How's the sparkling juice? It's yellow!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Siri at Six Months
Happy half birthday, little girl! Siri is two pounds heavier and once inch taller than Henry was at six months. I predict that she will catch up with him by summer and everyone will mistake them for twins!
12/14/2010 - Six Months
20 lbs 15 ounces - 99th percentile
28 1/4 inches - 97th percentile
Sunday, December 12, 2010
We Got Some Snow
The snow storm that hit us this weekend brought much of the Twin Cities to a complete stop. We got about 17 inches of snow at our house and just stayed inside and watched and waited until it was over. Sunday brought sunshine but bitter cold for the big dig-out. Nathan spent two and a half hours outside this morning, first using the snow rake to get as much off the roof as possible to avoid ice dams. Then, he attacked the alley and sidewalks with the snow blower and shovel. Henry watched the action from the window until Daddy was finished and then went out to check it out.
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| Nathan clearing snow off the roof above the kids room with Henry watching. The drift in this Northwest corner of the house reaches half-way up the window, so about 7 feet. |
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| Checking out the drift from outside |
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| Snow piles taller than Hank |
Thanksgiving at the Ness's
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| Henry teaches Grandma and Grandpa all about PlayDoh |
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| Grandma Carol feeds Siri some cereal |
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Upon further inspection of Grandma's watch, Siri sees that it is, in fact, bedtime.
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| Henry and Siri were both good travelers on the long car ride :) |
Thursday, December 2, 2010
God Dammit
Well, I've officially failed as a mother. My two year old son likes to wander about the house, practicing saying "God Dammit" as loud as he can. He sometimes slows it down, making sure he gets the enunciation juuuuust right. I have to hand it to the little shit, his usage is flawless. He drops a cup of milk, "god dammit!" Momma turns off the TV. "God dammit!" says Hank. When the new fence went up in the back yard, Hank's reaction? "GOD DAMMIT!" We've tried to correct him and get him to say "gosh darnit" or "dag nabbit" but he's too smart for that. Scold him? He says it louder. Ignore him? He repeats it again and again in a sing-song taunting voice as if to say, "Ha, ha, jackasses! If you think this is good, wait until I'm 15!"
I blame his father.
I blame his father.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
My 35th Birthday
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| Henry helping me blow out my birthday candle |
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Dave, Sam, Levi, Julie, Cari & Nathan - La Belle Vie 11/4/10
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Dirty Rice
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 rib celery, diced
1 large carrot, cut in 1/2 inch dice
1 small sweet potato, cut in 1/2 inch dice
4 cups chicken stock
1 3/4 cups long grain rice
1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
12 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 dried red chili
handful of fresh parsley, chopped
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
Season burger with salt and pepper and brown in a large pot or dutch oven. When its cooked through, remove it with a slotted spoon to a plate. Add olive oil to the pot then saute the onions, celery and carrots until soft. Season with salt and pepper. Add the sweet potato, chicken stock, rice, cajun seasoning, thyme, bay leaves and chili. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and put a tight fitting lid on the pot. Let cook 20 -25 minutes over medium-low heat.
Remove bay leaves, thyme and chili. Top with a handful of fresh, chopped parsley and serve in large bowls.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 rib celery, diced
1 large carrot, cut in 1/2 inch dice
1 small sweet potato, cut in 1/2 inch dice
4 cups chicken stock
1 3/4 cups long grain rice
1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
12 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 dried red chili
handful of fresh parsley, chopped
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
Season burger with salt and pepper and brown in a large pot or dutch oven. When its cooked through, remove it with a slotted spoon to a plate. Add olive oil to the pot then saute the onions, celery and carrots until soft. Season with salt and pepper. Add the sweet potato, chicken stock, rice, cajun seasoning, thyme, bay leaves and chili. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and put a tight fitting lid on the pot. Let cook 20 -25 minutes over medium-low heat.
Remove bay leaves, thyme and chili. Top with a handful of fresh, chopped parsley and serve in large bowls.
Fast Steak Dinner for Two
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 8 - 12 ounce steak, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, ours was top round
2 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, cut in 1/2 inch dice
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 cups small brussel sprouts, cut them in half if they are medium or large
2 tablespoons malt vinegar
1/2 fresh lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large handfuls arugula
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
Get a pan nice and hot and add about a tablespoon of olive oil and the bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon and reserve. Add the potatoes, onions and thyme to the bacon fat and olive oil and fry until they start to get brown and crispy, 4-5 minutes. Add more olive oil if needed. Add the chicken stock and brussel sprouts and cover to steam for 8 minutes. This will cook the sprouts and finish cooking the potatoes.
Meanwhile, get another pan very hot and add one tablespoon butter and one tablespoon olive oil. When the butter starts to foam, season the steak well with salt and pepper and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Move to a plate and tent with foil.
