Happy Birthday!

22 years ago on Christmas Eve, I found out that I was going to have a child. After two surgeries and Clomid it was the best news. This Barbara Streisand song is the theme song for this event.

The best gift

That I ever got

Didn’t really weigh a lot

It didn’t have a ribbon ’round

And it sometimes made the terrible sound

The best of all it seems to me

It wasn’t neath the christmas tree

And yet, I guess I’d have to say

That it made all the other presents twice as gay

The best gift that I’ve ever known

I’d always wanted most to own

Yet in my dreams of sugar and spice

I never thought it could be so nice

The best gift that I ever get

Was sometimes dry and sometimes wet

Was usually pink but oftentimes red

As it lay so innocently in it’s bed

The best gift of the year to me

The one I hold most dear to me

A gift that simply drove me wild

Was a tiny new born child...

Happy Birthday Evan!

E-energetic

V-valiant

A-amusing

N-noble

It's a Girl!

We're expecting...




A new member of the family




Jenni

100 lbs - maybe

5' 2 3/4"

brown eyes

brunette

I always wanted another daughter

Brynn finally gets a sister

and Evan has great taste

Love you Evan and Jenni

Fashion Friday

This is my favorite new purchase. I love sweater weather. Now, if it would just cool off enough to wear this little beauty.

Going Home

Yipee! Evan is home. Since he came home from his mission a year ago he has only been home about three weeks total. It's ironic because I couldn't wait for him to move out and now I can't wait to see him.

He brought cute Jenni with him. It will be a great to spend some time with them.

Bon Appetit

Why is it that I can only find these culinary delights in Canada. And this candy can be purchased in Europe and Canada, alas not here. It's made by Nestle, come on. Oh Canada, I'll stand on guard for you...if you will export my junk food.
And what can I say about Poutine. My favorite cholesterol fest. French Fries, melted cheese curds covered in gravy...mmmmmm!

After our adventure in Minnesota came to a close, Tom met up with us and we snuck Hanna away out of the Country to visit our neighbors to the north in Quebec. We stayed at the Marriott Chateau Champlain and enjoyed lovely city views. The best thing about going to Montreal is that you can get the European experience without leaving North America. We had lots of activities and free time. Today I share the culinary highlights.

This was a walk down memory lane for me as I served my mission in Montreal in 1982-1983.

Poutine is in a league of it's own. I ate it three days in a row from three different restaurants each with their own unique spin on the dish. Thick cut fries, thin cut crispy fries, slight sweetness to the gravy, gravy served on the side. I like it all. Now if I can figure out how to recreate this at home. I don't make gravy. Could be a problem. I'm looking into ordering ingredients online. I need a quest.

Greek food is fabulously authentic due to a large Greek community in Montreal. I had three delicious greek salads while we were there.

French onion soup that is the real deal was a treat. The last time I had French onion soup to rival this was in Paris. All that bubbly crusty cheese on the top. Mmmmm!

St Viateur has the best bagels in the world, well North America for sure. These little babies are made with love and baked in a brick oven. When they are fresh and hot they stick to your teeth.

I was constantly on the hunt for my favorite Canadian junk food; Ketchup flavored potato chips, Aero bars, I prefer the mint, and Maltesers, real milk chocolate malt balls, unlike the waxy Whoppers.

These are the souvenirs I returned home with. Chips and candy. That's it. No shoes or clothes for myself. I know it's shocking. I'm a world class shopper and all I have to show for my trip is a variety of snack foods.

Shoesday

Tag

I've been tagged by my Sis.

3 things...

3 current goals: goal is a 4 letter word in my world. I do have one, daily scripture study. I've kept it since Christmas, shocking I know. I love this quote, "Goals are stars to strive for, not sticks to beat yourself with." Barbara B. Smith

3 current obsessions: Hispanitas Girasol slingbacks. I tried them on, hoped they'd go on sale and my patience paid off. Nut Goodies. Jordan's emails.

3 fears: heights, fires, no new entries in my google reader

3 random facts: I listen to The Osmonds 50th Anniversary CD in my car, I love Ingrid Bergman movies, I've never mowed the lawn.

