Milestones

Ready to meet Ms. Amanda and all the kids in the Apple Room

note in her healthy peanut-free lunch

so many little things to hoard, so little time

This baby is 10 months old today!

lots of babbles for her friends

a very happy girl

home alone!

Oh yeah, I forgot about you!

My oldest had the brilliant idea to spend a weekend in Winona with her grandparents so who I am to object? As we were packing, Nori said, "Mommy, I am going to miss you. Could you cuddle me and sing Baby Mine (from Dumbo) to make me sad? Break.my.heart.

It was really weird to be home without being needed 24/7, picking up one mess after another, and constantly preparing snacks. We missed our babies, but used this precious free time to renew our energy stores. My kitchen is spotless, my toenails are painted, closets are organized, and I am caught up on sleep. It's essential to have a break like this every now and again. Jake & I had two dates: Friday night Happy Hour specials at Salut followed by a movie in real movie theater and Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at Black Sheep with great friends. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa, hope you don't collapse from exhaustion, but if you do it will be totally warranted!!

look who moved back from Peru, now with wife and fetus

They're baaaack!

Richard Simmonstastic

I have always thought my father-in-law should go as Richard Simmons for Halloween. Just get him some short shiny shorts, a sweat band, and poof the hair! Everyone up in here is exercising lately. I just discovered these awesome On Demand kids yoga videos and Nori loves them (almost as much as her BFF's Chris and Martin Kratt), Jake took Henny for her first run in the BOB, and I did my old Pilates video. We're not dead yet.

mortified I am taking this picture

Namaste, freaks

I stand now

In unrelated notes:

• Tasha had a baby last night, Eben Ray, weighing in at 8lbs, 9 oz. She had an all-natural homebirth, unfortunately not at their home since they had a fire in their apartment last week. They are doing well!
  
• My dad starred in a commercial for University of Minnesota Medical Center and no, he did not get paid, much to his chagrin.
• I hereby revoke my loyalty to the Kartrashians and transfer it over to Ice Loves Coco.

girls just wanna have fu-un

mad sliding skillz

Little sis loves the Spring!

backrub train?

Lady Gaga and Lady Goo Goo

Not a fan of the swing

Someone offered to "trade Dorothy" for this cute dog

Orthopedic sandal weather

Nothing says summer like an ice cold lemonade while sitting in the sun wearing your favorite pair of 4-inch thick padded granny sandals with the Velcro straps and obnoxious red logo. Luxurious. It's really a good thing I got married young because the odds of me finding anyone these days would not be good. I straightened my hair and got strange looks from nearly everyone I know. Not one person said "Oh, that's cute!" other than my nanny but I pay her salary. At work I got a few "wow"s or "that's a different look for you", but no real compliments. Guess my frizzy au natural state is a winner! Good thing since I keep my beauty routine short: just under-eye concealer for my bags, mascara for the lashes, and Oreo cream slathered on my tongue to keep it youthful. Since you asked, I have been on an Oreo binge. It started when I excavated a whole cookie from my Oreo Mint Chip Ben & Jerry's, then progressed when I bought the Spring yellow cream-filled Oreos "for Nori" as rite of childhood passage, and culminated in my mom buying me another bag of double stuff which I am about to destroy. Oops, in advance. How's your day?

Yourami

Oh brother, what a day! Jake is in Miami (a.k.a ."Yourami?" or "Daddy'sami?") so my mom came to visit and help out. In case I haven't mentioned it in a awhile, raising two kids is demanding. Well, the baby is easy while the 4-year-old requires all the work. Nori is still struggling with some jealousy issues... while she is often loving to her baby sister, she is also constantly taking away her toys, pushing her out of the way, or otherwise trying to steal the show. Today she told Henny, "please focus on your own toys" before ripping a baby toy out of Hen's hand. Nori gets more love and attention than ever so that's not it. I feel like I am missing some of Henley sweet babyhood constantly refereeing and protecting her from elbows to the face. This will pass. Only two weeks until Nori starts preschool 3 days a week which I really think will help give her a new outlet to focus her energy on and then Henley can finally play with the cat piano for more than 10 seconds. Meow. Purrrr.

You don't know this but I making progress toward my goal!! What is my goal? Well, it's kinda pathetic but all winter I have been trying to rehab my back so that this spring & summer I can ride my bike pulling the girls in the bike trailer. Sad, huh? I graduated from PT (actually, I just stopped going after 10 faithful weeks) and am doing all my back and core exercises, plus riding the bike at the Y to build my muscles and avoid a new injury. I have hip/back achiness after workouts and still have pain some days, but no worse than when I do nothing so hopefully I will be ready to ride & pull in time for the nice weather.

focusing on her own toys

the angelic side

HUNGRY, just like Mommy!!

this hiking backpack was the bomb in 1995

just two nature loving chicks who can't wait get home and relax on the couch

"I'm just an old stump, I have nothing more to give!"

Oh, Gramsie! Not again!

The lost hour of sleep catches up to Henny

Do not try this at home