Weekly Update

Doctor's Appointment - 28 weeks or 7 Months

Wow, I can't believe I only have 3 more months until our little one arrives. Today was my monthly doctor's appointment. My previous post noted that I didn't gain any weight, but things have changed. In one week I have gained 4 lbs. What???? There went my joys of no weight gain. My doctor reassures me that my overall 17 lbs. weight gain is just right. Not only did I gain 4 lbs. but I got a shot in my butt. The joys of having RH Negative blood.

The big news is that I failed my one hour gestational diabetes test. Yes, I had to drink some orange pop tasting sugar, wait one hour, and than get my blood drawn. Unfortunately, I didn't pass meaning I get to spend 3 hours in the doctor's office. That is right three hours. I plan on getting some reading done. My doctor reassured me that 25% don't pass the one hour test pass the 3 hour test. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will pass the 3 hour test.

Here are a few pictures from Kristin's Birthday party last weekend. I hope you enjoy my rounded figure.

Sometimes I forget that my front side clearance has changed. A few times I have closed the car door and my stomach got in the way. The other day my co-workers and I went to lunch. We sat outside on the patio at a high top table. I was unable to move my chair forward while sitting, so my co-worker Cassie tried to help. With no success, I just sat at the edge of the chair so I could reach the table.Here is a picture of Jessa, Kristin, and I at Kristin's house for her birthday dinner.

Dumb Dog Award

I am giving this award to our dog Cody. I would like to first note that Cody is scared to jump into and out of the back of Nate's truck. Nate has to lift him up into the bed of the truck. We have tried everything so he does it himself and nothing seems to work. The other day Nate and I decide to take him to the lake for some swimming. (Nate has previously taken Cody to the lake the last several days.) Anyway, as we are just about to pull into the launch area, Cody decides to jump over the side of the truck (while in motion). Nate watches him do a complete somersault and land on his head. In shock he just lays there until Nate jumps out of the truck. Cody gets up and is ready to play catch in the water. After a few times in the water I notice that he has some road rash on his head. The good news is that he is okay, but now he gets tied up when he rides in the back.

A Full Week of Events

Happy Anniversary turns into spilled milk...
Sunday was Nate and I's two year anniversary. I can't believe that it has been 2 years. I feel like he has been a part of my life forever. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He has been patient and understanding as I work through all my drama. My therapist tells me that I have improved greatly. Enough about my other life long drama and back to the present...

Last night I got home from Diane's Bridal Shower and sitting on top of the stairs is a new carpet cleaner. You are probably thinking... What a nice anniversary gift? It is, because we do have a dog that likes to pee on our visitors and a little one on the way. Now we can clean the carpets whenever we want to... the freedom this provides is awesome. Anyway, last night we make steak, corn, and rolls for dinner. Our routine is just to sit by the TV and eat dinner. I have now resorted to using a TV tray because I am not as bendable as before. As I set my dinner and full glass of milk on the tray - I try to squeeze in-between the couch and the TV tray... Of course my belly gets in the way and I bump the TV Tray. My entire glass of milk (in slow motion of course) spills everywhere. It spilled on the dog, Nate, the couch, the coffee table, myself, and the carpet... So, after some quick cleanup with the help of Cody and Thomas we finish dinner and than try out our new carpet cleaner. My question is: Did this happen because we just got the carpet cleaner? or would it have happened without it?

Another House Guest
It's summer again and Uncle Jim has moved back in. He came on Wednesday and moved into the guest bedroom downstairs. Thomas is very happy to have someone that doesn't care if he sleeps on the bed. He plans on staying for a few months to visit his mom (my grandma) and get away from the Florida heat and humidity.

Doctor's Appointment
Last week I went to the doctor to have some things looked at that were bugging me. The good news is that I am measuring at 27 weeks and I haven't gained any weight in the last 3 weeks. I know this will change, but hopefully this will make it easier to lose the weight after she is born. I also was seen by a nurse midwife because my doctor was out of town. (I guess doctor's like to work the first few days of the week and than take the rest of the week off in the summer. That would be really nice.) Our little daughter has been very active the last few weeks. I worry when I don't feel her moving around. Nate just tells me that she is sleeping. It sure is strange to look at my stomach and seeing it moving. Is there an alien in there? Plus my belly button is starting pop... Does that mean she's done cooking? My 7 month appointment is this Thursday... Stayed tuned for an update.

On a side note: I am becoming an expert at peeing in a cup and I am very confident to carry it out of the bathroom and across the hall to the lab.

A Montage of Events

Wow, it's been a few weeks since I have posted a blog. I need to start getting better at this. I thought I would share a few stories and events that have happened over the past few weeks...

Memorial Weekend!

Nate's parents, sister Mandi, and her kids Hailey and Darren came to visit Memorial weekend. We painted the babies room, had Nate's extended family over for a BBQ, and relaxed. Below is a picture of Nate and our Godchild (nephew) Darren.

The Joys of Pregnancy

First let me tell you that being Pregnant makes you do strange things. I find myself more emotionally connected to TV, people, and pretty much everything else. Besides the nauseous feeling I had the first 3 months... my second biggest complaint is that my contacts don't work anymore. I have been forced to wear my glasses... I feel like a little school girl. I can't wear my sunglasses outside the car. (Here is my secret... I wear my sunglasses over my glasses while driving.)

I also want to share with you how irrational I was this past Sunday. Nate and I decided to go visit his friends Justin and Amy. On our way to their house we decided we wanted to stop and get something to eat. I wanted BREAKFAST. The closest restaurant serving breakfast was Perkins in Elk River. Of course it is about 11 am on Sunday, so the wait for a table was ridiculous. So, Nate decided he didn't want to wait... and I just agreed. On our way out - Nate said he would wait in line if that was what I really wanted. Of course, it was too late for me and I just said "No!" Of course we missed the McDonald's breakfast by 5 minutes... so I started crying. Good thing Nate just held my hand, while my irrational thoughts passed. In the end, I just got something at the gas station while Nate had McDonald's.

Our Crazy Kitty Thomas

I have always known that Thomas loves hair binders. I used to find them all over the house. If I left one on the bathroom counter I would always find them either in the toilet or just laying around the house. The other night I put my hair in a ponytail. As I was sitting on the couch I felt something pulling on my hair. I looked behind me and Thomas was trying to pull the hair binder out of my hair. Of course, Nate and I had to see if he could actual get it out. In about 30 seconds he had it out of my hair and was playing with it on the couch.

The Pictures You All Have Been Waiting For....

I have finally taken some side shots of my growing belly. It does take some time to get used to the fact that I am gaining weight. This is the heaviest I have ever been. Of course I have only gained 7 pounds, but it still takes some getting used to. Too bad the baby doesn't weight 7 lbs right now. (Reality - the baby ways around 12 oz.) Ugh!!! Maybe it is in my boobs. :) (For those who care... Yes my boobs have gotten bigger.) FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Too bad they go back to normal after the baby is born.

