It's All a Crap Shoot

While living in Las Vegas, I tried to grow an orange tree. Guess how it turned out? I don't know either. I gave it to a friend's wife to take care of when we moved to Minneapolis. But the first year I had it, it survived and actually grew fruit. I learned you weren't supposed to pick it the first year so the second years harvest would be better. (I hope it's growing yummy oranges for my friend and his wife! It probably is, I think she's got a super green thumb.)

When we bought our house, the family before had a huge garden in the corner of the yard. I loved the idea of a garden and wanted to do it. But then I had a baby and then it was winter and then summer again and the baby was crawling and I wasn't in the right mind to start such a task. We did, however, prep the garden by digging out weeds and left over leeks (we ate them, they were good. The leeks, not the weeds.). But after one really heavy, rainy week, it all grew over again and I gave up.

I made up my mind, this was going to be the "Summer of Gardening" (and "Summer of Beverages"). So I started all my seeds inside and they were growing beautifully. I had Friday's off and that gave me time to work in the garden. And I borrowed a family tiller to do the really heavy work for me. But the weather. Oh Minnesota and your weather. You always ruin my plans!

I had to wait a few weeks until the ground was dry. My little seedlings were starting to die-they needed to be planted! But it finally dried out and I was finally able to get started. Let me tell you about a tiller. It's a machine that-while digging into the ground-you hold on for dear life because it's going to take off and not care you're holding on or not. It.was.fun! And quick! It took maybe 45 minutes to till the entire plot. I made Justin till the back scary corner.

We planted the seedlings and BAM, Minnesota decided to go from 70's to 100's in about a day. And most of my seedlings died. All but two cucumber plants died, but my tomato plants survived. I also planted corn, carrot and potato seeds. I figured they were a lost cause too because of the heat and I couldn't keep up with watering. But then Minnesota went back to the 70's with tons of rain. And guess what? Everything grew! Including weeds! So now, I get to pull lots weeds thanks to all the rain. Most of my seeds have sprouted and are growing beautifully. I will have to plant some more corn because they are being overtaken by grass. Meh, I've got tons of corn seeds.

Now, how they will taste is a whole other experiment. Stay tuned...

24 Months

Oh baby Jules, my little two-year-old, you are so grown up. You'll never be the squishy little 6-month-old baby again. I had to sneak into your room to cuddle you the other night just like when you were 6 months old.

It was easy to get you because we switched your bed to a big boy bed last week. You get so excited to go "night night" you don't even get out in the morning. You patiently wait for us to get you.


You're so proud.

We've got a running list of signs you know. It's very close to 50 signs! You learn them so quickly now. Your language has also improved dramatically. You know colors and we're working on numbers. You can count to three.

You adore being outside. You and Dad have been spending a lot time outside during the day: playing, working in the yard, bike riding. Anything to stay outside.




Driving cars, looking cool.

We had your birthday part on Saturday. All your cousins adore you and had fun taking you all over the play area. You napped so well afterward!






Not the best family photo, but it is what it is.


You got a sand and water table. I haven't put the sand or water in it because you like to drive cars all over this thing.


You totally love it!


You took it upon yourself to climb in and play.


"Just checking this umbrella thing."

These two years went by so fast. There's no slowing you down. Happy Birthday my little one!

Three Years

I was recognized this week for working here three years. That's the longest I've worked somewhere that wasn't school. My usual thing to feel after TWO years at any place is anger, frustration, stress, boredom, blah, blah, you get the idea. But here, I haven't felt that. Sure there have been frustrating days. Anger at dumb decisions. Stress at getting a project done. Boredom from lack of work. That's at all jobs and not at once as it was in the past. Since being here, I've never said, "I'm done. I want out. I hate it here." Not once. Ask Justin how many times I said that at my last employer.

It was nice being recognized because a lot of people didn't know what I did, who I was, or even what I looked like. But that changed within the past year. The role I have now lets me interact with more departments and become the hero at the last minute (toot toot! - that's me tooting my horn.). And when my boss ended his speech about my work here, I was surprised at the applause that came. Loud cheers! What? Who was doing that? No one knows me or the work that I've done. But people did know me and the work I've done. And they cheered. I was the popular kid for 15 seconds.

I haven't thought about where I'll be in the next 10 years career wise. Where ever I am, I hope I'll be as happy as I am here.