this and that...

Perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment. It was a Friday and the girls had no school. So we had a girls day out at the Mall of America. Daddy had to work. It wasn't overly busy, although looking at the parking ramp it seemed so. I have a routine of parking in the same area so I don't forget where I've parked. I don't even have to write the aisle, row, etc. on my hand anymore! P.S. to Krista-Nathan's "shopping list"?



I really needed some new casual shoes, as my "summer" crocs are very worn out. Baby needed new shoes. Sucess, all found in one store; which is easier said than done sometimes as I have wide feet. Not too many stores carry more than a couple pairs, some carry none. Oh yes, I would love to buy more cute shoes, but they would not be comfortable.



We probably walked at least 2 miles in the shopping/browsing adventure, which is good as well. Have to walk Aunty Anne's pretzel off... Amanda always wants to take the escalators, but not with the stroller. She was slighlty disappointed when the Build a bear worksop line was really long; but I told her Christmas is coming, as is Disney World!



On that note, our trip to Orlando is now exactly 3 weeks away. Time has flown. We previously planned it for this past June, but rescheduled when David's deployment got extended until July. My brother and his wife have been generous enough to offer their timeshare to us, which will save us a great deal of money. And due to MAJOR glitches with Northwest, Abby is going to stay with grandma Taylor. My mom is a true saint and goes above and beyond! The older girls, along with David and I are very greatful for this selfless act. We've never been on a big trip. And she's only 2 and won't remember it other than by photos. Photos to come! Hopefully the weather will cooperate! Oddly enough there were many things I had to turn down for the weekend that we're leaving; a fashion-show for a new designer (friend of a friend), and a baby shower for a very old friend in Duluth. Its also Krista's birthday. (Happy 30th!)



I will likely venture out shopping again on Monday with just Abby and David, as he has the holiday off. Yay, for our Veterans!

Halloween '07

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Here's some cute photos of the girls in their costumes. The wind was so cold last night, I really bundled them up; luckily Abby's costume was already "furry", so she was really warm. We voted to not have Amanda wear her eye patch outside; two eyes are always better than one! But, I do love the pose of her saying "ARRR!"

Adventure time

David & I had to attend Reintegration this past weekend in Moorhead.... Yes, in the middle of nowhere, basically. On the way there while driving on I-94, we came upon a large number of very slow moving vehicles, and then were suddenly at a dead stop...it was long enough where I was actually putting the car in park because we basically weren't moving. We started noticing a lot of cars trying everything imaginable to get to the exit; going over the median, driving the wrong way on the shoulder. So I started thinking this was not good news. We decided to call 511 and see what was up, and found out they were GOING TO BE CLOSING THE FREEWAY there at that moment. So luckily I squeezed my way out to the off-ramp. We proceeded, and then ended up taking a DIRT ROAD trying to get around the mess. Finally, we got our way back to 94 by going through Monticello. I have a new found appreciation for uneventful driving, and the compass on our van. Too bad, though because it was right at the Albertville exit, so there was no possible way of stopping there even if I wanted to. You physically couldn't get there by going west. Oh well I'll have to venture up that way again, if anyone's interested in outlet shopping!

"Dinner and a movie"

As per the suggestion of the reintegration "experts", we've been trying to schedule outings alone. David says we always go on the "All American Date", dinner and a movie. Although last time we just went to a movie. Last night David said he is was in the mood for Red Lobster, and he didn't have to twist my arm. But of course, Saturdays are very busy anywhere you go, so we checked in and headed for the bar. We don't drink a lot, but a margarita was calling my name. After dinner, we headed off to the movie, "The Heartbreak Kid", with Ben Stiller. I don't know what it is but I find Ben Stiller hillarious. The movie did not dissapoint!!

Oddly enough, that one margarita must have been stronger than the ones I make at home, because I woke up with a headache.... Maybe I'm gettting too old for those? Well, maybe just have it after I've eaten something!

Abigail turns 2

Today Abigail turned 2 years old. She's talking SO much more nowadays. She repeats almost anything you say to her. No, this isn't a revalation, but she was just kind of a quiet kind of girl. So of course, today, HAD to be cold and windy, so we couldn't go to the park. But instead daddy came to the rescue and asked Abby & I to go to lunch with him. No this isn't a revalation either, but this man doesn't even usually leave his desk for lunch. So we ventured (Abby all bundled up) into downtown St. Paul to pick David up. It's amazing that I actually know my way around now. We decided to try Mickey's Diner-decent food in a cool nastalgic atmosphere. It's just about 3 blocks from his work, so very do-able with an hour. Then we made Abby homemade waffles for "dinner", and had birthday cupcakes for her. She had a wonderful day!

Amanda's special day

Goodness, time has flown. Amanda tuned 8 on Friday. I can remember the day she was born, it seems like yesterday... Although her birthday was on a Friday and a school day, I got up earlier than normal to make her favorite french toast breakfast. While she was at school, Abby & shopped for a cake. Once David got home, we went to dinner at Amanda's choice; TGI Friday's. She didn't want to be sung to at the restaurant. Then we came home so she could open her gifts from us and have cake. We even had Grandma Taylor on speaker phone to sing "Happy Birthday". It was a very nice, fun relaxing day of events.

What's new

We have a busier than normal schedule due to all the church events we have going on. Both Amanda and Ashley are in Sacrament preparation classes this year; Amanda for First Reconciliation (Dec) and First Communion (Easter), and Ashley's in year 1 of 2 for Confirmation. So, just in the month of September, I had 4 various meetings relating to this. Last night I spent 2 hours organizing a schedule for Amanda's activities that works for 4 families. Not an easy feat... For Amanda, we have weekly meetings for the next 6 weeks; for Ashley, it's twice monthly until May. Thank goodness we have David back home to help with driving, or whatever! This process has been good for me too, and allows me to spend one-on-one time with each of them. Sometimes getting dinner eaten and getting out the door on-time is challenging, though! Getting it made isn't the challenge so much, but sometimes David gets held up at work, or in traffic! Gotta love the cities!

David returned back to his civilian job on August 15th. All is going very well. He's proven (again) that no amount of time away from the job seems to slow him down, and picks right up where he left off. Originally when hired at the state, he was given a "temporary position". Usually people have that about 1 year and then either leave or get hired "permanently". Although his boss had every intention of keeping him. He's only spent about 6 months actually at his job thus far. His boss' boss said he had more than proved his worth recently and waived the remaining temporary period and made him officially permanent. Kudos, honey. I remain ever so proud...

Recently I attended a life-long friend's Pampered Chef party, which she did as a fund raiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of her late father. Then I come to find out that her mother recently learned she has breast cancer.... Enough already! Luckily, it has a 95% cure rare. I feel like these people are an extension of me, and my family. Please keep them in your prayers.