Minnesota smells like fall.

This is how tiny babies sleep in Minnesota in the fall...

all bundled up in the same crib that I slept in when I was a baby.

This is how tiny babies sleep in Minnesota in the fall...

all bundled up in the same crib that I slept in when I was a baby.

Northward Bound

My grandma passed away this morning, so Finn and I are going on an adventure tomorrow, just the two of us, to Minnesota to help my Mama with whatever she needs. By "just the two of us," I mean we are leaving Abby and Uriah at home. Abby would be missing two days of school (maybe even three) and Uriah and I decided that was probably not in her best interest, so he's staying home with her and Finn and I are heading North.

We're taking Emily along, (or rather, she's taking us along since she's driving) so I guess it won't be just the two of us. I'm actaully pretty glad that
the 3 of us can drive together, it'll make 8+ hours in the car a little bit eaiser to handle and I love to have that semi-uninterrupted time with my sister; it seems we haven't had . And sometimes an extra set of hands with Finn is necessary. Last time we went to Minnesota he was 2 weeks old and he pretty much slept the whole trip. I'm not counting on that happening, but hopefully we leave early enough that he takes along morning nap for a good chunk of the trip.

I'm going to miss my sweet grandma, but I'm comforted in the fact that she had nearly 91 years on this earth and she lived a good life - 5 kids, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren is something to be proud of! I'm also thankful that she got to meet Finn and was able to see me married and with a family of my own, something she always told me I should have!

I should be off to bed now...Finn will be awake and hungry in about 3 hours and Emily will be her early!

My grandma passed away this morning, so Finn and I are going on an adventure tomorrow, just the two of us, to Minnesota to help my Mama with whatever she needs. By "just the two of us," I mean we are leaving Abby and Uriah at home. Abby would be missing two days of school (maybe even three) and Uriah and I decided that was probably not in her best interest, so he's staying home with her and Finn and I are heading North.

We're taking Emily along, (or rather, she's taking us along since she's driving) so I guess it won't be just the two of us. I'm actaully pretty glad that
the 3 of us can drive together, it'll make 8+ hours in the car a little bit eaiser to handle and I love to have that semi-uninterrupted time with my sister; it seems we haven't had . And sometimes an extra set of hands with Finn is necessary. Last time we went to Minnesota he was 2 weeks old and he pretty much slept the whole trip. I'm not counting on that happening, but hopefully we leave early enough that he takes along morning nap for a good chunk of the trip.

I'm going to miss my sweet grandma, but I'm comforted in the fact that she had nearly 91 years on this earth and she lived a good life - 5 kids, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren is something to be proud of! I'm also thankful that she got to meet Finn and was able to see me married and with a family of my own, something she always told me I should have!

I should be off to bed now...Finn will be awake and hungry in about 3 hours and Emily will be her early!

Friday with Finn

Dear Mr. Favre,

My first season of football was going to be a great one because my most favorite team in the whole wide world, the Vikings, were going to be playing the first game. I was so excited that I put on my favorite Vikings onesie for the occassion. I even put on Dad's Helga Hat, but it's too big for me; I guess I need to grow a bigger head.

Anyway, Mr. Favre, you were playing a pretty good game...the best game I've ever seen, although technically, it's also the first game I've ever seen, but let's not cloud the issue with facts. I thought my Vikings onesie was going to be your good luck charm and I had plans to wear it every game you play for the rest of the season. Maybe even every day for the rest of the season if my Mama will let me.

Then I threw up on it. And you lost. I guess I laid on the bottle a little too hard during the first half.

I'll try better next time.

Love, your biggest (littlest?) fan,

Finn Hefter

Dear Mr. Favre,

My first season of football was going to be a great one because my most favorite team in the whole wide world, the Vikings, were going to be playing the first game. I was so excited that I put on my favorite Vikings onesie for the occassion. I even put on Dad's Helga Hat, but it's too big for me; I guess I need to grow a bigger head.

Anyway, Mr. Favre, you were playing a pretty good game...the best game I've ever seen, although technically, it's also the first game I've ever seen, but let's not cloud the issue with facts. I thought my Vikings onesie was going to be your good luck charm and I had plans to wear it every game you play for the rest of the season. Maybe even every day for the rest of the season if my Mama will let me.

Then I threw up on it. And you lost. I guess I laid on the bottle a little too hard during the first half.

I'll try better next time.

Love, your biggest (littlest?) fan,

Finn Hefter

City Market

I am an attention-whore. At least that's what Uriah called me when I dressed Finn up in his little zebra outfit to go to City Market on Saturday.

I wish you could see the tail on the back of this.