Remove the lid from the potatoes/sprouts and let the liquid cook down a bit. Remove from the heat and add the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
Squeese half a lemon into a bowl, whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Add the arugula and toss to coat.
Slice the steak and divide between two plates. Mound dressed arugula next to the steak and scoop on the taters and sprouts. EAT!~
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 8 - 12 ounce steak, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, ours was top round
2 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, cut in 1/2 inch dice
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 cups small brussel sprouts, cut them in half if they are medium or large
2 tablespoons malt vinegar
1/2 fresh lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large handfuls arugula
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
Get a pan nice and hot and add about a tablespoon of olive oil and the bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon and reserve. Add the potatoes, onions and thyme to the bacon fat and olive oil and fry until they start to get brown and crispy, 4-5 minutes. Add more olive oil if needed. Add the chicken stock and brussel sprouts and cover to steam for 8 minutes. This will cook the sprouts and finish cooking the potatoes.
Meanwhile, get another pan very hot and add one tablespoon butter and one tablespoon olive oil. When the butter starts to foam, season the steak well with salt and pepper and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Move to a plate and tent with foil.
Remove the lid from the potatoes/sprouts and let the liquid cook down a bit. Remove from the heat and add the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
Squeese half a lemon into a bowl, whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Add the arugula and toss to coat.
Slice the steak and divide between two plates. Mound dressed arugula next to the steak and scoop on the taters and sprouts. EAT!~
Monday, November 15, 2010
Baby Blue Eyes
Thursday, November 11, 2010
More Pancakes
I've spent a few months experimenting, trying to get an oatmeal pancake that I like. After some tweaking, here it is:
Oatmeal Pancakes
Dry ingredients:
1 1/4 c. unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. oat flour
1/4 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. oat bran
4 tsp. baking powder
2 tbls. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. table salt
Wet Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. canola oil
Whisk dry ingredients in one bowl. Whisk wet ingredients in a second bowl. Add wet to dry and mix just until combined. It will be lumpy and some streaks of flour are okay. I make them on a screaming hot griddle, about a 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. I like to add chocolate chips to these as they cook. They taste like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Oatmeal Pancakes
Dry ingredients:
1 1/4 c. unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. oat flour
1/4 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. oat bran
4 tsp. baking powder
2 tbls. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. table salt
Wet Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. canola oil
Whisk dry ingredients in one bowl. Whisk wet ingredients in a second bowl. Add wet to dry and mix just until combined. It will be lumpy and some streaks of flour are okay. I make them on a screaming hot griddle, about a 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. I like to add chocolate chips to these as they cook. They taste like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Two Singing Alarm Clocks: A Day in the Life
4:15am Siri wakes up. The whole daylight savings thing is messing with us. She inadvertently wakes Henry, too. He gets a nook and goes back to sleep. I bring her into our room where she nurses and goes back to sleep in the bassinet.
4:30am Momma falls back into bed.
6:45am Siri stirs. I pull her into bed with us and she nurses and falls back to sleep.
7:15am Henry and Siri start to sing, simultaneously, from different rooms. This is pleasant and funny and soon we're all up. We haven't set an actual alarm clock in a couple of years now.
The kids both get clean diapers and Henry gets a cup of milk and some playtime in his little kitchen as we make coffee and get the paper.
7:45am Breakfast - Henry is refusing to sit in the booster seat these days so he comes and goes from a grown-up chair (despite our best efforts to keep him seated) slopping Cheerios and milk across much of the dining room. I didn't peel his apple and even though he usually doesn't care, today he's decided to chew up the slices then spit apple peel on the table. Two year olds are gross. Siri, meanwhile, hangs out in the baby papasan chair, singing and chewing on a toy.
8:15am Daddy hits the shower and I gulp down a second cup before fighting Henry into a dry diaper and some clean clothes.
8:30am I set Henry up with some crayons and paper and he colors and practices spelling his name. He says, "H-E-N-Y HENRY!" He cannot yet draw the letters, but can identify them when I do, and when asked his name will say, "Henry Nesje!" While he is busy dumping the entire box of crayons on the floor, I get Siri changed and dressed.
8:45am Nathan is out the door to work. "Bye Daddy!" I quickly brush my teeth then round up the crayons before the dining room wall becomes a mural.
9:00am Henry needs a new distraction so the crayons and paper get put away and the play dough comes out. He hasn't seen play dough in a couple of months so I'm hoping it will entertain him long enough for me to feed the baby. Miraculously, he plays happily with me and the play dough for almost an hour while Siri fusses and eats and goes from the swing to my lap to the exersaucer.
