I definitely would like to plan a shopping day sans kids next December.
Bridget and Steve joined us in celebrating Mike's birthday this year. We went to the new Psycho Suzy's for a drink, before heading to Jax for too decadent of a meal. I hope next time, Bridget will be able to enjoy her meal.
We had a really terrific Christmas this year. Colin really got into opening presents, and it was so fun to watch him rip off a corner of wrapping paper, and squeal in delight, as if he knew what he was opening. The tree went up the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the elves came to our house quite early this year, to check in and report back to Santa that we were ready for his visit. However, such an early visit from the elves made for a long wait until the Big Day.
I had fun making batches of cookies, so I was ready with a cookie plate whenever we went for a visit somewhere. I made cardamom cookies, almond triangles, molasses cookies, pumpkin cookies, double chocolate cherry cookies, and orange/dark chocolate dipped cookies. I really enjoyed the cardamoms and plan on making them again for sure, and the molasses cookies were also a hit.
I gave Mike a package of Gopher Basketball tickets for his birthday this year, and the first game was against South Dakota on 12/23. Mom and Dad graciously agreed to let the kids sleep over, so we dropped them off, went to the game, and went back to our house childless, to wrap presents, and then sleep in a bit on Christmas Eve morning. I think that was hands-down Mike's favorite Christmas present.
We tried Christmas mass at Pax this year, since St. Mike's has always been so packed, and while we were relegated to the downstairs gymnasium, it didn't feel as chaotic and useless as past years in P.L. Steve stayed home with Laurel, and had dinner all ready to go when we arrived back home.
Favorite toys opened this year included Annalise's soccer cleats, ball, and shin guards. She looked so grown up when she tried it all on. Now we have to find a soccer league... Bennett handled the disappointment well of his Cars Piston Cup racetrack not working. Mike got it all set up, only to find it wasn't working. After depleting our supply of D batteries, I schlepped to the Super America in my pajama pants to buy their overpriced D batteries, and was disappointed to find that it was not a problem with batteries, but with the toy itself. Once we got it exchanged at Toys R Us the next week and set up all over again, all the kids had a lot of fun with it. Colin doesn't really have a standout favorite toy, although he probably enjoyed the goofball that Santa brought him, because it was immediately available, fun to touch, and ready to throw at unsuspecting family members not ready to catch it at close range/high velocity.
We had fun playing in our pajamas Christmas morning, and didn't head to Okabena until late afternoon. We had Christmas on Sunday morning, and headed back home on Sunday night. We had to get home, as A and B both had swim camp Monday through Thursday the last week of the year. It was fun to be at home that week, able to watch swimming lessons, and see so much of the kids and Mike, but of course I wasn't as productive as I would have liked.
I don't want to chance getting this post erased, as I've hit the "add photos" button several times without anything happening, so I will just get this posted, and add photos later. I really will, I promise!
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