Category Archives: Uncategorized

Snowapalooza

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This year we are embracing winter more– perhaps it is because we have a snow blower? YAY! Not that I didn’t enjoy shoveling…and we’ve been lucky that we have some great neighbors that have bailed us out, but seriously…it makes living in Minnesota a lot less stressful!

No, that’s not the surface of Mars- that is the side of our house after the Blizzard! We had a total of about 7-8 inches. Our 2nd storm of the season…and it’s not even offically Winter.

Dapper Boys

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Livin‘ it up at their first party of the season…St. Catherine University’s “family” Christmas Party! There were lots of reindeer games, complete with yummy-yum’s, prizes and a whole lot of cheer! I do believe the boys love my school even more than I do! There is always something happening at St. Kate’s. We LOVE the community at “our” school.

This year I did something different for the boys Christmas outfits. I had to pick up these penguin vests when I saw them! My handsome little men love penguins, so it was something I knew they would adore as much as I adored the colors and kid friendly design. They retail at $28, but I was able to get them for a steal. Gymboree’s website is showing the price as $13.99, but I picked them each up for $9.99 at the outlet store. Toss in two black turtle necks for $3.99 each, tweed caps at $4.50 each (they are sold on the website for $7.19 each on sale) and Gap khakis (Gap pants are more expensive put well worth it in design and durability) complete with penguin print socks for $1.99 each– Ta-da!! Little Dapper Men! Plus, because they don’t solely have a Christmas theme, they will be able to wear them all season long.

We Decked…

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With the craziness of final projects, presentations and papers for school, cleaning, shopping and preparing to cook for Thanksgiving (not that I ordinarily would not have, but I wanted things to be “extra” nice as we had a guest– you know how it is! When you love and appreciate that guest- you want it to be special.)…not to mention volunteering for two events in a week at the boys school (a cookie exchange for the staff I coordinate every year and a Winter Solstice Celebration that I head up every year for the entire school), I was feeling well…tired. Thanksgiving came and went and I didn’t have one once of Christmas decorating or shopping spirit in me. Traditionally, Ashish and I mark the start of the season on our anniversary (November 26th) with the boys by staying overnight in Minneapolis at the Hyatt, watching the Hollidazzle parade, seeing the Macy’s holiday display and each picking out a “special” ornament (well, the kids and I at least!). That all didn’t happen this year– and I was 100% fine with it. Maybe it was because of my theology class?? I really started to soak in the REAL meaning of the season…and it’s nothing you can find under a tree. It’s nothing that sparkles in a parade or shines on a window. We didn’t get to go to the Grand Meander this year (another annual tradition that we didn’t make it to because of the second snow storm– actually, a blizzard– of the season). I was ok with this too… This year, we didn’t go cut down our tree at a tree farm…Yup, I was okay with this too. Instead, I picked up the boys from school with a chai tea in hand and said, “C’Mon, Boys! You’re going to go pick out a Christmas tree for our house!” I headed to the local Ace Hardware about a mile from our house, the boys both marched over to the same tree and said, “This is the one! Our tree!” I replied, “Really? Don’t you want to look at some others?” They insisted this was “the one.” So, the wonderful man that works there tied it up on the roof of the car and off we headed to bring it home. As soon as we pulled up the driveway, it began to snow. The boys got out of the car jumping up and down, marveling at the tree they picked out, full of excitement, hugging me with words of, “I LOVE YOU, MOMMY!! It’s the BEST TREE EVER!” And…that’s when it happened…The Christmas spirit slipped in my heart. I suppose it was always there…even in the hustle and bustle…even in the daily stress of a “do-to” list…that’s part of the magic of the season. Seeing the joy of the season through my boys eyes renewed my love for the holiday- and all that goes along with it.


The Ginger Bread House by the Boys.

Nishad’s gift to me…he sewed this at school for me. (Melt…)


Full swing decorations!

Waddling to some Fun!

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Tiger and I spent some time together waddling around the Twin Cities- looking for some Fall fun! Every year we parade up and down Grand Avenue, going trick or treating, but this year Nishad didn’t want to go. He replied, “I don’t want to go trick or treating…it’s all JUNK that you get.” Well, THAT IS what I tell him about candy. It’s not JUNK FOOD…It’s merely JUNK as it has no nutritional value and therefore it isn’t food. I guess he was REALLY listening. While I was EXTREMELY PROUD of this, I was a little sad. It’s not like we had to eat the JUNK! We could just have fun being together as a family. Alas, it was a Mommy and Tiger day– which worked out great because Tiger and I simply don’t get to spend enough time together, one-on-one. After a very late lunch on Grand avenue, we headed over to Como Zoo’s Halloween Celebration: Zoo Bash! This is always a lot of fun…and it’s a fundraiser for the zoo we’ve come to love and visit so much! There were character penguins this year! Tiger was so excited. One penguin said, “Hey you are my cousin!” So then every time Tiger would see a character penguin or a picture of a penguin in the zoo, he would announce, “There is my cousin!” We even saw some fish…that we thought would be fun to pose with…under the condition that our favorite little penguin didn’t eat them! Happy Halloween!!

