Christmas Polly

I know...I'm cruel. I just couldn't resist!

You want me to stick my hand where?!

I really wanted to cook a turkey for Christmas. It was my first time. I really don't like touching any kind of poultry. Just don't like the feel of it-mostly the wings. If you look closely there is still feather parts on the wings-YUCK! So the moms were over yesterday for cookie baking. Connie and Jadah were there too. Connie was nice enough to catch my whole ordeal on camera and video...sorry no video.















By the end of the rinsing part I was pretty comfortable with the bird-until my mom said to stick my hand inside it to really get it cleaned out. No way! So Margaret stuck her hand in there and got some gizzard stuff out. I lathered it up with butter, stuffed it with onions, garlic, and turkey herbs (they sell it at Cub). It smelled sooo good. I took some of the butter and herbs and shoved it under the skin - delicious smelling. My mom stayed through the cooking, but then I had to kick her out during the carving. There was a knife involved and I didn't want her to get hurt. The meat was so tender that I couldn't pull the legs off like I was supposed to. The bone just came right off. So the dark meat looks more like shredded turkey, but the white meat turned out very nice. I put it all in a crock pot with the juice from the pan. We'll see how it tastes today.

Oh, and the cookies turned out good too.

Posing Pretty

I told her to look pretty.

Time Off

I was really wondering what I was going to do for two weeks off. Part of the time I will be up north at my parents cabin. The last two day has been getting ready for Christmas. I had no presents purchased. Yesterday I mailed off the Christmas cards, did most of the Christmas shopping, brought Polly to the vet and then went to Petco. I did get some things done around the house too-started the laundry. I always have a problem finishing the laundry.

Today has also been a busy day. All the presents are wrapped that were purchased. The house is cleaned and ready for Christmas dinner cooking and baking. I finally put some pictures in the frame in our room. I also put up one of those decal wall art above our bed.



Polly has been frolicking in the snow. She is so funny when she comes back up her face is full of snow!

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday!

Surprise Party

It was a success! Margaret was completely surprised. I thought for sure I was going to blow it when I answered the door and couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Mike quickly suggested she go upstairs to check out our Christmas tree. Everyone was crouched down or hiding around the corner. As she went upstairs everyone popped out and yelled SURPRISE! We had a large group of family and friends (somehow they all fit in our living room and kitchen) over yesterday afternoon to surprise Margaret for her birthday (which was actually on Friday). I have never thrown a surprise party. I have hosted a few holidays and had guests over, but never this large and a surprise. We had a great spread of food, Jon's grandpa hooked us up with the same beef that we had at the wedding and he brought over his wings. I made mashed potatoes and heated up the left over potatoes from the wedding (don't worry they were frozen the whole time). I made a bunch of appetizers/snacks and we had the whole sheet cake left over (also was frozen) from the wedding. I didn't have any of the wedding cake except the piece that Jon fed me. Even after being frozen for over a month that cake was sooo good. Super moist. Lots of photos were taken-see Facebook.

Christmas shopping

I thought I was going to go out for Black Friday deals. I looked at the paper-didn't find much that I wanted. There were two things I wanted from Kohls. I decided to sleep in. Didn't actually get to the store until after 11am. The early bird special items were sold out. Guess I'll learn for next time. I got a great deal on Christmas decorations though and a new tree from Menards.

Mischievous Kids

I stumbled upon this site and it made me think of all of you with kids.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23337322/nPage/1

Bachlorette Party

Last night was my bachlorette party-Thank you Tamara for planning this. It was awesome. Jon said this blog can have the non-G rated post. Tamara planned dinner at Buca di Beppo in Mpls, then we had a scavenger hunt with items listed as certain points, which led us to Shout House. We came across a bachelor party at Shout House that helped us fulfill a lot of the items on the list. There are way too many photos to put on here, so if you want to see them all go to facebook.

Me, Tamara, Krystal, Margaret, my mom, Erin at Buca's

Something had to get broken.

Margaret ordered her "trouser friendly kiss" shot

a bouncer ended up being a "stripper"

Erin and the drummer (Nick) from the dueling piano group

The group at the end of the night outside Shout House.

Last but not least, a video:

Season Opener

Last night we went to the WILD season opener. They won 4-3. It was close. It was 4-1, until the last 3 or so minutes and then we held them off to win. They had a ceremony at the beginning for the division championship banner being raised.

Olaf came with and took a good picture of us, so we didn't have another one of us trying to take a self portrait with arm stretched out taking the picture.

What a Day...

Jon had to work over 12 hours yesterday. Margaret and Mike said it would be okay for Polly to come over and visit. I don't think I or she would have survived a whole day.