10:00am Siri finally settles down for a nap in her crib. I set Henry up with crackers, juice, a blanket and Sesame Street after we clean up the play dough mess. I start a sink of hot, soapy water for dishes, check my email, then hop in the shower. I wouldn't bother, but it has been a few days and a shower will go a long way in improving my disposition. While I'm in the shower, Henry opens the door to the bedroom and turns on the light but, somehow, Siri remains asleep. He would have crawled into the crib with her, but I'd zipped the tent shut as a means of keeping him out. I manage to get dressed then run around trying to get some chores done like taking the diaper champ out and getting the dirty laundry piled up.
10:45am STREET SWEEPERS! DUMP TRUCKS! Suddenly our street is awesome. Since its a beautiful day, I open the living room window and Henry nearly loses his mind watching the cleaning parade outside. I get Siri up and suddenly we're all in shoes and sweatshirts outside. I load both kids and the diaper bag into the double stroller and we go a block over so Henry can watch the sweepers take another pass. He nearly waves his arm off when the driver of one of the street sweepers waves and smiles at him. He covers his ears and yells "LOUD!" while smiling.
11am Since its really, really nice out (SUNNY and 65!) I decide to head to the park on Almond and Arona. Halfway there I call Nathan and he meets us at Nelson's Cheese Shop, where we procure lunch. Sadly, Nathan is busy and has to run back to work, so I head to the park with the kids for a picnic. Henry wolfs down half of the hot dog with ketchup I got for him and then drops the other half on the ground. He has a few sips of milk and then takes off for the swings. I manage to get half my sandwich down before I have to run and help him. Lest I forget I'm in the city, I notice some darling graffitti on the table we've just eaten on, something scrawled in what looks to be blood. Yum. Also on the same table is some less interesting vandalism. I mean, if you are going to deface a public picnic table, try to come up with something better than I (heart) weed. I mean, really. We all do. You're just stating the obvious. But, I digress.
12pm Henry blissfully traverses the playground. Climbing and investigating everything. Siri, good naturedly, watches from the stroller. When she starts to fuss I carry her a bit. A group of moms and kids around H's age appear and he runs over and joins right in, chasing balls and taking toys that aren't his. He plops himself down at a table full of kids and moms and scores himself a cupcake. Fortunately, its a group of mom's I've met before! I nurse Siri whilst simultaneously following Hank around, making sure he doesn't fall off the top of the play structure he's managed to scale like a ninja.
1pm Toddler melt-down is imminent. Cautious coaxing of the boy toward the stroller where Siri is already strapped in is necessary. He WILL NOT be buckled in, thank you very much, Momma. I end up carrying him a block then bribing him by giving him the milk carton from lunch. Finally he's strapped in and ready to roll. I take a 15 minute work call on my iPhone while pushing both kids in the stroller with one hand on the way back home. Siri falls asleep. Henry dumps milk all over himself, soaking his pants, shirt and the stroller.
1:15pm Once inside the gate, I transfer Siri to her crib than go back out to retrieve milk-butt. I strip him down to naked, give him a quick wash and get him in a dry diaper and onesie. I get him in his crib, and with both kids down, I head back outside with a bowl of warm soapy water to wash down the stroller.
1:30pm I sit down to eat the other half of my sandwich from lunch.
1:31pm Siri wakes up. I am not making this up.
1:32pm I nurse Siri and she falls back asleep.
1:45pm I finally, actually, eat the rest of my sandwich and open my laptop to try and get some work done.
2:00pm Siri is awake, singing at the top of her lungs and playing with a stuffed goose. I try, in vain, to get her back to sleep.
2:30pm Having given up on getting any work done, I shut down my laptop.
2:32pm Siri now decides to fall into a deep, relaxing, snoring slumber. I restart my laptop.
3:00pm I run around the house trying to think of something to make for dinner. This involves grabbing some random meat from the freezer and surveying the half-rotted vegetables in the fridge. No great inspiration is coming to me so I return to trying to work.
4:15pm Naptime is over for Miss S so I change her and get her situated in the exersaucer in the kitchen. I drain the now icy-cold water from the dirty dishes. Recall me starting them hours ago? Yeah, I never got around to actually doing them. I fill the sink back up with hot and start some water for tea.
4:30pm Jeopardy is on and I hope to watch it and drink some tea. Siri is fussy, however, and Henry is just waking up. S screams for 10 minutes while I try and get H changed out of a massively poopy diaper. H gets a snack, S gets the boob, I slam some tea and a handful of leftover Halloween candy.
5:00pm Everyone is just dandy when Daddy walks in the door. However, being a bad housewife, I have yet to muster any sort of dinner plan.
5:30pm I'm starving. I throw a bowl of leftovers in the microwave, make up a plate of this and that for Henry and leave Nathan to fend for himself. Henry is still refusing to sit anywhere near is booster seat, so dinner involves a few bites here and there in between wrestling with H, including a tear-inducing time out after he climbs on top of the table. Siri gets some rice cereal a few bites at a time and, eventually, I finish a bowl of cold leftovers. Nathan kindly brings me a beer.
