Happy Blogiversary

Yesterday marked my first blogiversary. As I go back and read some of my posts, I realize that I don't have much to say...but the girls are cute, so who cares.

Thank you for reading my blog. It really boosts my ego and it's nice to have friends. So, have a cafe au lait or depth charge on me this morning, and an afternoon latte, and finish up with an after dinner double espresso....because you know that is what my day looks like. If you are Mormon, enjoy a sprite. If you just don't like coffee...well then I am not your friend anymore.

xoxo,t

Fat and Happy...

Okay, I am sharing this with much embarrassment...1. I had to cut my head off as I didn't brush my hair or put on make-up and I looked frightening and 2. I am big. Here I am at 22 weeks pregnant...

...and here I am 30 minutes before giving birth to Eloise.

Yes, I am much bigger this time...and lazier...and older. ..and very very happy. xoxo,t

Growing Up...

When Eloise turned 5, I made it a big right of passage..presented her with diamond earrings that I had lovingly bought for her when she was an infant and asked if she wanted to get her ears pierced.

I had mine done at 5, and I guess just expected she would want the same. Silly me. She quickly said "NO - it looks like it would hurt" and went on with her day.

A year later on her 6th birthday I asked her again if she wanted to get her ears pierced. This time she said "well, I think I do - but would like to wait until my 7th birthday." Fair enough. No hurry.

This whole time, it turns out that Esther was listening. Upon reaching her 4th birthday last month she says to me "Mom, I want to get MY ears pierced for my 4th birthday." Well, I wasn't about to let that open door close on my face - who knows if she would change her mind by 5.

So last weekend - brave Miss Esther got pierced ears. She picked out rainbow diamond daisies and has now spent the week showing off her new accessories. She is so proud.

One down, one to go.
xoxo,t

Sure are a lot of Catholics around here..

If I can rewind a year - back to our intensive, time-consuming and seemingly ridiculous search for a Kindergarten - I would appreciate your patience.

Do you remember 35 years ago when your parents just put you on a bus when you were 5 and said bus just took you to the neighborhood school that everyone in the neighborhood went to. You learned your abc's, had snack, took a nap and went home. Welcome to Kindergarten.

Do you know we toured no less than EIGHT, yes EIGHT Kindergartens last year when we were deciding where to send Eloise? Granted, we live in the city - so our choices are immense and some schools well, just suck. In the time of budget cuts, yet more needed programs for school, large class sizes, little to no discipline, and Kindergarten as the new first grade, we seem to put a lot more thought into our child's first major school experience.

You know I didn't even visit any colleges when I was 18? But, somehow through going to a neighborhood school, getting free lunch and going to a local college I still managed to get an education, earn a six figure income and now am happy to be a stay at home mom who over-analyzes every flippin' thing her kids do.

Anyway, back to last year - we narrowed our decision down to 2 schools - our neighborhood public school and a neighborhood Catholic school. St. Paul has about 2 million Catholic schools -we chose ours based upon 1. they take more non-catholics then anywhere else 2. our preschool was located there 3. we loved the principal, teachers and other parents we met - it's a fabulous community 4. we knew many other families there 5. we felt the education received there seemed just "fine" and class sizes are small 6. tuition is relatively affordable...when I say relatively...it's because we have friends who send there kids to other private school around who spend $20k++ per year for grade school. Way out of our league.

Here we are 2/3 of the way through Kindy and we love it - Eloise is happy, she is deeply, madly and truly in love with her teacher. She would rather live with Sister Sara than us. Eloise has made amazing friends, as have I and it's safe, comfortable, nurturing and just well, a nice place to be.

Downsides - I don't think she is challenged as much as she could be, we don't know with both us working for ourselves what our income situation will be - so can we really afford it - no, should we save the money for college?, and lastly, there sure are a lot of Catholics there.

The whole Catholic thing got to me A LOT at the beginning of the year..and no offense, I happen to be related to MANY MANY and I mean MANY Catholics - like my whole family and my in-laws. I guess it didn't completely dawn on me that they would go to Mass during school, and pray and have religion lessons. Not that there is anything wrong with that - but I expected her to come home talking about Dick and Jane...but instead it was Mary and Jesus..and well, you can just imagine I was taken back a bit. And, you know what we were going to a Catholic school. When in Rome...

