Sophie was playing with her Barbies, channeling both weird Valley Girl drawls AND proper British accents. Spooky and oddly entertaining.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday
Sophie was playing with her Barbies, channeling both weird Valley Girl drawls AND proper British accents. Spooky and oddly entertaining.
Monday, February 27, 2012
February 27th
What a day! We drove to Stillwater to be with Sarah when she was having her back surgery today. Since her surgery time was delayed by at least an hour, we decided to go to lunch first, and come back in time for the actual surgery and the talk from the Doctor afterward.
We only got a block away from the hospital when the phone rang. Molly was calling to tell us that Luke's school called her to let her know he had an accident and needed stitches AND knocked out his front tooth. They couldn't get a hold of Sarah (obviously), or Patrick (in a work meeting.) We deferred from telling Sarah before her surgery.
We took off to pick up Luke. I spent all the traveling time talking to the School, the Dentist and the Doctor's office. We picked up Luke and after talking to the Dentist, decided he needed to go there first because the amount of time you have to replant a tooth is less than the amount of time you have to put in stitches. Luke assured us it was a baby tooth, but I wasn't sure, and couldn't get Patrick on the phone. I REMEMBERED taking a cute picture of him with his toothless smile. Of course the kid was right. He lost 4 bottom teeth but not the uppers. The dentist took an Xray to make sure there wasn't any more damage to his incoming teeth still in his gums. BTW, Boy Genius navigated us to his Dentist's office.
From the Dentist, we went to the Pediatrician. I had concerns about whether or not they could handle it there or if we should head right to Children's Hospital. I called ahead and asked. They said they'd look, and the clinic was on the way to the Hospital. I checked in with him, re-explained the situation, and asked for someone to come out and look at him. After 45 minutes, I returned to the front desk. Fuming. She sent someone out, who put us in a back room and sent for the Doctor. He walked in, took one look, and said, "Children's." I chastised the Doctor about the wait to be seen, and asked that he instruct his staff on how to handle this in the future. I sent Bob and Luke to the car to avoid embarrassment and gave a few words to the front desk about our colossal waste of time with a bleeding kid. ( BTW, they do not have the skill to stitch a laceration that goes from the pigmented lip to the less pigmented skin. Period. They could have told me that on the phone!)
Furious now, we buckled the bleeding swollen kid into the car again, and headed for the Hospital. Two and a half hours later we were on our way home. Wow.
For his part, Luke was very brave. He never cried. He did worry about the actual stitches, but I told him they had numbing stuff and they wouldn't hurt. I never let him look in the mirror. The staff was wonderful! They explained everything to him in the most non-threatening language they could use. They showed him all the equipment beforehand. He spent his waiting time scheming on how to get more money out of the tooth fairy. By his accounting, if a regular 'lost' tooth was worth a $1; then a run into a pole and a 'knocked-out' tooth was worth maybe $10-$20. Or as Luke corrected me a hundred times that day: "A METAL pole."
BEFORE STITCHES.
AFTER STITCHES.
BTW, apparently they were playing a game in the gym that Luke called "Birdie" that involved a METAL pole and a bunch of 6 year-olds chasing each other. And I call that, "An Accident waiting to happen! ........And after a huge delay, Sarah's operation was a success."
We only got a block away from the hospital when the phone rang. Molly was calling to tell us that Luke's school called her to let her know he had an accident and needed stitches AND knocked out his front tooth. They couldn't get a hold of Sarah (obviously), or Patrick (in a work meeting.) We deferred from telling Sarah before her surgery.
We took off to pick up Luke. I spent all the traveling time talking to the School, the Dentist and the Doctor's office. We picked up Luke and after talking to the Dentist, decided he needed to go there first because the amount of time you have to replant a tooth is less than the amount of time you have to put in stitches. Luke assured us it was a baby tooth, but I wasn't sure, and couldn't get Patrick on the phone. I REMEMBERED taking a cute picture of him with his toothless smile. Of course the kid was right. He lost 4 bottom teeth but not the uppers. The dentist took an Xray to make sure there wasn't any more damage to his incoming teeth still in his gums. BTW, Boy Genius navigated us to his Dentist's office.
