They're back! Friday Fill-Ins. My answers are off the top of my head and in bold!!And...here we go!
1. It's cold and refreshing to drink a Mike's Hard Cranberry on the deck after a long day.
2. Making fresh salsa with onions and cilantro is the best thing to do with tomatoes.
3. My favorite health and beauty product is Dove soap.
4. Going up to the cabin is a nice long ride.
5. Well, first of all I have about 1000 pictures I need to print!
6. Simba, Trent and I; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was about the sump pump and a flood of water in an old basement.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finally watching Prison Break, tomorrow my plans include heading to the lake and Sunday, I want to meet Taylor Kurtz and have a fun time in Rochester!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Turtle Catcher
I read. I read a lot. You can tell by the list of books to the right of this blog that tells you how many I have read so far this year. So, I could write about every book that I read, but I normally don't. But, I did just finish reading The Turtle Catcher by Nicole Helget. I know Nicole. Okay, that's stretching it a bit. Actually, it's stretching it a lot. But, I have been to 5 weddings with her and drank some good 'ole German beer down in New Ulm, MN where she is from. See, my husband Russ, his mom's side are Schwab's and one of his aunts married a Helget and (if you followed all that) there you go! My husband's cousin cousin is how I "know" Nicole Helget!
I read Nicole's first book, her memoir The Summer of Ordinary Ways, mainly out of genuine curiosity. But, I ended up liking her story-telling. So when I heard that she had written a novel, I put my name on the waiting list (yes, there was a waiting list and I was #33 in line!!) to get The Turtle Catcher. I just finished reading it. I would recommend it. She weaves an interesting tale of a German family living in New Germany, Mn that spans from 1897 to 1920 and how the war and the repercusions of being an American with German ancestry came into play during that time and living in a small town. Nicole also delves into how her two main characters were (and unfortunately still today, though to somewhat of a lesser extend) perceived, acted, and treated for being abnormal.
I don't want to ruin any of the story, so I'm not going to go into any further specifics; you will just have to get the book and read it for yourself!
I read Nicole's first book, her memoir The Summer of Ordinary Ways, mainly out of genuine curiosity. But, I ended up liking her story-telling. So when I heard that she had written a novel, I put my name on the waiting list (yes, there was a waiting list and I was #33 in line!!) to get The Turtle Catcher. I just finished reading it. I would recommend it. She weaves an interesting tale of a German family living in New Germany, Mn that spans from 1897 to 1920 and how the war and the repercusions of being an American with German ancestry came into play during that time and living in a small town. Nicole also delves into how her two main characters were (and unfortunately still today, though to somewhat of a lesser extend) perceived, acted, and treated for being abnormal.
I don't want to ruin any of the story, so I'm not going to go into any further specifics; you will just have to get the book and read it for yourself!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
MMM on a Tuesday
Since Memorial Day is always on a Monday and gets included in the weekend, this is my Tuesday version of MMM!
Unfortunately, Friday night after we got from the Twins game, I had another "episode" with my heart. However, Russ was home this time and he heard the valve squeaking that I had experienced the first time. It was again painful and it took about 20 minutes to get my breathing regulated. He is going to come with me to my cardiologist appointment this week and hopefully, we will get some answers as to what is going on with my heart.
Monday, we just worked on projects around the house and then grilled a yummy dinner. And then made the kids take baths and head to bed early again! Trent has 9 days of school left and Addy gets to go Wednesday with Grandma and Grandpa Soukup to their place for the rest of the week and then we will join them this weekend for more adventures!
Friday, I got Trent out of school an hour early and we went home changed into appropriate attire, got our signs, and baseball gloves, and yep headed to the TWINS game!! Russ's company gave him four front row, premium seating in the dugout box! More about that in a minute. First, we headed to have an early dinner and then enjoyed all the activities on the plaza. But, what was to come was in one word, amazing! Our seats were about 3 feet from where the Twins warm up for their at bat. Literally, I could see the neck hairs on Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau! It was so great cheering them on, and it was a great game as Michael Cuddyer made a cycle and the boys of summer won the game 11-3. One of the sweetest moments was when #7 Joe Mauer, who is Addy's favorite player, turned around a flashed her a smile after she called out, "Hi Joe!" and he said, "Hey, how you doing?!" Trent also caught a baseball from the umpire and we all did a lot of cheering. Russ and I both agree however, that sitting in the dome to watch another Twins game, will never be the same after having had those seats! Good thing this is the last year for the dome I guess!! Just take a look at a few of my pics:
Unfortunately, Friday night after we got from the Twins game, I had another "episode" with my heart. However, Russ was home this time and he heard the valve squeaking that I had experienced the first time. It was again painful and it took about 20 minutes to get my breathing regulated. He is going to come with me to my cardiologist appointment this week and hopefully, we will get some answers as to what is going on with my heart.
