Welcome!

My brother, Ben, and his wife, Ariel, started a blog! They just returned from 16 days in Rwanda, and bought a house the following day! They are referring to their new home as The Upper Cove. Give them a good welcome to blogosphere!

On the Hunt

I have always had a very difficult time spending money on clothes. It seems like a luxury to buy new clothes for myself, and not something to be taken lightly. I even feel guilty when I buy myself clothes at the thrift store. So instead of feeling guilty about spending Jared's hard-earned money (our money) on something that benefits only me, I came up with the ingenious plan of asking for cash for my b-day. It worked! I have over $100 in cash and almost $50 in gift cards from which to create a new post-pregnancy wardrobe. Frankly, I am still feeling guilty that I have such a large sum of $$ to be spent solely upon myself. But on the other hand, I have been feeling very uncomfortable and unattractive trying to squeeze into clothes that don't fit right anymore.

This special birthday money will not be spent quickly or flippantly. I will shop all the sales, and find treasures on the clearance racks. Of course, the thrift store will get a visit too. I am on the hunt for new clothes to flatter my new mommy figure. (Wouldn't trade it back for anything!)

Purchases to date:
Long pink beaded necklace: $4
Adorable blue and gray striped sweater: $12
Feeling beautiful in both: priceless

(Man, I have never paid so much for a sweater! Or a necklace! Uffda!)

Tummy Pains

I need help. After I eat (actually before I am even finished with a meal) I have been getting sharp, intense pains in my stomach. It started yesterday. Since then, it has happened three times, and it hurts like crazy. It is not food poisoning-- I have had that before and this feels different. What is happening to me? Anyone have any thoughts?

Rear Window

I have taken up where Jimmy Stewart left off. I sit on my couch next to the window for so many hours a day (with baby attached, if you know what I mean), that I have become the neighborhood snoop. I know what is going on in almost every house across the street. Three doors down, the boyfriend with the long, stringy rattail got kicked out, and there is a new very Abercrombie-looking boyfriend that has taken his place. This new boyfriend has a fiery temper and threw out their friend with the neck brace in a string of f-bombs that would make a sailor blush. Neckbrace walked down the street and rounded the corner, never to return again. (I was waiting for him to come back an hour later and start digging a hole in the garden, just like in the movie. Didn't happen.)

On to the next house... Jersey (thus named because I never saw him wear anything besides a football jersey), and his smoker girlfriend just moved out. The house was up for rent for 5 days before a new couple moved in. Their names are Muscleman and Trampy. Muscleman got his name because he has yet to appear wearing anything besides a ripped-off, too-tight T-shirt. (His muscles really aren't that big.) Trampy is a classic trailer-trash woman. She has bleach-blonde hair constantly pulled back in a ponytail, a cigarette always in hand, long, garishly painted fingernails, and always has on extremely tight jeans, with an over-sized sweatshirt. This couple has taken up the habit of hootin' and hollerin' in the middle of the night. Whenever I am in the nursery breastfeeding (again, next to the window) at 3AM, I am regularly greeted by a "Woooooo!" from across the street. It is one of those sounds that only a very drunk person makes.

I am discreet in my spy game, but if anyone ever caught me peeping through the slat of my window shades...

Scones

For all of you asking after the recipes for my mother's delicious scones, here it is!

Scones Lois Lee, Becky Norquist
6 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. baking powder
1 c. butter

Mix until crumbly with a pastry blender.

4 eggs
1 c. milk

Add to above mixture. Stir until blended. It will appear somewhat dry.

Add:1 1/2 -2 cups of fruit (I like dried fruit, especially cranberries)
1 c. white chocolate chips OR nuts
Mix well.

Put 1/4 cup scoops (for smaller scones) or 1/3 cup scoops (for larger) onto ungreased cookie trays. I use parchment paper.

