Treading Water...

I'm here. It's been so long since I've blogged I don't even know where to start. We've had a very full couple of months. Life seems to just be flying by. Most weeks I feel like we're just treading water trying to keep our heads above so we can survive. Not to say that it's bad. We've had many fun events that I'd love to get up here. We celebrated Easter, Mother's Day, and a few birthdays, visited my Mom and Ron in Arizona, saw the WI family, went to FL, ate a great Korean themed cooking club, had our annual Memorial Day BBQ, dealt with sick kids, got another Stitch Fix, and most recently had a garage sale which sold off all the baby stuff! (I love purging and a clean house) So we're alive and doing well. To my 3 loyal fans - I hope to get more up soon. Don't give up on me. :)

I'll leave you with this.

Where did July go??

Clearly this month has been busy because I haven't blogged at all! Get ready for a long one...

We had a wonderful 4th of July BBQ hosted by the Moehrings. I forgot my camera that day so I only got one pic with my phone!!

We had a long fun weekend filled with family fun outings. We went back to the Lorence Berry Farm to pick strawberries. Same one that we visited last year. Sienna again ate more than she actually picked for the basket, but that's the fun of going. They were so delish.

We spent our annual weekend at the Eids cabin. The weather was perfect and many upgrades to the cabin made it a very fun weekend. I won't quite say relaxing but us 4 adults spent a lot of time dreaming and planning the 10 year anniversary trip we are taking next spring - without the kids!

My sister had her baby boy!! Christopher Steelman Park. Such a cutie and so fun to have a boy in that side of the family. He was 20 inches long and 7 lbs 15 oz.

The rest of our days have been enjoying the sun. Sienna's been hanging out with her neighbor buddy, Chase, quite a bit.

Kensi's still loving the exersaucer.

Justin and I even got out for a date night with his work and enjoyed a dinner cruise on the river.

Highlights

A few highlights from the past couple weeks.

Papa came to visit and stayed with us for almost 2 weeks. Justin's family also came up but both of my camera batteries were dead, so I didn't get any pictures!

We celebrated Mom & Ron's birthdays. The girls took turns making their own pizza to share.

Sienna and I planted our gardens. Now if only we could get some sun to make my plants and seeds grow!

Lots of grilling and hanging out at home.

Google Reader

My PSA for the day. If you use Google Reader and love it (like I do) you probably know it's going away July 1st. Here's a great article on 2 good options to use going forward. I haven't tried either yet, but am leaning to trying Feedly first.

Anyone know of a substitution for iGoogle? I love that too and they are taking it away in November. Change = bad. :P

Adjusting

I was thinking we were all adjusting well to having Kensi around. She's been sleeping great, so Justin and I are feeling good. Sienna is always so sweet to her, wanting to give her kisses and very proud of being a big sister. I even thought she was starting to be a little less clingy to me...until Bita called me up and had to share a story.

Sienna was acting sad at daycare, so Bita asked her what was wrong. Sienna answered very sadly, "My Mommy is so busy and doesn't have any time to cut and paint my toes and fingers." Bita had a hard time not busting out laughing. Instead she consoled her and asked if she could cut and paint her toes. We both had a good laugh at her amazing articulation! I can't believe she was able to express that or even think it. Over the weekend we had talked about painting her toes but never got around to it. She didn't bring it up again so I didn't think it was an issue. It of course broke my heart too and I was sure to try and give her extra attention that night. Plus I made a big fuss about her pretty toes and even cut her finger nails. :) Hope she's not too traumatized. Mental note to follow through on the promises I make her!

On another note here's me and my 2 girls. I am already finding it impossible to get a decent one where we all look at the camera. Time to learn more Photoshoping techniques!

My Smile For Today

Go Vikes!

Updates

It's been a busy past couple of weeks and I haven't gotten a chance to blog any of it. Baby is taking the blame on this one. I have been tired, very tired. Struggling to stay awake past 9 tired. Lets hope it's a temporary growth spurt. This is almost as bad as the first trimester! Here's what's been going on.

1. My Mom retired!! A big congrats to her and I'm very excited to see her start this next chapter of her life. It's been a little over a week and she's already asked to take Sienna for a day of play time. It's great that they can spend that time together. Sienna came home fully sugared and so excited about the fun day she had.

2. Conner had his 9th birthday. We haven't had a chance to get his doggy sundae at Lake Harriet yet, but it's on the to do list in the next week or 2.

3. Sienna started a countdown for her birthday. This girl has been asking about her birthday for 2 months. We finally had to start a countdown calendar so she could visualize when it was. We hung it on the fridge right at her eye level. Now whenever she walks over there she starts shouting, "My birthday!!!" and points to the Minnie Mouse sticker representing her day. One day I caught her hugging the fridge saying, "I love my birthday"

3. I have said good bye to pizza and spaghetti. For some reason those foods are making me sick. At first I was blaming the tomato sauce, so I thought I would try a white sauced pizza. Unfortunately it had the same effect. I have no idea what it could be, but it's not worth eating them to figure it out. Lets hope the list of foods I can't eat doesn't get any longer. And also that this isn't signs of baby food allergies. I am already so scared of that.

4. I enrolled Sienna in dance classes. It's a half hour every week Mommy & Me class but they still get to be in the recital! Can't wait to see that. Last week we went to the studio to check it out and register. She was in awe of all the mirrors and kept running to look at each one. She was sad when we had to leave and she didn't actually get to dance. We've been reading this book about a girl who gets a tutu and wears it everywhere. All Sienna will talk about is how she's a ballerina, is going to go to dance class, and wants to wear her tutu everywhere. I can't wait!

So that's our highlights plus many other fun events and hopefully soon I'll get some of the pictures up. Big #2 birthday this weekend! What happened to my little baby??

