Ding Ding Ding... And the Winner is ME!

I GOT THE JOB!!!! I got a call Thursday afternoon from the United Way president offering me the 211 Coordinator position, and then she emailed me the benefit/salary info. I alomst died when I saw the salary...because it was so terrible!! But thankfully I was able to come up with some creative strategies to propose to her, which would allow them to hike it up to a more desireable range. So in the end it worked out... and because I'm gonna love the job, the mediocre salary isn't a big deal. I just had to make sure that in the end I would be bringing home some bacon, after daycare expenses. So YIPPEE for me... I got a job.

It just so happened that same morning when I got all 3 boys enrolled in the same daycare center. We had our name on the list for the new center that opens Sept 1. but they were able to finagle a few things to get them in their current location (that is otherwise full) for the 5-6 weeks before Sept 1. It was all just falling into place!

Then to top off my day, my wonderful hubby sent me a beautiful boquet of flowers, with congrats on the new job... Ahhh!

Round 2

Well today was the big interview at United Way... Got off to a slow start, but then really nailed it. I really let my personality show through so I'm putting all my eggs in that basket... only to find that, that's what they were really looking for. A confident, motivative and innovative person. The only hang up on this job, is the salary... Sound like it may not be worth it, after I subtract daycare expenses :-( If offered the position, there may have to be some negotiations. I'm so torn... This sounds like a dream job.

Because I was on top of my wardrobe this time around, I don't have any real comical events from this morning. A few charming ones though... Dylan and Riley asked why I was all dressed up and where I was going. When I told them for an interview to get a job, they just knodded and went back to watching cartoons. But later in the day over lunch Riley said "you don't get a job Mommy, just stay here with us." And then Dylan chimed in, "Yeah I'll build a garage house thing here and you can work here." How sweet... I think they're gonna miss me! As I will them.

Yeah sure we get on each others nerves throughout the day... But this has been my chance to catch up with those 2 and really spend some quality time with the. Sure its a juggle with the daily demands of an infant, but we squeeze our together time in each day. Because the past couple months life have been so busy and at times chaotic, Dylan and Riley have been forced to become more independent. From the simple things like getting their own water bottles from the fridge, and getting dressed on their own, to the more difficult challenges like resolving conflict with each other, and learning to make new friends. They've matured greatly with this whole experience, and now its time to slow down and have some fun with Mom at home. Often times I catch myself in anticipation of the next milestone or great accomplishment with all 3 of them, that I forget about the present. So my goal this week is to stop and smell the roses. SLOW DOWN and enjoy my children... With a job possibility just around the corner my days home with them may be limited...

Picnic in the Park

This past weekend I was all about getting out in the nice warm weather, so we grabbed some KFC and headed to Leif Erickson park to do some exploring. This park also known as the Rose Garden, as it has over 3000 species of roses (however not in bloom yet). Its a beautiful park with fountains, cobblestone walkways, and of course scenic views as its along the shoreline. The a stretch of the lakewalk runs through the park, so we took a little jaunt down the coast, until the complainers started up "my legs are gonna break", "I just can't keep walking all the day" which really annoyed the parents so we turned around.

The boys loved our picnic...they ate "chicken on the bone" (aka drumstick) and kept us entertained with all the questions about the big ship coming in to port. Whenever we go somewhere now they ask if we'll have a picnic... which isn't always a bad idea, but we can't keep doing sandwiches...bleh! (Hence the KFC)

The night we were there they were having "movie in the park"... a huge inflatable movie screen was showing some scary moving in this little valley, so people were staking out their seats with blankets and chairs. The hillsides creating this valley make every seat in the house a good one... it looks like it was made for this purpose. To accompany the free show, there are vendors in the park to sell you snacks and drinks to make your movie experience a pleasurable one. They have this every Friday night during the summer, so we plan to go back with the kids when its a G rated film... It was a gorgeous night, the breeze from the lake was perfect and no mosquitoes!

Lets go to the Beach

So we hit the beach yesterday... the Mercury hit 84 (29 C) and it was hotter on the beach then up at our house. The sand was soooo hot you had to keep your shoes on or stand on your towel and if you dared, you would sprint to the water to cool them off. The boys were turned off by sand in their sandals and at first whiny about the temp of the sand, but a minute later they had forgotten their concerns and were hitting the beach. It was pretty busy. However, not many in the lake. But you certainly did need to dip a bit to cool off here and there.
Of course there was frustrating moments during our trip to the beach. After all I was the only adult with a 3mo old, and 2 pre-schoolers. I had just set Brady and seat down to unload they other 50 things over my shoulder, when Riley tossed up a handful of sand for the wind to blow right on Brady's lap. So now I've got a sandy baby, and a car seat full of sand. Once we got everything all laid out, they wanted lunch. A little sand to go with our sandwiches and pretzels on the side.
Brady was mostly cooperative with our beach outing... I timed it so he'd have a full belly and in need of long nap. He woke a couple of times, and needed some snuggles, and then a little filler to conk out for the rest of the trip. But it was when Brady was screaming that Dylan and Riley were wanting me to open their candy... as i'm struggling to discretely get situated to nurse my screaming child on the beach, they were saying my name over and over and over again... Just trying to get my attention, I know, but I was loosing my cool. All I needed was a gust of wind to take the blanket flying off my bare white chest and we'd really have a scene. Next time I need a big umbrella to give us (me) some more privacy and shade. Brady was fine in his car seat with the canopy and a light blanket draped to my chair, allowing a cool breeze from the lake. And Dylan and Riley splashed around to keep cool. But I roasted in the open hot sun... I was too chicken to submerge in the freezing lake, plus didn't want to be wet and sandy when Brady needed to be snuggled. I felt a bit albino out there, next to some of those real beachers that already have the California tan. Fake baking must be a pre-requisite to the beach lifestyle.
But all in all we had a great time, and look forward to going back again, with Daddy. He was working, so to make him a bit jealous I sent him a few pix from the beach just to rub it in ;-)

Little squirt

Brady hit the 3 month mark last Friday and continues to amaze us with his strength and growth. For quite sometime now, he's shown that he's a very curious fellow... always wanting to look around, stand up and be where all the action is. I think Dylan and Riley had something to do with this... they've conditioned him to accept and enjoy chaos. My mother claims that Brady is just like I was as a baby... Nosey! Me?... Never!