Separate 1 or 2 eggs and whip up the whites using a fork until they are foamy. Brush the foamy egg white on the scones with a pastry brush. Sprinkle with sugar (I use Sugar in the Raw, available at most grocery stores). Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown . The bottoms do get dark so you need to keep checking.

Cool. Wrap individually with a Cling or Saran Wrap type product soon after they are cool. They freeze well if put into freezer bags.

Time for Change

It was time to revamp my blog, and add some spice to my bloggin' life. I finally figured out how to add a photo after months of wondering. A splash of new color helps too.

That's all for now. This mama is TIR.ED. since it is 3Am and all. Nighty night world!

State Fair 2007, Day Two

Jared and I finally made it out to the fair last night! We realized this was our last annual fair date without a babe in tow. As we walked around, we were thinking about how much more fun the fair will become with a child to enjoy all the sounds, colors and attractions. Going to the fair with my family is one of my favorite childhood memories. Jared and I are very excited to make fun memories with our beautiful children too.
Here is the story of our night in pictures:
Waiting for the free shuttle bus



On the bus headed to the 2007 State Fair. Yah Baby!

First stop: CHEESE CURDS!!! Priorities, priorities!

I just had to stop and get my picture with this charming NEON GREENASAURUS!

And of course Jared had to stop and get his picture with this charming RED VIPOR! (Sounds like we are really into the reptiles, eh?)

We ran into my cousin Brian and his family: Brian, Adrianna, Linette, Audrey(in front). It was really good to see them! We were able to sit and catch up for about ten minutes. Then we were off to make a quick pit stop by the Air Force area...

...where Jared found this F16! Swift!

Then we went to meet up with Gary and Nathan. The first order of business was of course to EAT! Jared and I split a delicious reuben from Schumakers (sp?), Gary had some spicy sausage and peppers, and we all devoured a yummy blooming onion! Yum-o!

After meandering through the Miracle Birth center, and downing about five glasses of chocolate milk at the Milk Booth, we headed over to the Fish 'N Chips stand for a visit. Jared looks like a little boy, leaning into the booth on his tip-toes. Let's face it, he is a little boy!!

We had to get our picture by the Fish Stand. There is just too much history not to!

We finished up our evening with a malts from the Dairy Building! Jared got Strawberry Rhubarb, and I got chocolate. YUMMY!

We were both SO READY to go home at that point. So we walked back toward the gate, making a quick stop at the saltwater taffy stand (one of Jared's favorite traditions), and then headed home, exhausted. Boy oh boy, being pregnant really takes the life outta ya (ha ha, actually it really puts life in ya! Haha!).

Awesome

I have this new pregnancy complex, where I wake up in the middle of the night, and my body thinks "Ahh! A brand new day! Time to be up and about!"

Problem is, it is freakin 3AM!!

So here I sit at my computer, wanting desperately to be entertained, but strangely enough NO ONE has updated their blogs since I checked them at 11pm last night. Weird? Where are all the other people with a complex who sit awake at all hours of the night with nothing better to do than update their blogs?!?

Not tired ooooone single bit.

Okay, I'm gonna go pet Bumper. And get a drink. And look at the cat (and think about how much the poop it just laid STINKS). Night all.

2007 State Fair, Day One

Emma and I went to the fair last night to have some quality nanny-baby time! It was a blast! We started off the evening by visiting Jared and the Fish 'n Chips stand. Then we were off to grab some cookies and milk. Yum! With cookies in hand, we proceeded to the Miracle of Birth Center and watched all the baby animals stumbling around (the baby sheep were Em's favorite!) When the stench of the pigs got the best of this pregnant nose, I decided it was time to move along. The rest of the evening was spent watching random balloons float overhead, browsing through the shops in Heritage Square, looking at the dinosaur statues outside the grandstand, and watching the Sky Ride cars sail by. We grabbed some mini donuts on the way out to wrap up our day at the Fair! Emma fell asleep in the car, exhausted after such an overstimulating evening, and we drove home in contented silence. It was a great night!!
Jared and I are going back today for Part Two... Our last year at the fair together without another little one in tow!

