No Fair!

Hi Nosey! Here you are again. How's your mother? Oh, mine too. Yeah, trying something new with the photos, bear with me. You know, I have been meaning to send you that recipe. No, but you can substitute olive oil. Sure, I would love to come over for supper...thanks for asking!

Speaking of food, our grocery bill is off the charts! We are buying about 75% organic and truly eating healthier than ever with more nutritious whole grains, fresh fruits & veggies, lean meats, and fewer processed food, but the price is almost prohibitive. I feel guilty, maybe I should be shopping all the sale hormone/pesticide foods using the savings to build a spa for the homeless? Unfortunately, my aversion to cancerous tumors and man-boobs dissuade me from this generous notion. We have kicked our brownie and cookie dough habit entirely, although Ben & Jerry's Fro-Yo makes a regular appearance in the dessert spot.


Confession. Norelle is in a no-nap, wake-up at the crack of dawn phase. Please let it be a phase. This means I have justifiably started drinking coffee again after a two month exhibition in will-power. This time, I will not use gallons of Coffee-Mate rather a reasonable amount of organic half & half or milk in order to not gain back those pesky pounds of lard on my saddle bags. Wish me luck.

On Friday afternoon in an attempt to enjoy the last of summer, Jake & I took Nori to Cascade Bay where we floated down the lazy river, dunked in the deep water, and enjoyed the splash area for toddlers. I wish they allowed kids to go down the waterslides on your lap...


On Saturday we celebrated Makenna's 2nd birthday with a Minnie Mouse themed part-tay in Mendota Heights! Andy Ho even came out of hiding to reunite with us over brats and mac & cheese. It is so awesome to celebrate her little life! It was just a family affair with us & McIntyres. There are discussions about a Mexico trip with all three families & kids so let's hope that pans outs, even if involves matching tattoos. After the party, Grandma Liz & Grandpa Steve and Ellen came over after moving Ellen in to her new place and treated us to dinner at Brasa. Thanks guys! Ellen has big plans to have her 21st party at Brasa followed by a wild night on the Pedal Pub!!!

Today we Bloom'ed, grocery shopped, laundered, and planned for our next adventure: a trip to the family cabin on Rock Lake with the illustrious Gramise Hol. Hoping for warm weather and no bugs!

Family photos

See more at Cider Press Studios ! Thanks Julie!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Tuesdays with Nori - grand finale!

epic

The best summer ever is coming to a close and today was my last Tuesday off. Boo hoo! We made the most of it with an "epic" trip to Minnesota Zoo with our buds. After lots of drama and trashing her bookcase, Nori even laid down for a nap and is still sleeping...

I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet...

Barefoot Wonder &Granny Ortho Shoes

School Psych & Salami

Why Me, Extreme Home Makeover & Birthday Britches

all my photos are of the back of kids' heads

Living life!

finally crashed

We had one of those weekends were we broke all the rules staying up way too late every night, having cake for supper, and yelling a little too loud just because we were having fun living in the moment. You need that every once in awhile, you know?

golden glove photo op

Just another wild Friday night downtown Minneapolis running down the sidewalks squealing with excitement and having a ball! Okay, maybe the first Friday night ever doing this for Nori. Outdoor baseball, dippin dots, and TC Bear made for a wonderful family outing to Target Field, even for someone who doesn't exactly care about the score (me).

Looking for TC

we like shoes in this family

Congratulations to Josh & Kati!! Josh is Jake's cousin and the second of three Berhow boys to get married this summer!

the newlyweds

The ceremony and reception in Austin were lovely and the dance was wild. I can not believe how excited Nori was to dance and shake, running around the dance floor with glow sticks in hand, chasing the strobe lights, just happy to be alive. She is such a JOY and I learn from her everyday...

brohams

Christmas card 2010?

Ellen finally gets those floral dreads she's been wanting

my partner in idiocy

I knew it!

Reggie Bush Wants Kim Kardashian Back:
Reggie Bush had the grace to look mightily embarrassed at last night's ESPY Awards when host Seth Meyers remarked that the show was where "sports and entertainment come together—like a Kardashian sister's bedroom." We're of the opinion that ESPN's cameras only cut to Reggie because Khlodom wasn't in attendance. But was his blushing grin because he’s desperate to get back together with Kim Kardashian? Read more here!

no wipe weekend

As my friend Angela B-S would say, here's another entry in my "blah blah blog". Guess who had 3 childless nights alone with her husband? No, guess again. Nevermind, it was me! Norelle went to Winona on Thursday night for a non-stop party with Grandma Liz & Grandpa Steve, allowing Jake & I our first weekend home alone since she was born! It was weird not having her here climbing up my leg, asking me to wipe her tush or demanding, "MILKY, I WANT MILLLLLLLLLKY!!!". Sometimes it was even lonely as I am not used to be being able to do whatever I want whenever I want. I missed her lots, but it was very nice to decompress!

On Friday we slept in, went to yoga, mopped the floors, organized toys & toddler clothes all before joining friends Joel & Rachael and Marie, Josh, Laruen & Greta at Brasa for a very yummy meal! If you have not been, go. We had a pleasant surprise running into the elusive Katie, Jeff & adorable Anna which gave me a chance to work out some of my built-up (s)mothering on poor Anna. After supper, we went back to put the little girls to bed and stayed up late talking and laughing. A whole new meaning to the expression "the writing is on the wall" was created when Jake used it and Joel inquired "Oh, they put in on Facebook"? Not exactly.

On Saturday we worked out, got groceries, cleaned, napped, and then grabbed our passports and hopped a private jet to exotic Stillwater for some fine cuisine at Marx Fusion Bistro (Angie Mc, I picked up some souvenirs for you)! Of course we talked about our feelings and contemplated the meaning of life, too.

Sunday brought another chance to sleep in, help at Bloom, and then the return of Ms. McBootie, just in time for a fruitless attempt at a nap. After the Twins game the whole Seltz fam, plus Mallory, came back over along with special guest of honor, Dom Decker. During a fiesta on the porch, we recounted the trials of Tuffy (from The Berenstain Bears and The Bully) who beats up Sister. Later, we learn that Tuffy is aggressive only because "she is a cub who gets hit a lot at home" and later has to "visit the school psychologist twice a week for quite a while". Leave to Stan & Jan to address the tough issues.