Adios!

Our first South American trip has begun! Nori is being cared for by "Gamma & Gampa" but we will miss her terribly! Don't worry, I WILL bore you with all the details and photos once we get home! Everyone stay safe and healthy while we are gone (Mom, I am talking to you!).

Love you all!

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A Peruvian Preview

On August 29th, we fly to Lima via along layover in Miami for a brief overnight stay and then fly out to Arequipa the next morning. In Arequipa we are staying at the adorable Casa Arequipa B & B for two nights while exploring all the local sights, restaurants and cultures of Peru's "White City", the county's second largest.

From there we fly in to Cusco, elevation11,000 feet, to tour historic buildings and enormous Catholic churches built on Inca ruins, view Incan art, and try new culinary adventures such as cuy (roasted Guinea pig) and ceviche. Did I mention you can get an hour long massage for $15?

After two nights at the Hotel Rumi Punku in Cusco, we will trek to Machu Picchu

The rest of our trip will be in the Sacred Valley for some R&R and Ross & Yesika's wedding at our resort, RioSagrado, just outside of Urumbamba. We fly home on Sept 7th, perhaps with an appreciation for pisco sour?

Can't get enough of ourselves...

New pics!

8 Switch

Winona Daily News does an article on my brother's band...

State Fair 2009

The Gopher calls...

Guess what? I sorta have a new job!

You know how I work .80 (4 days a week)? Well, I will keep my regular job at .50 and will be working .30 on a launching a pilot of a brand new advising center for students in transition (think transfer students, students not admitted to their first choice of major, undecided students, etc.). The head honchos put a call out to current advisers and career counselors from across the University to apply and I was one of 6 selected to develop and implement this high profile pilot program. It will require lots of research on best practices and reading through the relevant literature (yes folks, there are scholarly journal articles on advising), but it will offer me a chance to be a part of something new on campus while helping our under-served student population. Cool, huh?

Georgies

Good news, we will soon have two Georgies, just like the one lost at the airport. The search is over, a three clone army of little monkey friends will march! Let's hope they all pass inspection!

I guess I have a really bad lisp?

BTB, the word "crotch", feathery or not, is now banned from my blog.

Happy 1st Birthday Makenna!

Wanted Dead or Alive

If you or anyone you know owns this particular shirtless "Georgie" (originally sold by Kohl's Cares for Kids- plush Curious George Monkey), we will buy it from you! Nori had one she loved which got lost in Chicago. We hoped she might just forget about him, but she begged, "I want Georgie! I want Georgie!" so we replaced it with a semi look-alike (circa a 1970 gang fight) but now she is insisting on having Geogie sleep with her at daycare, too. One broke-down Georgie is just not enough. Help!

Happy Birthday Holly!

I love you, Momsie!

Dorothy's Special Day

Don't be confused, Dorth is the smeller in this pic

Poor Doro has been feeling neglected lately as evidenced by her eating of carpet, tank tops, Little Nutbrown Hare's bunny ears, Raggedy Andy's shirt and red yarn hair, a down comforter, etc. So, we made some special time at the airport dog park just for her...

So much space, so little poop!

Norelle does a great airplane impression. Vrooom!

Sisters in pink

We were so pleased with our wonderful canine parenting that we quickly locked Dorothy in her kennel and headed off the DQ with friends to congratulate ourselves!

Planning their order...

A thin mint blizzard girl

A cherry dip cone girl

and a chocolate baby cone woman!!

Birthday Bonanza! 85, 35 and 1!

Yum, more cake?

We had THREE birthday parties this weekend, how fun is that? Now, we accidentally napped through most of the first one so I don't have any pictures but...

Our neighbor, Jean Oliver, as in Peaches & Jean (sounds like peaches and cream...her cocker spaniels' name is Peaches) turned 85 on Friday so the whole neighborhood gathered to celebrate! It was like a mini-block party in my driveway (so yeah, it was kinda awkward that we weren't there but the party started next door in O'Brien's yard and spilled over into our driveway). Jean will surely live to 120, she is that active. We thought she was, like, 70.

The dads and their new ladies...

Then, our dear, hairy friend Shawn turned 35 so we spent an evening in his backyard wishing Shawn a Happy B-day. Both Baby Nova and Baby Anna were there, plus big kids, Gavin and Grace. We had a great weather to sit outside and talk with old friends! Can't wait for Susie's wedding for our next gathering plus, I hear a a fall Girls Night In is in the works?

Happy Birthday to me!

Finally, wild thing/future Nobel prize winner Makenna celebrated her 1st birthday party complete with giant purple cupcakes, balloons, and lots of rowdy kids having fun! I can not believe how fast this year has passed...we hardly got to witness Makenna's babyhood! But, we plan to get back on track monitoring her toddler days step-by-step and tooth-by-tooth. We love you, KennaBear!!



Life is good, let's celebrate!

sleeping beauty -19 months

My baby can read!

Well, maybe not but she can memorize...see for yourself.