Happy Campers

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Though Ashish and I have camped, and we have a tent, this was the first time the boys actually stayed over-night in the tent. The best part was being with our special friends, the J’s! They volunteered their home as “base.” Once the sleeping bags, pillows, suits, clothes, bug spray, toothbrushes, tent, cantaloupe that moonlights as a watermelon, and kids were packed in the car, we set out on our journey– ready to rough it in a suburb of Minneapolis. With the mind-set that there wasn’t a store for miles, I’m pretty sure the kitchen sink was in fact included in our bags. Such is life with a 2 year old and a 4 year old…life happens, so be prepared, right?
In order to document the experience, I’ve constructed a time line:

5p.m. Arrive at the Best Little Camp-site in The Burbs (it’s like a well-kept secret!). Upon arrival, “bon-fire” snack is served consisting of cheese, pretzels, and grapes that was as appealing to the eyes as it was the palate! After, Nishad’s bestie put on a little John Denver show for us by special arrangement of his agent. 😉 The house seats– best eva!

5:30p.m. The boys discover the hidden toy store that the J’s have within their home and play with their buddies, a little gabbing, and some swatting mosquitoes- the national bird of Minnesota.

6p.m. Mr. J is manning the grill, while Mrs. J and I are (wo)manning the kitchen. Ashish sets up the tent…upon realizing this, Ashish has four little helpers.

6:15p.m. Turkey sliders hot off the grill served up with lemonade Alfresco!

6:45p.m. The Garden Tour. [Swat, Swat] Built on rolling hills, the garden has something to offer every gardener! A natural setting that backs up to mature trees and greenery eliminates the “fish bowl” backyard that so many people seem to have. Don’t get me wrong, I love my neighbors, but I love the essence of privacy and serenity. Our trees has some years to grow before they develop the screen the J’s garden provides– yes, I am filled with tree envy! The people that use to own the house use to be a photographer, so she would use the backyard for photography… It is lovely.

7:30p.m. The Bon-fire begins! We shared stories…and Ashish even entertained all 4 boys as they chased after frogs. Ashish is such a natural with kids– if we met when we were in our 20’s maybe we could have had 4 kids. Mr. J carved the perfect marshmallow roasting sticks, and Mrs. J assembled the s’mores (although Tiger and little J were all about the simplicity of chocolate). At this point, I resorted to the “Family Off” aerosol spray because the mosquitoes crashed the party– in a Titans kind of way.

9p.m. Bed-time…already? [Swat, Swat, SWAT!] After putting on our PJ’s and being lovingly teased by the J’s about our 8 person tent, it was time to say goodnight. Immediately, Tiger started crying because he wanted to go outside of the tent and play with his friends (frogs included).

9:30p.m. We finally got the kids calmed down and a series of fire and police sirens ramped up. Mrs. J yelled something like, “You’re not in Otsego anymore!” I yelled back, “I was thinking you orchestrated this because of our love for firetrucks?” ha,ha.

10p.m. Neighbor’s Dog. Bark. Woof. Arrrrrrgph! Scratch. Scratch. WOOF!

10:30p.m. Tiger is UP again. He was fine laying on me…but was not a fan of the ground.

11p.m. Toot. Ashish: “Oh my gosh, aim to the window!”

11:30p.m. I attempt to lay Tiger back down in his sleeping bag, but fail. He is up again. I quickly put him in my “birdie nest” (as he calls it).

11:45p.m. “Honey, I forgot my phone in the chair by the bon-fire. Can you get it?” Ashish makes a sliver opening to slide out of the tent so no blood suckers get in.

Midnight. A large animal is outside of our tent…better be a dear!

2AM My final attempt to get Tiger to sleep on his own and then I threw in the towel. Trying not to disturn the J’s (who’s babes didn’t make a sound all night!) Ashish helped me bring him in on the sofa. That little pumpkin! As soon as we laid him down on the nice, soft cushion…let out a sigh and smiled and drifted happily to sleep. He must be royalty! Finally Sleep. I’m sure I looked frightening sprawled out on the sofa when Mrs. J and Mr. J came inside in the morning.

7AM I opened one eye and the cutest little curly haired boy yelled from the stairs, “They’re up!” haha. The boys were happy to help up greet Nishad and Ashsih, who were still in the tent.

We visited a bit while Ashish packed up… Mrs. J made the most wonderful whole wheat banana chocolate waffles and scrambled eggs for everyone. What GREAT hosts the J’s are! This was a fun test run as well… They are more than welcome to borrow our tent at anytime…as I think it will be another year until we’ll be roughing it any other place besides our backyard– or theirs! Thanks, J’s!