the week without pinneapple

Jake is going here for 10 days. We are going here for a long weekend. I got a cortisone injection here. And we are about to embark on a week without pineapple. Jake is our meticulous, precise pineapple chopper and since he will be gone, we will go without. He will be missed!

sleeping beauty

sleeping booty

this girl

... has been promoted to the Sunshine Room at preschool with her new teacher, Miss Wendy ("My Wendy?" she asked when she first heard her teacher's name. No, sorry honey. "My Wendy" is our aunt, not our teacher). She is called Norelle at school and even has her own metal locker now. There are 19 kids in her room but not all attend every day, including Nori ( just T-W-Th). She is in LOVE with Isabella (pronounced Is-ahhh-beellll-ahhhh) whom she stalks from the moment we get there until we leave. I encourage her to also include the other girls: Aden, Grace, Nora, Brynn, Weather, and Clara, but none can compare with the lure of Isabella. I advised her to stay away from Teegan who thinks she is "his girlfriend" and tries to "lock her up in jail and cut open her stomach". So far she has no idea what letters she has studied or anything else she has learned but  has decided she hates Mass.

Tea for two

labors of love

soul mates

Four days off with the family is coming to an end. We squeezed in lots of quality bonding time before Jake leaves for Hong Kong and it's true, I tried to let him "help" (or forced him, whatever) with the kids more than usual to make up for what he will "miss" next week. I had an eye-opening experience when I babysat Baby Octavio the other night. I was really looking forward to seeing how it would go with three kids. I imagined us playing on the blanket together, taking cute pictures, and make him laugh for the first time. Then, reality happened. The minute Henny saw me hold him, she burst in to tears and basically did not stop crying until I had to call Octavio's dad to come home and get him. Nori was so distraught that Henny was sobbing, she chimed which of course scared the baby and he cried some, too. No photos, no giggles, and Lord! I can only imagine trying to feed three kids or pack them up for an outing. So yeah, I still want three kids someday but I think I am content to let Henny be the baby for a lot longer before I worry about that. Grateful for my two wonderful daughters and my sanity.

Like usual, we ran around bat shit crazy going from here to there, cramming in the last of the summer fun. Our State Fair day was our best Fair experience to date. And just in case you were not clear on the chocolate waffle thing, let me clarify: they tasted like hot chocolate chip cookies, not dry waffley waffles. They were divine. I actually did not get my own but tried to mooch bites off my Dad's and Nori's, so that may also be why I am still  talking about them. Hopefully, you took my advice and gobbled one up yourself. Do I talk about food too much?  Well, I have to be descriptive and I am sure you don't want to hear about dirty diapers or scab-picking kids again.

Saturday we met up Luther friends at Minnehaha Falls for lunch and conversation. Nori had a bit of a meltdown after a long wait for friends (and what else) food, so we had to cut that visit short and get her butt to sleep. On Sunday, Jake & I went out for a breakfast date at the French Meadow Bakery in Uptown.  For the second part of our "date", we came home and cleaned the house top to bottom. It takes two adults 2+ hours non-stop to get this joint in order but it only takes two kids 3 minutes to destroy it. Aunt Ellen babysat and we got to wish her bon voyage before she leaves for Holden Village for a year. Later we went  over to Turpins' for a Labor Day BBQ with the Winona crew where we chased kids and spoke in 20 second increments to adults. On the way home Nori informed us she had to "tink" so we veered off the freeway at full speed in search of a potty which proved elusive as were near the lakes. Finally, we  found a Lund's and all crisis was avoided. I have no idea how we ended up in Uptown twice this weekend after not going there for years, but life is funny like that. Today we attempted a leisurely day at home although that really does not exist anymore so in reality we woke at the crack of dawn, watched Doc McStuffins, made breakfast, called poison control,  played Barbies and finger puppets, created art, set up a  princess tea party photo shoot with the help of Jill and her clone Abby, danced, ate lunch, wrestled on the floor, had a cuddle party on Mommy,  took micronaps and a wagon ride, and soon supper, baths, books, and bed.  I would not have it any other unrelaxing way!

Yes, I will take one of each.

