Birthday Cake & Cookies

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, chances are he WILL want a glass of milk...

In the morning we went to Jada's 4th birthday party and had a ball. Jada's party was a Carnival theme, though this Mommy had her own princess theme in mind. With two little boys, it's fun to shop for pinkalicious things every so often!

By 12:30 we headed off to the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis to see "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie." In the lobby, before the show, staff had mouse ears for the kids to decorate along with self face painting. They wanted everyone in the audience to be a mouse.

We were front row, center- and literally 'in' all the action! I've never seen such excellent children's theatre before. Not only was Nishad laughing, but I was right along side him giggling away! The actor that plays the mouse has a super-hero amount of energy! I can see why one of their shows went to the Tony's last year. Bravo! Nishad seems to be really enjoying the theatre productions we've been to this summer.

Ashish worked from home on this day and took care of baby Arun. This was a special Mommy and Nishad day.

Kolacky & Hoska

When ever I mention that I am craving a kolacky, people in Minnesota give me a bit of a confused look. "Did you say Kolacky?" Yes, but not any kolacky- a Vesecky's Bakery kolacky back in Berwyn off Cermak Road. When I mention houska, it instantly gets another funny expression from people.

As a mater of fact, when I was pregnant with Nishad I was craving a strawberry kolacky (my favroite...I only like the cheese and strawberry) so bad that I found a bakery in Minnesota, New Prague, that make kolacky. *Lau's Czech Bakery: 121 Main St W New Prague, MN*

Ashish and I took a day trip (2 1/2 hour drive to get there from our house) only to find that the bakery was closed. Devastation! While scouting the town, we noticed the plethora of Czech references. I immediately said to Ashish, "With so many Czech's settling here, they are bound to have kolacky in their local grocery store!" I waddled in the grocery store and headed directly to the bakery department, which...had kolacky! However, they were the ones that were covered (not the open round ones). Disappointed, I left empty handed.

When I went back to Chicagoland for my baby shower, I stocked up and brought a dozen home along with two houskas. While driving back on a very hot summer day with my two friends, Vicki and Kelly, there was a "POP" in the car that startled us all. Vicki immediately said, "It's the bread!" :)

Yes, houska is bread. It tastes similar to Hawaiian bread in the sense that it is a bit sweeter, but it has raisins and nuts on top. It's great in the morning with a little butter on top accompanying with a cup of French Roast- Caribou beans, of course!

I have yet to find a "real" bakery in Minnesota. I now realize now how spoiled I was growing up in such a cultural mecca like Chicago. Being that Vesckey's still operates as I imagine it did 40-years ago, they don't ship bakery anywhere. Yes, they still package your bakery in little white boxes with string wrapped around them. However, I did find this place online, Zicha Meats, that ships their bakery for them. I haven't ordered via Zicha, so if anyone does, let me know what your experience is like.

The Real Football!

Mommy's little soccer player! I always knew you had a strong kick, Nishad! (Trust me!) Our friends, and neighbors (Krista and Presten) organized a tot soccer class this past June. They did a great job! It was such a hoot to see all the little ones out on the field together. My how they all grow over the winter!

The class was held every Monday for 30-minutes, right in our backyard- the park! What a great way to utilize the park...

Nishad *loves* "Kiss-ta" and even calls her on his cell phone. "What'cha cookin' for dinner, Kiss-ta? When are you comin' over?" Jaxson, their son (who was born in August a few months before Nishad), is very high on Nishad's list of VIP's!

Father's Day

The joys of being a Daddy! We celebrated Father's Day by staying downtown in Saint Paul overnight. We had dinner and then Nishad took Daddy to see "Walking With the Dinosaurs" at the Excel Energy Center. Nishad came back to the hotel roaring like T-Rex. Ashish said that the BBC production was well done. Mommy made sure they had awesome seats too- they were 7 rows back. Nishad knew that the dinosaurs were puppets, a new favorite past-time of his! http://www.dinosaurlive.com/



The following day we walked across the bridge to Harriet Island. There are no coconuts there. We boarded a cruise down the Mississippi. I refrained from supplying the entertainment for the 90-minute boat ride in fear passengers would make me walk the plank after hearing my version of "Oh Man River."

Fastback

Nishad shows off "his" car. Somehow he inherited it before his time. He digs the mustang and asks to ride it in. Car seats and fastbacks aren't a successful combination.

I can see he and his brother in future years, cruising' around. There's something about an antique classic that gives you an instant appreciation and respect for the past.

I've had this car since I was 19 years old. My Dad restored it for me and I drove it every day. Windows wide open, hair flying around...nothing like a ride in a mustang on an open road! Amazingly enough, despite my lead foot, I never once got a ticket while driving this car. I met officers, yes...but never a ticket. One even waved at me as he suddenly 'appeared' from a corn field on my way back from visiting my friend Kelly who was then at school in Macomb, IL. I waved back and eased my foot off the gas.

This car has made it's journey form Chicago to Minnesota...I'm not sure if we ever will sell it now.
http://www.mustang-fastback.com/

Fire Pit Craving

Last summer, while I was about 7- month pregnant, I had an idea that became obsessed with. "We need a fire pit- and we need it now!" Well, I didn't quite phrase it like that to Ashish, but needless to say, we loaded up Nishad and ended up at our local chain home and garden store with a 10% off coupon in hand. I 'supervised' as Ashish made a circle of bricks in the isle that was exactly what this pregnant woman needed. No, I didn't crave pickles or ice cream, but a fire pit.