So here it is...

The next picture won't surprise you if you know Nate. Saturday night I walked into the babies room to find the following...

I am not sure if this is Nate's way of telling me that he wants to name our little girl "Gunnarette", but for now this is our new baby girl. As you can see Thomas is also enjoying the new furniture in the babies room. Nate found this crib and a matching dresser/changing table at a garage sale. It is perfect.

A Montage of Events

I thought I would combine several different events and pictures of things that have gone on these past few weeks. So, sit back and enjoy...

A few weeks ago Nate and I became Godparents to Darren (Nate's sisters son.) He was a good boy until we put him in-front of everyone. Nate did a good job trying to keep him occupied while he cried and spit up all over Nate's shoe and the floor. I think he just wanted to be heard. He looked so handsome in his white tux.

This past Saturday I had several of my friends over for my annual Birthday BBQ Bonfire Bash. Unfortunately we weren't able to have a bonfire because of the wind, but we stayed inside and made our own fun. We were also able to watch the Supercross race that was live from Vegas.

Here is a picture of my good friend Heidi that came to my party on Saturday. I hadn't seen her for over 2 years. We pulled out the old pictures and laughed at ourselves. Maybe one day I will post a few old pictures of myself for your viewing pleasure.

By the end of the night Cody was exhausted and so was my friend Jessa. So they found a comfy spot on the floor to rest.

It's a Girl

The news is out... We are having a little girl. The ultrasound showed that everything was normal.

A Taste for Cravings...

I thought all of you would like to know that I had my first real taste of a craving I couldn't resist or ignore. On my way home from work I started craving a cheeseburger on the grill. By the time I got home Nate called to tell me he would be later than he thought. This frustrated me because I really wanted that cheeseburger. I wasn't going to cook 3 burgers to only eat one. So, I only had one option. (The one drawback about living in Mayer is you have to drive at least 15 minutes to any fast food restaurant.) When your pregnant your cravings don't have patience. So, I got back in my car and drove to Dairy Queen for a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate dipped strawberry blizzard. All I can say is that it was exactly what I wanted and needed.

Happy Birthday

Of course my birthday was a few days ago, but I thought I would post a few pictures from our dinner. Nate and I met several of our friends at Benihana's (my new favorite restaurant) for dinner Tuesday night. We had a great time. Don't forget that the big party is next Saturday, May 5th at our house. The festivities start around 7pm. (I am hoping that I don't have to take any trips to Waconia before the party. - Last year Nate needed a few stitches.) My sister and her boyfriend Randy, Kristin and her husband Nathan, and Jessa came to celebrate with me.
I am hoping that I can get some sun this weekend. Good thing my camera has this skin darkening feature that doesn't make me look so washed out.

Doctor's Appointment

Monday Nate came with me to our 4 month appointment. Only 6 more months to go. That seems like so far away. This doctor's visit wasn't as eventful as my last one, but Nate did get to hear the heartbeat for the first time. Nate thinks we are having a boy and I think we are having a girl. We will find out on April 30th who is right.

Now it is your time to put in your guess. Here are a few facts to help you make your decision. 1. The last heart beat measurement was 150 beats/minute. 2. I have not had morning sickness. I hope those help you make an informed decision. So, all you have to do is post a comment and make sure to write your name, so I can keep tally. Good Luck!!

A Quick Trip

Most of you know that last Friday I flew down to Dallas to meet Nate. He picked me up at the airport and we spent the day site seeing. It was so nice to actually be next to him instead of talking to him on the phone. Friday it rained, but when we woke up on Saturday it was sunny and 70 degrees out.

Saturday we went to the Supercross race at the Texas Stadium. We met up with our friend Jason. After the race we started driving home. It took us 14 and a half hours to drive from Dallas to Minneapolis. Of course I slept for most of the drive. I did let Nate sleep for a few hours, so I drove from Kansas City to Des Moines.

All I can say is that it is so nice to have Nate home. FYI: He loves how the house looks with the walls painted.

Final Painting Pictures

Here are the pictures I took the next day. I am so excited for Nate to come home and see what it looks like in person. Now, I just love to sit in the living room and look at the walls. The upstairs has a whole new feel. I am very happy with the results. I hope you enjoy it too.

We still need to put on a few more coats on the red wall, but it will do for a few more months. Now, all I have to do is put up all my pictures. I am hoping that Nate and I can do that in a few weeks.

The red wraps into the kitchen above the cabinets. I still have to get used to how much warmer the rooms look in the evening. I feel more at home now that we don't have hospital walls.

We still need to replace the light in the entryway. I found one that I like, so I am hoping Nate will like it too!
Here is a picture of the bathroom. It was hard to take a nice picture, so you will just have to come over and see it in person. All I have to find is a new shower curtain.

Painting Party

First I would like to thank everyone that helped this past weekend. Kristin, Diane, Nathan, Jessa, Lindsey, Katie, Lee, and of course my Papa. Without these people I would still be painting. Here are some pictures. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words.

Here is Lee, Nathan, and the top of my dad's head painting the highest part of the entry way. I am so thankful we had these guys to do the tricky high parts.

Kristin and Jessa braved the hot bathroom. Kristin helped me pick out all the colors for this big painting adventure.
Katie and Diane spent most of the day painting all the beige. They wouldn't let me do too much work, so I helped with the trim and pointed out spots they missed.

My dad used his new "Little Giant" ladder that really helped in the hard to reach places. Diane did a great job holding the ladder and making sure he didn't fall.

Silly Kitty

This past weekend I undertook a big project. I decided to paint the entire upstairs before Nate comes home. Of course I had my family and friends to help. I will blog about that experience later and add some pictures. Saturday morning I started taking off all the light switch covers and air vents so we could start painting once everyone arrived. In our hallway we have a cold air exchange vent that is pretty large. As I was taking it off Thomas was very interested in this new dark tunnel. I told him to stay out while I went to look for something to put over the hole. As I went into the kitchen I started to hear this weird thumping noise. My first thought was Thomas. So, I started calling him and looking at the vent hole in the wall. Sure enough, Thomas pokes his head out and looks at me. I told him to get out, so he slowly crawled out of the hole. I was scared, upset, and happy that he didn't get stuck in the venting under the floor. I quickly found something to block the hole and locked Thomas downstairs for the rest of the day.