Part 1: It started when Polly got her chain wrapped around a pile of sticks for burning. I untangled her and she took off (excited that she was free). I noticed the chain was wrapped around my ankle. Instead of getting a burn from the cord again I lifted my leg to get it out of the way-too late. My heal caught the end of the loop and the jerk pulled my feet out from under me. I landed not on my butt (where there is plenty of cushion); I landed flat on my back. I laid there in the mud and started crying and wondering if I should get up. I hurt, and now I was mad. F bombs were flowing and Polly knew I was upset. She listened and obeyed as I said INSIDE NOW, DOWNSTAIRS NOW, AND KENNEL NOW. I went back to bed and laid there, then realizing that she has no idea that cord is on her or that it was wrapped around my leg, I calmed down. I got ready to go to the Moritz house. Margaret was just getting home from being away on business for two weeks.

Part 2: Margaret had a hair appointment and I decided to go with to see if they could give me a trim. I haven't had my hair cut or trimmed in almost a year. It was starting to look and feel frizzy. So we had this done and while Margaret was processing her stylist decided to have some fun after trimming my hair she styled it. Then when Margaret was having her hair done I looked in the mirror and noticed how shaggy my eyebrows were. I decided to have my brows waxed. As I was in the other room I could hear them talking about hair styles for the wedding. Up, down, half up. I came out and Margaret had beautiful spirals all over her head! I have never seen her with curled hair. It looked really nice. On the way home we called the boys and told them we were two hot babes looking to go out for lunch. They met us at Keys.

Part 3: After eating at Keys we returned home. No one wanted to be the first to go in the house. The dogs met us at the front door, one with a wet head from slobber. Margaret went upstairs and gasped. When her and Mike were in Florida two weeks ago for a vacation they collected 3 boxes of shells and beach sand. Can you guess? We had our own indoor beach. I had to assume it was Polly's doing, because the other two dogs are left out all the time and nothing ever happens to their house. The one time we left Polly out at our house it was a disaster, that is why she is kenneled when we leave. Mike and Margaret were really nice about it. We picked up the shells and scooped the sand up as much as possible, then vacuumed the rest. No big deal to them-but another reason I know I can't trust Polly to be out when we are gone.

A message...

Jon was upstairs yesterday. I could hear him taking pictures or monkeying with the camera. I had my wedding dress pictures saved on it and I was afraid he would scan through the pictures he was taking and see the dress. He said he didn't, but this is what he was up to.

I love you too.

State Fair

yesterday we went to the State Fair after work. It didn't take long to get there and it was only $3 to ride the bus from Brookdale-what a deal! plus no wasted gas.

I was on a mission-food. I wanted to eat lots of fair food-I didn't feel as bad eating so much when Jon was eating 1/2. I started with the corn cob (one all to myself), then Jon helped me with the rest-cheese curds, fish and chips, chicago dog, beergarita, chocolate chip cookies and 2 glasses of milk (the cookies and milk I also had by myself).

Jadah and I went on the Skyscraper. I wanted to do it, then I didn't want to do it when I found out how much it was-$25. Margaret said I had to do it, because you never know where I'll be this time next year-meaning pregnant or with kids. Then I wouldn't be able to go on it, so this was my chance. She slipped me and Jadah some money and off we went. The pictures Jon took were not great-mostly blurry. At 4Gs what can you expect. Thank God the man tightened my straps so hard at the beginning that I couldn't breath, because when we were upside down speeding towards the ground with nothing to hold onto but those straps, I sure was glad they were tight.

Last, but not least...what has the state fair come to when our children have to see statues of this:

Happy 50th Birthday!

I'm a weekend late, but I just remembered I had these photos on my camera. Happy Birthday Mike!

Graceful Cakes

Jodi and my version of Ace of Cakes

(business name is still a work in progress-suggestions are welcome)

Star Wars

So it's been a while. We actually did this last weekend, but I haven't had a chance to upload and write. Here are some photos from our trip to the Science Musuem exhibit on Star Wars.

Tag

Ten Years Ago:
I was in my last year of college in Ely, MN

Five things on today's To-Do List:
I don't really have things on today's, but I have a general To-Do;
1. Finish house projects (this could fill up the 5 things)
2. Plan wedding ceremony
3. Play with Polly
4. Get my tabs renewed
5. stay focused at work

Snack I enjoy:
probably the same answer as Jodi-maybe I should put down what I don't like.
Lately I have liked turkey pepperoni slices.

Things I would do if I was a millionaire:
Pay off debt.
Buy new house-not used and I have to fix up-BRAND NEW.
Pay back parents for any money they have ever given us.
Travel.
Stay at home, with Jon, and have lots of kids and travel with them like the Jolie-Pitts (okay, maybe I took that one a little far)

Places I've lived:
St. Paul, MN
Circle Pines, MN
Fridley, MN
Ely, MN
Grand Marais, MN
Rosedale, MN
Robbinsdale, MN
Oakdale, MN
Brooklyn Park, MN
Should I have just left it as Minnesota?

Tag you're it:
Everyone that has a blog was already listed in Jodi's tag, so I'll be watching for your posts!

For Erin

You're not alone...notice when I discovered that my chapstick was still in my shorts pocket. Too late.

Day at the Races

I went to Cantebury Park for the first time yesterday. I started my picks by name, then moved to stats. Jon was much better at this betting thing than me. He picked the winning horse on 4 races.

#2-a winning horse

Moonrise at Cantebury Park