Saturday, we ended up shopping around for a new kitchen table, despite Russ's reluctance. When we bought the set we have now, I paid very little for it and knew it was only going to last a few years. Because let's face it, Trent and Addy are hard on furniture. I didn't really know what I wanted when we moved in or what would work best, so I just bought cheap. Now I know. Something without slates in the back to catch all the crumbs and then not be able to get in there and clean them out and we need something with a little more cushion! But, the real push to get a new set was because....wait for it....I burned a hole in the table, on accident. Seriously, it WAS an accident! Russ is somewhat skeptical, but it really was! I was doing a craft project with Addy and stupidly plugged the iron in, while it was facing down, on the table. All I can say is that I wasn't thinking. Needless to say, 10 minutes later when I smelled the burning wood, it was a little too late. After shopping, we took the kids up to Twin Lake school and played on the playground and practiced some baseball up at the field. Then it was dinner, bath time, and early to bed for the kids (being up until 10:30pm the night before at the Twins game had made them really crabby!) Russ and I caught up on some TV and we headed to bed early too!
Sunday, we went to St. Louis Park for a bowling party and BBQ at our good friends the Rein's. I took some outdoor pictures of Natalie to mark her 4th birthday a few weeks earlier. I am really enjoying photography outdoors, and would like to get some more lighting/deflector tools to help me out. Here are two of my favorite shots:
We then headed to the bowling alley for some bowling. I have to admit, I am waaaay better as a Wii bowler then in real life! The kids all had such a great time though! Then it was back to the Rein's for a tasty BBQ and catching up with friends. My best friend Rachel and her husband were there, and she is 22 weeks pregnant and has the cutest-ever baby bump!
Monday, we just worked on projects around the house and then grilled a yummy dinner. And then made the kids take baths and head to bed early again! Trent has 9 days of school left and Addy gets to go Wednesday with Grandma and Grandpa Soukup to their place for the rest of the week and then we will join them this weekend for more adventures!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
My poor blog has suffered. No new entries. No updates. No pictures. But yet, life is still happening at the Soukup house! So what's the deal?
Well, I've been sick. First I got E Coli from our vacation in Belize. Not fun. And I have cursed the Belizan airport and it's unsanitary conditions often enough that now I feel sorta bad. Okay, not really. I thought I was on the mend from that, when the morning that Russ left for a 4 night fishing trip to remote Rainy Lake, I woke up with more excruciating stomach pains. I had icky stomach virus that was traveling around Elk River. I ended up getting really dehydrated and had to be taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital because as a result of the dehydration, my heart condition was affected and I was having chest pains. I honestly thought my heart valve was going to explode within my chest.
Luckily, everything checked out fine with my EKG and BP at the hospital and 8 hours later, I was released. I was extremely fatigued and worn out after all that, and it was taken me about a week to feel somewhat normal. I haven't been able to work out and I will be meeting with my cardiologist next week to hopefully figure out what was going on. And thankfully, I have some really wonderful friends and family members that came to my rescue and helped me out. It means a lot to me that they had my back and were there to support me. As a result of my need for rest, I also got several books read, which you can check out on the side of the blog.
Meanwhile, Trent and Addy have had their first games of the season. Trent in baseball -his team is 2-0 and cruising along. With Addy's soccer games, they don't really keep track of the scores, but she did score an unassisted goal in her first game! We have so much fun watching them and cheering them on as they do their best. Addy will also start T-ball in a few weeks, and they will both be in swimming lessons once school lets out, so they will be learning skills in those areas as well.
We also ended some activities for the year. Addy had her big dance recital and did beautifully both performances on stage. She smiled the entire time and knew the dances so well that she did not have to look to the side for any help from her teacher. She certainly did shine! Trent and Russ finished this year of Scouting and Trent moved on to the Bear den. They will have several activities over the summer, but their meetings are over until school starts again in the fall. Which is another thing to mention, Addy graduated from preschool and is ready for Kindergarten in the fall! She has grown and blossomed with the help of her beloved preschool teacher, and is excited to get on the bus with Trent come September. Trent has 9 days of school left and then he will be a third grader!
So, time to bring on the summer!