A Little Surprise

I thought I would let everyone know that we had a little scare a few nights ago. I started bleeding 2 nights ago, so the doctor recommended that I have an ultrasound. Yesterday I went in for a ultra sound and the good news is that everything looks good. We are not sure where the bleeding came from, but we have ruled out the bleeding is coming from the baby. I want to thank everyone who has been praying for us these past few days. It has been scary, but I am doing well today after a good nights sleep. The good news is that we have our first pictures of our baby earlier than we thought.

The baby is exactly measuring at 12 1/2 weeks and everything looks wonderful. It was really amazing to watch our baby moving and kicking around on the monitor.

I will try to post the pictures this weekend.

Music To My Ears

Today was my 12 week appointment. (That is 3 months in none pregnant terms.) I finally understand why everyone who is pregnant or with a pregnant person relates to how far they are in weeks. I hated that because I wanted to know months. How close are you to 9 months? That made more sense to me. Now, I understand that every week is almost like a victory to us pregnant women. I can't wait until I am 13 weeks or 20 weeks, etc...

I hope that you find my blog from here on out a place that you can find out what is happening in my life. I promise I won't talk about my pregnancy the whole time, but at least know that here is where you can find out what is going on. After the baby is born you will be able to find fun stories and pictures.

Okay - back to my original blog topic. (Music to my ears.) First and foremost sometimes I wish I was a guy. Why? Try peeing into a cup and not getting it on your fingers. Guys - they just aim and they are done. No wet hands and a full cup. Me on the other hand. I just pray that I have enough pee that will end up in the cup. Before I had to pee in a cup once a year. Now, it is every appointment. I hope I am a pro at the end of this pregnancy. I was going to leave out this part of the story, but my co-worker thought it would be good to put it in. So, here is the details of my peeing in a cup experience. I started the procedure and had to stop to check to make sure that the pee was actually going in the cup. (It was!!!) So, I guessed what would be a good amount, but not too much to give as a sample. When I was done I noticed that a piece of Cody's hair got into the sample. I have two options. 1. Leave the dog hair for the nurse and see her reaction. (She might think I am giving birth to a dog.) 2. Try to fish the hair out of the sample with my fingers. Of course I chose option 2.

I am pretty sure every woman worries about their unborn baby. I was kind of nervous right before my appointment. (The nurse had to tell me to relax because my blood pressure was 150/?, but than I relaxed it was 120/78.) It didn't help that I had a dream we couldn't find the heartbeat. So, it was time to find it. After what seemed like forever we found the heartbeat. Strongly beating away at about 160 beats/minute. (Now some may argue that a girl has a faster heart beat. We will just have to wait and see.)

Snowed In!!!

Round two of our big snow started early on Thursday. Roads were fine on the way to work, but got considerably worse as the day went on. Luckily my work closed at noon so I was able to make it home before the big stuff hit. After a few hours of constant snow (approx. 1/2 inch per hour) I decided to snow blow the driveway. I knew I had to stay on top of this snow or it would be impossible for me to after the snow had stopped. Let's just say that my snow blowing experience Thursday night was very upsetting. I ended up coming inside in tears and calling Nate. I pretty much told him that he is never leaving in the winter again. (He of course gave me some emotional support and after a few minutes I was better.)

Friday morning at about 6am. I look out the window just as the snow plow is pushing 4 feet of snow into my driveway to clear the road. At this point all the news channels are urging people to stay home if they can. After some careful consideration and a few conversations with my co-workers. I decide it is not worth it to go to work. At the same time I am thinking I do not want to snow blow the driveway after last nights experience. So, I call Nate. He calls a few people, but no one is able to come out and help. (Figures!?!) Of course I don't like asking for help, so I call my dad. He of course says "Yes" and comes over after he is done working. Let's just say that it took us 2 hours to clear the driveway and sidewalk. Meanwhile Cody is loving all the snow and keeps wanting me to throw this stick he found buried in the snow. I think the snow stopped coming down around 7 pm on Friday.

Saturday was my first day out of the house. It was nice to see the sun and admire the mounds of snow that encompass the house.


Here is a picture of where my dad snow blowed. He had to stop where the plow had pushed the snow in our driveway. We had to take a different approach on the end of the driveway.

Here is a picture of Cody sitting on top of one of snow mounds at the end of our driveway. Just so you know I am standing on the driveway and Cody is as at eye level. That is how high the snow pile is.

Here is a picture of our house with big pile of snow in front of it. I think of it as our own natural fence or barrier from intruders. Just a note - Our house does sit a little lower than the street, but you get the point.

Thank Goodness for Snow Blowers

My weekend started out on Friday with a trip to the Grocery Store. I wanted to stock up just in case I decided to spend the weekend at home. A pregnant woman can never be too prepared. I woke up on Saturday morning with iced up windows, but no snow! As the day continued the snow came and stayed until Sunday morning. Good thing my dad came out to start getting the walls ready to paint and he took me out for dinner. Otherwise, I would have stayed in the house all weekend. Here are some pictures of what I found when I opened the garage door this morning.

I am so thankful that my dad donated his old snow blower to Nate and I. I don't know what I would have done if we did not have the snow blower. Cody spent most of the morning running around in the snow. He had so much fun it was hard to get him back in the house.

After I got done with the entire driveway the snowplow came through again. (Which I knew would happen.) So, after a quick nap. (Okay 2 hours) I went out and cleaned up the end of the driveway and the mail boxes.

This picture was taken the first time I did the driveway. It took awhile to get the end of the driveway cleared from the snowplow.

A Friendly Officer (Deputy)

Most of you know that Nate and I our expecting our first baby in September. We found out about this miracle and now are looking forward to our growing family. Yes, this was surprising news, but we know that it is in God's hands. Thank you everyone who has supported us through this miracle.

This past Friday I went to Mora to visit Nate's family for the weekend. On my way up North I got pulled over. Here is the dialog between myself and the officer.

As I am handing the deputy my drivers license and insurance....
"This is my first time being pulled over." - Nikki
"Do you know why I pulled you over?" - Deputy
"Probably speeding..."
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"I have no idea..." - Which was a true statement.
"You were going 51 mph. - Do you know what the speed limit is here?"
"30-35 mph??"
"35 mph"
*I am thinking crap. That is 16 over!!!
"Where are going?"
"Mora, to my boyfriends parents house. We just found out we are pregnant."
"I will be right back..."
*Another thing to note is that Cody is in the back seat growling at the deputy.
* I kept thinking... I hope he gives me a break on the ticket because this is the first time I have ever been pulled in the 12 years I have been driving.
*After about 5 minutes he comes back to the car. (Nothing in his hand except my license.)
"So, you just found out your pregnant?"
"Yes!"
"Now you have the 2 of you to think about. Make sure you pay attention and watch your speed and tell everyone you know that we are sitting her clocking people."
"Thank you!"

And than I continued my way to Mora. I guess being pregnant saved me several hundred dollars.

