I've always been 30

Last night we visited Ellen in her new dorm room at the U of M. She is in the midst of Welcome Week running from one life size Jenga puzzle to the next. She has a 2 person suite so they share a common middle room but each have a small bedroom of their own. It's not bad! Jake was instantly transported back to his days at Luther reminding us all (again) that "they didn't even have cell phones back then...we had to pay .9 cents a minutes after 9 pm to call long distance". It's the 90's version of "up hill both ways". I think he kinda wishes he was a freshman there as it seems to fun now.

That's when I realized that I don't wish I was a freshman. Never did. I have always been 30, even when I was 12 or 18 or 24. Finally my life has caught up with my personality. I like being married, doing laundry, taking care of my baby, walking the dog, cleaning the bathtubs and going to bed early. I am good at being boring!! I have never been a big fan of partying, hitting the town, dating new people or whatever it is young people are supposed to do. Now if I can just stay 30 forever...

Teaching Nori to strip!

I'm talking about deep cleaning of cloth diapers, otherwise known as "stripping":

Step one: take off your diaper.
Step two: wash in hot water, no detergent
Step three: re-wash in hot water with 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish washing liquid
Step four: re-re-wash in hot water with 1 cup of baking soda
Step five: re-re-re- wash in hot water with vinegar
Step six: hang dry in sun

I used to be a Republican...

and I owed it all to Alex P. Keaton. I have always had a thing for nerds starting with APK and as you will recall, he was a huge Republican. So in the first grade I too was and I even had a bumper sticker on my wall that read President Reagan:Bringing America Back!

Last night we watched Barack Obama's speech and it was awesome. I hope that people keep an open mind, don't buy into the propaganda (no, he is not Muslim but even he if was...?) and for my dear conservative Christian friends remember that this party's policies are (in my OPINION) much in line with the teachings of Jesus to love and care for our brothers and sisters in need.

Makenna Ashlynn Ho

Parakeet has hatched!!

Just got a call from Andy... Baby Makenna Ho is here! She was born at 11:12 a.m. weighing 8lbs 4 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long! Missy is doing great...she was induced at 8:00 a.m. and had the baby 3 hours later, after 15 minutes of pushing (not as easy my labor with Nori but close) . Missy was already up riding the stationary bike in her room. Andy says Makenna looks just like baby Lauren so I will now also resist the urge to post picture of newborn Lo Lo and say "pretend it is Makenna". That did not go over so well when Liam was born.

I am fighting another urge to leave work and be the first one there to monopolize the baby. I will instead will go around supper time when the rest of God's creation ( a.k.a. the baby's real family) will be there and I will be lucky to even catch a glimpse of my new little BFF from across the crowded room.

Here is the second coolest thing...they almost announced the birth on my blog! In true idiot form, I had an unfortunate pic of Fat David up so Andy did not feel right revealing his daughter's birth in a comment on that particular post but they were checking my blog from the Delivery Room! Suck on that! Has your blog been checked in a Deliver Room? Or has a a babys' birth almost been announced to the world on your blog?

After a two year visit to the United States, Michelangelo's David is returning to Italy . . .

Sad state of affairs

So... only like 17 people have voted in my poll so that means I must like only have 17 readers. Thing is I voted like 5 times so that puts me down to 12 readers. Here's who I know reads this totally awesome blog that "gives me all my validation and self-worth":

1. Sabrina (mentor and fashion icon)
2. Sabrina's friend Heather of EO
3. my mom (birthed me)
4. Erica in AZ (hot & spicy MN)
5. Steve (FIL, sports enthusiast)
6. Charlie (BIL, beer enthusiast)
7. Sometimes Jake (but only to criticize what I write-husband)
8. Aunt Jill (aunt/Godmother)
9. Sarah, when she remembers (true love)
10. Missy (baby machine)
11. K and/or K (soul mates)
12. ?

If your name did not make my list, tell me!!! Do you really think Perez can name ALL his readers like I can? Is my time worth it? No not yet, but someday when I am discovered by some really rich news organization that loves photos of my kid and my retainer, I'll give you all a shout out.

"Holla at your boy" Name that show.

Bonus cuteness

Baby's 1st Great Minnesota Get Together

"Sheep in a Jeep. Wait a minute...??"

"I do look like Dopey!"

"Dad, after I eat the flower I'd like some deep fried Cherrios"

"Mom, is that what your teeth looked like before you wore your retainer?"

Happy 55th Birthday Mom!

I found my retainer.

Born in 93, lost in 97...found again in 2008. No, I did not even try to put it in.

