Things we did this weekend...

Jammed my baby's bottle into ball-pounder, repeatedly

Took naps. I sleep with my friends now.

Had 1st DQ of season/life

...with awesome grandparents!

Tried mom's new spaghetti "recipe", Ragu with frozen broccoli

Not pictured: lattes with Sabro, dropping college tuition at Costco, swimming with Momma at JCC, TickleFest 2009, Dad fixing drapery rods, 6 Feet Under Marathon and five loads of laundry.

Baby Stellan

Please pray for Baby Stellan (whom I do not know but thanks to his mom's blog, I feel like I do). Stellan is very sick with a bad heart.

You can read his whole story here: http://www.mycharmingkids.net

Travelocity!

I am so excited! I just got the green light to apply for a Study Abroad Site Visit! "What is this?" you ask. Well, it's lengthy application process to be selected for a free trip to either: a) London (in the fall) or b) my first choice, New Zealand (next spring) with the U of M to visit and learn more about what students experience on their Study Abroad trips. I have two weeks to write a "can't say no" essay so wish me luck!

I'm hippy.

Not the tie-dyed kind rather the bones digging into the waistband kind. I'm 31, it was bound to happen. Despite the sporadic workouts, all my dress pants (which sadly were purchased back in grad school in 2002) no longer fit. I need to buy new pants that are both bigger and more in-style

You know who bothers me? Octomom. Apparently I have been following her drama more than others because some of my coworkers didn't even know she is called Octomom. Anyway, what really irks me is that so many private citizens have been generously (and stupidly) sending her money to help with the babies but she has recently been photographed spending a $1,000 at MAC Cosmetics and shopping at various expensive boutiques in L.A. for herself. How selfish and wrong is that? Infuriating!

I cleaned my office! April is registration month and boatloads of impressionable students will be coming through seeking my wisdom so I thought I could hose the coffee stains off my desk and scrape the yogurt splatter off the wall just for them. Fun fact about working in academia with Ph.Ds is that philosophers and scholars are quoted constantly. Do people at your work quote Socrates, Plato, Erik Erickson or the new favorite, Henry Adams? They do in mine. Too bad I don't smoke a pipe.

Happy Birthday Aunt Jill!

The Hat from Down Under

Our friend Justin who currently lives in Australia sent Jake this cool hat from the Australia Open. Even though it got held up in Customs, it's here now and a big hit!

I forgot how good I look in bike shorts!

P is for parvo

Do you ever get really anxious, abnormally anxious, for no good reason? Normal stresses just feel so overwhelming that you have to crawl into your bed and tell people you are sick with parvo? I had one of those weeks.

Papa & Nori have a fake sneezing contest. It was a tie.

"Thanks for all the new clothes, Gramsie!! I don't know why Momma thinks you need to stay on a budget!"

Since you asked...my main mom, Hol, was here this weekend. I could tell T.McB really missed her as she showed off all weekend for her Gramsie. I introduced Hol to a massage at Santosha and she is hooked. We did a whole lot of nothing but supper over at Tracy's with the whole family was Hengel-tastic. Jake & I snuck away Friday night to see I Love You, Man which was worth the ridiculous price of admission. We are newly converted Jason Segal fans. On Saturday Jana & Tyler were in town so we ordered in girl pizzas from Pizza Luce and then we all took the dogs on a very long walk. Soon we will be off to Target to purchase new spoons. Only 7.5 short years ago we had 12 and now we have a measly 3, plus the oddball ones I borrowed from work.

It's poetic posts like this that make you wish you had a blog ,too.

Lucky dog!

Doodie McBootie

I would like to dedicate this St. Patty's Day to my dog, Dorothy. We were lucky to find you with your BB lodged in your tummy all the way from that farm in Kentucky. We are also lucky you hacked up that baby wipe and didn't just die with it lodged in your esophagus. And last night I was lucky you came home after you wandered off while I was visiting with all the neighbors who I haven't seen since October.

Leftovers: asparagus, steak chunk, refried beans, turkey taco meat & black beans, wallet fillet and porkchop tidbit

Not related but this is a picture of Jake's supper last night. I laughed so hard at his pathetic plate as he scrounged for leftovers in the fridge. Also, Nori ate his asparagus so he didn't even get those.

Yoga Podcasts

This is not Sarah and we never do this pose...

Below is a link to several yoga sessions taught by super yoga teacher Sarah. She used to teach here at the U of M and we would always go to her class over lunch but she recently moved to NYC to be with her boyfriend. Love ruins all. Donwload HERE!

The resemblance is uncanny!