6:00pm Siri has an explosive poopy blowout that involves me stripping her naked, cleaning her up and putting her in clean jammies. Nathan corrals Henry.
6:30pm Nathan protects the baby from the toddler as I go to the laundry room to wash poopy out of baby clothes and fold a load. I refill our beers at the kegerator while I'm down there. I finish the dishes once back upstairs and take 5 minutes to quietly watch Henry play in his little kitchen. He methodically puts things in and takes them out and tries them again. Jabbering to himself without noticing that I'm watching.
7:00pm Siri is fussy so I nurse her and try to calm her. Both kids are snotty and I've been chasing them with tissues and the bulb syringe aka "booger sucker" all day.
7:15pm Nathan gets Henry into the bath. As they wash/play, I nurse Siri some more and she falls asleep. She is awake and fussy and asleep again three more times in the next 45 minutes. N reads to H.
8:00pm Both kids are asleep. Nathan and I fall into the couch with our beers and dig into the remaining Halloween candy.
8:30pm I fall into bed, exhausted, to read but end up staring at the TV until I fall asleep.
9:45pm I awake to the sound of Siri screaming. The virus has really settled in and she is having a hard time breathing. Rather than wake Henry, we bring her into our room. It will be a long, bumpy and sleepless night. *sigh*
4:30am Momma falls back into bed.
6:45am Siri stirs. I pull her into bed with us and she nurses and falls back to sleep.
7:15am Henry and Siri start to sing, simultaneously, from different rooms. This is pleasant and funny and soon we're all up. We haven't set an actual alarm clock in a couple of years now.
The kids both get clean diapers and Henry gets a cup of milk and some playtime in his little kitchen as we make coffee and get the paper.
7:45am Breakfast - Henry is refusing to sit in the booster seat these days so he comes and goes from a grown-up chair (despite our best efforts to keep him seated) slopping Cheerios and milk across much of the dining room. I didn't peel his apple and even though he usually doesn't care, today he's decided to chew up the slices then spit apple peel on the table. Two year olds are gross. Siri, meanwhile, hangs out in the baby papasan chair, singing and chewing on a toy.
8:15am Daddy hits the shower and I gulp down a second cup before fighting Henry into a dry diaper and some clean clothes.
8:30am I set Henry up with some crayons and paper and he colors and practices spelling his name. He says, "H-E-N-Y HENRY!" He cannot yet draw the letters, but can identify them when I do, and when asked his name will say, "Henry Nesje!" While he is busy dumping the entire box of crayons on the floor, I get Siri changed and dressed.
8:45am Nathan is out the door to work. "Bye Daddy!" I quickly brush my teeth then round up the crayons before the dining room wall becomes a mural.
9:00am Henry needs a new distraction so the crayons and paper get put away and the play dough comes out. He hasn't seen play dough in a couple of months so I'm hoping it will entertain him long enough for me to feed the baby. Miraculously, he plays happily with me and the play dough for almost an hour while Siri fusses and eats and goes from the swing to my lap to the exersaucer.
10:00am Siri finally settles down for a nap in her crib. I set Henry up with crackers, juice, a blanket and Sesame Street after we clean up the play dough mess. I start a sink of hot, soapy water for dishes, check my email, then hop in the shower. I wouldn't bother, but it has been a few days and a shower will go a long way in improving my disposition. While I'm in the shower, Henry opens the door to the bedroom and turns on the light but, somehow, Siri remains asleep. He would have crawled into the crib with her, but I'd zipped the tent shut as a means of keeping him out. I manage to get dressed then run around trying to get some chores done like taking the diaper champ out and getting the dirty laundry piled up.
10:45am STREET SWEEPERS! DUMP TRUCKS! Suddenly our street is awesome. Since its a beautiful day, I open the living room window and Henry nearly loses his mind watching the cleaning parade outside. I get Siri up and suddenly we're all in shoes and sweatshirts outside. I load both kids and the diaper bag into the double stroller and we go a block over so Henry can watch the sweepers take another pass. He nearly waves his arm off when the driver of one of the street sweepers waves and smiles at him. He covers his ears and yells "LOUD!" while smiling.
11am Since its really, really nice out (SUNNY and 65!) I decide to head to the park on Almond and Arona. Halfway there I call Nathan and he meets us at Nelson's Cheese Shop, where we procure lunch. Sadly, Nathan is busy and has to run back to work, so I head to the park with the kids for a picnic. Henry wolfs down half of the hot dog with ketchup I got for him and then drops the other half on the ground. He has a few sips of milk and then takes off for the swings. I manage to get half my sandwich down before I have to run and help him. Lest I forget I'm in the city, I notice some darling graffitti on the table we've just eaten on, something scrawled in what looks to be blood. Yum. Also on the same table is some less interesting vandalism. I mean, if you are going to deface a public picnic table, try to come up with something better than I (heart)
12pm Henry blissfully traverses the playground. Climbing and investigating everything. Siri, good naturedly, watches from the stroller. When she starts to fuss I carry her a bit. A group of moms and kids around H's age appear and he runs over and joins right in, chasing balls and taking toys that aren't his. He plops himself down at a table full of kids and moms and scores himself a cupcake. Fortunately, its a group of mom's I've met before! I nurse Siri whilst simultaneously following Hank around, making sure he doesn't fall off the top of the play structure he's managed to scale like a ninja.