After we got back from our little vacay to Grandma's this past week, I tried him in the Excersaucer. He loves it!! I stuff a pillow in around his belly to keep him from flopping around, and he'll lean up against the back when he needs to rest a bit. But then he's right back at it... At first I thought he's legs would be a bit short to touch the bottom, so I stuck a pillow under there so he could stand up, but he really doesn't need it. Without that pillow there he now jumps a little, or stiffens his legs rather, to get the toys to make a noise. In the last few days he's just started to bat at his toys in reach. The Excersaucer toys are too far so we lay a few on the tray. His fav is a little blue duck that he'll have a stare down with (see picture) and then once he grabs it he'll ram it in his face and slide it around until he gets it into his mouth, then chews away. He's got these cute little grunting sounds that he makes as he slobs it up.
I think we are getting closer and closer to a giggle too.. You can get a few Ha... Ha... Ha...'s with the break in between, but not a full belly giggle yet. He's being a little stingy with this anxious Mama. His big toothless smiles are super huge... they push his cheeks up so high it makes his eyes squinty. I kiss those cheeks a hundred times a day.

I love it here... and I love not working!!

At several points throughout the day today I caught myself all wrapped up in the beauty of Duluth (its not the first time). This morning the I was up long before the big boys, so made them some Blueberry muffins (only to find that they don't really care for blueberries in their muffins?) and then packed lunches to drop off for daddy, and some for us to enjoy at the park later. Well unfortunately it rained a bit this morning so lunch plans changed, and we ended up eating with Brad at his office. But we were able to stop at the park on the way home. The Bayfront park is one that we favor... it has an awesome play structure for kids... its a huge wooden maze of passages that link together 4 mini castles...slides, monkey bars, balance beams you name it! The boys love it and so do I, because they cleverly built seating areas throughout for parents, so they can keep an eye on the kids in all directions. From where I was sitting I could see the lift bridge raise for a ship coming into harbor, then behind me was the picturesque view of homes tucked into the lush hillside and the tall historic buildings of downtown. The best of 2 worlds... land and water in just a head turn. After living in the flatlands of Fargo for 10 years, its like my eyes are on sensory overload. The dark blah grey tones of buildings and asphalt have been replaced with bright, fresh living landscapes.

After looking at homes all over town, we've driven through a bunch of different neighborhoods. Each one is uniquely different, but so cozy. Each little neighborhood is nestled its own mini forest, so its alittle weird driving around, because you almost feel like you leave the city and stumble upon little communities in the country. But as you can imagine, with that is peacefulness... nature out your back door. Literally, we've had deer in our yard! And we live 3 blocks from Target and the mall. It was on my drive home this afternoon, that I felt lucky to live here... every time I go up or down the hill I get a rejuvenating feeling with the view... I just can't stop looking and ahhing...I hope this never ends.

Tomorrow we plan to hit the beach out at park point. Yes, the water is chilly, but its supposed to be 80 and its still fun to play in the sand and picnic at the beach, even if you don't swim. Our neighbors were there yesterday, and I guess its already busy so we aren't total fools. What can you expect when your a Minnesotan...we roll our windows down as soon as its above zero.

Also its the Huge Grandma's Marathon this weekend (12th largest in the US) so I'm sure we'll go check out some of the festivities. Maybe I can gain some motivation or ambition to get back into shape while I'm there. Who knows, I might start training to run it next year ;-) Or maybe not. Brad got some free tickets for the bleachers... guess we can sit and watch them cross the finish line?... Doesn't that sound exciting... I'll be in the party tent thank you... yeah, that's right! I'll have my one drink, get red blotches on my neck and then head home for a nap.
Have a great weekend!

Great Great Grandma Clara is 95

This last Sunday we spent the day celebrating my Great Grandma Clara's 95th Birthday in Tabor, MN. Not too many people can say they have a Great Grandma, so for my kids to have Great-Great Grandparents is pretty neat. (My dad's Gpa is still living too).
At 95 yrs old, she is still sharp as a tack, and witty. She lives in a retirement community, and is mostly independent, aside from errands and such. She has aged well, and keeps up with her travels, fooling anyone to think she's 95.

Brad caught up with us on Saturday just in time for the festivities, which included a Polka Mass... Yes I said Polka mass. A catholic church service, with a tuba, snare drum and accordion. The boys bopped along during church, the big boys that is. Brady made his appearance with a screaming fit mid service, demanding to eat. The Polka didn't stop there... we headed next door to the town hall, for a lite lunch, cake and more Polka. This time there was a dance floor! Chicken dance anyone?!

28 yrs ago I was the last link to a 5th generation as my Great-Great Grandma Myerchin was still living. Now I have birthed not one, or two, but THREE children for my grandma Clara's 5 generations. She is so proud of these boys. I just wish we could see her more often.

After a long day of Polka partying, and at the conclusion of our 2 week get away the boys were tuckered out... We weren't more than 3 miles on the road before they were out.