My shoes in the news

I have to agree with this article on CNN that MBTs do NOT replace going to the gym, just ask my buns. And hips. The only reason I wear these shoes is because they are so fashionable, er scratch that, is because I have foot issues and need the rocker sole to redistribute pressure along my "insensate, high, rigid-arched" foot.

I have seen Dr. Paul Langer (quoted in this article) and every other podiatrist/foot specialist in the Twin Cities. In my experience, the podiatrists mainly prescribe pricey, custom orthodics or give cortisone shots but the specialists who actually helped me heal (heel?) include a chiro who did transverse friction massage to break up the scar tissue on my plantar fascias, a foot surgeon who diagnosed my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, the pain clinic who performed the lumbar sympathetic blocks and then a D.O. who helped me find the rocker bottom soles. And my main man God, who kept me semi-sane and led me to the right people!

I am thankful everyday to be back on my feet and (mostly) pain-free!!

Mint Chocolate Chip

Sunday Summary

Sunday morning, post blueberry pancakes, using Ellen's mac laptop. I so want a laptop!

Anyway,it was a  great weekend, very productive!!!! We got my mom's new room set up, clothes, dressers, lamps, etc moved and arranged. Then we moved Papa's dressers and clothes into his new room on the main floor and organized everything. This is just Phase I of 20 phase move as there are millions more boxes to fill and trips to Goodwill to make. At least each of their bedrooms are finished so there should be a couple peaceful zones in the house. Major thanks to Jake, Steve, Charlie and Liz for all the help!!!

In addition to all the moving tasks and underwear folding, we enjoyed some fun times like  a Rocco's pizza party on Friday and porkchops on the deck overlooking the bluffs  last night. Nori had a blast playing with a Little Tykes dollhouse found in the basement from the days of Ellen's youth and swinging on her swing outside.

Heading home soon but happy so much has been accomplished!

True Story (part II)

If I was on Twitter, I could have sent the following tweet today "Folding 77-year-old grandfather's underpants. Both boxers and briefs"

True story

I'm in Winona helping someone clean out her van for a move tomorrow. You know that you have the clean out the van before you can more cram more stuff into it, right? Oh, you didn't know that either?

Here's what I found:

• 3 pairs of pliers
• 9 pairs of glasses (3 sun, 6 "cheaters")
• 2 chain saws
• orange extension cord
• leaf blower
• 2 canes (plus spare pack of cane tips)
• gallon of bleach
• 4 back support cushions
• white lace doily
• 5 coats or sweatshirts
• box of garbage bags
• quilt in dry cleaning bag
• florist supplies for weddings
• 2 ice scrapers
• measuring tape and a yard stick
• 3 boxes of glass vases, various sizes
• beach towel
• dress sandals
• 5 umbrellas
  
• khaki pants
• mouse trap
• 3 pack of fuses
• winter boots
  
• dog treats, unopened
• cassette tapes
• green rabbit's foot
• Snuggle dryer sheets key chain
• black winter scarf & hat
• 10 gift bags
• roasting pan
• stock pot
• Christmas lights (new in box)
  
• 10 books, various titles, 2 on O.J. Simpson
• a "grabber"
• new roll of wrapping paper
  
• 2 Christmas gifts, unopened for Grandma Sylvia
• Fall colored silk flowers and decorative leaves
• broom (for snow, when scrapers fail?)
• medical records and personal papers
• misc. pennies, gum, paper clip, lint and leaves
• Missing: the second row of seats?
  

I would like to state that I passed up the following invitations this weekend: an entire weekend at the cabin on the lake with Ho's & McIntyres, Susie's bachelorette party on Lake Minnetonka, and a pre-Peru BBQ party. Nominations for Daughter of the Year welcome.

Book recommendations (part II)

I received many good suggestions on Facebook but for a comprehensive list of tried and true favorites, here is the NPR Summer Reads list. I have read many of these and most, but not all, were good. I really love memoirs right now so maybe that is why.

Anyway, lots going on these days that I will post about later (like job stuff) including a work picnic tonight for CCE kids then the Seltz fam splashes into Cascade Bay tomorrow before heading to Winona to help Gramsie move in to Papa Michael's abode. It's finally summer!

Book recommendations needed!

Really good books ONLY. I am going to be spending somewhere in the neighborhood of 14+ hours in the Miami airport with layovers so I need to be mesmerized. Wizards and vampires need not apply. Help!

Blah blah blah

I have been reading about Machu Picchu, the famous Inca ruins only recently discovered in the Andes of Peru, all overgrown with moss and jungle weeds (technical term). Anthropologists still don't know exactly what the purpose of Machu Picchu was or why it was forgotten. Fast forward to the future, like a million years from now when everything modern today is in ruins. Some future explorer discover the Mall of America, all broke down and blasted. What will they think of this mall? Will they marvel at the scope and wonder how people in olden times (us now) constructed such a monstrosity without the use of laser building technology (something awesome in the future yet to be invented)? Deep.

Oh, what a weekend.

