Easter Duluth 2011

On my side of the family, Nash will have 3 cousins.  Two older (Regan and Carson) and one younger, Nolan.  For Easter, I bought Reagan and Carson a book to talk about adoption.  You forget that kids really don't know what adotpion is.  And since I'm farily new to talking to kids about it, I thought it would be easier to start by having a book.  We also took out the globe and by the end of the weekend, Reagan was showing everyone where South Korea is located.  It's obviously so fun to talk about Nash but it also was hard....to not have him there running around with all the cousins.  Here are some of the pictures from this weekend.  It was so fun to see everyone, the family is growing every year!  

Birthday Indulgences!

I woke up on my 34th birthday to this.

 

Come on.....really?



 So I thought I deserved this. 

(What turned out to be my first of many indulgences for the day).



8:45 a.m.

  

Side Story: I decided to wait in the very long line of cars in the drive-thru, when it was my turn to pay, there was no need!  Some car a few ahead of me had paid for the next 5 customers!!!  Thanks coffee-paying-dude.



10:00 a.m.

Ramona and her sinfully almond crossiants!  Damn you.  And yes, they taste as good as they look!

12:15 - Off to lunch!  Sneaky Ramona planned a surprise birthday lunch.  Honestly, I really was surprised!  Jenny (whose b-day is Friday), Theresa, Ramona, me and Cheryl.  I had the black-bean burger.  Delish! 

Date night at Pizziaria Lola.  The perfect way to end the night! I can't wait till next year when we can celebrate as a family of three!





Packing Experts

I must admit we are getting good practice packing items into 1 gallon plastic bags.  Not sure when in life this will actually come in handy again.  Just think, this is all the space we have to include goodies for Nash in his second care package.

Here are all the goodies we have picked out for him.  Two one-piece summer outfits (thanks mom!), some monkey pjs, a disposable camera in hopes that FM will take some pictures of Nash and will return to us when we travel to Korea and meet her,  Sofie the teething giraffe (thanks sissy!), as close of a replica of a stuffed pug we could find, and some Aveeno baby lotion.  My hope is FM uses it so at least he will have one familiar smell when we come home.  So, do you think it will all fit?














Stuffed Pug look alike!

Of course it all fits!  It takes 4 hands to do it but mission accomplished!   We even had room to add 4 pairs of socks!



Hubby with final wrapped package

                                                                   

 



Butch with final package! (note Bret's hand bribing him to sit still for a photo-op!)

Fashion Trend: This Spring's Must Have- The Statement Necklace



Necklace with Nash's name and birthstone, from Ann and her beautiful daughter Audrey



It may or may not be my birthday soon.   I'm usually all about my birthday, I even made up a birthday song that I usually sing to hubby all month long (just to make sure he does not forget).  April is a very busy month for birthdays, just to name a few, my friends Jackie, Tammy, Aunt Diane, my bestie Jenny, my brother (sorry if I'm forgetting someone!) all share this birthday month.  Just as I was feeling a little blah about this particular birthday, I received the most amazing, thoughtful birthday surprise from my dear friend Ann.  As I called to thank her in tears, it just made me realize how lucky I am.  I have amazing friends.  I really do.  Throughout this whole adoption journey, they have shown nothing but love and support.  Not only do they check my blog, they call me in tears to tell me how cute Nash's latest picture is.  I know I don't tell the friends in my life enough how much I love them, but on a day that is suppose to be all about "you", I can't help but feel so grateful for all of you.  xoxo

Here is a little bigger picture of Nash!  We are getting his second care package ready to send to him to make sure he receives by his first birthday in July.  He is holding the picture book we sent him in the first care package.  We are so thankful to see he received the first package, even though I'm pretty sure the outfit will be too small for him now.  Bret is a little appalled that the picture of us the book is flipped to, is one where his shirt is off (we are kayaking at the cabin).  I myself, think its hilarious.

Bright Lights of Broadway.......or Minneapolis

Last night I went to see a production of Little Shop of Horrors, put on by the Mu Performing Arts in Minneapolis.  The Mu Performing Arts is a theatre company dedicated to “great performances born of arts, equality, and justice from the heart of the Asian American Experience.”  (I stole that from their mission statement).  The entire cast was Asian American.  The play was amazing; the actors had acting and singing chops that could compete with the kids on Glee or Broadway.  I feel lucky, my parents always exposed me to different experiences, whether I was taking tap dance lessons, practicing the French horn (which I sorta hated), or playing sports.  My mission statement to Nash will be to support him in whatever life passions he has.  I could live with seeing his name in bright lights on Broadway or the Mu Performing Arts stage right here in our backyard., close to home.   

http://www.muperformingarts.org/