Picture Updates

What did we do before our phones had cameras on them? So great since I seem to never have my actual camera on me at the right moments. Here's some highlights from the past couple weeks.

Ariana showing how she can use her walk behind toy. And one handed no less. She's going to be going on her own in no time. Big birthday coming up too!!

Sienna loving her new baby stroller. An actual baby doll has yet to ride in it, but puppy, the remote, coasters, and random other toys have all had their turn.

Big brute thinking that since she has a shopping cart at home to push, she can do the same at the store. She was able to push both of these carts. I was amazed. Glad Menards has big aisles. 

Had a few sips of Mom's Shamrock Shake. 

She's a fan already. How can you not be? 

Still loves to read her books. 

Ulfers Girls

We had a play date with my roommate from college, Rachel, and her 2 girls Ellerie and Adelyn. Ellerie is 3.5 and Adelyn is about a week younger than Sienna! Fun to see all their similarities and differences being so close in age. It's hard to get a good picture of 3 little ones running around, so here's the best we could do.

Crayon sharing/stealing

Such concentration on their coloring.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been one of those months. I know I haven't been blogging much lately but the first round of winter sickness hit our family - and hard. Started with Sienna, moved to me and as soon as both of us were healthy, it hit Justin. No fun. But I'm happy to say 3 weeks later, we are all healthy and hoping we can at least enjoy this Thanksgiving weekend as a happy and healthy family (Please, let me have one weekend this year to enjoy) At least it hit us before the holiday unlike last year.

We're hosting Thanksgiving again this year. We're trying a new method of turkey cooking using a brine and a searing roast before a slower roast. Let's hope it works! I need to learn to never try new recipes when hosting. You can't ruin a turkey, right? Last weekend started my prep including a gluten and dairy free pumpkin pie!

I wish I could say it tastes as great as it looks - that's why I'm showing it on this blog and not my food one. :) The crust ended up being very hard. I need to keep trying to find a great gf/df recipe. The pumpkin part is still great.

Besides being sick we've spent the past couple weekends trying to cheer on our football teams. If only they looked as good playing as Sienna does cheering them on...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!

Buckets and Books

This is how we roll at the Jovle house: buckets on heads and books in hand. If Sienna ever gives you a bucket just know you're supposed to put it on your head.

Upcomings

I just figured out that after today I only have to work 2 days out of the next 10!! Hallelujah! I'm dancing in my cube. Love vacation days. It's been a busy week. My house is starting to fill with in-laws. Rick and Dougie have come to visit and the rest of Justin's family comes Friday night. We've been busy with all the preparations of the big 1st birthday party!! Lots of pics and reports to come soon. Lets hope she smashes that cake.



Can you believe my little monster is turning 1 already? Where did this year go...

Note: I think she looks just like me as a kid in this picture. Right mom? I need to find a comparison pic.

Thought for the day

Every time I walk outside in this heat, the memories of last summer come pouring back - me waddling along trying to get out of the sun as fast as I can without getting too warm. It makes me so thankful to not be pregnant. And then this little twinge starts to creep up. One I never thought I'd have. I miss feeling the hard bump of a pregnant belly, of pressing on it and having the little person you are so excited to meet kick back. I miss all of the strangers smiles, questions, and friendliness. Maybe being pregnant wasn't all bad...

Sporting the shades

How has this week gone by so fast?! I have a camera full of pictures from our fun weekend but have yet to have any time to get them uploaded. Cran sent me a little day brightener that she took Monday and I had to share. (she of course ripped them off .002 nanoseconds later) Glad those cameras are quick!

It's Friday, Friday, Friday Friday Friday

Please someone help get that awful song out of my head. I know it's not technically Friday but since we have tomorrow off it's Friday for me!!! The weekend is full of fun plans including a pampering day for me, seeing lots of great friends and family, enjoying the SUN and of course lots of food. Can't wait! Happy 4th everyone!

Another Week

I've been blog slacking! Another week has passed by quickly without much excitement. Last weekend our days were filled with soaking up as much sun and outdoor activities as we could manage. Sienna purchased a wagon with some of her photo contest winnings (yes, the rest is going to college) and it has become one of her favorite places to hang out. I am also a huge fan because while she sits in it I can do a little yard work and wheel her around with me. If it was up to her I would be constantly pushing her around. She LOVES being on the move and tries to use her body to pump the wagon along (it doesn't work). I think we might have an adrenaline junkie on our hands.

The days of her sitting contently are soon to be over. Justin came into her room yesterday morning and before he could pick out her outfit, she had crawled to the side of the crib and pulled herself up. She's been getting up on all 4's quite a bit but isn't sure what to do next. Any day now it might happen...

Justin and I have a big weekend coming up. Nana and Grandpa are taking Sienna for her first over night on Saturday! We are all very excited and hoping it goes well. Everyone think thoughts of good sleep so she is welcomed back. :)

That's our life for now. Enjoy your weekend!

Start to my weekend

OMG best Friday morning laughs ever. I am crying and trying to catch my breath.

Damn You Auto Correct April '11

How to fix a toilet when your husband is out of town.

I've got skills, I know. Thank God he came home that night.

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Too tired to think of a pithy title

This week has been a bit crazy as Justin has been in Las Vegas for work and I've been home making my best run at being a single mom. It's all gone very well but I haven't had much down time for blogging. Soon to come is cooking club, Kentucky Derby style. To give a little preview here's Sienna and I in our outfits.

Sienna is wearing a dress that I wore as a little girl. I also finally remembered to buy some bows for her hair now that it's long enough to hold them. So cute!

Inappropriate?

probably, but funny? yes.

(image from someecards if you didn't notice)

It's time to end this Friday afternoon and let the Happy Hours begin. Happy Weekend everyone!