Happy Valentine's Day

First - I would like to apologize that I have not updated my blog in almost a month. Life has been busy and I just haven't had anything really exciting happen leaving me no material to work with for my blog.

Most of you know that Nate is out of town until April or so. Yesterday afternoon he calls me all upset because he has tried all day to have flowers delivered to my work on valentine's day. Each place he called was either too expensive to deliver or he couldn't get through. (I guess he had called my neighbor 6 times trying to figure it out.) After some quick discussion I told him that he didn't have to get me flowers and that his attempt was enough for me.

Later that night my doorbell rang and my neighbor had a dozen roses for me from Nate. He had called her and asked if she could pick up some flowers and bring them to me. It was a nice surprise.

A Six Hour Cruise

This past Sunday I woke up in the beautiful furnishing of the Perham Super 8 motel. After some continental breakfast Anne and I went to the country club in Perham to celebrate my Grandma's 86th Birthday. We had a nice brunch, some picture taking and visiting. After about an hour I had to make the long journey back to the cities to pick up Nate at the airport. Yes, Nate is home. Most of you know that Texas (along with several other states) has been dealing with some ice. So, Nate decided to leave before the storm to come home. It took me a little over 3 hours to make it to the airport, but his plane was delayed an hour. That being said, I spent another hour in the car at a hotel parking lot waiting for his phone call. Don't worry - I stayed occupied by talking on the phone. Good thing I have unlimited minutes on the weekends. In a nut shell - I left Perham at 1:00 in the afternoon and didn't get home until after 6:00pm.

It is so nice to have Nate home. My uncle and his girlfriend Kathy have also been staying here for a few days. I never seem to get away from a full house. I really enjoy the company. My uncle is leaving Thursday for the trip back to Florida and Nate is not sure when he will be leaving to go back to Texas. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye again.

Grandma is 86

This past weekend my sister, dad, and I made the trip to Perham, MN. We drove up on Saturday and checked into the luxurious motel. We visited for a few hours at my aunt and uncles before heading over to see Grandma. She moved to a senior home in Perham last May and she tells that she enjoys living in a small town. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to talk with her because she has dementia. Here is a picture of my grandma, Anne and I at the country club where we had a nice brunch.

I had to leave a little early from the celebration because Nate was flying into the Minneapolis later on Sunday afternoon.

A Trip to Texas

Wow, I can't believe that it is 2007 already. Last week my sister and I took a trip down south to visit my mom. I hadn't seen her for over a year, so the trip was greatly needed. I want to first mention that Nate has taught me how to pack for a trip. Granted he wasn't here when I was packing, but he would have been proud. Granted I needed another bag for the way home, but that is what happens when you go shopping after Christmas. There are sales all over the place.

I want to first thank my Auntie Marsha. She spoiled us buy treating us to many meals. I can't say that we went hungry when we were there. Anne and I decided that we needed to fast for about a week for the amount of food we ate in the 5 days we were there. I also want to thank my mom too. She was a great host and I wish she lived closer so I could see her more.

We spent most of our trip in my mom's town. The interesting thing about where she lives is that it is in a dry county. This means that only private clubs can sell alcohol. This includes bars. So, I had the privalage of joining a few clubs while we were down there. During one our evening outings my mom and aunt decided that they were going to sing karaoke. Anne and I refused to take part in this event, but we were able to get it on video.

Our last night the four of us traveled to my cousin Heather's house in south Houston. We spent the evening at the Kehma Boardwalk where we ate at Ichibon's (Japanese Steak House). It was so good, but I needed to be carried home because I ate too much.

A Hard 24 Hours

Some of you may know that Nate is a foreman for a landscaping company here in the cities. Every December he gets laid off until mid - April. Last year he stayed home and collected unemployment. It was really hard to keep him busy during those months. Nate always has to be doing something. Well, this winter he has the opportunity to make some good money. The problem is that he has to be in Dallas, Texas to make this money. Yesterday he left for Texas. I cried of course. (He will be home by April 1st.) He will be working 6 days a week driving a dump truck for a company based in his home town of Mora. Living in a townhouse with 6 other guys from MN and sleeping on a twin size mattress. That doesn't sound like too much fun.

I am so thankful for my neighbor Diane. She has really helped me and has been there for me while I cried to her on the phone. (I also want to say that Kristin and Mike too. They also got the privilege of listening to me cry.) The good thing is that Diane told me that Nate will only be gone for 12 Grey's Anatomy episodes. That sounds a lot better than 90 days.

A Very Merry Christmas

Wow - I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. Now I am just waiting to bring in the new year. Nate (I am dropping the nick names for 2007) and I spent a few days in Mora to celerate Christmas with his family. Like usual we looked to Hailey for our main entertainment. She was really good at opening everyone's presents. Christmas Eve we made our way back to the cities to celebrate Christmas with my dad and sister. Christmas Day we met my dad, aunt and uncle at Mystic Lake Casino for their Christmas brunch. The good thing is that Nate and I played our favorite nickel machine and won a total of $60.

A New Addition

Yesterday was a big day in MotoRider's family. The newest member of his family was born. Monday Mandi (MotoRider's sister) was induced and MotoRider and I made the trip to Mora to welcome the newest member of the family. Mel, MotoRider, and I waited outside the room while Darren made his arrival. It was pretty intense because MotoRider and I were on the baby board for Darren to arrive on Tuesday, Dec. 19 or his cousins for Monday, Dec. 18th. It was 11:45 pm when they called the doctor and Mandi was progressing very quickly. The good news is that Darren waited until 12:26 am to arrive. It was so neat to hear him cry for the first time and be able to hold him right away. Here are some pictures.This is MotoRider and Darren about 40 minutes after he was born. He is adorable.

This is Darren and I later in the day after a few hours of sleep. We are excited to get to know him.

Last Weekend

I apologize that it has been over a week since my last post. I have been meaning to sit down and write this post. Last weekend MotoRider and I went to our neighbors 1st birthday. We had a great time. Here are some pictures for you to look at.

Here is a picture after the first fist full of cake. Good thing FavoriteNeighbor bought a special cake for Hailey. A few minutes after this picture was taken Hailey got it all over her face and in her eyes. Sorry I don't have any pictures of that, but I had to help mom clean it off her face. Hailey wasn't too happy that it was in her eyes.

MotoRider enjoyed teasing Hailey before she opened all her new toys. She also enjoys coming to our house to play. I can't wait until she can ask her mom if she can come over to the cool neighbors house. I am hoping she will ask this summer.

All By Myself!

I did it all by myself! That is right - I made a turkey dinner. Sunday afternoon my sister, dad, and Randy came over to our house and had a turkey dinner. I found the easiest way to make a turkey from Motoriders mom. All I did was clean and put the turkey in an oven bag and cooked it in the oven for 3 hours. That is it and the turkey was perfect. I was so proud of myself. We also had mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean cassorole (my dad made), and bread.