1pm Toddler melt-down is imminent. Cautious coaxing of the boy toward the stroller where Siri is already strapped in is necessary. He WILL NOT be buckled in, thank you very much, Momma. I end up carrying him a block then bribing him by giving him the milk carton from lunch. Finally he's strapped in and ready to roll. I take a 15 minute work call on my iPhone while pushing both kids in the stroller with one hand on the way back home. Siri falls asleep. Henry dumps milk all over himself, soaking his pants, shirt and the stroller.
1:15pm Once inside the gate, I transfer Siri to her crib than go back out to retrieve milk-butt. I strip him down to naked, give him a quick wash and get him in a dry diaper and onesie. I get him in his crib, and with both kids down, I head back outside with a bowl of warm soapy water to wash down the stroller.
1:30pm I sit down to eat the other half of my sandwich from lunch.
1:31pm Siri wakes up. I am not making this up.
1:32pm I nurse Siri and she falls back asleep.
1:45pm I finally, actually, eat the rest of my sandwich and open my laptop to try and get some work done.
2:00pm Siri is awake, singing at the top of her lungs and playing with a stuffed goose. I try, in vain, to get her back to sleep.
2:30pm Having given up on getting any work done, I shut down my laptop.
2:32pm Siri now decides to fall into a deep, relaxing, snoring slumber. I restart my laptop.
3:00pm I run around the house trying to think of something to make for dinner. This involves grabbing some random meat from the freezer and surveying the half-rotted vegetables in the fridge. No great inspiration is coming to me so I return to trying to work.
4:15pm Naptime is over for Miss S so I change her and get her situated in the exersaucer in the kitchen. I drain the now icy-cold water from the dirty dishes. Recall me starting them hours ago? Yeah, I never got around to actually doing them. I fill the sink back up with hot and start some water for tea.
4:30pm Jeopardy is on and I hope to watch it and drink some tea. Siri is fussy, however, and Henry is just waking up. S screams for 10 minutes while I try and get H changed out of a massively poopy diaper. H gets a snack, S gets the boob, I slam some tea and a handful of leftover Halloween candy.
5:00pm Everyone is just dandy when Daddy walks in the door. However, being a bad housewife, I have yet to muster any sort of dinner plan.
5:30pm I'm starving. I throw a bowl of leftovers in the microwave, make up a plate of this and that for Henry and leave Nathan to fend for himself. Henry is still refusing to sit anywhere near is booster seat, so dinner involves a few bites here and there in between wrestling with H, including a tear-inducing time out after he climbs on top of the table. Siri gets some rice cereal a few bites at a time and, eventually, I finish a bowl of cold leftovers. Nathan kindly brings me a beer.
6:00pm Siri has an explosive poopy blowout that involves me stripping her naked, cleaning her up and putting her in clean jammies. Nathan corrals Henry.
6:30pm Nathan protects the baby from the toddler as I go to the laundry room to wash poopy out of baby clothes and fold a load. I refill our beers at the kegerator while I'm down there. I finish the dishes once back upstairs and take 5 minutes to quietly watch Henry play in his little kitchen. He methodically puts things in and takes them out and tries them again. Jabbering to himself without noticing that I'm watching.
7:00pm Siri is fussy so I nurse her and try to calm her. Both kids are snotty and I've been chasing them with tissues and the bulb syringe aka "booger sucker" all day.
7:15pm Nathan gets Henry into the bath. As they wash/play, I nurse Siri some more and she falls asleep. She is awake and fussy and asleep again three more times in the next 45 minutes. N reads to H.
8:00pm Both kids are asleep. Nathan and I fall into the couch with our beers and dig into the remaining Halloween candy.
8:30pm I fall into bed, exhausted, to read but end up staring at the TV until I fall asleep.
9:45pm I awake to the sound of Siri screaming. The virus has really settled in and she is having a hard time breathing. Rather than wake Henry, we bring her into our room. It will be a long, bumpy and sleepless night. *sigh*
Monday, November 1, 2010
Our very own Halloween Pumpkins
For days leading up to Halloween, I tried, unsuccessfully, to get Henry to wear the pumpkin costume I'd aquired for him. He ran at the sight of it. Then, on the big day, with the promise of candy, we managed to get him into it. Siri really had no choice about her costume. She's still to small to fight us off. Once fully decked out, Hank realized that this whole costume = candy equation was a good deal and remained in the groove the rest of the night. In fact, he had WAY more fun handing candy out to the other Trick or Treaters that stopped at our house than going himself, so we ended up hanging out with him on the front steps until all the candy was gone. Henry shouted "Hello Friends!" or "Hi, Kid!" to everyone that came by and enthusiastically shoveled handfuls of candy into their open bags, saying "take a piece!" His candy intake: 2 Three Muskateers minis, one tootsie pop (red, of course) and a small pack of M&Ms. Mom and Dad's candy intake: more than we'd like to admit.Henry's 2nd Birthday!