Michelle, Maree, Tina and Liz A... you're it.

Missionary Monday

My brother in law John is a techno wizard. He created the illustration for this story. This is an excerpt from Jordan's email.

"We were at a member’s house the other day teaching a recent convert. After the lesson their dad said we should come check out the bird he shot that morning. So we went outside and looked at it. One of the boys asked his dad if he could pluck it. So I was watching him do that and he just starts ripping its head off and pulling the wings off. It was pretty gross. Anyways, the boy cleaned it off and cooked it in the oven and we ate it. It tasted like chicken. Well I just thought that was a pretty crazy story. And the family thought it was funny that I had never seen that before."

They may speak the same language in Boise, but it is definitely foreign.

Pain in the Butt

After...pretty

The procedures were a piece of cake compared to the prep. They said I would have no memory of the experience because they sedate you...they lied. I have a memory of a pain in the butt. The preliminary results are good. I came away with a bruise on my hand from the IV, two bracelets, a fashionable pair of slipper socks and a nice buzz from the Versed. I slept for four hours when I got home. Hopefully, it will be ten years before my next photo shoot.

Oh Crap!

Today is the first day of school. Can you hear the joy...It's the most wonderful time of the year. I usually go out to brunch with other giddy Moms. Today stinks, because I have to have a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. In light of the cruel fact of requiring invasive procedures, I offer myself as the Katie Couric of Blogland. I will document the whole mess for you. I find it extremely unfair that I have to undergo these tests, particularly the Colonoscopy as I am 46 years old...not even 50 yet. With a new round of medical mysteries and Disease Du Jour it has became necessary.
Colonoscopy is used to visually examine your entire colon and rectum for abnormalities. Colonoscopy is generally considered the procedure of choice for colon cancer screening. During the exam, a colonoscope — a long, flexible tube about the thickness of an adult finger — is inserted into your rectum. A tiny video camera at its tip allows your doctor to view the inside of your colon.
In some cases during colonoscopy, if a polyp or abnormal tissue is found, your doctor may remove it at that time. Alternatively, a tissue sample (biopsy) of the polyp may be taken for lab analysis to determine whether subsequent surgical removal of the tissue is needed.

Sounds like a party! Prep day was equally hideous.

1. Clear liquid diet the day before procedure.

2. Mix the nasty Colyte drink in the morning and refridgerate.

3. At noon take four stool softeners...stay close to home, seriously.

4. At 6pm, begin drinking the nasty, disgusting Colyte. Drink one eight ounce glass every 10-15 minutes.Keep your barf training supplies handy, big bowl, washcloth, and box of tissue. The puke fest will begin after about the third glass of nasty. Continue the drink, puke process until you have finished 2 quarts.

• You will look and smell like a hot mess. Don't despair, it gets worse.


• The rest of the evening will be spent in the bathroom. Make yourself comfortable.

On the day of the procedure...where they are going to get all up in your bidniss...

1. Your clear liquid diet may continue up to 10:00 am.


2. Please have a friend or relative who really likes you drive and assist you home. There will be plenty of gas passing.

My question is this, what makes one want to become a Gastroenterologist? Whose crazy idea was it to stick cameras down my throat and up my bu##? Bunch of crazy paparazzi. I'm bitter. Today is my favorite holiday and I'm supposed to be at brunch.

Ironman

Faster than a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a locomotive.
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Look! Up in the sky!
It's a bird... It's a plane... It's Ironman!

2.4 mile swim in the Russian River

112 mile bike ride through the vineyards of Santa Rosa

26.2 mile run in 97 degree heat

He finished 8th in his age group. He was the fastest 49 year old at the Vineman.

Just call me Mrs. Ironman.

Lake Minnetonka

Lunch and shopping in Excelsior reminds me of my friend Liz who grew up in this town. Located on Lake Minnetonka, the home of Minnetonka Mocs and Tonka trucks. This place is not to be forgotten.

Fashion Friday

picture turning issues...

Retail therapy at it's finest.