I do have to mention the negative event from my dinner. I made my favorite pie that my grandma use to make. Anyway - I have made the pie in the past. (No problems than.) Let's just say that the pie was more like a soup that had to be served in a bowl. It tasted the same, but just would not hold it's shape. I was so frustrated. I even put it outside for 2 hours to see if it would freeze. Nope - that didn't work.

So my dinner was a success. I am official now!

Dentist

I never thought that I would have blog about my dentist experience today, but as luck would have it I am. Actually, the appointment went well. No cavities and everything looks good. It is what happened after the appointment that I am upset about. Just to give you a timeline my appointment was at 4:10 and I left at 4:45. At about 5:45 I was at home checking my email and eating my favorite Christmas cookie. (Corn flake wreaths with red hots.) Anyway, I wasn't paying attention and I bite the red hot with my front teeth. And guess what? I chipped my tooth. Yes, 1 hour after my appointment I chipped my tooth. Now I have to go back and get it fixed. Too bad I don't have dental insurance. Especially since I just paid $118 to get my teeth cleaned. Don't worry, because my company will pay me back at year end of the year.

Good thing is my dentist is cute! :)

An Urgent Matter

Some of you may recall my post about changing the headlight in my boss's car. Well, my fixing talents did not end at fixing the headlight. The other day my co-worker comes out of the bathroom and mentions that the toilet doesn't flush. At first I kept my mouth shut, but I had a feeling that I knew what the problem was and could fix it. So, I mentioned that I could most likely fix the flushing problem.

My thoughts were right and I was able to fix the toilet. Honestly is was pretty easy, but it was only a temporary fix.

Tonight as I was driving home my co-worker called me to tell me that there was an urgent matter that they needed my help with and that I needed to come back to the office. My first thought was "Great, I need to go to the grocery store so I can get home and make dinner. I don't have time to go back to work." I asked "What could this urgent matter be?" - "Well, the toilet won't flush again." I just laughed and said I would be able to fix it tomorrow morning.

Maybe I need to put these types of things on my resume.

Duties of a Maid-of-Honor

This past Saturday my good friend Jen got married. I met her my freshman year of college. Several months ago she asked me to be her maid-of-honor. I wasn't expecting to be her maid-of-honor. During the planning stages I started preparing to plan a bridal shower, and a bachelorette party for Jen. After some discussions I realized that a bridal shower would be planned by her aunt and sister-in-law and that a bachelorette party would have to wait until fall. I didn't mind, but I felt like I wasn't honoring my duties as the maid-of-honor and I was not worthy of this position. I mentioned to Jen that she could trade me in for a new maid-of-honor and I would make the announcement before the ceremony on the correction in the program. She of course didn't agree with me, but I had to offer up the idea. I also have to realize that she lives in Duluth and I live in the cities. This does propose a challenge.

In the end, the wedding was beautiful. It was perfect! Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure. I do have to say one thing... I loved my hair!!!

On a side note: Motorider really surprised me. Normally, at least all the weddings that we have gone together - Motorider wears jeans and a nice shirt. I have given up on convincing him to wear dress pants. Anyway, I told Jen that I hope she didn't mind that Motorider would be wearing jeans to her wedding. (Of course she didn't care.) I was completely convinced that he would, but when we were packing to go - Motorider put out a shirt, tie, and dress pants. I couldn't believe it. Here is a picture of the two of us at the reception. Doesn't he look so good dressed up?

Happy Thanksgiving

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already over and we only have 4 weeks until Christmas. Motorider and I went to St. Cloud and celebrated this festive occasion with his family. We spent the day reviewing all the Black Friday ads and eating. I also did my annual trip to ShopKo with Mel (Motorider sister's) and Angie (Motoriders cousin). I am not a big fan of shopping on Black Friday. I usually like to avoid the crowds, but this year I couldn't go because I offered to babysit Hailey (Motorider's niece). Motorider's mom was nice enough to pick up a few things that I wanted.

Hailey and I spent the day playing, reading, going on a walk, and taking pictures. Here are a few pictures that we took. I have also included a family photo of Motorider and I. Enjoy!!

Remember that you can make comments on my blog. I have made it so you don't have to have an account to make a comment. I enjoy reading your comments and it will let me know that people enjoy reading my blog. I don't want to be writing this if no one is reading it.

Black Tongue

You are probably wondering why I titled this one black tongue, well it is quite the story. Last week I stayed home because I wasn't feeling to well. I caught that wonderful cold going around. (At least I am getting it over with early. ) Anyway, I woke up the next day and went to brush my teeth and my tongue was black. Yes, it was all black. I was trying not to over react, but I was really freaked out by it. It came off when I brushed it off with my toothbrush, but I couldn't think of what caused this. I had taken some night-quil capsules the night before, but they were green and why would it turn my tongue black. I asked MotoRider and he just hugged me and said that I might be dying and than went to work.

I got to work and it just so happened that a nurse was coming in to give us flu shots, so I asked her about my little problem. The good thing is that she solved my mystery. She told me that Pepto-Bismol has been known to make your tongue black. And guess what... I had taken a chewable tablet the night before.

I do apologize that I didn't take a picture of this great episode in my life.

Naughty Puppy

This weekend was pretty low-key for me. My goal was to clean the entire house, put up my christmas tree and holiday decorations. I actually cleaned most of the up-stairs. When I say most - I mean... closing the door to the office, so the rest of the upstairs looks clean. The office is my "winter project". I will probably have to have another garage sale this coming spring. If you didn't catch earlier... I didn't get to the christmas tree or holiday decorations.

Anyway... my story begins on Saturday morning. I woke up and let CrazyPuppy out to play with the neighbor dogs. CrazyPuppy usually stays in our yard or the neighbors and I occasionally yell out the window to make sure he hasn't strayed to far from the yard. (To our surprise CrazyPuppy has not wondered too far from mom or dad.) While CrazyPuppy was playing outside our little neighborhood girl (we refer to as Crazyeyes) came over and was playing with the dogs in our yards. I think she played with the dogs for a good 2 hours. I enjoyed having a babysitter to let Crazypuppy release some of his energy.

I happen to look out the window and noticed that Crazyeyes was walking CrazyPuppy towards the front door. It looked like she had him on a leash, but actually it was a ribbon she wrapped around his collar to bring him home. Than the doorbell rang and Crazyeyes tells me... "Nikki, your puppy was being naughty so I brought him home." I said... "Thank you" and she left with no explanation on why Crazypuppy was naughty. We sure do live in an interesting neighborhood that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Deer Hunting

This past weekend MotoRider went deer hunting. I went with him to Mora, but I spent the weekend doing girl stuff. The point of this blog is... Well maybe there isn't a point, but I need to capitalize on different parts of my life. This is really my first experience with hunting. My dad was never a hunter and the only other person I really knew that hunted was Kristin's dad. I do remember going to her house to see the deer hanging in the garage. Anyway, I digress...