In my defense, we took him to the doctor first because he had a bit of a stuffy nose. I fully admit to being over-protective and wanting a medical professional to tell me that my kid had not picked up the Swine Flu during his first week at daycare. It cost me $20, but peace of mind is priceless. It was a little windy on Saturday so I wanted to keep his ears covered and, well, in all honesty, the zebra suit was calling my name. And really, is it my fault that he's just so damn cute and people oohed and ahhed and exclaimed to each other in reverent voices, "Look at that cute baby!" In fact, it can probably be considered a public service. Think of all the smiles that Finn created; the world was a better place on Saturday because of his zebra suit.

Yes, she is wearing a Justin Bieber shirt.
She has the Bieber-Fever.

Back to City Market...we went on a mission to get tomatoes so that I could make my Mama's Tomato Soup recipe. It is the most delicious goodness in the world and pretty much the only tomato soup I drink. But it takes a lot of tomatoes. And a juicer, but I don't have one of those (another story for another time). And, being Labor Day weekend, it was busy! We maneuvered the stroller through the crowds and somehow ended up with tomatoes, corn on the cob, some hot peppers that Uriah plans stuff with cheese and chicken later this week and then grill (I may have to have a beer with this little treat!). And purple peppers.


Purple peppers, you might ask? What does one do with a purple pepper? Good question. I asked Uriah and Abby the same thing. They had no idea. I'm pretty sure Uriah only bought them because Abby thought they looked pretty. So I did a little research. Purple peppers get their color from anthocyanin, which is the same antioxidant found in blueberries. Purple peppers are apparently not as sweet as red, orange or yellow peppers, but they stay crunchy after cooking better than the other pepper colors. The purple color will also leak out of the pepper when it is immersed in water, so it won't always look as bright and pretty after it's cooked. For this reason, I want to try a recipe that doesn't require cooking them in water or steaming them (such as a stuffed pepper would). I found an English Pea Salad that doesn't cook the pepper at all and a Multi-Pepper Salad that roasts the pepper. If I have enough of the purples, I might just try them both. And if you're going to be at Aaron and Angie's this weekend you'll get a taste!

We're going back to City Market in a couple of weeks to see what new fall produce is available. I'm looking forward to squashes and pumpkins. Maybe some apples to make apple sauce with. And crisp weather and jeans and sweaters and hats and crunchy leaves and seeing my breath. Reality check: this is Missouri, so I'll have to wait for November for any of that! But I can still make an apple pie and pretend it's fall...and Finn has an owl hat to sport.

I am an attention-whore. At least that's what Uriah called me when I dressed Finn up in his little zebra outfit to go to City Market on Saturday.

I wish you could see the tail on the back of this.

In my defense, we took him to the doctor first because he had a bit of a stuffy nose. I fully admit to being over-protective and wanting a medical professional to tell me that my kid had not picked up the Swine Flu during his first week at daycare. It cost me $20, but peace of mind is priceless. It was a little windy on Saturday so I wanted to keep his ears covered and, well, in all honesty, the zebra suit was calling my name. And really, is it my fault that he's just so damn cute and people oohed and ahhed and exclaimed to each other in reverent voices, "Look at that cute baby!" In fact, it can probably be considered a public service. Think of all the smiles that Finn created; the world was a better place on Saturday because of his zebra suit.

Yes, she is wearing a Justin Bieber shirt.
She has the Bieber-Fever.

Back to City Market...we went on a mission to get tomatoes so that I could make my Mama's Tomato Soup recipe. It is the most delicious goodness in the world and pretty much the only tomato soup I drink. But it takes a lot of tomatoes. And a juicer, but I don't have one of those (another story for another time). And, being Labor Day weekend, it was busy! We maneuvered the stroller through the crowds and somehow ended up with tomatoes, corn on the cob, some hot peppers that Uriah plans stuff with cheese and chicken later this week and then grill (I may have to have a beer with this little treat!). And purple peppers.


Purple peppers, you might ask? What does one do with a purple pepper? Good question. I asked Uriah and Abby the same thing. They had no idea. I'm pretty sure Uriah only bought them because Abby thought they looked pretty. So I did a little research. Purple peppers get their color from anthocyanin, which is the same antioxidant found in blueberries. Purple peppers are apparently not as sweet as red, orange or yellow peppers, but they stay crunchy after cooking better than the other pepper colors. The purple color will also leak out of the pepper when it is immersed in water, so it won't always look as bright and pretty after it's cooked. For this reason, I want to try a recipe that doesn't require cooking them in water or steaming them (such as a stuffed pepper would). I found an English Pea Salad that doesn't cook the pepper at all and a Multi-Pepper Salad that roasts the pepper. If I have enough of the purples, I might just try them both. And if you're going to be at Aaron and Angie's this weekend you'll get a taste!

