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!