This is what I know about deer hunting... Guys (and some gals) spend hundreds of dollars and time getting ready to hunt. They have to buy the right gun (and even than they want a bigger one.), bullets (which are quite spendy), deer tags (to allow you to kill a buck and a few does), and of course the fashionable orange gear. So, it is deer opener and this is what happens... Remember this is from a non-hunter perspective. You get up at 4:30am to meet for breakfast before sunrise. You walk into the woods (in the dark) to your deer stand (which is hoisted in a tree about 10 feet above the ground) and sit. Yes sit and wait. I have heard rumors that they occasional fall asleep. Not only are you just sitting the temperature outside ideally should be no warmer than 30 degrees. Than when someone shoots a deer in your party you wait until it dies and than have to go and gut it out. Yes, cut through the deers skin and bones and remove the insides. (This is not for the faint of heart.) Once you have that done, you drag it to the truck to be tagged and registered with the DNR. After that you can either process it yourself or take it to a professional butcher. This does not sound like any fun to me. I told Motorider that this can something he does on his own and I would not participate in this adventure. I think he was relieved.

Waking up early, sitting in a tree freezing to death, and waiting are definitely not my cup of tea. I am hoping for some pictures to capture these moments in the next two weekend hunting trips. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

What would you do for your Boss?

Yesterday my boss took me and my co-workers out for our weekly lunch. As we were driving to our lunch destination... my boss was complaining that she needed to get her headlight fixed. So, I said..."That is easy... I could do that." My boss's reply..."Okay, we will stop and pick one up on the way back from work." Of course I was kind of nervous of her response. I had changed my Grand Am's and Camry's headlights, but every car is different. I read the manual and it didn't sound too difficult. The most scary part of the directions was when I needed to take out the entire headlight assembly. So, I called MotoRider (who is working about 1/2 mile from my work) and told him my plan and to be on call if I needed help.

We get back to the office and I notice I have left my purse at the restaurant. My co-worker says she will call and make sure it is there and that I will pick it up on my way home. I than realize that my keys are in my purse, so I have to get my purse now. The good thing is that I needed to go back that way because the stupid people at the auto parts store (which will remain nameless because they are not giving me advertising dollars to mention their name) to get the right one.

I borrow my other co-workers car and make the trip back to get my purse and exchange the headlight. Don't forget my boss's car is sitting in the parking lot with the headlight hanging off of it. Once I exchange the bulb for the correct one I start heading back to work. About 2 stoplights from the auto parts store I realize they gave me the high beam bulb and not the low beam bulb. Now I am frustrated and turn around and go back. I did learn that Yukan Denali's use the high beam bulb for both high/low beam headlights. (Just in case you needed to know.)

Once I am back at work - it takes me about 2 minutes to finish the process and now it is fixed. I am not sure if I would do it again, but at least I know I can do it without help. On a side note: Not only did I have Motorider as a back-up, my friend Rob (who fixes everyone's cars) works on the other corner of my office building making him back-up number 2.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween plus one day. I can't believe it is November and it is cold. This morning I woke up and saw that it was only 20 degrees out. You see, Motorider and I have a clock that projects the time and outdoor temperature on the ceiling. It really makes it hard to get out of bed when it is cold out.

I am not a big fan of dressing up for Halloween, but Nate enjoyed in the festivities this past weekend. He decided to dress up this year. On Friday night I went to pick him up and didn't recognize him. I had to ask our friend where he was and he was a few feet away. I actually think he could pull off this look in real life...

Who Pays?

Have you ever gone on a date with someone you just met or a long time partner? If yes - there is always that undeniable question of Who is going to pay for dinner? Well, I have some advise on how you will never have to ask or wonder this question again. My advise of course comes from personal experience. My advise can be taken from the stories I am about to write about.

It happened last winter when MotoRider and I went to Subway for dinner. Normally we take turns on who will pay and a quick conversation at the cash register determines this. But this time was different. MotoRider knew what he wanted so he placed his order and I was quick to follow with mine. Just as I am about to finish telling the sandwich maker what I want on my sub. MotoRider turns and says... "I have to run to the bathroom. I will be right back." At first I don't care, but than I realize what he has just done. He left right when the decision was suppose to be made on who will pay... So, his absence has confirmed that I will be paying for this meal. When he returns... I ask about his quick disappearance and confirms my suspicions are true. That was his way of letting me pay for dinner.

The reason I am telling you this now is that he did a similar scenario to me just the other night. We were at Jimmy Johns (MotoRider's favorite sub place.) and he ordered first because it was my first time at JJ's. Once I placed my order I look to find MotoRider filling his beverage far enough from the register that we can't make this quick paying decision. (Plus there about 3 people behind me.) So, I had over my credit card.

Now you can try these tricks the next time you don't want to pay for dinner or want to avoid that awkward feeling. I do want to make one side note. MotoRider does pay for me on a regular basis and he did the other night when we went to see a movie. I just thought these were some creative ways to avoid this awkward moment.

A Weekend in Mora

MotoRider is home!! Friday I drove to Mora to see MotoRider. We spent the weekend with his family. His niece Hailey is so much fun. I thought I would post a few pictures from our weekend. We also celebrated MotoRiders sister Mandi's (Hailey's mom) birthday. It was a weekend of celebrating.

Here is a picture of MotoRider and Hailey. It is nice to see that Hailey finally likes MotoRider. It has only taken about a year for her to not cry when MotoRider held her.

Here is a picture of MotoRider and Hailey doing some reading. I think Hailey is reading to MotoRider.

Hailey also is very polite because everytime someone sneezes she says "bless you!" Let's just say that everyone had to sneeze.

Lap Dog

Last night sure was an eventful evening for our household. MotoRider has returned to MN from his hunting trip to Colorado. Even though he is in MN doesn't mean he is actually home. I guess there is a lot of work to be done after the big trip. So, the CrazyPuppy and FriendlyKitty are still lost without MotoRider. I won't go into details, but both animals did not feel very well last night when I got home. I have a feeling they thought I left them because I wasn't home at my normal time. They are feeling a lot better today and were enjoying my company last night when I got home.

CrazyPuppy has been a lot more protective over me and has been craving some extra attention. I have a feeling that CrazyPuppy thinks that he is a lap dog now. Everytime I sit in the recliner, CrazyPuppy thinks he can sit with me. It is kind of funny to see a 70 pound dog trying sit on my lap. I wish I had a picture to give you a visual. It is kind of hard to take a picture of yourself when no one is home. I am pretty sure FriendlyKitty wouldn't be able to take the picture.