Looking at the dinosaurs!



Ooooh! Look at the Sky Ride!! She was intrigued by all the colorful sky cars sailing by overhead.



Emma being very content after downing a couple baskets of fries, half a piece of fish, two Sweet Martha's cookies, a whole cup of chocolate milk, and three mini donuts!!!



Em and me at the fair!

Meet Me at the Fair!

Jared is working at the Fish and Chips stand next to the Midway. He is only working the two Sundays and Mondays of the fair, but he will be there from 10am until 12:30 am. Fourteen and a half hours. Whew! If any of you are near the Midway (right next to the horse barn), stop by and say hello to him! Visitors always make the day more fun, especially when the age gap between you and the next oldest worker spans more than a decade...

Getting ready to start his year at the fair!

This is like his shot with a celebrity. Here he is posing with a Fair alum, who worked that stand for eight years! I trained him in, and now left him to fend for himself. I am a proud wife.

Three Years!!!

Today is Jared and my three-year anniversary! I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by, and yet I feel as though I have known him forever. I love finding out new things about Jared every day, but I also love the comfort of knowing him so completely. It has been the most amazing three years of my life. Jared is the best husband I could ever imagine, and displays his deep affection for me through his daily actions. He has been working harder than ever to make sure I am as comfortable as possible and wanting me to relax as much as I can, while he goes faithfully off to work each day. What a man!

He planned out a wonderful anniversary date for us tonight that went as follows...

He arrived home at 4:30 bearing not one, but two bundles of flowers for me! One bundle was 24 beautiful red roses. The other was a gorgeous arrangement of mixed flowers. I quickly put them in vases, and then we jumped in the car. Our destination was unknown to me. He soon revealed that we were headed to Mongolian BBQ for dinner (my favorite!), and then off to get a one-hour massage. We were on a time restraint, but we enjoyed a delicious dinner at BC's, and then zoomed back to Vadnais Heights for our massages.

Let me tell you--- best hour I have had in months!! I got a pregnancy massage, which means they put this amazing pillow system under me which allowed me to lie on my tummy. It was incredible! Just laying on the pillow would have been enough to put me to sleep! The massage was amazing as well, and we both left with sleepy eyes and smiling faces!

At home, we exchanged gifts. I gave Jared a Xbox 360, so he can stay current on his gaming when he needs to relax for awhile and take a break from the baby. He gave me a BEAUTIFUL ruby necklace, that matches the ruby ring he got me for our two-year!

Here are some pictures from our night:

Fieldtrip

On Thursday, I needed to get out of the house for awhile. So at 10am, I went to visit Jared at work. I arrived around 10:30, and watched him in action. He was coordinating that day (which he only does about once a week), meaning that he directs the move crew where to go and what plane to pick up, etc. This also means that we were in an office most of the day, rather then moving airplanes. He showed me the whole coordinating gig and how he keeps track of all. It was really fun to sit with him and see what he does at work. During the slow times, we were able to walk around the hangars and go sit with his coworkers in the break room. They all had a very good time meeting me and by the end of the day, they were calling over the radio to "Coordinator Naomi," and I was able to respond!

Here are some pictures from our day at the airport...

Flash Flood

Well we had an interesting night last night.

This week Jared was offered to go into work an hour early for the next month, and pick up some overtime hours. So all this week, he has been getting up at 2am, and has to be to work by 3am. This means that he really needs to get to bed EARLY. So we have been eating dinner at 3:30pm, and have him in bed by 7pm. Last night, however, there were two different people scheduled to come at 7:00 to pick up pieces of furniture that we sold on Craig's List (yes, we re-sold the dining set, sorry dipwad). So As soon as they left, Jared and I headed up to get him to bed.

I had mentioned to him earlier in the day that our washing machine was on the fritz. Something weird was going on. I had put in a load, and after the cycle was complete, I opened the lid to find a bunch of SOAKING WET clothes. I just wrung them out and threw them in the dryer.

