Memorial Day Weekend

I'm too relaxed to bother blogging so I will leave you with Nori's last words (in song) before bed tonight:

"wiggle you' piggy toes
wiggle you' piggy toes
wiggle you' piggy toes!"

Shopping at the garage sale

Holly Jr.: "I'll take it!"

This guy. and Jill

Scary bridge

"I want to wee! again"

Chillin with Gramps

1st racket, 1st lesson

her swing is better suited for baseball

false advertising

I think I know those kids...and I am quite sure they don't know sign language! Why are all our cousins so much cooler than us?

brain purge

Officially ordered my print photos dating back through December so I can admire the evolution of Jake's beard and hair. I have been coaching him on on how to work with curly hair in humidity with words of wisdom like, "don't EVER touch it!" and "extra Curl Karma" and "stay in the A/C at all times". He has a busy week with tennis and a Twin's game so McBootie and I are on own own in the heat spending lots of time playing with the hose and in the kiddie pool. She is now battling a cold and has a froggy voice but loves her new "beautiful" bed and prefers to sleep in her hot room rather than in the cooler upstairs on the crib mattress. Tomorrow some birth family members, Paul and his brother Jeff, will be stopping by for lunch on their way back from vacation. Thursday night we go to Winona to hold another big garage sale Friday & Saturday with more of Hol & Papa's stuff. I just hope they can make some cash and get rid of more junk. Hopefully, we can squeeze in some fun in between moving heavy boxes and cash transactions. I may have to resurrect my childhood dream of having a lemonade stand to quench the thirsty shoppers. Maybe Papa will wear a bikini to draw in the crowds. Wish us luck.

Mr. Hughe M. Idity

At least it's not like this out. It's official fudgecicle weather which means dough season is over. Do I talk about dough too much? I do, here's how I know:

1. my underwear are tight
2. when I brought the topping for my apple crisp over to Andy's house this weekend, he yelled "Seltz, did you just bring a ball of dough? What are you going to do... gnaw on it?"
   

So much for my reputation as a classy, refined, and dainty lady. I am just a dough gnawer and everyone knows it.

She, however, still thinks I am all that...

Same knee got scraped twice in the same night

Speaking of 'doh

Low self-esteem aside, the weekend was upon us so instead of talking about all the usuals, I will just tell you, WE SWAM IN MAY! Not actaully me, but like, people I know. And afterwards, my darling daughter slept in a big girl bed two nights in a row. What are the odds of this combo?

Liam is a bass

Mermaids!

Return of the self-proclaimed Dolphin Princess

Concussions have not harmed this swimming prodigy

Courtesy of Dorothy

Dog collar doubles as a "crown"

Her favorite snack

Hello, Simon! Ding a ling!

On Monday night I combined my two greatest inadequacies in one outing. Having no sense of direction, I went the opposite way on the wrong street for many miles en route to Abby’s performance at the Hennepin Stages Theater. Thanks to the attendant at BP, I got turned around and made it there just in time. Once there my other non-skill, tone deafness, helped me rate the 12 girls and 8 boys who were competing for a spot to go to New York. The performers were really great and it was super fun to pretend to be Randy Jackson by labeling people as "pitchy" even though I have never hit a note in my life. Abby did a wonderful job singing songs from Urinetown and Cabaret! She did not move on but she is only a junior so she may have shot next year. She is so poised and adorable, I love her!

Last night I hung out in Kelly’s hot tub with the newly engaged Sabrina (marrying a Winonan, I might add) and our buddy, Ellen. Since we rarely get to see each other these days, I hoped that maybe our planned meeting was to have some sort of intervention on me for some devious habit that I am in denial about… but that was not the case. Just dessert, wine, and warm water while discussing Sabs plans for an August wedding outside and favorite blogger, Dom Decker.

My mother’s house is finally on the market. I need talk to this realtor because he totally did not put pictures of the best parts of the house (upstairs duplex with hardwood floors, screened in porch, sun room, huge yard) online, rather he posted a close up of the hot chocolate carpet stain.