Pumpkin Patch

Yes... it is that time of the year... When all the leaves fall from the trees and we break our backs trying to rake them up before it snows. We all know what it is like to have to go back in the spring and clean up all the leaves you left. This year we haven't had to rake much because it has been so windy that our neighbors get all our leaves. (I think they pay someone to do their yard work, so I don't feel too bad. - Favorite Neighbor I am not talking about you :) because we are your free lawn service. LOL ). I guess I am not really painting a pretty picture of fall for you. You may have guessed that fall is NOT my favorite season. You see my favorite season is spring. During the Fall you don't have anything to look forward too...(unless you like the cold and snow) when the temperate falls to 60 we pull out our winter jackets and gloves. In the spring 60 is a heat wave. Everyone is outside in T-shirts and shorts and of course doing the yard work they left from last fall. One last thing... Fall turns into winter which is fun for about a month and than I am ready for Spring. You see Sping turns into summer and that means warm days and my favorite... thunderstorms.

Okay - enough about my feelings about Fall. A few weeks ago I enjoyed a nice Sunday with my best friend and her in-laws at a pumpkin patch. We enjoyed seeing different farm animals that included the softest rabbit I have ever touched. Not only did we see pumpkins we also went on a hayride through the pumpkin patch. Here is a picture of my best friend (Kristin), her nephew (Marcus), and me.

Friday the 13th

I know that today is not Friday the 13th, but I really need to tell you about what happened right before Friday. MotoRider left last Tuesday for Colorado to go Elk hunting. That leaves CrazyPuppy, FriendlyKitty, and I to hold down the fort. So, Thursday morning I wake up as usual and go into the bathroom. My normal routine does not involve turning on any lights on until I am in the bathroom. After my shower I realized that the touch lamp on MotoRider's nightstand is on. I think... I don't remember turning that on, Cody would have barked if someone was in the room, Thomas was in the bathroom with me.. Um... I don't think anyone was here. I really don't think too much about it until I am getting ready for bed that night. I do my nightly routine and notice that stupid light turned on again. Now, I am thinking... What the heck!! I listen intensly to see if I hear anyone in the house... Nope... No one is here. So, I crawl into bed and go to sleep.

In the morning... I try an experiment. I turned the fan on the dresser (which is not connected to the same outlet, or even near the lamp.) and guess what? The stupid light turns on... Weird. I don't have a huge knowledge of electricity, but all I know is I can turn the light on with the fan.

Book Club or Bust?!?

Some of you may know... I am in a book club. If you are not familiar with this type of club, let me explain. A book club is where a small group of women get together and discuss books. Okay - we also discuss men, children, and anything else that creeps into our conversation. Before I discuss last nights discussion... Wait... What happen's at book club stays at book club... and you thought I would spill our topics of discussion. I think not!!

Okay - the point of my blog today is give a little history on why I would join a book club. It all started 2 years ago in Biwabik, MN. Renee and I were enjoying our yearly women's ski trip to Giant's Ridge. Our church plans this every year and as an ice-breaker we were asked to tell everyone what book we were reading. My book was "Lemony Snicket's - Unfortanate Events", and Renee's book was ".... and the picky eater" (a children's book). (Renee has her own home daycare.) Of course all the other women in the room commented on what book their "book club" was reading. This of course sparked Renee and I's interest. After some small conversation on the way home Renee and I decided to start a book club when we got home.

So, that is how the "Why Not? book club" was born. Today we have 7 active members and 3 retired members. I have to admit. I love being in a book club.

We're Not Going To "Conia" Tonight!

Our annual bonfire was a success this past weekend. We enjoyed some "home cooked" brats, (okay - they were pre-cooked and in a package) chips, pickles, and some adult beverages. The weather was perfect with the exception of the wind. We weren't able to use our "Tiki" torches. I guess there is always next year. It was so nice to have people over and just enjoy the last nice weekend of the year. (I really am not looking forward to the snowy forecast for the rest of this week.) Our guests enjoyed some campfire, bean bags, and some pit bike racing. MotoRider showed off his pit-bike track in the yard. The good thing is that I didn't have to take him to "conia" - Waconia for short. (Waconia - is a town 10 minutes away where the Emergency Room is located.)

To give you a little background on why I would say "We're not going to "Conia" tonight!" Last April - 20 minutes before our party (actually - it was my birthday party) was going to start, MotoRider decided to show of his wheelie skills in the yard. During his last wheelie attempt MotoRider puts the foot peg right into his calf. After some quick assessments, we decided the ER was where we needed to go. Being the nice girlfriend, I brought him inside and said "Call me when your done, and I will come get you!" Than I returned to the party without MotoRider. About 1 hour and 12 stitches later I went and picked up MotoRider. We returned to the party and enjoyed the rest of the evening recalling the earlier event. (According to MotoRider - all the nurses kept coming up to him and asking if he was the one with the knarley leg wound.)

So I am happy to say that this years party was a lot cheaper, but not as entertaining.

Should it look like a swamp?

What should I make for dinner? This is my daily question to myself on my drive home. In the 45 minutes it takes for me to get home... my ideas consist of boxed pasta, chicken nuggets, and french toast. I ask MotoRider what he wants and his answer is always the same "I don't know". This leaves me with staring blankly in the cupboards for what boxed meal I should make tonight. I finally decided that chicken nuggets just won't cut it anymore, so I call Kristin in complete despair. She always seems to be making something exotic for dinner. (In my eyes, Stir Fry is exotic.)

Last night I called her on my way home for help. I told her it needs to be easy and with ingredients that I have heard of. Her suggestion is Chicken Parmesan. So, now it is time for me to go shopping. Thank goodness for cell phones or I would have been searching all night for tonights meal. She takes me through the store ingredient by ingredient until I have everything. I did need some help with side dishes too. "and...you will need something green she tells me." I guess I didn't realize dinner had to come in a variety of colors. How about corn? I reply... I know it is not green, but it is a vegetable. The one ingredient I was a little nervous about was the fresh parsley. (How do you cut this up? This is a big deal... I better call MotoRider to make sure he will be home in time for dinner. It is not every day that I cut up fresh parsley for dinner.) To be honest I was almost tempted to just use the parsley from the spice rack.

Now it is time for me to make this exotic meal. With Kristin on the phone coaching me through the preparation and I am feeling confident and excited to be making something that doesn't have the directions listed on the box. I have most the ingredients mixed together and it is now time to melt the butter. I put it in the microwave and frequently check on the melting process. As I am stirring the mixture I question the look of what I am making. I ask Kristin if it is suppose to look like a swamp, she ignores the question and just assumes I am doing everything right. So, the next step is to coat the chicken in the butter... the swamp mixture doesn't look like it can be coated and that is when Kristin's light bulb comes on... I have made a huge error in the recipe. I guess I missed the statement... "in a separate bowl... melt the butter." Good thing I have enough ingredients to try this again. This time Kristin questions my every move. I think I need a cook book with step by step pictures... This should confirm if I am doing it correctly.

