Filthy

I always knew that Dulsi got some crumbs here and there. I knew she LOVED planting herself at the bottom of the high-chair whenever a little person was occupying it. I knew that she also could be found at every meal lounging between the chair legs of the kids seats.

But my LORD I never knew the bounty of food that she scored.

Last night, you could have fed a small nation on the rations that were on the floor after dinner. Big pieces, little pieces, dry pieces and moist pieces. Have you ever tried to sweep up little pieces of shaved turkey. Or how about a glop of mashed pototoes? This is the get-down-on-your-hands-and-knees-with-a-wet-rag kind of mess.

I'm supposed to do that 3 times a day??

I had been thinking "A puppy is WAY to much work..." But seriously, I think I would spend less time house training a dog than I am currently spending cleaning the floor. Of course, that also means I consider a floor covered with a thin veneer of dog slobber "clean." Oh well...

Honesty

Max and I were looking through some old pictures yesterday for fun. It is somewhat spooky how much Leo looks like a Max at the same age. I was having fun making Max guess whether a photo was him or Leo.

Of course, there are other things in these photos.... Jackson, Dulsi, Omar, myself, grandparents.

Max looks at a photo from 6 years ago and says "Mom you look SO MUCH younger in that one!"

Feelin' a little grizzled all of a sudden...

Reclaiming 2010!

Ok! This was a bit of a rough start to the year, but NOW it's time to turn this ship around. We will start with a bit of Ansari levity.... ride it all the way to the end...

We will miss you, girl

Part of owning a pet is the knowledge that some day you will have to say goodbye. That doesn't make it any easier. We knew Dulsi had arthritis for quite some time. But recently she went blind suddenly, and it became clear that despite eye medicine she was having quite a bit of pain.

This morning we have said goodbye to one of the sweetest, most tolerant and loving dogs. I have had Dulsi longer than Omar, kids, MD, house, career or really anything else that currently defines my life. She has been there for it all.

As I sit at home now, it is so very quiet. Bye sweet girl. We loved you so much.

Baby Max

Baby Leo

Bucket List

Shortly after Omar and I had made it official that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together, we made "The List." We called the the "100 list," but it has now become more popularly known as the "Bucket List" - i.e. the things you want to do before you kick the bucket.

We have a myriad of things on there... have kids, go to an Olympic event, go to New Zealand. You get the point. Then there is the one I always thought was ridiculous.

"Watch the Vikings win the Super Bowl."

I balked when Omar added that. I told him this was something that was silly to have on the list, as we have absolutely NOTHING to do with that.

And then I drank the kool-aid. We bought the season's tickets. We watched every game along the way. We would skip cabin weekends to make sure we saw key games. We bought purple for all the kids at all the ages. We held watch parties. We cheered and screamed till we couldn't speak.

And now, as I type this, I am actively nauseous. I am so very, bitterly, profoundly disappointed. I had said "All I want is a good game," but I think 41-0 a few years back was easier on the soul. Last night was one of the most emotionally up and down nights of my life. That might sound melodramatic, but it really is true. It was a crazy, crazy game that we both SHOULD have won and gave away.

So. Time to move on.

It's just a game.

Common Favre.... let's roll the dice again.... I have a list to check off!

Here we go...

Yesterday, we met with an architect that we have told to go forward with drawings...

What fresh can of H-E-double-hockey-sticks have we just opened?

Ah, boys..

Max's Highlight the other night:

MY HIGHLIGHT IS TODAY I LEARNED HOW TO DO ARM FARTS!!

This, of course, was accompanied with a demonstration, and a smile that only is seen when a child is both thrilled and completely tickled by himself.

Ah, dinner and arm farts. This is my life....