thirty dos

Party peeps

Cake by MelRo

My birthday was great, thanks for the all calls/messages! We stopped at Caribou on way to Jake's check-up, then I did a double header at the YMCA for BodyPump & BodyFlow, came home to make soup for the week, opened presents ...got a Mino Flip so beware of more videos, watched Hoarders while Nori napped, and then had a birthday party with our BFF's! Andy Ho, my surrogate dad, made wonderful spaghetti & meatballs! The kids played so well together, it is amazing to see them form friendships too! Thanks everyone for making it a special day!

It's my birthday!

A bunch of Stinkerbells

Beautiful flowers just for moi!



window to the soul

Jake is recovering well, he is able see 20/20 although some things are still fuzzy which is normal, his vision should improve for the next 4 weeks. He was lucky to have the head of the U's Ophthalmology Department who is a M.D./Ph.D do his surgery, right before he went off to teach the docs at Mayo. We feel like he was in good hands!

32 years fiesty!

How is it that I now need both Botox and Proactive? Who cares, I am happy & healthy, love my family & friends, and write the most underrated blog ever. May every year be this blessed! And someday I will make this list!

What's the flap?

This man cuddled a puppy stuffie today

What did you do today? I saved a life! Okay, not really but I watched Jake get his corneal flaps Interlased open and then his corneas lased to correct his vision. It was cool! The laser actually smoked and the whites of his eyes turned super bloodshot. He is doing fine so far, just tired from the one puny Valium. He can already see across the bedroom where he couldn't before. His flaps were really stuck down, I was super afraid they would rip while the docs tried to pry and scrape them up. We go back tomorrow at 7 am for a re-check. Thanks for the well wishes!

The Princess sleeps...

Like you care

They cut out our floor so we have a faux floor, complete with poke-y staples in our kitchen until the end of Feb. They Ziploc'ed off the door so we get to go through plastic to enter the kitchen from the dining room which is kinda neat, very Dexter. Pictures to come. Sick of coming home from work to meet with floor guys, estimators, insurance guys, and dopey appraisers.

Jake has Lasik tomorrow (I told him ask for extra Valium and Xanax). Nori and I are taking him so I am preparing for a long morning in the waiting room and hopefully an even longer family nap that afternoon. We will miss his sport goggles.

Norelle is now officially a WILD CHILD!! Some people might say she is in her "terrible two's" but that is so negative, she is just wildly developing her independence and opinions. I am missing all the mellow lap cuddle time we used to have as she would rather dig through drawers to find dangerous items, pull out my make-up, and take out her whole zoo animal by animal to scatter across the house. At mealtimes she will now push her plate away and say, "No like it...want sumpin' else!" (which BTB, she does NOT get). Oh child!

Finally, is it too early to start packing for Mexico? I mean, it's not like we are wearing our shorts and swimsuits right now anyway. It's not? Okay, then I am doing that this weekend! Everyday, when I am marching across campus in the bitter wind, I think to myself "hot sun...tropical breeze... guacamole... aqua waters...sand in my crack" to get me through. I can NOT wait! I only wish we were going for 10 days or 2 weeks or until May!

Belated Birthday Wishes!

Happy Birthday Linda! 1/25

Happy Birthday Wendy 1/27

Summer 2010 MBT Collection

If you HAD to wear a pair, which would you choose?

The bright side...

As you know, I am a huge sports fan so no one was more devastated than me when the Vikings lost last night. However, I'm over it and happy for the Saints because maybe now Reggie will finally re-propose to my role model, humanitarian Kim Kardashian, if he wins the Super Bowl! Bush & Tush Forever!

Who dat Viking cheerleader?

Dancing to Diego

True story

I attended a class today called BodyVive at the Eagan YMCA with my friend Ang. Normally, I go to the Midway Y (represent!) but this class is not offered enough. While it's a low-impact, foot-friendly class, I still can get a great work out, especially when I do BodyPump first. Well, the demographics at Midway are mixed in age (and body mass index) but at the Eagan Y it is all older people with a high percentage of older men in sweatsuits. Pause for one moment to imagine this: the glute track. Old guys on their backs, pelvic thrusting, glute squeezing to to the Pussycat Dolls song, Don't Cha. "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was HOT like me?Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?". If only their granddaughters could get a video clip for their blogs.

Nori was doing some creative play today with her Mommy, Daddy & Baby doll figures. As part of her dollhouse, there is a toilet and Mommy and Daddy were arguing over who got to use the toilet first. Daddy would sit down and Mommy would say "me first, have to poop" but Daddy would not get up. Sometimes Baby would get a turn but it seems Daddy was the one who got the most prized seat time. For the record, we have three toilets.

Off to our new friends' house for dinner tonight while Aunt Elle babysits. Not only do these people also live on Laurel Avenue (east) and go to Bloom, but I just found out the wife teaches cooking classes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's like God heard my prayers...

Happy 5th Birthday Tovi!

Happy Birthday Papa Michael!