At the beginning of the year, I tried to be my typical anti-authority, anti-establishment self..when Eloise would come home with stories of Jesus, I would say things like "you need to open your mind - you know many religions and cultures don't believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven or God. Let's to go to Temple or a Mosque and search out and learn about ALL religions to keep your mind free of believing in only one way. God is good and gracious to all..not just Catholics and Christians." I would go on like this well, forever..and then this 5 year old would stare at me and ask me what was for snack.

I have learned that now when she comes home with stories of Mary and Jesus I just say "that's nice dear, here are some goldfish crackers." Life is much better now and I feel so much more Catholic.

So, we have started our search again. Eloise tested into the Gifted and Talented Public school for 1st grade, so we have applied to that school, as well as our neighborhood school(again), and of course have given our deposit to our current school.

I guess what I am saying is that I CANNOT believe we are agonizing over this AGAIN. Deep in my heart, as much as I like our current school...she will be FINE, just FINE at public school and really, we cannot afford private anymore with the current situation...especially when our tuition will DOUBLE and then TRIPLE over the next few years with this reproducing we have been doing.

I need to just move-on and know she will be just FINE wherever she goes - she is bright, funny and such a good friend, and one of those kids who will always manage to be the teacher's pet. :)

xoxo,t

Happy Spring...

Spring started on Friday. For those of you in Duluth, MN - where I was on the start of Spring, wasn't the snowstorm great on that day? So refreshing and Spring-like.

We have had a few days above 50 here and most of the snow piles are gone. I am hopeful.

When Esther put this lovely Jottum on...it at least made me imagine what sunshine was like. In the meantime, we will just start wearing all yellow clothing around here to brighten our days.

Happy Spring!
xoxo,t

I Know...

I know a man who lived happily ever after with his bride for 59 years and
I know a man who misses his bride very much and grieves daily with a heavy heart

This man I know has led a simple and good life...but
I know this man hasn't always led an easy one

I know a man who was raised in a home of abuse and
I know this man left school by 10th grade to earn money for his family

and I know this man fell in love and married a girl when he was just a teen
This man came out from this home of abuse and married a lovely girl and
together this man I know with his bride raised 7 children

This man I know worked very hard to provide for his family, he bought them a home,
took them on vacations, taught them to fish and taught them values.

I know a man that had a hard time showing love for his family and was tough and gruff,
and seemingly impossible to love, and I know his bride loved him dearly and provided such
a deep love for him that he her misses daily

I know a man who raised 7 amazing children, who have contributed and loved in this world
and are still proud of this man, and love this man even through his many faults.

I know a man who was told a week ago that he is dying...badly...soon

I know this man is scared and sad, yet at peace with seeing his bride again soon. It's been 3 years and he misses her

..and I know a man who held his granddaughter's hand yesterday and put his forehead to hers, and through their tears told her that he loved her very much, and that everything was going to be just fine.

I know that it will be Papa, I just miss you already.
xoxo,t

Nesting...

We have lived in this house for 4 years. In that 4 years, the projects we started in the beginning are still mainly sitting here undone. With raising 2 kids, working mainly full-time and lists a mile long - our home has gone largely untouched and seemingly unloved. I am no Martha Stewart and I am okay with that.

Now, with baby #3 coming, I see all of these unfinished edges and they are weighing on me like a ton of bricks. This list a mile long that I must get done by July. I think it's called nesting. It is also the realization that if I don't do it now, after baby, I will slip back into ignore mode for another 4 years.

I have bought paint for our plain white kitchen and recovered our window seat bench and pillows, I have bought paint for our bathrooms, I have bought fabric and paint to make our front porch an inviting place - to sit and read and visit and play...and to ban the recycling, garbage, bikes and scooters to the garage.

Now that the girls will officially be sharing a room, we have purchased matching duvet covers, curtains, and have started a gallery for them to make and display their artwork. A place to make their own.

Still to tackle - our outside paint, our front door, our front steps - but I need Jed to tackle those. I am sure he doesn't want to mess with an evil, hot and uncomfortable pregnant lady...so those should be done in a timely manner too.

xoxo,t

In My Dreams...

I woke up this morning slightly disturbed. I woke up this morning from a dream that seemed so real and just so strange. I am never one to analyze dreams..but this one really bothered me.