Take look at this photo of me as a baby that my mom sent me. Then look at the one of Nori taken last week. Can you believe it...we are soul mates!

Megan playing in old farm house on the prairie in 1978

Norelle riding Seabiscuit in 2009

Sunny Sunday

Goldfish + sippy = good to go

Or so I see, I haven't been outside yet but I am about to leave for BodyScuplt class. Hopefully, we can take a family walk later, too! We had another busy weekend! Auntie Ellen came over Friday night and we had tacos with gauco. Saturday we just hung out as Nori was in a happy mood and we got outside to stomp through some puddles. Last night Jake & I watched the movie Milk about gay-activist in the 70's Harvey Milk in San Francisco...it was a really good history lesson. This morning Casey, who just bought his own marimba, came over for a big breakfast of bacon, eggs & blueberry muffins. Now it is nap time, workout time and reading time for us Seltzes so we have to make the most of it!

Zzzzzz

BTB, I am looking to get some of that prescription ADHD stimulant medication on the black market...know of anyone? I have to keep going this week as it is non-stop at work and next weekend Gramise Hol and her dad, Papa Michael, will be in town to visit and Jana & Tyler just called to say the are coming too for a wedding dress fitting/Ikea shopping so there will be many people to visit with!

Mom, I need some bail money...

Congratulations Abby!

My darling cousin/Goddaughter just got the lead in her high school musical production of Beauty and the Beast!!! She is Beast? No, she is Belle! Only a sophomore but more sophisticated than most ladies I know, including me, she will rock this musical with her golden alto voice! Her only concern... "Mom, what about my academics?". So proud of you, Ab!

Whales, hockey and more...

As you may know, I pretty much exclusively have terrible dreams especially reoccurring ones about whales. Ever since we saw humpbacks in Hawaii (which was so awesome), I oft dream about them. Usually they are drowning someone or eating them with their big, biscuity bodies and necks full of barnacles. Last night, I dreamt that as we were watching the whales beach themselves, a reverse tsunami struck sucking my brother Casey out to sea. It was horrific and I woke myself up exhausted from crying & grieving for him. Freud?

Today is Jake' annual Hooky Hockey Day where he and bunch of WF co-workers take the day off to play. They have breakfast at the Louisiana Cafe, then a quick stop for a Bloody Mary, then straight to lunch for Coney Islands at the Gopher Bar before heading to the hockey tournament for few hours to work up an appetite for steaks at Mancini's. And you said those suits don't know how to have fun.

So tonight I think my baby girl & I will hit the town as well. Maybe a little Red Balloon Bookstore and then a girls dinner out at D'Amicos? Who knows, we might have time for mom & baby pedis at Juut? BTB, the walking is very rare, she prefers to crawl but has started saying "neat" in addition to "cool" and "oh, wow". Hopefully, she will learn a noun someday.

Summer is somewhere...

Yeeess, I am a planner. And how! But, I think I also know how to give up control when it's out of my hands (Adoption anyone? Hol's 9 month hospitalization saga? Chronic foot disease? Living with Jake for 9 years?). Luckily for you and me, my summer is not out of my hands yet so I think I will try to stay in control of this one for now. Shoot me.

It's fun to dream of summer, especially when it means getting away! I spent some time today getting my calendar organized and planning some summer family excursions to Duluth, Chicago, Jake's family's cabin on Rock Lake and exploring the idea of that possible trip to Peru which would require all the stars and moons to align. How blessed are we to have opportunities to spend time with our family & friends, travel and enjoy this life we have been given?

If you want to book me for a weekend, I still have some dates available and my fees are quite competitive. All of this optimism and organization in one biscuit-like body.

Nori walks!

I am sure it was her dad's deep, manly voice coaching her to "walk! walk! walk!" which did the trick...

Sunday morning

Sisters

Another weekend has passed us by but not without a fight. On Thursday night my Aunt Jill & Abby babysat Nori so I could workout while Jake was at Manny's for business. They still do that these days? Get this: Jill is my Godmother, I am Abby's Godmother, Jill is also Abby's Godmother and Abby is Nori's Godmother. Jinx.

On Friday Nori & I walked up to the library for storytime which was all about frogs (although they left out the part where you have to kiss a few before you find your husband). That afternoon we went to visit Papa Bill & Nana but for some reason Nori was really scared of her Papa. It might be the beard but she was upset and even pointed at him crying and said "NO". I felt really bad but I am sure it's just a stage...or else she is still mad at him too for skipping my First Communion! She had fun seeing Nana, MJ and her magic tricks & Uncle Joe.

I will walk when I want to!