Auntie Ellen is off to the wilderness yet again!

faux surrey ride

summer fun at Sea Salt

impromptu dance party

Bryn filling Henny in on her life story

the kid contingent

State Fair

8:00 starts the day off with min-donuts

Nori rides the giant slide with Papa Bill

Aunt Ellen corales her twin

7,000 calories and counting

the only vegetable of the day

at least it was dipped in butter

a little bee education in the Ag Builidng

Discovery of the day: chocolate waffle on a stick

Did I mention the chocolate waffle? Divine.

She does a mean goat call

babies stick together at the Miracle of Life barn

Cows are cool. With fruit smoothie, score one for fruit.

baby lamb love

All you can drink milk

unwinnable

6 hours later, time for naps

Bluesday Tuesday

Grandpa Steve and his girls

I am not even bummed about that fact that I packed Nori a cute little bento box lunch with her sandwich cut into a tree shape and she did not even notice until I was unpacking her full lunch after school. She was delighted to bring in her snake skin for Show & Share.  Speaking of after school, Grandpa Steve & Auntie Ellen came with for pick up and we all went out for dinner at the Blue Door. Grandpa was telling Nori about what they would do the next time she was in Winona and it went exactly like this:  "We will take the truck out to the dump. It's pretty smelly out there. We can watch the goats and pigs eat trash. Then we can go to the DQ". Nothing makes me crave an Artic Rush more than some good dump action.

Grandpa brought me some hot pink Kensio tape for my aching hips which seem to have come down with a case of bursitis. The minute I turned 24 my body quickly started to deteriorate from the feet up.  I can't sleep well, have not showered, and am walking around with ice packs tucked into my shorts -- I look like Pat from SNL only more androgynous.

Jake is out of town so that means we get to put as many bubbles in the tub as we want and Nori gets sleep in my bed tonight. On the downside, there is no one to cook for us or do the dishes.

We had to buy gramps a new shirt to get rid of this orange fiasco

Even Henny thinks its hilarious

the snake's skin Gramsie found

Heart garland for our friend's dad who had his arm amputated

oh yeah, baby!

our mom LOVES us

Nori quotes Grandpa Steve with an "oh yeah, baby!" whenever there is something she likes such as the Wild Kratts or chocolate dipped strawberries. Speaking of dipped fruit, I am addicted to frozen chocolate covered bananas. I tried making my own but the store bought variety can't be beat! Henny has started to hum and sing...she can even carry a tune, unlike her old bat of a mother. New words include "all done", "baby" "up", "go" and "beer me". It is such a privilege to be the mom to these wonderful little creatures. I also enjoy being their 24 hour a day servant.

The girls & I shopped on Grand Ave on Friday looking for birthday gifts for our beloveds. It was a fun and productive girl date. On Saturday we went Alesso' Dance Studio on Grand to sign Nori up for ballet and tap lessons and buy the proper footwear. I am really excited for her to begin dancing! We then celebrated Makenna's 4th birthday with a a Sound of Music party complete with bratwurst and lots of doe a deer, a female deer music. It was also Gramsie Holly's 59th birthday on Saturday so the girls and I took her out to The Mall of America including Build A Bear, a carousel ride, and supper at Rainforest Cafe. Hmmm, sounds more like a kid than a gramsie birthday, huh? Welcome to my life.  We also baked her a chocolate cake which she frosted with her own special recipe chocolate frosting. It was really great to celebrate with my mom and have here with us! Jake spent most of the weekend a tennis tournament and I am (not) devastated to inform you they lost and will not advance to Nationals in Tuscon. Maybe next year (Lord, please no)! Funcle Charlie and his lady friend Sam stopped by to hang out today, too. Every Funcle needs a a good woman to keep him in line.

bubble butt

So you really fed my mom Taco John's every single night? That explains a lot.

Skelly can tap

Foosie Sue working on her blog

like the zoo, only more expensive

Happy Birthday Dear Gramsie....

feet are the best toy

I glow in the dark

"Oh my god, it looks like neon gecko stripper working at a theme restaurant on Mars" Michale Kors Project Runway

2nd visit ever to MoA

3 points and the old mom gets to ride free

Meet Violet Seltz

musical chairs Maria-style

We love you, KennaBear!

I don't know how clowns do it