2 Hours Traffic

Cool..THIS is what I have to look forward to....

Yay!!! I was lucky enough to get a gig from my friend, Rachael, who had twins a few months ago...Bennett and Hailey (and I need to check the spelling of her name).  They also have a big brother named Tyler who was on the go the entire time we were at the park.

I have learned that I really struggle with kid photo shoots...not my forte.  I enjoy it, but I find it a really tough gig each time.  I am not sure how I am suppose to get two to four year olds to listen to me....I can get all the teens in my class at full attention, but put me with a three year old and I am lost.  I envy the big time kid photographers and I wonder how they do it, but I suppose they is why they get paid the big bucks!

Tyler was a cutie, and we knew we would really only be able to get him "on the go."  I think I was able to capture some of his spunky ways....as far as the twins go....my job was easy.....can they be any cuter?

..and more of the twins!

Scrapbooking? What is THAT?

I actually got around to scrapbooking a REAL LIVE layout this week.  I am starting on the babies (BABIES...I still can't believe) it scrapbook.

I had an appointment last week and all looks great so far.  I also, obviously, found out we are having boys!  I guess I am destined to be a boy mom.

SO, last week I was 17 weeks and I was measuring 22 weeks (which is normal for twins), but I am really starting to get big!  I had Beckett at 22 weeks, so this is as big as I got last time.  Surreal.

What's up?

...been taking some photos for a couple people:

Here they are again...

Sorry, this is from last week! It has been crazy around here lately.  The babies looked great, and my cerclage looked perfect.  I am suppose to go in again next week to have it checked out again, and as long as everything stays put, I am free from bed rest! 

Also, last Sunday was my 35th birthday.  We went out to dinner with the Steinke's, the Franzens and my parents.  We ate at Fogo De Chao in Minneapolis.  Bob and I have had this style of dining before.  It is Brazilian style.  This place has a beautiful salad bar and then the meat comes out on large skewers.  The night we were there we had everything from lamb and bacon wrapped chicken to fillet Mignon and various other wonderful cuts of beef.  (ooh and I can't forget the Parmesan pork medallions. ) Some of the meat was fantastic and some was just good, but it is a unique experience.

Unfortunately, we had some questionable service at the beginning of the evening, but the food was good and the evening went well.  It was hot and steamy (like it usually is on my birthday) and Prince was playing in Minneapolis for 7/7/7 at three different venues, so it was very busy downtown, but it was an enjoyable evening....I just wish I could have had a Mojito.

365 days ago....

Bob and I were in Dublin.

On the 4th of July, we were in Kinsale and we spotted this flag above a pub there.  They were having an American night, so we felt we did our patriotic duty that day by taking this picture.

Our last day in Ireland, a year tomorrow, we drove  to Newgrange.  It was really one of the most fascinating places we have been.  We had a fantastic tour guide who obviously loved his job and Bob and I asked tons of questions.  We actually held the tour bus up (you take a bus from the main building).

I know I mentioned Irish music on this blog before, but I will leave today's reminisce with a song that made me cry the first time I heard it.  I think it is one of the best anti-war songs ever written, and I remember sitting in a pub in Kenmare and tearing up.  I felt a little awkward about that, but a little while later, the girlfriend of a couple we were sitting with from Dublin, told me that when the song, "Fields of Athenry" started that I would, "see a grown man cry."  Sure enough, her boyfriend teared up with a couple songs...so I didn't feel quite so obvious.  They were such a cute young couple and they knew all of the songs that the performer sang.  It was a lovely night.

"Green Fields of France" performed by The Dropkick Murphys.  (and some random video from Youtube since there doesn't seem to be a "real" one.)

Happy Early 4th!

We spent the weekend in Mapleton and Rochester.  On Saturday we went to an early 4th of July celebration at my brother/sister-in-law's house.  I was feeling quite lazy that day and didn't even get the camera out...even though I had to drag it along.  We had a spectacular fireworks show.

In order to protect the "innocent" I won't say much,  but I will say that I think I saw Bob  light the biggest firework I have ever seen in person.  My sister-in-law decided to take a leisurely drive across the border.  We are quite convinced that she had to use a code word and speak with Bubba in the back room in order to purchase these "special" fireworks.

Yesterday we spent the morning and afternoon just hanging out with my parents.  Their yard is beautiful and their back "forty" is in its summer wildflower glory.