CUTEST Picture EVER!!!

Congratulations Timmy and Julie, on the birth of ADORABLE Max Adrian Moen!  Here's a picture that Julie posted on Facebook of Timmy and Max.  It TOTALLY made me cry!!!!!

Progress...

or NOT...depending on your views.  So...each day brings COMPLETE and UTTER horror as we OBSESS over the "progress" on the golf course, over the tree line behind our complex, into a new housing development.  I actually CRIED when I walked through a few weeks ago and discovered that they'd chopped down and shredded the old cottonwood and oak trees beside the road.

APPARENTLY I am becoming jaded, because a few days ago they leveled the HUGE, GORGEOUS lilac and spirea bushes, and the best I could do was swear...

Here are some "before" and "after" shots of the destruction:

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

May I just say DAMN anyone who had a part in DESTROYING one of the most BEAUTIFUL spots in Eagan...you SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's hoping YOU haven't had to deal with STUPID developers or STUPID city councils recently...they can be EXTREMELY STUPID....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4th of July Weekend in Iowa

So...Duane and I were going to try to go somewhere like New York City or Vancouver for the long weekend, but, it didn't work out, so he headed to North Dakota to see his family, and I headed to Tingley to see mine.  It was actually a very nice, yet brief, visit, and it was REALLY good to just do "nothing" for a day and a half.

I decided to drive down on Friday afternoon.  I was going to leave on Saturday morning, but the plumber came to fix the dripping tub Friday morning, and one of the parts was defective.  He had other jobs to get to, so left it all where it was.  I decided to GET OUT OF DODGE. so that I wouldn't have to deal with all of the closet stuff piled in the bedroom, and the whole "not having a shower" thing...

I managed to get to Tingley before Robin, Dave, and the girls got there, since they "antiqued" their way down, and stopped for dinner at Carlos O'Kelly's in Des Moines.  We spent a LOVELY hour or two on the porch swing in the back yard, and caught up for the rest of the evening.

Saturday morning, Robin and I walked the three mile trail (which turned out to be FOUR) in Mt. Ayr.  They converted an old railroad line into a paved walking/biking/jogging path.  It was LOVELY, but Robin and I decided we were WAY more acclimated to the city...especially when two birds, which were chasing each other. flew into the path in front of us, and we BOTH screamed like girls....

The rest of the day was spent in the porch swing, and putting together mom and dad's new grill (so that we could barbecue that night). I HATE assembling things!  I think everything should come ALREADY ASSEMBLED.  Dad and I got a good start on it, but LUCKILY Dave came to help, and it actually got done correctly...

Before grilling commenced, dad took Abigail and I out to see what the wild plum "crop" looked like this year.  Last year, we weren't able to find ANY wild plums at all, so I only made crabapple jelly.  This year...it looks good.  I think jelly making in August will be very "fruitful" (pun intended)...

The COOLEST part of the search was sitting in the back of the pickup in a downpour, speeding down a dirt road to get through before it became a MUD road.  We had stopped in a couple of places to look for cool rocks in the ditch, and dad suggested that we GO, since the clouds looked like they could cut loose at any time.  They did, and it was SO COOL to feel the rain pelting against my head as we zipped back to the house!

We watched "Toy Story II" after dinner, and went to bed.  I FORGOT how cool those movies are!  I recently saw "Toy Story III", and now need to watch the original "Toy Story" to see how it all began!

Yesterday was rainy and humid, so I spent most of my time, before leaving, on the porch swing on the front porch.  It was EXTREMELY weird to go to Tingley for the 4th of July and NOT be at Sun Valley Lake, but it was nice, and relaxing, and mom and dad have done GREAT things with the yard, so it was fun to just hang out there...who knew??!!

I did NOT take my camera, so I have NO pictures to post from the weekend.  Robin and  Dave DID take a photo of Abigail and I after our ride in the rain.  If they send it to me, I'll post it!

Here's hoping YOU were able to have a relaxing and family-filled 4th of July weekend!

Amy's Visit!!!!!

It's been a week of "FINALLYS" for us here in the twin cities...first Kim and Ashley FINALLY came back for a visit, and this week, Amy FINALLY came back for another stay.  She hasn't been here in about a year, so it was GREAT to spend time together again, and do a bunch of FUN STUFF in Minneapolis/St. Paul!

Amy arrived Sunday afternoon (a couple of hours after Kim and Ashley headed back to Des Moines), and we started off with Greek lasagna at my place.  We spent the evening "catching up", and had a GREAT time!

Monday, I had to work, so didn't get to spend time with "the gang" during the day, but, after finishing at school, went to South Minneapolis, and picked Amy up for an evening in Eagan.  We started with "chatting" at my place, then, when Duane got off work, headed to "Pardon My French" (a FABULOUS French restaurant on Cliff Avenue), walked around a nearby flower garden, and ended with episodes of "Drop Dead Diva", and "Glee" back at my place.  It's ALWAYS nice when Duane and I have Amy to ouselves for a little while....

 

                          

Tuesday, we got organized, and headed to Highland Park to shop.  We hit Patina, which has the COOLEST stuff!

The Nordhues and Amy before shopping in Highland Park

After a few hours in Highland Park, we dropped the girls at home, and headed to downtown Minneapolis to have lunch at Barrio, and REALLY cool Mexican restaurant on Nicollett Mall.  We were able to SQUEEZE into the outdoor patio area, and had a FABULOUS lunch!

After Barrio, we picked up the girls and headed to Kaposia (my school) for a tour, and so that I could film a promotional spot for the district.  I had NO IDEA what I was going to say (didn't prepare), so was a little "flounder-y", and nervous, so I sounded like one of the chipmunks ("Dale", maybe??!!), then we headed to ANOTHER Patina, because they were having their 50% off sale, which only happens two times each year...

After Patina, we headed home.  Dave made chicken tikka masala (a jar sauce from Whole Foods, and COMPLETELY amazing...!) with buttered naan, and mango lassi's.

Dave making mango lassi's!

the chicken tikka masala...YUM!!

We then headed to Sebastian Joes in Linden Hills for ice cream (after looking around at Creative Kidstuff, and Bibelot).

Wednesday, we headed to Stillwater for some shopping and "antiquing".  We took the trolley tour around Stillwater, which I'd never done, and had a GREAT TIME learning the history of Stillwater.  Here are some photos from the tour:

After the day in Stillwater, we headed home.  The Nordhues and Amy had carne asada on the grill, and I headed to Eagan to meet Duane.  We went to the Eagan Marketfest (our version of the Farmer's Market), for the "season opening".

Today, we met at the Mall of America, and toured UNDERWATER WORLD (now UNDERWATER ADVENTURE).  I haven't been there since I first moved here, about 10 years ago, so was THRILLED with the new remodel...VERY cool...VERY serene (when the "stroller moms" weren't passing through with their screaming children...)...VERY well done.  I LOVED the seahorses, and LOVED the jellyfish...and LOVED how well displayed all of the animals were.  If you are EVER at the mall...you MUST check it out!!!!

After the aquarium, we shopped for awhile, and walked through Nickelodeon Universe, which is a GOLD MINE of "photo ops", as evidenced below...

It was a FABULOUS few days with our dear friend/family member Amy, and I look forward to our next adventure together.  She is TRULY one of my FAVORITE people in the WORLD...!!!!!

Here's hoping YOU were able to spend time with friends/family recently too!