Cool Dude

Charles freaks out when the sun is in his eyes while we are in the car. We have the cling shades but because we drive a two-door the back window is an odd shape and it doesn't stay 'clingy' very well. We should probably just cut it to fit the window so that it will stay on but in the meantime, Charles just asks to wear Mama's sunglasses while we drive.

French Knots and Outline Stitches

Over Christmas I had a little embroidery session with my Grandma, a very skilled embroider if I do say so myself. :) I just wanted to start out with the basics so she taught me a few simple stitches that I can practice with and use for some upcoming projects I have in mind.

I must say.. I love french knots!

 

Loving Minnesota

A friend recently said to me "I hope Minneapolis grows on you again" to which I said, 'I know, I need to make more of an effort to love this city again'. And it's true. Minneapolis really IS a great place to live, and it's not like I don't like Minneapolis. It's just that I really really miss Brooklyn. Aside from the obviousness of it being in New York and all the cool and exciting things that go along with that, it was also our first home as a married couple, and then later as a little family. Charles was born there. My first interpreting job was there. In Brooklyn we made close friends who feel like family. It was even a big part of our relationship as Chris and I became friends and later in a dating relationship and it shaped our love for ministry in the city. Brooklyn will forever have a special place in my heart. Always.

But Minneapolis can have a place in my heart too. After all, it's where I grew up. Our family is here. Our lifelong friends whom we have known our whole lives are here. It's our roots. And did you know that Minneapolis was named 'Most Hipster State in the US'? beating Williamsburg, NY?
Bicycling.com named Minneapolis the #1Bike City. (ps, one of the first things I did when we moved back was buy a bike! A beautiful old Strider for $20 at a garage sale- another great thing about living here! Garage Sales!)

Parenting rated Minneapolis number 4 on it's 'Best Cities to Live in & Raise a Family' list.
Minneapolis is also said to be the third top theater city in the United States, with the second most theaters per capita in the country.
And, Forbes says that Minneapolis is the number one healthiest city to live in.

All this is not to say that I need someone else to tell me how great Minneapolis is, but at times, when I am really missing Brooklyn and the people we left, it does help. What else helps? Impromptu lunches with family, Saturdays spent with friends, food, and movies, taking walks and chatting with a close girlfriend, coffee and shopping with my mom, plenty of lakes and parks to chose from. These are just a few things that are great about living here. Sure, I miss Brooklyn. I miss Sharon and Irene and Lindsay, Prospect Park, the City, Park Slope, our stoop, 2EFC.. but I am learning that liking Minneapolis doesn't mean forgetting Brooklyn. My heart is big enough to hold both of these cites, and all of these people.

Charles love his Uncle Anthony.

things that were good

..in the last week

* Burger Jones with the Mohrs

* haircut that I love

* an unexpected day off to spend with Charles

* photo booth

* Isles bakery

* espresso shots + chai = homemade dirty chai

* Weaver&Hilden day of fun

* stuffed mushrooms

* 3mile walk/run with friend in January!

Impromptu

Charles and I had an unexpected day together today so we headed to the library and then to Ridgedale's play land. On our way out of the mall we decided to try out the photo booth. Totally worth the $5.00!



Not only did we have the option to get the more classic photo strip (I'm not a fan of the graphics and special effects and wouldn't have done it if that's all that was available) but we got THREE strips! Not one, but THREE! One for Charles, one for Mama, and one to give away... to Daddy :)

I love this boy

It's 2012 Baby!

Well, the holidays have come and gone and now we are in 2012. Wow. Can't believe it.
2011 was a big year, and I am excited to see that this year will hold for us too.
Speaking of years, Christmas weekend was my ten year high school reunion. Technically it was ten years last May but thinking that a lot of people would be home over the holidays it was planned for Dec. 23rd.
I was SO nervous, I almost didn't go, but thankfully I had three other girl friends who planned to go as a group together. After getting over our nerves we finally broke free from our table that had been our safety and we began to mingle and then the nerves faded away and I was able to really have a good time. It was weird and fun and nostalgic, all at the same time, to see people and brought back a lot of memories from our high school days.
I am so glad I had these girls to go with

And, I am loving that I am once again close to my dear friend Rebecca. She makes being back that much better. It's so fun that we were dear friends in high school and now our kiddos are going to the same daycare. Full circle. :)