Saturday was good day to clean and get some exercise before our friends came over for a pizza playdate. The babies were everywhere but so so cute, especially when Makenna & Liam held hands and Nori gave them all kisses goodbye. Andy kept us laughing with his clever one liners which is good because he says we need some humor and rum to get us through during this Depression. And apparently, Lo Lo saw someone famous at the grocery store because when this old, gray-haired guy was in her way, she said "beep beep, Santa Claus". I am so proud

Makenna to Liam: "I heard you are really Scottish..."

"Liam, quit crawling before someone sees you! I heard that the longer we just sit here looking adorable, the more attention we get"

We are trying this new thing at our house where we start doing everything an hour earlier because then we will have more daylight. Today is, ahhh, family day, a day to relax and cuddle. As soon as Jake wakes up, he will cook us breakfast and practice his runway walk in prep for his modeling gig at the CFA Fashion Show at the end of the month. I am coaching him to smile with his eyes.

Zoolander and his baby girl

Baby got back

New: on my feet

Finally, I own shoes with a back! Okay, they may not have a top but they are brown which is a treat. Be honest, do you think these shoes will go with my bridesmaid dress for Jana's wedding? Maybe I will just surprise her with them?

Meggie's Favs

Two things to tell you about!

Santosha
I discovered this adorable little massage place right near my house on Selby/Snelling called Santosha. You walk down this little alley (which reminds me of the store Rand went to buy the mogwai in Gremelins) and there is a tiny little house where the business is located. It's about the size of a small apartment and super cute! Jake gave me a gift certificate for a massage for my birthday so on Day 3 of my neckache, I thought should use it. It was a great massage, reasonably priced and local so I think I could be hooked. Why do I feel like I am stimulating the economy single handedly? I could hit up all the businesses on that corner... massage, coffee, shopping at Patina but I think I will skip the tattoo place. Actually we, like everyone else, are in major saving mode but I like to dream...

Freaks & Geeks
I'm little late to the game on this one but yes, Freaks & Geeks is truly the best show that was ever cancelled! So clever and hilarious, you have to get it on DVD. It aired in '99 but was about some high school students in the 80's and it is just so good!

Breaking news!

I found a pretty clam! Still looking for a thin biscuit...

Okay...

Last night Jake gave me the worst compliment I have ever received. I was whining about something so he said absentmindedly, "you are pretty as a clam, thin as a biscuit". A clam! A biscuit! What am I supposed to do with this information?

Nori's new tattoo

I have to admit, tattoos make me want to cry. I see them and my heart aches with regret for the skin now covered in ink. I'm sorry, I know, you probably have one! I actually have a reoccurring nightmare that I got a tattoo, usually on my face, and am horrified only to wake up so relieved it's not true. It's not that I don't appreciate the art form, I mean I have seen a Miami Ink marathon or two (Hi Ami) but it's just so permanent and nothing looks good forever. We saw some sad ones on vacation that didn't stand the test of time. People gain weight, tan and otherwise stretch out. I know, I am so uncool...what else is new. My daughter will someday learn of my tattoo phobia and get one, probably one that says "MOM", just send me into a grand depression.

Only in Iowa...

The layers of scum on this sink needed my attention

Back from my weekend with Jana...we had a wonderful time! Yes, the driving sucked. I didn't think I was going to make it because I was afraid I would shoot myself halfway. But, I made it and got to catch up with Jana and her parents Cheryl & Jim Friday night when we tried this cute little place called the B&B for some yummy fish tacos. Just so happens this restaurant was right next to one of the gyms that turned Jana into a buff, carb-free superstar so she had to pose with herself.

You too can look this great with only 6hours of exercise a day and no real food!

Saturday we cleaned (and cleaned), shopped and baked but were ready for a great bachelorette party. Nine women gathered to play actual FUN games, eat cheese, fruit, appetizers and open gifts before being chauffeured to see Legally Blonde (which was super cute,btb)! The dueling pianos afterward were fun yet too raunchy but Jana got some time on stage in the spotlight in honor of her party. It was fun to see Tyler's new Wellness Center and meet his funny parents, Deitte & Obe.

I called my outfit "the naughty librarian..".

So shy...

Last night I only got 4 hours of couch sleep before making the horrific drive back but my homecoming hugs & kisses, lunch and nap cheered me right up! Meanwhile back at the ranch, Jake & Nori whooped it up. It appears they played with every toy in the house, read every book after wearing every piece of clothing they both own while Dorothy shed ever hair on her body. Jake said that at swimming lessons Nori actually stood at the edge of the pool and lunged forward in his arms, her version of a jump. So cute!