Winona weekend

Just got home from a nice time in Winona. My Papa gave me a bunch to tomatoes from his garden... they taste like broken arm. Saw the whole fam on both sides, sang & had cake for Holly's 55th, got some bargains at the local garage sales (baby stuff: winter coat, snowsuit, hat, 5 pairs of pants, 4 sweaters and pj's for less than $10), had Steve's award-winning ribs, watched my mom almost die on said ribs and then get Heimlich'ed back to life by ER nurse, and went shopping at my mom's house for food & jewelery. All in all, a normal trip back home.

Look at what I found on Abby's Myspace page (I mean her "yourspace" page)

p.s. I am super totally irrevocably addicted to picnik.com ...you can tell.

See you, wouldn't wanna be you!

Our anniversary present was the BOB Revolution Running Stroller. It may sound unromantic but it is a win/win/win. Jake & Dorth get to exercise, Nori gets to go for a ride and I get an hour to myself.

for the grandparents

7 months old

I don't cheer.

I mean I have cheered but it was awkward and regrettable. I did not grow up playing or watching sports and honestly I don't even know the rules to basketball or tennis. I was raised by a single mom and the only ball we played catch with was made of malted milk.

The thing I hate the most is when parents cheer at childrens' sporting games. It makes me want to cringe and cry at the same time! It seems like so much pressure to put on your kids. I know it is intended to be encouraging but what about the kids on the other team who are losing? How do they feel? When Nori is in sports I am just going to hold up a sign that says "I love you no matter what"! And I will show it to ALL the kids, especially the unatheltic ones doing their nails on the sidelines. Sure, with a mom like me she is bound to suck but her self-esteem will be intact.

So if I seem like an unpportive, cold-hearted tennis wife, that's why...I just don't get it. Jake's team lost to Struve & Arevez's powerhouse but they were only one match shy of making Nationals in Arizona and me & Erica sitting by the Tuscon pool sipping pina coladas. Now Fantasy Football season begins...

For the record...

if anyone thinks I mean to imply that Sabrina is a "drop out loser", my apologies. I love her windy path to eventual librarian-ism and kitten heels. She is college grad, fyi, a smart cookie and a fashion icon. Really, don't take anything I say seriously.

Lazy Saturday

Actually after my large latte at Nina's it was not so lazy after all but at least I got to do what I want. Hear that world? Sometimes I just like to do WHAT I WANT! It's all about ME!

Ahem, let me regain my composure and say that Nori & I had coffee with Sabrina this morning and we got lots of juicy stories out of her like the one about the time she dropped out of bible college. And the other times she dropped out of the other bible colleges. And when she dropped out of jewelry making school. We enjoyed her irreverent company. Then the three of us went to Goodwill where I found some steals: Baby Gap snowsuit for $4, Anny Taylor Loft jeans $5, picture frame,$2 baby toys including See-N-Say for a total of $5 and some of those red burger baskets you get at malt shops for $0.66! I am going to start going there once a week to find all kinds of bargains. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...Reap Rewards of otheR people's Rubbish. Thanks to my three espresso morning I was amped to clean my house, do 5 loads of laundry and play with my baby.

BTW, Jake is in another tennis tourney this weekend. Please say a prayer that they LOSE as I will die if we have to go Arizona for more tennis. It's called a hobby, Latin for HOB= part time and BY= will not travel.


Tonight went went to Anna & Joe Decker's (Joe is Jake's cousin) reception. Congrats guys! They got married a few weeks ago in Montana. As usual I didn't get a pic of them but here are a few of the parties' main attraction.

Granma Liz plays smell the baby pit

Gramps Steve spilling a gallon of water on Nor as she devours Cheerios

Pink Saturday: week 1

I shall now join a new blog tradition called Pink Saturday.

Confession

I have a baby blanket. Actually, his name is Blankie and he's male. I have slept with him every night of my life but don't get the wrong idea people, we are just BFFs. He does not travel with me ever since he lost his passport (and due to old age). As you can see, he is ripped and the stuffing is clumped together in strands but he's beautiful in my eyes. He is especially nice in the summer when it's too hot for a real blanket and you just need something to cover your arms. Jake likes him too, he often to uses him but of course I freak out and reclaim him ASAP. Prior to today he had not been washed for three and half years because of his fragile state but he accidently got mixed in with the sheets and somehow survived the washing machine.

p.s. I also have a bear but that's a story for another day.

Reverse Psychology

Jake used reverse psychology on our dog tonight. When Dorothy tried to peer into the bathtub at Nori, he motioned for her to "get in" knowing she hates water. She bolted from the room.