It was a big, big weekend for Henry! We celebrated his birthday for two days straight. He brought cupcakes to his Friday morning play group. Later he woke up from his nap to find a house full of grandparents and a new play kitchen of his very own. We had a birthday dinner and cake for both him and Grandma Ann on Friday night. And on Saturday, his friends came over for a little party in the newly fenced-in backyard. Sooooooo much excitement! Here are the highlights:Thursday, October 14, 2010
Baby Update: Well, Hello, Big Girl!!
Four MonthsWeight: 18lbs 14oz
Height: 26 inches
Head: 16 5/8 inches
I woke up this morning and thought, "Siri is four months old today!" Siri is four months old already?? How did that happen? She is more lovely each and every day and she is thriving. She has out-paced her brother in the weight category: a full two pounds more than Henry at the four month mark! This week was momentous for us as Siri moved from the bassinet into her crib in Henry's room and they both slept just fine. I think Henry was a little excited to have her in there with him, truth be told. In other news, Siri is babbling and singing up a storm. She is extraordinarily strong and may be ready to start solid food soon. She has started to join us at the table at dinner time, hanging out in the high chair and watching Henry.
We took the kids out to the Gasthaus Bravarian Hunter for Oktoberfest a few weekends ago. Here is Siri with Grandma Ann in the bier tent. She seemed right at home.
Henry, who usually loves live music, was a little unsure of the polka band. I hate the chicken dance, too, little buddy, so it's okay. Besides, polka musicians are shifty. Watch here:We are thoroughly enjoying the super-nice fall weather and our new fence that keeps Henry from running six houses down in the blink of an eye. And, we visited Gibbs Farm (just down the road from us at the UofM) for the Apple Festival and Henry LOVED the tractor that pulled us on the hay ride. TRACTOR!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Shadow Play
I stood at the sink washing dishes this morning while two quiet and content babies played at my feet. I stopped a moment to reflect on how lucky I am. The days are long and being a full-time mom to two babies is constant, back-wrenching, feet-aching manual labor. The skin on my hands is scaly and tender from all the washing and scrubbing and folding and sanitizing. Its feels good to be this tired and I feel no shame in drinking a well-earned beer in bed at 8:45pm.
Henry has discovered his shadow! Shadow play can be very fun and the late summer sun comes through the windows at great angles. Park time has also become a lot of fun as the manic toddler needs to run like a border collie daily so he'll nap. We're putting a fence in. I can't wait. 
Siri is 3 months old today and smiling, cooing, giggling and sleeping through the night. Good girl!
That's all for now. Our mundane day to day is hard and often dull, but extremely sweet and happy at the same time.
Henry has discovered his shadow! Shadow play can be very fun and the late summer sun comes through the windows at great angles. Park time has also become a lot of fun as the manic toddler needs to run like a border collie daily so he'll nap. We're putting a fence in. I can't wait. 
Siri is 3 months old today and smiling, cooing, giggling and sleeping through the night. Good girl!That's all for now. Our mundane day to day is hard and often dull, but extremely sweet and happy at the same time.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Time Flies - August Already!
The days and weeks of summer are flying by ever so quickly. Nathan is in the middle of a run of 9 shows in 10 days and this leaves me to the challenge of wrangling the oh-so-busy toddler and the infant on my own. I'll just say that some days are better than others. Henry is becoming a big boy now and has started to use the potty. This is monumental news for us. Having two babies in diapers at once is stinky and costly and stinky. We are not getting too excited, however, as he is really two young yet to use the potty with any reliability. Still, a step in the right direction. Siri is two months old already and is off the charts for height and weight, clocking in at 24 inches and nearly 15 pounds. She slept seven hours in-a-row(!) last night and another four after that, making for an almost normal night of sleep for me. She is also a coo-coo-ca-chooing up a storm and winning over friends and neighbors alike with her charming smile.I am looking forward to fall already as the past two weeks of god-awful hot, humid weather have had me cranky. I can't wait for cooler temps and delicious fall breezes. I am also looking forward to potentially getting back to work a bit with some contracting and to continuing work on my Masters degree. The real question being, of course, whether or not I can juggle it all. Time will tell.