From the Dentist, we went to the Pediatrician. I had concerns about whether or not they could handle it there or if we should head right to Children's Hospital. I called ahead and asked. They said they'd look, and the clinic was on the way to the Hospital. I checked in with him, re-explained the situation, and asked for someone to come out and look at him. After 45 minutes, I returned to the front desk. Fuming. She sent someone out, who put us in a back room and sent for the Doctor. He walked in, took one look, and said, "Children's." I chastised the Doctor about the wait to be seen, and asked that he instruct his staff on how to handle this in the future. I sent Bob and Luke to the car to avoid embarrassment and gave a few words to the front desk about our colossal waste of time with a bleeding kid. ( BTW, they do not have the skill to stitch a laceration that goes from the pigmented lip to the less pigmented skin. Period. They could have told me that on the phone!)
Furious now, we buckled the bleeding swollen kid into the car again, and headed for the Hospital. Two and a half hours later we were on our way home. Wow.
For his part, Luke was very brave. He never cried. He did worry about the actual stitches, but I told him they had numbing stuff and they wouldn't hurt. I never let him look in the mirror. The staff was wonderful! They explained everything to him in the most non-threatening language they could use. They showed him all the equipment beforehand. He spent his waiting time scheming on how to get more money out of the tooth fairy. By his accounting, if a regular 'lost' tooth was worth a $1; then a run into a pole and a 'knocked-out' tooth was worth maybe $10-$20. Or as Luke corrected me a hundred times that day: "A METAL pole."
BEFORE STITCHES.
AFTER STITCHES.
BTW, apparently they were playing a game in the gym that Luke called "Birdie" that involved a METAL pole and a bunch of 6 year-olds chasing each other. And I call that, "An Accident waiting to happen! ........And after a huge delay, Sarah's operation was a success."
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A Hot Date!
Tickets: $100 per plate ($55 for Fire), centerpiece $12, dress $99.....the night...
PRICELESS!
Lookin' spiffy.
We attended the Inaugural Saint Paul Fire Foundation Gala on Saturday night. Bob was representing the St. Paul Fire Honor Guard in his new old uniform, and I was wearing a look that took untold hours and a village to pull off.
It was well attended by 400 people, including Governor Dayton, Mayor Coleman, Senator Klobuchar, and local weatherwoman Belinda Jensen. We dined on salad,Prime Rib or Cheese tortellinis, and individual Red Velvet cheesecakes. We then had an opportunity to dance it off until midnight.
One of the centerpieces from the Gala. (in my own bowl at home)
SEE YOU THERE NEXT YEAR!
PRICELESS!
Lookin' spiffy.
We attended the Inaugural Saint Paul Fire Foundation Gala on Saturday night. Bob was representing the St. Paul Fire Honor Guard in his new old uniform, and I was wearing a look that took untold hours and a village to pull off.
It was well attended by 400 people, including Governor Dayton, Mayor Coleman, Senator Klobuchar, and local weatherwoman Belinda Jensen. We dined on salad,Prime Rib or Cheese tortellinis, and individual Red Velvet cheesecakes. We then had an opportunity to dance it off until midnight.
One of the centerpieces from the Gala. (in my own bowl at home)
SEE YOU THERE NEXT YEAR!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Valentine's Day Surprise!
I LOVE this made-up holiday. Since they are just a week apart, Bob took our anniversary to plan something for us and I took Valentine's Day. I tried and tried to think of something more than dinner or a movie. Something to DO! Bob is all about doing. But it's winter. I briefly thought of Vegas, but the weather there is iffy at best at this time of year. So plan B. On Tuesday we had a beautiful and rare drive up north when everything was covered with hoar frost.
We stopped at Eddy's for a late breakfast, or so Bob thought. And then, TA DA, came my surprise. I had booked an ice house on Mille Lacs for the night. Bob was speechless!
Shortly after booking, I came to my senses, and re-booked the ice house for the day, and a warm- comfy-inside bathroom-hotel room for the night. We went "fishing " until dusk. Fishing with quotation marks because we didn't catch a thing. But we roasted heart shaped marshmallows on the propane heater, and played cribbage with heart design cards,and drank our favorite non-heart-shaped beverages. We walked around on the frozen ice to look at the ice heaves and cracks. The fishing house is a grand idea for a little together time. There was nothing else but Me and Bob in a 6x8 foot room in the middle of no where.For 6 hours. I didn't even freak about being on the ice. With all the scary cracking. At least not at first. Because Bob pointed out time and time again how thick the ice was. But by dusk when our only neighbors drove off, panic set in and I wanted off the ice. Now!