Anyways, Jared needed to wash his work clothes for today, and threw them in the washing machine. After about 15 minutes, we still heard the water running, so he went back to check on it, and found about 1" of water flooding the laundry room floor. We did the scramble throwing towels down and hastily moving everything out of the way. After sopping up all the excess water, Jared moved the washing machine out from the wall. Sure enough, the brilliant team of Pulte plumbers had left the plug in the disaster pan.

When did all this happen? Yeah, exactly halfway through a romp in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. We were doing damage control in the nude.

Goodwill

I woke up this morning and HAD to declutterize. We have a pile stacked up in the garage almost as tall as me of junk to get rid of. I have had enough. That pile has been sitting there since last summer. Time to let it go. I loaded it all into the back of the car to drive straight to Goodwill, very satisfied to make this step. I turned around to survey the garage, and was dismayed to see only a very, very small dent in the overall clutter of the garage. The change was imperceivable to the untrained eye. Sigh.

I cheered myself with the thought that after the recycling goes out next week, we would regain another third of the garage. (There are literally mountains of empty boxes and cardboard stacked up, since we keep forgetting to put it out with the regular cans and cartons.) Then, after the dipwad who bought our dining set 2 months ago (which consists of a large table, 6 chairs, and a huge hutch), actually comes to PICK IT UP, we would have another third of the garage back! Presto! Back in business! Just not today. Sigh.

Coupons

Coupons are tricky. They force upon you an insatiable desire to use them. If I have pile full of coupons that expire today at one of my favorite stores, an urgency takes over, causing my mind to reel. I just have to come up with a way to use them. I ask myself, "What do I need?"

Well, plain and simple, if I needed anything, I wouldn't have to brainstorm about what it was. When I have to sit and ponder what I "need," chances are I don't need it at all. Most of the time, true needs arise and are met as fast as possible. They don't wait for coupons. This brings us to desires. When no needs arise in my mind, I start to think along these lines: "Well, what have I been wanting for awhile? Now that I have coupons, it is okay to buy it. I will be saving 50%!" Truth be told, I will be spending 50%. And on our budget, that is too much simply to satisfy a desire-- just so I can spend those coupons.

Oh the struggle.

Rockin at the Rock Concert

Nickelback Concert! That is where Jared took me on our hot date last night! It was awesome! The night started out at Rancheros with delicious fajitas. Then we ran down to the Target Center in time to listen Chris Daughtry jam for almost an hour, followed by Stain. Then the big guns came out-- Nickelback! There were sparks flying on the stage behind them, flames shooting in time to the music, and lots of mist wafting through the air. By the end of the concert, the room was so hazy with mist that it was difficult to see the people on the floor in the general admission section. We sat three rows from the back wall, in the uppermost level. We were nearly as far away as you can possibly get, but I didn't care at all.

I'm sure that Presh got a pretty good concert too, cuz we could feel the bass pumpin' through the room. I have read that babies can hear low-pitch tones, like bass, in the womb. I am pretty sure Presh was a fan, cuz that baby was dancin' and groovin' to the beat!

Sorry, no pictures. Jared told me to leave the camera in the car, at which point I was still unaware of where we were headed.

Unsolved Mystery

So last week Jared told me he is planning a surprise hot date for us tonight. WOOHOO! It is been sooooo long since I have been on anything resembling a hot date. He has tauntingly mentioned this date everyday since then, increasing my anticipation to the utmost. Then, in the car last night at 9:30 pm, he sprung something on me--- I was told I have to wear "a sexy little outfit." Immediately my mind jumped in two different directions.
First, "Wow! This date is bigger than I was imagining. I wonder what we could possibly be doing?!"
Second, "How can sexy and pregnant coincide?"

