Welcoming A Snowy Winter

Ben and I have switched roles this winter.

He can be found donning extra layers and turning up the heat,

while I'm fanning my face and taking off my socks.

So this Thanksgiving, as the ice and snow fly and temperatures drop, I'm especially grateful for

my 24/7, guaranteed, wiggly, little built-in furnace...

not to mention my all-around extra insulation at 33 weeks. :)
(please excuse the the blurriness...the night vision on our camera didn't work out awesomely)

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Twilight Halloween

Okay, so we're not huge Twilight fans, but it worked for a cheap, last-minute costume for Ben's MHA party.

If you look close enough, you can even see sparkles on his face.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

P.S. In case you missed the last post, our blog will be "private" soon, so let us know your e-mail!
P.P.S. Ben is way better looking than Edward, in my humble opinion.

Going Private

We will soon be making our blog "private." Just post your e-mail and we'll be sure to invite you!

October

A lovely fall walk...

with a more-than-lovely husband (I spy Ben above!),

beautiful fall colors,

and a 27-week baby (this was a couple weeks ago).

"Punch Pizza."
Yummy, authentic, Italian pizza baked in an 800-degree brick oven for 90 seconds!
De-li-cio-so!

A cute little European food shop with delectable Russian and Scandinavian food.

Downtown Minneapolis.

Hours and hours of studying for Ben, who is also playing intramural football & volleyball, volunteering at a local clinic...AND offering his pregnant wife free foot massages!

Love this guy.

And I also love this wiggly little guy. :)
28 weeks, things are going great, and I couldn't be happier!

Blessed

Endless hours of job-searching,

60+ job applications,

headaches & insomnia,

Countless "Although your background is impressive, we have chosen another candidate for this position" e-mails,

5 interviews...

and I landed a job.

It's a part-time L&D/post-partum/nursery position at a hospital and I start next week.

I'm excited and anxious to start, but mostly feeling very blessed!

Finnish Bistro

What makes a 50% Finnish, 25-week pregnant lady happy on a rainy Saturday morning?

Two words: Finnish Bistro.

It's located very close to our house in a cute little town named St. Anthony.

(The 25-week belly--before eating; it increases in size post-meal.)

Very quaint inside...
(two minutes after I took this, the place was packed)

...with lots of breads and pastries!

I got the Finnish Pulla French Toast (LOADED with berries) and Ben got the Lefse Scramble (with a potato tortilla). Both were delicious and authentic. This place is owned by a Finnish lady and I want to meet her.

And just for the record (my family will appreciate this), we passed this on the way there. How fitting.
www.finnishbistro.com

Indonesia

18 1/2 years ago I was helping my mom change this guy's diapers...
(Erik, my little brother)

...and now he's off to serve a two-year mission for the LDS church in INDONESIA!

We're so proud and excited for him!