Take me to the hotel! As a bonus, our warm-safe-inside bathroom- hotel room came with a heart shaped hot tub....for two! Quit hating. Safely on land, we snacked on cheese, crackers ,grapes, strawberries, raw veggies and Dove chocolate while I reminisced about our near death experience. We watched a little Storage Wars, Property Virgins, and Hoarders from our personal hot tub. We also went splashing around in the completely empty hotel pool.
On Wednesday,we slept in, then walked down in the warm sunshine to the lakeside restaurant to have breakfast. We went back for our Sorrel's, and in 5 minutes a sudden fog rolled in over the lake! You couldn't tell the sky from the snow from the ice houses. Everything was obscured. I couldn't take pictures in the deep fog because my camera wouldn't allow me to focus. Trust me, it was awesome. We left anyway for our walk to look at the lake and the lakeside houses. When the fog was thinning I was able to take a few snapshots. After an hour we got in the car to explore a little more. It was so serene and otherworldly. In the evening, we made good use of our hot tub. And stayed in for the night and ordered bar pizza from the front desk. A Fine Day!
On Thursday, we stopped at the Casino for lunch. After jinxing an entire Black Jack table, we left to try our own luck for a short time. But no sense in throwing good money after bad when it was that nice out. We drove around the entire lake gawking at the scenery and looking in particular for ice heaves along the shore, and interesting ice houses. We drove in and out of neighborhoods, and stopped numerous times to take pictures. The scenery never failed to impress.
But I could never make myself calm enough to drive on the ice again. Oh, I tried. I saw other cars driving on the ice. But all it took was a block or two, or a loud Crraaaaackkkkkkk, and I wanted off. Now!
It was a wonderful quiet relaxing trip. The weather was warm and sunny and absolutely breathtaking. Only thing I would do differently is maybe wear water-wings while in the car. And take a tranquilizer. Perfect!
We stopped at Eddy's for a late breakfast, or so Bob thought. And then, TA DA, came my surprise. I had booked an ice house on Mille Lacs for the night. Bob was speechless!
Shortly after booking, I came to my senses, and re-booked the ice house for the day, and a warm- comfy-inside bathroom-hotel room for the night. We went "fishing " until dusk. Fishing with quotation marks because we didn't catch a thing. But we roasted heart shaped marshmallows on the propane heater, and played cribbage with heart design cards,and drank our favorite non-heart-shaped beverages. We walked around on the frozen ice to look at the ice heaves and cracks. The fishing house is a grand idea for a little together time. There was nothing else but Me and Bob in a 6x8 foot room in the middle of no where.For 6 hours. I didn't even freak about being on the ice. With all the scary cracking. At least not at first. Because Bob pointed out time and time again how thick the ice was. But by dusk when our only neighbors drove off, panic set in and I wanted off the ice. Now!
Take me to the hotel! As a bonus, our warm-safe-inside bathroom- hotel room came with a heart shaped hot tub....for two! Quit hating. Safely on land, we snacked on cheese, crackers ,grapes, strawberries, raw veggies and Dove chocolate while I reminisced about our near death experience. We watched a little Storage Wars, Property Virgins, and Hoarders from our personal hot tub. We also went splashing around in the completely empty hotel pool.
On Wednesday,we slept in, then walked down in the warm sunshine to the lakeside restaurant to have breakfast. We went back for our Sorrel's, and in 5 minutes a sudden fog rolled in over the lake! You couldn't tell the sky from the snow from the ice houses. Everything was obscured. I couldn't take pictures in the deep fog because my camera wouldn't allow me to focus. Trust me, it was awesome. We left anyway for our walk to look at the lake and the lakeside houses. When the fog was thinning I was able to take a few snapshots. After an hour we got in the car to explore a little more. It was so serene and otherworldly. In the evening, we made good use of our hot tub. And stayed in for the night and ordered bar pizza from the front desk. A Fine Day!
On Thursday, we stopped at the Casino for lunch. After jinxing an entire Black Jack table, we left to try our own luck for a short time. But no sense in throwing good money after bad when it was that nice out. We drove around the entire lake gawking at the scenery and looking in particular for ice heaves along the shore, and interesting ice houses. We drove in and out of neighborhoods, and stopped numerous times to take pictures. The scenery never failed to impress.
But I could never make myself calm enough to drive on the ice again. Oh, I tried. I saw other cars driving on the ice. But all it took was a block or two, or a loud Crraaaaackkkkkkk, and I wanted off. Now!