So when we got home, I ran upstairs and riffled through my closet and dug out three of my "sexiest" pregnant dresses and tried them on.
1st dress- Uffta! NOT so sexy after all.
2nd dress- Are we going camping? Cause I'm wearing the tent.
3rd dress (little black dress)- PERFECT! Sex in a bottle. I was pretty sure at this point that I had reached my full potential and successfully (magically) married "sexy" with "pregnant."

I accessorized with dangly rhinestone earrings, a sparkly necklace, and black heels. I threw on a sheer black overshirt, and ran downstairs to display myself to Jared. He looked at me and his face lit up and said: "Woooow. That does look sexy, but..." and stopped. My heart jumped. What?!? What could possibly be wrong with this outfit? It hit me. It was waaaay too formal. I quickly asked him if that was the problem. And here was his reply: "Well, I want you to be comfortable. But I want you to feel sexy."

I don't think he realized that he just asked the impossible. Sexy. Comfortable. Pregnant. I barely managed to pull together sexy and pregnant. I honestly didn't think it could be done. But comfortable and pregnant? That would consist of my cut-off gray sweatpants and the baggiest T-shirt I could find. Maybe a hoody too. And my down blanket. Anyone think this is SEXY?

When I heard this response my heart sank. No matter how much I scrounged through my closet, I would never find something to fit all three.

This morning, I brought 3 outfits, 6 necklaces, 4 pairs of earrings, 2 bracelets, 3 pairs of shoes, and 2 purses to work with me (he is picking me up straight from here). When I arrived, I lamented to Cara about my impossible predicament, and she ran upstairs and returned with a shirt for me to try on. Guess what? It fits me PERFECT. It looks sexy. It is more comfortable than any shirt I own. I am still pregnant. Cara, will you marry me? You are my hero!

(I will post pictures tomorrow of our date and let you know what the heck we did!)

Bad Baby!

Due to a power outage, only one paramedic responded to the call. The house was very dark so the paramedic asked Kathleen, a 3-yr old girl to hold a flashlight high over her mommy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby!
Very diligently, Kathleen did as she was asked. Heidi pushed and pushed and after a little while, Connor was born. The paramedic lifted him by his little feet and spanked him on his bottom. Connor began to cry.
The paramedic then thanked Kathleen for her help and asked the wide-eyed 3-yr old what she thought about what she had just witnessed.
Kathleen quickly responded, "He shouldn't have crawled in there in the first place......smack his butt again!"


Sent to me in an email from my dad! Good story Papar!

All I Need Are My Fiskars

This morning I woke up and looked at myself in the mirror. I had had enough. I got probably the best haircut I have ever received about 3 weeks ago. I LOVE my haircut. It always sits beautifully, and is very easy to upkeep. I am usually able to stretch my style for as long as 2-3 days in between washings by adding a few strategic bursts of hairspray. This is especially wonderful these days, since I am quickly loosing energy to spend time in the morning styling my blond locks.
One little problem: perfect haircut + pregnancy hormones = hair growing at a rapid speed. Now, I forked out more for this haircut than we spend on groceries in a week (sorry Kristi), and am not about to plunge into our meager bank account again FOR A TRIM. (Now there's another whole story about how I feel on charging the same amount for a trim, as for a completely life-changing, dramatic haircut. Maybe I will feel differently after cosmetology school.) But a trim was definitely in order. You see, when she cut my hair, she cut it at the perfect length, which means that as soon as it started growing, it was too long. I really do see the strategy in this-- it would bring the salon-going crowd back every 3-4 weeks, which means more $$ for Ms. Haircutter. I, however, am too stingy to pay that much once a month.

So... No problemo! I grabbed my best pair of Fiskars today and hacked away. Looks just like it did the day I left the salon. I am pretty proud of my self-administered trim. Free of charge.

The Day That Never Ends

(Set to that incredibly annoying tune of the "Song That Never Ends")

This is the day that never ends,
It keeps going on and on, my friends,
It started out just fine, but now I think, that it's just a joke,
I would like to scream aloud "Today, you're a slow-poke!"
This is the day that never ends...