78 years sexy!

boring news

True, that man is not my father. Or is he? Only Hol knows for sure. He was a guy at the Egg & I and from afar he looked exactly like my dad, especially when he was not smiling. Jake forbid me from going to talk to him but I had to get a pic. I went up to him and said " You look exactly like my dad...but I know you are not". He was nice. And with his real kids. And Polish even!

The ladies of our house have been struck with the stomach flu, first T.McB, then myself. Two separate nights of miserable puking followed by a day of queasy rest. We are now back on our feet with more sculpted abs. The night Nor was sick, Gramise was here (THANK YOU) to help. The poor girl threw up all over herself, multiple times, and then said, "what happened?" in the saddest voice ever. And on my night, Jake tickled my back in between episodes. It was a good reminder that I am for sure getting an epidural at our next adoption.

In other news, our house is getting warmer. Our contractor discovered that one entire wall had ZERO installation! When he inserted a camera into the wall he saw...daylight! In essence, our downstairs bathroom was like a fishing shack, walls but no insulation, plus cracks to the outside. So that wall is now insulated, as is our dishwasher, addition attic and various other leaks. We are waiting to find out if insurance will replace our entire wood floor, resurface it, or just resurface the kitchen. I would like to change the stain color so I am hoping for the works. Finally, our basement project should begin in mid-Feb and be done this spring. It's a much needed improvement to make the first floor more livable in the winter and to give Hotel Seltz an extra stateroom, bathroom, storage and living room. Plus, when the project is done, we may host a college student from abroad to bring some culture into our home!

My Dad

So if I was going to make a big poster for my dad's birthday, which photo should I use?

Please vote!

Photo A

Photo B

Birthday Girl

What my darling daughter is saying and doing at the age of two:

• Confuses Obama and with the abominable snowman (insert joke here)
• Worries about sharks in the ocean but reminds herself, "I not scared, he's a nice guy"
• Wakes up "grumpy" and yells "I NEED a hug, I NEED a kiss, I NEED a cuddle!"
• Likes to be clean, alway wiping hands and face
• Loves to eat bacon, anything with syrup, and granola bars
• Shakes her bottom when dancing
• Cares for her babies and tells them "It's okay, don't cry, almost there"
• Not afraid to reprimand then comfort Dorothy
• Rides the Choo Choo Daddy around the house
• Would probably be potty trained if we were more consistent
• Favorite meal is porkchops with more porkchops
• A loyal fan of The Little Einsteins and "D-D-D-D-Dora...and Boots!"
• Puts on her makeup alongside mommy with a "mop" (i.e blush brush) every morning
• Turns on the light on at night to sleep
  

We are so incredibly blessed and lucky to have Norelle! Off to the pool!

the party continues...

Ernie's got pipes!

Sesame Street Live was really awesome! The music was great but I was shocked they did a kid's version of that Ke$ha song. Nori danced and clapped along, having a ball. That Ernie can sing, I kid you not, I had tears. It was a treat to see Norelle so excited although running through the downtown skyways was equally as fun for her. And the look on Jake's face when she made a beeline into Hooter's was priceless...

This child did NOT ask for a $10 Elmo balloon!

Cuddling with Daddy

Looks like the Palbicki beak skipped a generation

Rockin' with Gramsie

This show will clean up at The Tony's

Later, Casey, Papa & Jill came over. Nori loved her all gifts, especially the one Papa gave her, the Crocodile Hunter commemorative safari set, complete with arm eating hippos. Speaking of ravenous animals, we devoured Mrs. Fields cookies and reminded ourselves that the actual birth date is still 2 days away. My daughter is not spoiled, just VERY much loved.

her entourage

Despite third birthday cake this week, STILL not quite two

Gramsie's makeover

tubby time after a long day

Celebrate good times- Birthday Weekend 2010!

Ice fishing at the Children's Musuem

Gramsie helps her up the ropes...

Wee!!!

Tunneling like an ant

Napoleon brings the duck

Lo works it

Makenna & Missy celebrate at Grand Shanghai

McIntyre's are ready for cake!

Seltzbickis

2 candles

The almost birthday girl!

Morning!

Notice blue letter "E", her sleeping companion

When I went to get T.McB up this morning, I found her buck naked laying on her tummy looking up at me smiling... all I saw was a big grin and a bottom. She greeted me with, “I awake for day!” and a giggle. Cutest sight ever.

Georgie, Blankie and even Lamby

Two is better than one!

I made this! Same cake plate I had my cakes on when I was little...

A very cute, sweet, kind little girl is soon-to-be TWO so the celebrations have begun!

Nature and Nurture pizza party

Our birth family came to town today for our winter visit, just in time to wish Nori a happy birthday. We caught up at our house over the hum of dehumidifiers (no wonder my lips are so chapped) then headed to the Italian Pie Shoppe for pizza & cake, followed by fun the Children's Museum. We met Tasha's fiance and reminded him how lucky he is. We reminisced about the days leading up to Norelle's birth and talked about our adoption and what it means to us. Our relationship may sound weird from the outside, but it is healing and bonding at the same time. Besides, I tend to shy away from normal.

giving the dino a snack