Speaking of malls, me and mini-me tried to do some power shopping for Peruvian essentials at Rosedale but somehow came home with four pair of 3T fleece pajamas and some darling owl barrettes. Nori entertained shoppers mall-wide with her enthusiastic exclamations of "Oh, cuuuuute.... CUUUUTE....oh, cuuute!!!!!", especially admiring a plain white boys button up shirt that she thought was something really special. On the home front, we need to serve meat more often because any time we have animal protein, she freaks out with joy yelling "CHICKEN!!!!! CHICKEN!!!!" or "BEEF!!!!!!" like she has been stranded on that Lost island since birth. BTB, Fridays are wonderful because it is Trash Day and I make a point to overhype the arrival of the dump truck, narrating every last movement of the garbage man, yelling "P.U. garbage" and finally screaming "THANK YOU" out the window then ducking. It is the highlight of her Fridays and she loves to tell everyone about "garbage, truck, dump, P.U., bye bye!" Can you believe I was even pre- screened for this whole parenting gig? Like, they knew how I am and still let me have her?

Today we talked Daddy into skipping tennis (it was raining) so we could all have breakfast out at Day By Day Cafe and then stroll the Farmer's Market. Picked up some corn-on-the-cob and red pepper/feta hummus so mission accomplished. We are now busy cleaning rooms that get little attention, like Noris' room which has not been swept in ages. I organized her closest, rearranged her drawers and even displayed her stuffies to be adorably/creepily staring at her while she sleeps in her crib. We should be doing other stuff and seeing people but us mofos need some r & r at home so here we sit. At least I am not napping, go me(gan)!

The big action tomorrow is our second big visit from the Early Growth and Development people (no relation as to why we are cleaning but it is good timing). We already answered the 50 page questionnaire (each) and swabbed our mouths for DNA samples, so tomorrow they do the activities with Nori to test her attachment style, personality traits, extreme intelligence, etc. Jake & I take turns participating while the other one answers tons more questions on the laptop. What we won't do to further the social sciences by anwering the age-old question of nature vs. nurture. Or, for a $100. Do you remeber last time? We just love the camera.

Dorothy is in the dumps...

Dorothy has been coping with a serious bout of Post-Cabin Depression. You see while at the lake she remembers that life can be so carefree, running through the wilderness just like her ancestors used to do. Then, when she returns home to the city, she refuses to pee in her tiny little yard and in desperation, eats every inanimate object she can find while we are at work. I consulted the DSM-IV (canine edition) and clearly she has a classic case of seasonable PCD. I almost ordered a 5150 hold after she ate some of the carpet but decided against it as the newest literature suggests prescribing confinement therapy and long walks until her symptoms ease.

Drive to daycare jam...

This song makes Nori smile!

8 Years!

Family date and visiting friends...

Impressed by enormous spoon and "apple"

14 years ago yesterday was the anniversary of our (Jake & I) first date. And Tuesday will mark 8 years of "pure bliss" since we were married. A real date was in order so brought our little Nori along for the night and she was an angel (really, she was so good, we were shocked). We toured the Sculpture Gardens wondering why we don't get "art", chased the ducks, posed for photos and enjoyed a great Malaysian meal at Pennisula.

Someone was THRILLED to see the ducks

Ghost mom takes family portrait- see, I get art!

Today we headed to Lakeville for Jake's final tennis match which did not go so hot. BTB, this thrilled me because that means no finals which means happy me(gan).

Not quite sure which one is Daddy...

There he is, mid-stride in the white t-shirt and hat!

While tennis was in session, we met up with Chelsy and Baby Sophia. Sophia looks so much like Chelsy it's uncanny. This is especially weird because she is adopted (not really, but what if? ). This was the first time I have seen Sophia and she is already three months old. In other baby news, I also got to meet Baby Anna this week and see Katie but unfortch I don't have a snapshot of that encounter. Both girls of Winona mommas are beautiful and doing well!

Chelsy and Chelsy 31 years ago

Yes, I let my daughter eat a Zone bar. I am hoping it was healthier than a donut...

l.i.am in the house

Yesterday was a jam-packed day. We saw the hand doctor who said everything looks great and hopefully we do not need to return for 4 months. Then we went to visit Aunt Jill in Shoreview, helped her set up a Facebook page and played with her frogs. From there we met my former work friends (not former friends) Sarah and Phil & Barb at D'Amicos on Grand for a catch-up lunch and a play-by-play of every single photo has Phil ever taken.

Liam on a blueberry binge

Later than night while Jake was our dominating at the tennis tourney, little Liam Mc joined us for few hours while his parents when out on a date (I heard they made out all night). It was fun to have a friend over as the two babes enjoyed dinner together, tackling the the dog, pushing things around the house, taking a co-ed bath/splashfest and then, crashing for the night leaving me on the couch with some Fro-Yo watching Whale Wars.

"You push that chair and I will push Mickey! Let's try to ram them into as many things as we can!"

"Uh Norelle... BTB your mom is a freak"

No one noticed anything out of the ordinary. Whew!