The above photo was taken by my cousin Vicki, whom I love unconditionally, and wish I saw more often. She stopped by for a quick visit last weekend with my Aunt Paulette and Uncle Ron. My folks were also here, so it was a really nice weekend of family time. I love that my children are getting to spend so much time with both sets of their grandparents!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Piglet and the Beach Bum
Siri is growing by leaps and bounds. Her rolls have rolls. Good baby!
Henry starts swimming lessons with Daddy today. They are going to the Aqua Tots class at the YWCA. Good thing, too, because the kid loves the water!Monday, July 19, 2010
Spicy Asian Slaw
More cabbage from the farm this week and I finally have figured out how to not destroy it in my food processor. You'd think it'd take less than a year to figure out which blades to use for what, but not so. My deteriorated mental state (baby brain) doesn't help, of course, but now that I've got it down, more slaw! I took the sweetheart cabbage, a couple of carrots and a cucumber for a shred and came up with this. Plain old cole slaw is boring and this is reminiscent of some of my favorite sushi rolls.
1/2 head cabbage, shredded
2 medium carrots, shredded
1 medium cucumber, shredded (squeeze out excess water)
1 1/2 cups snow peas, chopped in one-inch pieces
Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tbls spicy Asian mustard or dijion
1 tbls low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbls Sirracha Sauce
1 tbls rice wine vinegar or lemon juice
1 tbls toasted sesame seeds
Sesame chili oil to taste (I used a lot as I like it hot!)
(NOTE: Use Kewpie Mayo if you've got it, which is a Japanese mayonnaise made with rice wine vinegar, otherwise regular Hellman's. There is never a good time for Miracle Whip, which is NOT mayonnaise, but a bastardization that they even refer to as "salad dressing." Ick. But, I digress.)
1/2 head cabbage, shredded
2 medium carrots, shredded
1 medium cucumber, shredded (squeeze out excess water)
1 1/2 cups snow peas, chopped in one-inch pieces
Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tbls spicy Asian mustard or dijion
1 tbls low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbls Sirracha Sauce
1 tbls rice wine vinegar or lemon juice
1 tbls toasted sesame seeds
Sesame chili oil to taste (I used a lot as I like it hot!)
(NOTE: Use Kewpie Mayo if you've got it, which is a Japanese mayonnaise made with rice wine vinegar, otherwise regular Hellman's. There is never a good time for Miracle Whip, which is NOT mayonnaise, but a bastardization that they even refer to as "salad dressing." Ick. But, I digress.)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Chef Henry
Despite a lack of classical training, Chef Henry is a bit of a culinary prodigy. He is a proponent of using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and, in particular, a fan of organic broccoli and fresh strawberries. Chef Henry's whisking skills are particularly good, so he whipped up some heavy cream, powdered sugar and cream cheese yesterday to make an airy and lovely frosting for his new favorite dessert, a poppy seed-strawberry cake. It's heavenly, Chef Henry!
Who doesn't love to lick the beaters?
The finished product, in a word, delicious!
Billowing Strawberry Poppy Seed Layer Cake
From Dishing with Kathy Casey
Who doesn't love to lick the beaters?
The finished product, in a word, delicious!
Billowing Strawberry Poppy Seed Layer CakeFrom Dishing with Kathy Casey
Cake
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tbls baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbls (1 stick) salted butter, softened
1 cup whole milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbls poppy seeds
Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
2 cups cream
Filling
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 pint strawberries, sliced very thin
Topping
1 pint strawberries, cut in half
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tbls baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbls (1 stick) salted butter, softened
1 cup whole milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbls poppy seeds
Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
2 cups cream
Filling
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 pint strawberries, sliced very thin
Topping
1 pint strawberries, cut in half
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans and set aside.
In the bowl of a standing mixer or other large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter. Using an electric mixer, mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Add half of the milk and mix for 2 minutes more to cream the batter. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and add the remaining milk, eggs, and vanilla. Continue mixing on medium speed for 2 more minutes. Stir in the poppy seeds.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and cool in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each cake layer and turn in out onto a rack to cool thoroughly.
Meanwhile, make the frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and vanilla on medium speed for 1 minute. Turn the speed to high and mix for 1 minute. Stop the mixer, add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Repeat twice, until all the powdered sugar had been added, then increase the mixer speed to high and whip for 3 minutes.
In another bowl, whip the cream until stiff, then fold it gently into the cream cheese mixture until just incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to frost the cake.
To make the filling: In a medium bowl, stir the strawberry jam until smooth, then gently fold in the strawberries. Set aside until ready to fill the cake.
To assemble and frost the cake: On a large cake plate, place 1 layer of the cake. Spoon one-half of the strawberry filling in the center, then spread it out to 3/4 inch from the edge. Top with 1 cup of the frosting and spread the frosting to 3/4 inch from the edge. Place another layer of cake on top and repeat. Place the final layer of cake on top, then press down gently on the cake layers to stabilize them.