In the end MotoRider and I enjoyed a wonderful meal that was not made from a box. Next week... I am making a Roast.

My Favorite Neighbor Under One

I haven't written for over a week. What is wrong with me? It is not like I am busy and don't have time. I guess we could call it writers block. Life has been pretty quiet in our small town. So I thought you would enjoy a cute picture of our favorite neighbor.

I will title the picture as this: What adults do to capture the moment in a picture?

This is Neighbor Hailey in Nate's lunch cooler. How come kids love playing with everything but their toys?

Missing Kitty

First, I would like to thank ArmyMan for letting FriendlyKitty experience the great outdoors. Okay, maybe thanking him is not exactly what I mean. Last night I got home and was greeted by CrazyPuppy and MotoRider. I went about my normal routine of going through the mail, doing the dishes, and just picking up. Than I realized that FriendlyKitty had not yet greeted my homecoming. I found this odd for the fact that FriendlyKitty does not like to isolate himself from us. Anyway, I started searching the house and calling for him. Nothing, no meows or running from downstairs to come and see me. So, I thought... what if he got outside? I asked MotoRider if he had seen FriendlyKitty and if he might have gotten outside. MotoRider thought... wait... I accidently left the door to the garage open. Now I am convinced my little kitty is outside all alone. My first thought is how am I going to find him. I go downstairs and start getting my shoes on when I look out the front door and their is FriendlyKitty walking up the sidewalk. He didn't seem scared. He looked at me like "Hi, I am home!"

You thought my story was over, but no.... There is a part II. Today I get home from work and go and get CrazyPuppy out of the kennel. When I get back in the garage I hear FriendlyKitty meowing... Not the "Hi, pay attention to me.. meow". It is the I am stuck and I want out meow. I run inside and start looking around... Nothing!!! So, I go outside and I still hear him. I walk around to the back of the house and their is FriendlyKitty scared to death hiding in the Hostas. Um... I was the last to leave the house... How did he get out? That I will never know.

To summarize... Don't let your Uncle treat your animals like their rule the house. This can only cause you stress and fear in the future. I guess when I told ArmyMan that FriendlyKitty is an indoor cat he must not have understood me. They must have a different definition for Indoor Cat in Florida.

A Few Snapshots

I thought I would put a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Here is a picture of MotoRider and CrazyPuppy. This was taken this spring.

CrazyPuppy is a lot bigger now. He loves playing catch in the yard, but is a little nervous when MotoRider brings out the pit bike in the backyard. Did I mention that we have mock pit bike track in the back yard. MotoRider has created a nice track that encompasses the backyard. A few weeks ago one of neighbors came over and told us that they enjoyed watching Motorider race around the yard. They have even voted on where he will most likely crash. We surely don't need another trip to Waconia. I would like to add that I am working on my own pit bike skills. I am trying to master a wheely, and I have yet to complish this task. I am fairly confident that Motorider will one day teach me this ultimate trick.

The ArmyMan is Gone but Not Forgotten

I thought all of you would like to hear about how life was at our house during ArmyMan's Visit. This is the second year that ArmyMan (my uncle) has come to live with us during the summer months. ArmyMan normally resides in Florida, but escapes to MN in the summer to escape Florida's heat. I will just comment on a few wonderful aspects that ArmyMan brings to our household.

1. ArmyMan idolizes FriendlyKitty. I have included a picture of FriendlyKitty to give you a visual. ArmyMan thinks that FriendlyKitty should have full reign in the house. All the training that Motorider and I have done is now down the drain. FriendlyKitty now thinks he can freely roam the counters in the kitchen, go outside on the deck (previously an indoor cat, he now meows to go outside), and sleeps with us at night. When ArmyMan was here, I would scold FriendlyKitty and ArmyMan would run over and pick up FriendlyKitty and say "It's Okay!" So, now we are starting from scratch on training Thomas.

2. The Honda - ArmyMan has taken ownership of my Grandmothers car. It is 1997 Honda Civic. You would think this car was a Ferrari on the way ArmyMan treats it. He has stated that he is unable to help my relatives if he can't keep his car in their garage. (So, they need to keep one of their own cars in the driveway, so the civic can stay in the garage away from the weather.) ArmyMan has also found the sweet spot for gas mileage in this car. ArmyMan could be found driving on Interstate 94 where the speed limit is 70 mph but only traveling at a pace of 55 mph because that is the speed he gets the best gas mileage. (The time I save by driving the speed limit is worth more than the money I would save in gas mileage.) Now, that ArmyMan is driving back to Florida (in his 1969 Impala convertible - I wonder what kind of gas mileage that gets?????) his precious Civic is sitting in our garage.

3. Last but not least. ArmyMan offered to paint the entire basement. The only problem... Motorider and I did not have much say on the color. What??? Who's house is this? That is what I thought. In the end the basement was painted in a color not completely agreed upon.

On a side note... ArmyMan is a unique character. I have learned to accept ArmyMan for who he is and all his strange actions and behaviors. It doesn't bother me that he has re-arranged our garage 4 times (um, I wonder where he put that?), only uses plastic silverware, plates, and cups,(Fewer dishes for me to wash) or sits at the kitchen table clipping newspaper articles for everyone he knows. I do have to apologize that I don't have a picture of ArmyMan. I do hope that you are still able to visualize him through these stories.

"Hi Weirdo"

Wow, I can't believe that summer is coming to an end. This weekend MotoRider and I went to Mora for a weekend of family events. MotoRider's grandparents celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Some of you may know that MotoRider has a niece that is 19 months old. She is able to copy any word that you tell her to say. This being said, she can be persuaded to say just about anything. Her saying for the weekend was "Hi Weirdo!". Of course this only was said when coached by your grandpa (Motoriders dad) with one exception. All the guys were golfing (including grandpa) and it was just Hailey (Motorider's Niece), Mandi, Mel (Motorider's sisters) and myself. So, we were sitting around the kitchen table and Hailey looks right at me and says "Hi, Weirdo!" The three of us look around and amazed that she said this without coaching. After a few more minutes Hailey decides that this is funny and tells me over and over that I am a weirdo.

When everyone comes home, Motoriders is thrilled that he is not the only one that Hailey calls Weirdo. I am told that children only say the truth because they have not learned to lie. So, I guess the truth is out and I am officially a WEIRDO.

I have included a picture of Hailey and myself so you have a visual of the entire situation.