After numerous trips from the car to the backyard (which Ashish earned his cardio workout for the day as we have a walkout basement- so it's not an easy task), I began digging and clearing a section in our yard for our pit. Yes, we have rock star plans for our yard, but we've always agreed it will come in phases. This was just one of those phases- with odd timing. Being that I wouldn't stop until it was done, I waddled in around 9PM that night. Though I couldn't really admire my work from our deck, I knew it was out there- And that was enough to give this pregnant lady a sense of satisfaction that I could dream about.

This Spring we continued on with DYI phase two of our fire pit. We added a seating area and landscaping. We had our first bonfire last month. I came prepared with S'More fixin's in hand. Ashish doesn't like them and Nishad only likes the chocolate bar. At least we were all able to enjoy the fire pit together. *This picture is from May, 2008.

Norhwoods

This is our 4th annual summer trip up north to Bemidji. We have rented a cabin on Lake Bemidji from June 3rd until June 9th. Steps away from the beach and all the comforts of home. It takes us 4 hours to get here, but it's worth the r & r.

There was actually a tornado warning and we had to go to the main lodge, where we spent about 20-minutes in the boiler room with other resort guests. We went in town and played miniature golf, visited Babe and Paul, ate at a great organic restaurant, and visited the Bemidji Historic Railway Depot/Museum (Don't waste your money or time as there are only pictures of trains and a model train!).

Flint Hill Children's Festival

My kinda town- Saint Paul! I think if Ashish and I knew what we know now, we definitely would have looked to purchase a house in Saint Paul. It's a very artsy, educated, cultured, family friendly city. They have some of the best festivals I've ever attended too!

We attended the Flint Hill Children's Festival. Amazing! There were so many FREE Things for us to do. The Art Moves parade at 1PM shouldn't be missed. Many companies were on hand like Target, which gave kids free sun hats to decorate. The Children's Theatre Company made masks with the kids, and yet another theatre made sock puppets with the kids. There were a ton of culturally enriching performances in dance and theatre. For a mere $5 a ticket, you could see even more productions from different parents of the world. Nishad and I went to see a puppet production from a company that is based in Peru.

Be sure to save the date for this annual festival.

Hail to the Storm

Hail to the Hail! We met with our contractor yesterday afternoon. He will begin work this Wednesday. We are getting a new roof, garage doors, screen door and siding. This is the second time in two years that we begin this process... on a house that was built in 2004.

Minnesota's extreme weather gets to be a bit old. Every state has its issues, but this year Ashish and I have had about enough. It snowed from October through April this year. Now the severe storms...

We do have a lot to be thankful for though. Two tornados touched down north of us yesterday. The day that this picture (May 25, 2008) a tornado did a lot of damage south of us. Needless to say, we've been spending more time in the basement than we would prefer.

Farmer Beverly

Beverly, Beverly, how does your garden grow? With patience, water, sunshine...and a whole lot of fertile soil! Cucumbers, Zucchinis, Tomatoes, Peppers, Strawberries, Watermelon, Cantaloupe and Herbs...

This is my first 'Minnesota' veggie garden! I'm proud to say that things look better than anticipated. Even after Mother Nature's hail storm that leveled a lot of my plants that Nishad and I started from seeds (I was teaching him about the seasons). Which, in turn, was a good lesson for him; Despite our plans, there are things we can't control. However, we can control our reaction to them. SO! Nishad, Arun and I went out and purchased a few little veggies to supplement the ones we 'lost' in the storm. Even after Arun was in the store- strangling- the plants (as everything seems to be in his reach these days), they too managed to thrive.

I started off my first year with a 'smaller' garden as I wanted test the waters, per-say. I wasn't sure if I would have the time with a toddler and an infant, and honestly, I didn't know if anything would grow well enough for us to reap the benefits. Well, I suppose if the farmers can do it here on the Great River Road (where we live was once farm land- now a developed sub-division thanks to urban sprawl), so can Farmer Beverly!

Who knows, at this rate, maybe I'll be feeding the entire neighborhood! With the semolina out-break with tomatoes and peppers and the high cost of produce today, this isn't only 'fun' but something that I feel confident about feeding my family, convenient and cost effective.

Imprints: Nothing like having Mom tell you to go into the garden and get a fresh cucumber! Cucumbers were always my favorite growing-up. I use to wish my Mom wouldn't plant so many tomato plants so there would be more room for the cucs! I read an article about how kids that are involved in planting gardens, eat more veggies. They get to see the process and build up anticipation for the fruit of their labor. My Mom told me how she would eat tomatoes like apples when she was a kid. I'm going to attempt that this year!

Tower of Towels

One has to love bulk supply stores and a little boy that can organize it all!

Nishad could surely take Marie Montessori head-on and give her a run for her money. We've always armed Nishad with tools to gain an early independence, but now he's taking over the house. Which, depending on the way you look at it, is a good thing, right? After all, Ashish and I bought a house to be a home for our children, not a museum piece.

Nishad often reminds US that everything has a place and if we put something 'temporarily' somewhere, we're quickly reminded of where it belongs. A-hem. Montessori has back-fired on this Mommy. haha...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY

This year Nishad picked the theme of Daddy's party; Cars. Even though he's never watched the animated movie, the big red car that tops the cake was enough to sell him on the idea of having a CAR birthday for Daddy.

I'm not sure Nishad comprehended the idea that we were suppose to pick out something that we thought Daddy would like- not our own personal desires. Eh, at 2 everything is about you!

Daddy's CAR birthday came with presents for the gas grill. Since Daddy has showed an interest in cooking, we thought we would arm him with some tools of operation!

Unfortunately, Arun (our early to bed, early to rise baby) hit the sack before the cake even made it out of the fridge.

May 17th.