With a large rubber or cake spatula, mound half of the remaining frosting on the top of the cake. Spread the other half around the sides of the cake, covering up all cake and swirling the frosting decoratively. Smooth out the frosting on top of the cake. Let the frosting dry a little before garnishing the cake.
Stem the garnish berries, and cut them in half lengthwise. Place, cut sides down, around the top edge of the cake. Arrange any extra strawberries in a small pattern in the middle of the cake. Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve.
Great American Summer Pastime
It's no secret that Nathan and I are baseball fans. We've had season tickets to the Twins for 5 or 6 years now. So, it should come as no surprise that we wanted to get the kids out to see the new stadium this season. Hank went to the Metrodome last year and visited the new ballpark early this March when we got to go for a first-look pre-season. Siri also went in utero this spring and I enjoyed the looks I got while I enjoyed my n/a beer in the Town Ball Tavern. Siri made her first game, officially, at two and a half weeks old and did very well. We took Henry just last week and while he only managed to sit on our seats for about an inning, he did charm everyone in both Sections 105 and 106 as well as a few in the Twins Pub and the upper deck as he did laps around the stadium at break neck toddler speed. He also got to ride the train for the first time which was almost more exciting to him than having nearly 41,000 people sing the "baseball song" to him during the seventh inning stretch!
April 20, 2010 - 7 months pregnant with Siri
Siri's first game - July 1, 2010
Henry's first game at Target Field - July 21, 2010
Riding the TRAIN!
Siri at One Month
Siri is one month old today and thriving. Really thriving! I mean to say, the girl is a piglet! And a beauty, too :)
The stats:
11 lbs 12 ounces
22 inches long
15 1/4 inch head
11 lbs 12 ounces
22 inches long
15 1/4 inch head
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Please Welcome Miss Siri!
Miss Siri Elan NesjeBorn Monday June 14, 2010
11:52pm
8lbs 3oz
20 in
More (and better quality) photos/video soon!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Yummy Things from the Farm
I've been remiss this Spring in posting about our adventures in CSA eating. Actually, we've been remiss in our adventures in CSA cooking, as well, as the pregnancy and the toddler have taken a backseat to cooking on many nights. Its not that I'm less excited about the fresh veg we've been getting from Harmony Valley Farm, its been spot on, I just haven't had the muster. So! Knowing full-well that I've got a whole new box of veg coming tomorrow, I pulled everything out of the fridge today to survey what we've got and to ponder how to use it/store it before it goes bad. So, into the food processor go a number of things to create a pesto of sorts for some whole wheat pasta...3 garlic scapes, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 bunch pea vine, tough stems removed
3 Egyptian (green) onions
3/4 cup toasted walnuts
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup shredded Parmesan
1/2 tsp kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
In the food processor, pulse the first four ingredients until minced. With the motor running, slowly pour in the olive oil until a thick paste forms. Add the cheese and pulse just to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pack into a plastic container and cover with a layer of olive oil (about another 1/4 - 1/2 cup) to preserve color. At this point you can store it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to use. When you are, cook some pasta until al dente, drain, warm a big spoonful or two of the pesto in a pan (cook for a minute or so) and toss the pasta in. Top with lots of Parmesan cheese.
In Last Week’s Box from the Farm
Green Onions
Garlic Scapes
Pea Vine
All of the above went into the pesto.
Strawberries
Rhubarb
I made a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler
Yukina Savoy
Bok Choi
Still in the fridge, but destined for a stir fry.
Asparagus
Simply steamed and eaten with broiled chicken breasts
Salad Mix
Ostergruss Radish
Baby Broccoli
Greenleaf Lettuce
Baby Red Romaine
These last five all gotten eaten raw in a couple of big salads!
Monday, June 7, 2010
What's Hank been up to, you say?
*Click on the photos to see larger versions*
Art Class
Art Class
Burgeoning Artiste
Ice cream on the lawn
Hanging at the clubhouse with the posse
Picnic
Investigating fluid dynamics
Out hiking at Dodge Nature Center
Playing on the patio
Morning coffee talk with Grandpa LowellSaturday, May 22, 2010
The Return of the Veg-eh-tables!!!!!!
Spring means CSA time again!!!!! We love the farm we buy a share in Harmony Valley and are thrilled to be getting weekly deliveries again. It was hard to live off supermarket produced (sad, sad stuff) all winter long. This week marks our fourth delivery already this spring and we've been basking in the early spring goodness.
The Home Stretch
Cari (9 months pregnant) & Nathan 05/22/2010at DeAnn and Del's wedding
All signs are good. I am not experiencing any of the problems I had at the end of Henry's pregnancy. My blood pressure remains good, I have not had any swelling in my feet or hands and my weight gain is right on. With any luck, she will NOT be 10 pounds like her brother was. I am predicting 7 lbs 7 ounces on June 7th, but I'm likely dreaming...
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