moving

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ok so I am trying out Word Press... come check it out...
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MiniVan=Mega Fun=Petrified Corn Dog

We cleaned out the van this weekend. I would love to say we cleaned it out because we clean the cars "every Saturday" or I was bored and I really enjoy detailing cars... but the reality is... the SMELL forced us to clean it out. After two long hours, I decided to take a break. Mike came home to a MASH scene driveway of mats, industrial shop vac, garbage cans filled with unmentionables, laundry baskets full of sippy cups and bottles, books, toys, and cleaning supplies. So much stuff Mike could not pull into the driveway and he was "forced" to finish the project so he could park his truck.

Did I mention it is usually around 15 - 20 degrees here so everything is frozen and there is absolutely no reason for a vehicle to smell.
OH YES... it was that bad... the fumes refused to freeze.
We think we have narrowed down the culprit: boy pee, sippy cup with chunky milk, or a half eaten petrified corn dog. Between you and me... I am pretty sure that the eau de parfum was an intermingling of all three.

Ukranian Sand Artist

Kseniya Simonova is a 24 years old Ukranian artist. She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII. She won Ukraine's Got Talent 2009, watched by over 13 million people.

http://www.kseniyasimonova.com/

Zero Dollar Birthday

In November my youngest, Cora, turned one. There is so much pressure these days to go above and beyond for birthdays. Luckily Mike and I have always felt the same way... for these younger years simple is better. Sometimes the parties become more for the parents than for the overwhelmed little birthday child. Now don't get me wrong... there will be plenty of big bash birthdays in our future... and any party should be what your family deems important - not what your peers deem to be necessary. We recognize for right now and for our family... small and quiet is a good thing.

Mike typically does his schooling in Winter so for us it is very lean times... especially with the holidays and then four additional birthdays in between Thanksgiving and January! Mike and I took on the challenge of a zero dollar birthday for our dear Cora and we both agree... it was by far our best birthday party ever. Small, beautiful, and intimate. Just like our little Cora. I will share over the next few days her birthday celebration. Coming up tomorrow is some home made gifts.

Rock On

Can you just see her at a Pantera concert or what?!?!?
Daddy's Little Girl:)

Dear Sun,

Dear Sun,
Three minutes and 5 seconds gained on this day. Thank you for that.
You supposedly rose today at 10 am - I must have missed it.
Too many days of the dark veil of dusk. 
It is now 17 days post Winter Solstice - Chugga chugga, chugga chugga...come on you can do it.
Just as the missed Florida sunsets dance in my head... you arrive...
And break through Old Man Winter's beard and smile.
Thank you my dear sun for joining us today.
Sincerely,
A grateful friend

Resolutions

Our favorite tree outside our front door

Ok... so my New Year's Resolution is to post something new everyday. Yes. A new blog entry every single day. And yes I am aware that today is already the 6th... but isn't that the great thing about resolutions... they can happen anytime.

After many chats yesterday with different girlfriends about "finding your path"... (everyone ALWAYS seems to be going through the same soul searching at exactly the same time. Weird. I know) ... I spent the day ruminating on what might be my inner talent or gift to this world. Yes being a Mom is absolutely what I am supposed to be doing right now but I always seem to have this little nagging feeling that I am missing something else... what is beyond motherhood.

So of course writing once again comes front and center. It has always been a joy for me. I find it soothing, calming, and oh so therapeutic:) And everyone knows to grow in your craft - you have to practice - everyday. So begins my journey.. and from here on out I will not edit or labor over perfectionism.

I will just write.

For me.

And not caring how many people out there in cyber space read or agree or disagree with the words put on paper.

I will write.

Everyday.

The Moose Poop Winners!

And the winners of the "Name That Head Baby" contest are: Mimi, Miss Rina, and Aunt Sheryl! Watch out ladies moose poop is headed your way in the near future:)

Viking Halloween Party

For Halloween we went out to the valley for our friends annual Halloween bash!!!

The theme... norwegian vikings. Surprise. Surprise.

Minnesotans stick together and there is most definitely a strong representation of this norwegian influence. Its pretty much if you were not born here in Alaska... you are either from Minnesota or Oregon.

Every few YEARS I meet a fellow Floridian.

So as you can see by the pictures... pretty much everyone from Minnesota REALLY does look like Paul Bunyon. For a second I really did feel like I was back crusading with Lief Erikson and plundering land and seas for steins of brew.

You gotta love all you Minnesotans... I love you guys so much I married one and now I talk like one.

You betcha.

Fer Sure.

Happy Halloween

By the way... this is supposed to be a Viking.

Yeah... I didn't win any pumpkin carving contests on this one.

Who is that baby?

OK everyone... are you up for a challenge? Can you name each Head baby? List your guesses in the comments and number 1 to 6. The winner wins moose poop earrings!!!! If there are multiple winnings you will just win regular moose poop.

Choices are: Cora, Keenan, or Lyla!

This is just the first round... so it is an easy one. The next round will include multi- generational pics and will be more challenging.

Testing

Testing the new camera...

the only willing subjects... Cora & Budda.

Picture Perfect

Yes. We. Have. Purchased. A. New. Camera.

This really is a monumental occasion... many stars, planets, and budgets had to align in order for this to happen. Pretty much it means that Mike and I had simultaneous moments of splurging. When the tightly wound purse strings and clenched cold frugal fist of cheapness miraculously decided to open at the same hour on the same day and off to Costco we went before the prudent and miserly ego awoke.

30 minutes later and the Canon SD1200 was in hand.

No more dangling from the rafters while holding the cord in place as we try to download the pics to our computer.... and 1/2 the time we lose them anyway.

No more embarrassing moments of ...the perfect shot... and oh the batteries are dead (they pretty much held charge for 3 minutes), SD card full (max held 8 pics), oh wait where is the camera? And yes I am aware that this can be fixed with a new SD card, new battery... but really it was an exhaustive search to find replacements for the Gateway camera of the 90's.

No more will we be the laughing stock of the picture taking community. We will be prepared. No more will we hear....

"Oh what a surprise the Head's camera is (dead, SD card full, frozen, covered in peanut butter and/or lost at the bottom of the diaper bag) .....AGAIN!"

OK so we all know the last statement is baloney. I will still forget to charge it and lose it in the massive Head bag where it is probably making out with my elusive cell phone.

Come on people... lets be real here... its a new camera.... not a new personality.

Sweet Seeds

Mike came up with a new recipe for pumpkin seeds. Season as usual... then add his secret ingredient...brown sugar. Bake in oven and you will soon have these salty, crunchy caramelized bits of goodness! Almost better than kettle corn. Almost.

Pumpkin Fun

A Great big fun gooey mess!