CCE Kids picnic

None of my coworkers read my blog, that I know of. It gives me the freedom to a) talk about them behind them backs and b) update at work. No really I mean they probably do know about it ever since I was featured on msn.com

Anyway, tonight we had a fun picnic, a non-profit style potluck and no departmental funding. Nori was the littlest baby which was so cute but there were lots of toddlers and big kids there. Man, all my vegetarian coworkers can whip up a mean quinoa salad. Poor Jake... I asked him to not reveal where he really works but rather just say something like, oh I don't know, he is a freelance artisan, just to fit in.

My blog needs help

I just realized how sorry the state of affair is as I was surfing around to other real blogs. Not only does mine need to get more interesting but also much cuter. As someone wise once said:

"boring blog = boring person"
M. Seltz

Home Energy Audit

There is a good to quite good chance our EVOO and toilet will not freeze solid again this winter. Xcel came out yesterday to help us figure out what is wrong with our freezing ground floor and how to fix it. Now that we know our rim joists need insulation we just have to trick Jake's dad into helping us him do it.

Jimmy John's: the new singles bar

So after driving my wonderful, loyal husband Jake around town over the lunch hour, we stopped at Jimmy John's to refuel. I waited for him at the table with our subs while he ran to the restroom. He came back out, trying now to not to smile but obvioulsy he was. I asked him what was going on and he said that while he was waiting for the Men's Room to open up, a lady walked by and went into the Women' s Room and then peeked her head back out at him and said "I'm sorry I did a double take because I think you are cute...are you married?"

He claims he told her "yes" and she apologized and that was that.

Had I not had my mouth full of delicious turkey sub, I might have had a few words with her. But then again, I could tell that she also appreciates the cute nerd type of guy. Jake was really embarrassed but just in case he was interested, I encouraged him to "go for it... it's not too late" I said.

We kept waiting for her to come out so I could see this chick but she was in there for a long time. I should have said "Wow, wonder what's taking so long? You should go in there and see. Maybe she has severe intestinal issues...could be a nasty parasite. Plug your nose" but I didn't.

She finally came out and was a normal, mid-30s African American woman in horizontal stripes with big hair. Ah, stiff competition... we know Jake likes big-haired gals. As she left, we saw she drove a huge white SUV, "probably for all her kids" I told him.

What is going on? First the foot guy and now this? Is he giving off some kind of pheromone that is getting stronger with age? What am I going to do?

See food?

Another weekend is going by too quickly. I could mention that we had company in town or that we were way too busy. But, that's a given. I did do a few things that are blog-worthy including:

• baby swimming in the pool with cousin/Godmother Abby
• awesome bike ride along river & lakes with husbo
• followed by lattes at Fine Grind
• Angela's Noe’s baby shower/UNI college friend reunion
• homemade blueberry muffins!
• sweet workout with Jada's mom @ the JCC

The coolest event however involves food. Go figure (remember when people use to say that?). Also, remember when you were a kid and you didn't really enjoy food, your mom just made you eat your Taco John's veggies and now, as adults, we can’t stop eating?

Guess wHO made a seafood boil, complete with king crab legs, mussels, clams, shrimp and veggies. The company wasn't so bad either especially Li Li Mc, Lo Lo Ho and new pal David Loh just in from Michigan!

p.s.

Carolyn’s blueberry pie was wonderful, see before and after

The Truth About Bob Rock

Look closely and you can tell he is actually applying deodorant in the street. I had to put my baby down mid-bottle to to capture this shot.

4 letter name, it's NOT Mike:

• Terrance
• Mike
• Mike
  
• Scott
• Rumplestiltskin
• Steve
• Rick

Patti says the truth is his name is Jeff!

Bright career outlook:

• School bus driver
• Cook
• Garbologist
• Troll
• Maintenance guy
• Electrician

Patti says the truth is he works at Creative Lighting!

Green WI town where he lives:

• Eden Prairie
• Maplewood
• Hudson
• Shoreview
• South Saint Paul
• Hudson
• Green Bay
• Osceola

Patti says the truth is Luck, WI!

# of Kids:

• 3 kids
• 3 kids
• No kids, just an uncle
• 2 kids
• 3 kids
• 3 kids

Patti says the truth is he has one stepson (19) and one daughter (12)!

Patti says: he is going through a divorce and instead of driving home to Luck WI some nights he just sleeps in his parents' basement since his work place is very close by. Now we know. I feel kinda bad, sounds like he is going through a lot. I kinda liked him better when he was just washed up rocker dude showering at his parents on his way out to Sturgis.

So who wins? No was was even close! Should Charlie make the cookies for Jeff?

T Mc.B

Just a typical Tuesday morning for Tootie McBootie. Red checked top? Check. Baby Daisy Dukes? Check. Smiling for mommy? Check. Notice Bob Rock's van in the background.