Hanging on!

finally...sleep

Oh my, life is kicking my butt! Perhaps I had unrealistic expectations for this maternity leave. Okay, I know I did! I envisioned picnics, zoo trips, long naps, and glittery butterflies. My leave with Nori was wonderful but the unfortunate combination of back pain, heat, and house repairs meets parenting a newborn and feisty 3.5 year old while covered in dog hair has nearly done me in. Two kids are way more than twice the work of one!

They say age 3 is harder than age 2 and now I know it's true. What I wouldn't give for Nori to have an autonomous bathroom break or to put on her own shoes. They are Crocs Sweetie, just slip them on! Henley is an easy girl right now as she just nurses and cuddles, but Nori is adjusting to sharing my attention, loss of structure from no daycare, and a mother who insists on dental hygiene.

I am doing my best to survive the chaos, namely asking for help. Thank you to everyone who has offered us support. The girls and I made an emergency trip to Winona to take shelter in the A/C and so I could have help taking care of them. We paid someone to clean our house. My spunky first born is going on vacation to Camp Seltzbicki for a whole week coming up. And Jake & I have a date planned on Saturday (just dinner and a concert by little band called U2). Someday the hole in my roof will be fixed, the temps will cool, my back will stop hurting, Nori will let me comb her hair, and Kim K & I will laugh and laugh about these follies. Until then, forgive me as I try to survive my summer "off".

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Rock Lake 2011

We are back from 5 days at Rock Lake! I must be feeling refreshed because I just cleaned my kitchen like I had OCD (I wish). We had a wonderful time! Nori swam everyday becoming braver as time went on. At first she insisted on clinging but them became more independent swimming "all by herself" with just a life jacket and noodle. Jake & I had a real date night going to Poncho & Lefty’s for dinner followed by the movie Horrible Bosses which was really funny. Food highlights include Ellen's eggplant parm, Jake's pulled pork and Liz's blueberry pancakes. Charlie fell for a prank for the second year in a row (Char, did you really think 80-year-old Virg was cheating on Ione at Bar Harbor)? Steve exclaimed "this is the best song ever!" when Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came on WJJY. Jake gave Nori & Ellen tennis lessons while the girls and I chased "a beaver" (try gopher) around the park. We survived horse flies and mosquitoes although Nori came home with over 20 bites. Henley had lots of smiles and enjoyed napping on Ellen, the human mattress while Nori kept calling Uncle Charlie “Charming” and asking him to "kiss me until midnight”. What more could we ask for? The girls are so lucky grow up spending summer vacations here with their family!

only boat on the lake most days

dock swimming

Henny lounging with Grandma

Char goes country

we made Dorothy swim behind the boat

The eagle caught and ate a northern right in front of us

Sister's first dip

Grandpa loves her too!

Henley sandwich

Henley stew

so this is that nature I have heard so much about (photo take from inside)

having the time of her life

Nori can get Grandpa to do anything

Seltzes in sunglasses

Daddy & daughter

Happy Birthday Liz!

Happy Birthday Jake!

34 years fun

We love you!!!!

Humpdashian

Best celebrity couple name ever: Humpdashian! It's only a matter of time until we meet and fall in love! It was nice knowing you, I am Hollywood bound!

Star Spangled Banter

love

Hi again! Welcome back! Did you try the pie? Hope your long weekend was a summer-y as ours, here is the summary: swimming, play dates, books, naps, shopping, outdoor baseball, cleaning, coffee, church, lunch at Day By Day with friends, fans, spit-up, ice cream, talking to (Prince) "Charming" on the phone, ibuprofen,picking flowers, cooking, pork, and fun. Happy 4th of July!

The Dolphin Princess and the Pips

Seltz girls take a break from hermithood to embrace summer

Princesses Cinderella, Aurora, and Tiana sing the theme song "Tomorrow" from the motion picture Annie

"Who striked out?"

Gramsie's 1st Twins game EVER!