I dreamt that I took my brother to Amsterdam. I lived there several years ago and Troy was never able to visit - so in my dreams last night, just the two of us traveled there. We spent a long day seeing the old Waag house, the red-light district, Central Station, the shopping district, the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and just wondered through the Vondelpark. As we strolled through the Voldelpark, I reached into my jacket pocket and found my Amsterdam apartment keys - still on the same keyring as my leased Saab I had there, and of course the keys to my 2 bicycle locks. I told Troy I guess that meant I still had my apartment in the city, so we walked to my old park side apartment. When we arrived, my bike was still locked securely to my front railing and the same curtains hung in the window. My key still worked in the door and we entered my apartment - it looked exactly the same as I left it 6 years ago.

We sat down to rest on the couch after a long day of walking and then heard a noise. When we turned towards the bedroom door - out walked my old cat Wilshire. Wilshire was with me in Amsterdam but since died about 3 years ago. Funny thing is that Wilshire looked dead when he walked out - almost movie zombie-like. He was also wearing a pink tutu skirt and sheer blue tulle camisole...and a tiara. He came up to me and purred and rubbed against my leg and then disappeared behind the door again.

I told Troy that I didn't think we should be there anymore...so I left my all of my keys on the table and we left. I immediately woke-up.

This dream left we wondering all day what it meant - maybe nothing I know. Maybe it's been too long since I saw my brother, maybe it's been too long since I visited Amsterdam, maybe I miss my cat, maybe since I just took the girls to see Cinderella yesterday is why Wilshire was dressed like a princess. Maybe I need to stop drinking before bed?

xoxo,t

It is Spring yet...

Amid the last two days of below zero temperatures and more snow, we are more than ever wishing for Spring in Minnesota. Especially my husband. Jed is really hoping that by April 4th the snow has melted, the temps are steadily above freezing and he has ample time to brush the sand and salt from the parking lots.

Why?

His first full season of Rider Academy starts that day - of course. Jed started his own Motorcycle Safety Training School last Summer. But we need Spring and Summer to make it happen in Minnesota.

Click here for more information if you just happen to be in the State and are looking for the best Training around.

...and look at his cute assistants. What more could you want.

Safety First, t.

Keeping Secrets...

So Jed doesn't want to know what we are having. For all 3 of our children, he has not accompanied me to the ultrasound - 1. because it freaks him out, this slightly alien-looking being living in my tummy for 9 months and 2. he doesn't want to know what we are having.

However, he is married to an anal control freak who hates surprises and must know everything at all times. I get all Gloria Steinam on him and claim "my body - my choice" and thus we always find out. Well, "I" always find out, first anyway.

After 20 weeks of waiting, we finally decided to tell the girls about the baby on Saturday morning. Upon waking them up in the wee morning hours, I presented them with this present cake, candles lit, and singing that I had a big surprise for them. I told them we were going to have a baby this Summer. First question they asked? You know it -"Boy or Girl baby?" So, I told them. It really isn't my fault that they ran downstairs and told their dad, really. Darn kids just can't keep a secret.

xoxo,t

Thank Heaven for Little Girls...

When I was a little girl, I would spend my lazy Sunday afternoons watching old movies. I loved Shirley Temple, but by far my favorite movie was Gigi with Maurice Chevalier. I know someday, I will curl-up with my 3 girls on a lazy Sunday afternoon - pile on the blankets and watch old movies over and over again.

Oh wait, did I say 3 girls? Yes it's true - she's a girl. Here's proof - and what I am assuming will be her only crotch shot ever posted on the internet.

We couldn't be more thrilled!
xoxo,t

Sweet Success...

Hello out there! Miss me? It's okay, you can lie. I can't really hear you.

Just wanted you to know that Esther successfully turned 4 last weekend. I even bought a $3.99 cake from Trader Joe's that slid off the damn doily...but I was too rushed too even put in on a proper plate. We ordered take-out Thai food, opened most of Esther's presents - still have some gifts unopened and all cards unopened. I haven't seen my child in 9 days...so we will get to it soon. Maybe. Expect your thank you cards in May. How's that for honesty.

Thought I would share Esther's favorite gift - a fruit bouquet. I've never seen such big and happy eyes and squeals of delight. Followed closely by Eloise saying "yuck - fruit, I hope I don't get that on my birthday."

..and no birthday is complete without the birthday girls' hair catching on fire in her candles..and loved ones quick to help. Note to self - pigtails for next birthday.

Happy March!
xoxo,t