We're going back to City Market in a couple of weeks to see what new fall produce is available. I'm looking forward to squashes and pumpkins. Maybe some apples to make apple sauce with. And crisp weather and jeans and sweaters and hats and crunchy leaves and seeing my breath. Reality check: this is Missouri, so I'll have to wait for November for any of that! But I can still make an apple pie and pretend it's fall...and Finn has an owl hat to sport.

Write what you know.

Once upon a time (or about a year ago), I thought that blogging would be a good idea. Since I was about to get married, I decided I would wax poetic about all the things going on in my life. I had grandiose ideas to write about planning, being a step-mom and being a newly wed. I could write about living away from my family and my not-so-exciting-but-it-pays-the-bills job. I spent more time daydreaming about what I could write about than I actually spent writing. Oh, I tried to pick it up every now and again. I’d write an entry here and there, but it was nothing consistent.

I got married and it was beautiful and hectic and stressful and one of the happiest days of my life. And I didn’t write about it. Abby pulled some very interesting antics in the fifth grade that included passing notes and naughty words. I talked about it, but I didn’t write about it. Then I got pregnant and life got in the way. There was always and excuse not to write. It was snowing. I didn’t feel good. There was laundry to do. We were moving. I was getting stuff ready for the baby. And then the baby came and with him came some of the most beautiful and hectic and stressful moments…that I didn’t write about.

Since my Mama and my Dad live far away (580 miles, 9 hours and 3 states – but who’s getting technical?) I started sending them “Finn Updates” via email after Finn was born. I’d include pictures and little notes about what he’s doing and how he’s growing and then I’d add on what Abby’s doing and how her school is going and sometimes I’d even add in what Uriah and I were up to. And since I was sending the email to my Mama and my Dad, it was easy to include other family and friends in those updates, too.

Last week I got an email from my good friend Bees in response to the latest Finn update and she asked if I’d ever considered blogging? The idea was sparked again…but I took a couple of days to think about it. Could I do it? Could I make the commitment to write even once a week? After all, I was going back to work and Abby was back in school and my time was about to get stretched again. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that, technically, I’m already writing once a week in an email, and blogging is just a prettier way of sending it. Besides, my Mama always told me to write what I know, and what do I know better than my own little piece of the world?

And so, here it is…my commitment to myself to write at least once a week until the New Year. In January I will revisit this whole blogging thing and decide if I will keep going (provided I can keep writing). Until then, I’ve written it down for the Universe to see, so I feel as though I am accountable to myself to uphold my once-a-week posting. Feel free to hold me accountable, as well.

Once upon a time (or about a year ago), I thought that blogging would be a good idea. Since I was about to get married, I decided I would wax poetic about all the things going on in my life. I had grandiose ideas to write about planning, being a step-mom and being a newly wed. I could write about living away from my family and my not-so-exciting-but-it-pays-the-bills job. I spent more time daydreaming about what I could write about than I actually spent writing. Oh, I tried to pick it up every now and again. I’d write an entry here and there, but it was nothing consistent.

I got married and it was beautiful and hectic and stressful and one of the happiest days of my life. And I didn’t write about it. Abby pulled some very interesting antics in the fifth grade that included passing notes and naughty words. I talked about it, but I didn’t write about it. Then I got pregnant and life got in the way. There was always and excuse not to write. It was snowing. I didn’t feel good. There was laundry to do. We were moving. I was getting stuff ready for the baby. And then the baby came and with him came some of the most beautiful and hectic and stressful moments…that I didn’t write about.

Since my Mama and my Dad live far away (580 miles, 9 hours and 3 states – but who’s getting technical?) I started sending them “Finn Updates” via email after Finn was born. I’d include pictures and little notes about what he’s doing and how he’s growing and then I’d add on what Abby’s doing and how her school is going and sometimes I’d even add in what Uriah and I were up to. And since I was sending the email to my Mama and my Dad, it was easy to include other family and friends in those updates, too.

Last week I got an email from my good friend Bees in response to the latest Finn update and she asked if I’d ever considered blogging? The idea was sparked again…but I took a couple of days to think about it. Could I do it? Could I make the commitment to write even once a week? After all, I was going back to work and Abby was back in school and my time was about to get stretched again. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that, technically, I’m already writing once a week in an email, and blogging is just a prettier way of sending it. Besides, my Mama always told me to write what I know, and what do I know better than my own little piece of the world?

And so, here it is…my commitment to myself to write at least once a week until the New Year. In January I will revisit this whole blogging thing and decide if I will keep going (provided I can keep writing). Until then, I’ve written it down for the Universe to see, so I feel as though I am accountable to myself to uphold my once-a-week posting. Feel free to hold me accountable, as well.