Finally, my flowers are planted, polka-dots are primed/painted, and the best weather I have ever experienced continues…

SPF 30 kind of week...

Is this sunshine for real? I do not understand how we survive the winters on days this lovely. I hereby declare Summer ‘10 the summer I finally get a tan, despite wrinkles and others warnings. If there is a pool, I will swim in it. If there is a park, I will sit in it. If there is nature, I will view it. If there is a nap, I will take it.

Mr. & Mrs. Berhow

Congratulations to Jake's cousin Cole & his new bride Traci, legally wedded on Raspberry Island this weekend!! Norelle was obsessed with the bride, even saying “she’s SO beautiful” as Traci walked down the aisle. Nori loves an audience so she was wild at the party, running from room to room instead of letting mom & dad eat their mini-cheeseburgers and salads in martini glasses in peace. You probably already knew this, but NEVER EVER wear a stretchy, strapless dress to a wedding in which are your carting along a toddler.

We're buds

Other weekend highlights included small group at our house, a visit from Aunt Jill, Uncle Dunkle’s twin bed brought up by Grandpa Steve, lunch outside with Phil & Barb at the Longfellow Grill, workouts, bike rides, Farmer’s Market, porch cleaning, and for the grand finale, Jake made the most delicious ribs I have ever tasted! I love ribs and these were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. His secret recipe was developed after watching several YouTube videos on rubs and roasting techniques. He hopes to enter the 4th July Rib Cook Off in Winona and win on his maiden entry.

Misc:

A return to reading
Nori is becoming more independent, enjoying pretend play on her own for literally minutes at a time. After 27 months of having her glued to my side, I suddenly find myself with moments of… free time? She is very wrapped up in playing “family” with her little plastic dolls. It’s precious. Anyway, I am about to finish a memoir, Fat Girl by Judith Moore, and start a new one, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. So cultured!

Cute huh? Try to imagine this with puke on it...

Big girl room
The polka dot nursery will be keeping its signature green walls but the dot wall will soon be painted TuTu Pink to match the just-ordered duvet for her big girl bed. I am all set with new pink sheets, a waterproof mattress cover, new pillows, and a cozy down comforter. While we are at the moment without an actual bed frame, I think we may just start with her mattress on the floor until she gets the hang of not falling out of bed.

Eating healthy?
Quite by accident, we have not made cookies/cookie dough, brownies/brownies batter, or had ice cream/fro-yo in 3 whole weeks. But, it’s May sweeps and nothing goes better with an Office finale than dough….

House for Sale
Not ours! My mom, with the help of others, got her duplex totally cleaned out and it should be going on the market today! This was a monster project and they all worked really hard so it’s a huge relief to get this far. We will be having another garage sale at Papa’s over Memorial Day weekend to get rid of still more “treasures”. Feel free to buy the house for more than the asking price! Just imagine what the childhood home of Megan Palbicki could be worth someday...

Abby
Tonight my beloved cousin (I say this in case she makes it big), Abby, is competing against 9 other high school girls from across to the state to win a trip to NY to compete for a full-ride vocal scholarship! I will be there tonight as her understudy just in case she hits a flat note or needs some encouragement that only your first cousin/Godmother can offer. I am so excited and proud of her! BTB, Jake talked to a financial adviser at work who told him that if we want to pay for Nori’s college education in 16 years, we need to be putting away $1,800 A MONTH to keep up with tuition rates. What now? She will make an adorable plumber…

Mid-life crisis averted!

Ahh, I feel so happy! I recently requested some major changes at work that were just approved! I will no longer be working a dual appointment as a coach (kinda sad about this, it was very stimulating but challenging) and an academic adviser. At the end of May, I will return to my "old" job full-time. And by full-time, I mean 3 days week this summer (.6) and then back to 4 days during the academic semester (.8). Only 3 days a week this summer! That means I am officially off more than I work! Hello swimming pools, museums, beaches, walks, parks and picnics with my little girl! I am very grateful I have such flexible bosses and an understanding husband!