Well, I've been sick. First I got E Coli from our vacation in Belize. Not fun. And I have cursed the Belizan airport and it's unsanitary conditions often enough that now I feel sorta bad. Okay, not really. I thought I was on the mend from that, when the morning that Russ left for a 4 night fishing trip to remote Rainy Lake, I woke up with more excruciating stomach pains. I had icky stomach virus that was traveling around Elk River. I ended up getting really dehydrated and had to be taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital because as a result of the dehydration, my heart condition was affected and I was having chest pains. I honestly thought my heart valve was going to explode within my chest.
Luckily, everything checked out fine with my EKG and BP at the hospital and 8 hours later, I was released. I was extremely fatigued and worn out after all that, and it was taken me about a week to feel somewhat normal. I haven't been able to work out and I will be meeting with my cardiologist next week to hopefully figure out what was going on. And thankfully, I have some really wonderful friends and family members that came to my rescue and helped me out. It means a lot to me that they had my back and were there to support me. As a result of my need for rest, I also got several books read, which you can check out on the side of the blog.
Meanwhile, Trent and Addy have had their first games of the season. Trent in baseball -his team is 2-0 and cruising along. With Addy's soccer games, they don't really keep track of the scores, but she did score an unassisted goal in her first game! We have so much fun watching them and cheering them on as they do their best. Addy will also start T-ball in a few weeks, and they will both be in swimming lessons once school lets out, so they will be learning skills in those areas as well.
We also ended some activities for the year. Addy had her big dance recital and did beautifully both performances on stage. She smiled the entire time and knew the dances so well that she did not have to look to the side for any help from her teacher. She certainly did shine! Trent and Russ finished this year of Scouting and Trent moved on to the Bear den. They will have several activities over the summer, but their meetings are over until school starts again in the fall. Which is another thing to mention, Addy graduated from preschool and is ready for Kindergarten in the fall! She has grown and blossomed with the help of her beloved preschool teacher, and is excited to get on the bus with Trent come September. Trent has 9 days of school left and then he will be a third grader!
So, time to bring on the summer!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
"I've waited my whole life for this!"
Addy's first night of soccer was last night. And to say she was excited is an understatement. As I was putting her shin guards on, she looked at me and exclaimed, "Mom, I can't wait to play tonight. I've waited my whole life for this!"
She caught on right away to the rules of the game and had she certaintly had fun! Russ and I wholeheartedly agree that she seems to be a natural born athlete. Her soccer jersey number is #3 (and making this experience extra cool is the fact that they are the kiwi green team -her favorite color!)
She caught on right away to the rules of the game and had she certaintly had fun! Russ and I wholeheartedly agree that she seems to be a natural born athlete. Her soccer jersey number is #3 (and making this experience extra cool is the fact that they are the kiwi green team -her favorite color!)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
MMM 5/4/09
Whew! I'm back! Our trip to Caye Caulker, Belize was amazing and refreshing and Russ and I made a promise to each other to really make an effort to get away alone together at least once a year. We had an absolutely memorable and fun time with the Reins and Balvances and between panty rippers (coconut rum & pineapple juice), bizillion dollars and "that's NOT hot" sayings, the laughs and good times were plenty!
We returned home on Thursday morning, and before we knew the weekend was here and so was Trent's First Communion at church. My sister Beth (Trent's Godmother), and Russ's youngest brother, Mat (Trent's Godfather) both flew in for the occasion. Trent attended classes all year long in preparation of the mass on Saturday night and he worked hard learning all the prayers. He did a great job and we are so very proud of him. All of Trent's grandparents, his aunties, and uncles were able to come and watch him and we celebrated afterward with a big feast at our house.
Mat brought his girlfriend Milinda with him from D.C. and we were happy to finally meet her. I do have to say that Mat, in general is a happy and positive person, but I did notice that he seemed extra happy and content this visit. And because I am such a genius, I'm going to have to say that's all because of Milinda! It was sweet to watch them together and nice to have her included in the events of the evening. It's just too bad we live so far apart from one another.
Sunday was Russ's 37th Birthday. Happy Birthday sweetheart, you are once again older then me! (our little running joke that we are the same age for roughly 18 days out of the year) After the busy week of being on vacation, returning home to the kids and work and life and then Trent's First Communion, we had a very laid-back day at home. We took Russ out for Chinese food (his favorite) and topped the night off with a game of Sorry and some cake.
Soccer for Addy and baseball for Trent starts this week. My sister will be in town for the rest of the week, and I look forward to spending some more time with her. Trent and Addy adore her and can't get enough time spent with her spoiling them!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