It was a wonderful quiet relaxing trip. The weather was warm and sunny and absolutely breathtaking. Only thing I would do differently is maybe wear water-wings while in the car. And take a tranquilizer. Perfect!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Valentine's Day Pizza Party
Tonight we had our family heart-shaped-pizza-and-chocolate-fondue-party to celebrate Valentine's Day.
We polished off the pizzas, nibbled on the salad, and devoured anything and everything we could dip in the chocolate fondue. (Chips, strawberries, angel food cake, cherries,graham crackers, heart-shaped marshmallows, twinkies, pretzel rods and fingers.)
After we opened presents, I had the kids settled in the family room reading books aloud to each other.
Once the kids had enough sugar in them, Grandpa riled them up with a rousing game of football in the living room!
Then we sent them home! Happy Valentine's Day.
We polished off the pizzas, nibbled on the salad, and devoured anything and everything we could dip in the chocolate fondue. (Chips, strawberries, angel food cake, cherries,graham crackers, heart-shaped marshmallows, twinkies, pretzel rods and fingers.)
After we opened presents, I had the kids settled in the family room reading books aloud to each other.
Once the kids had enough sugar in them, Grandpa riled them up with a rousing game of football in the living room!
Then we sent them home! Happy Valentine's Day.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Anniversary
Yesterday was our 37th wedding anniversary. I have to admit we had much nicer weather this year than in 1975! Since we have 2 major "date" days in February, Bob planned this one and I'll take Valentine's Day next week. He took me to Green Mill for a salad and a slice, then off on a secret mission to get a couples' massage. He took back roads to get to this off-the-beaten-track place off 61 and 694, and for a split second, I thought he was buying me a new Lexus! In the evening, we went to Outback for appetizers, dessert and drinks. He had planned a movie too, but I thought that was overkill. We'll save the movie date for another time. Good Job Bob!
On an unrelated note, other then it is pink and romantic, I wanted to share the sunset from tonight. Beautiful.
On an unrelated note, other then it is pink and romantic, I wanted to share the sunset from tonight. Beautiful.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Winter Fun
It's St. Paul Winter Carnival time...even without winter this year! On Saturday, Bob, Hannah, James,Sarah and Tony went to the Beer Dabbler and spent the evening sampling different cold beers in the cold park. Afterward, we went out to dinner together. On Monday, Bob and I went to Rice Park to see the (melting) ice sculptures, then went to Burger Moe's to take advantage of the $5 burger specials.
************************ An Ice Totem ****************************
*************************** Angry Bird ***************************
********* A frozen Squirrel (and tree) in Rice Park. LOL *********
**************************** The ice wall ************************
** One of the vintage Bounce Team pictures enclosed in the ice wall **
** A couple other impressive, and crumbling, ice sculptures in the park **
Bob has been busy with the Winter Carnival Bouncing Team, attending events, try-outs and parades. He was in the Moonglow parade on January 26th, the Grand Day Parade on the 28th and the Torchlight parade today. He also had bouncing girl tryouts, and no it's not what you're thinking, on Friday.
******** A bird's eye view of the team from the 'bouncing girl' cam ***********
Bob had his picture in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today with the bouncing team. One of the firemen made sure he saw it.
************ The picture from the newspaper today ********************
On a related note, today was one of the only days that looked remotely winter-like. We woke up to this beautiful and rare sight, Hoarfrost. Yeah, look it up, it's a real word!
* Since I forgot my camera, here is a pic from the newspaper's website taken today on the University of Minnesota campus. Enjoy *
************************ An Ice Totem ****************************
*************************** Angry Bird ***************************
********* A frozen Squirrel (and tree) in Rice Park. LOL *********
**************************** The ice wall ************************
** One of the vintage Bounce Team pictures enclosed in the ice wall **
** A couple other impressive, and crumbling, ice sculptures in the park **
Bob has been busy with the Winter Carnival Bouncing Team, attending events, try-outs and parades. He was in the Moonglow parade on January 26th, the Grand Day Parade on the 28th and the Torchlight parade today. He also had bouncing girl tryouts, and no it's not what you're thinking, on Friday.
******** A bird's eye view of the team from the 'bouncing girl' cam ***********
Bob had his picture in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today with the bouncing team. One of the firemen made sure he saw it.
************ The picture from the newspaper today ********************
On a related note, today was one of the only days that looked remotely winter-like. We woke up to this beautiful and rare sight, Hoarfrost. Yeah, look it up, it's a real word!
* Since I forgot my camera, here is a pic from the newspaper's website taken today on the University of Minnesota campus. Enjoy *
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