hAPPY bIRTHDAY bros

.........AND.......



(Yes, I am wearing two sweatshirts and one happens to be Matthew's....I'm just a wee bit cold this morning. And yes, Matthew LOVES taking pictures with me!)

Babysitting!

I was looking forward to this for a while. I got to babysitt Grant for the first time the other night and had a lot of fun. He was fussy at times, cried now and then, and also spit up on my sweatshirt a tiny bit....but I truly didn't mind at all. Because when he wasn't doing those things, he was doing things like cuddling up next to me, giving me little smiles, and holding onto my finger. And of course sleeping!

I brought my camera and was hoping to take some shots. But it was a dreary day which offered no lighting and by the time Grant was up for pictures, it was dark out.
I did take one with the flash, but he didn't like that so much...

Grantwardalei

My best little friend stopped by for a visit today!



He just keeps getting cuter and cuter. So of course I had to take some pics.



He really is the easiest subject to photograph.



Not only because he is photogenic...



but he never asks me to stop or puts a hand in front of his face.



Well...actually....he kind of does do those things already.



Anyway, look how cute he is!



And after today I now have additional reason to pester him, photograph him, request/beg to hang out with him, buy him things, give him lectures...



....you know, things I was planning on doing anyway....but now I might look a little less crazy doing these things because I am going to be his godmother!



...and Matthew will be his godfather! We are quite excited about this role!



We are going to have our eye on this little guy for a long long time!

Matthew's Birthday

Here is how we celebrated Matthew's birthday 2 weeks ago...

1. I made him gnocchi. He has been wanting to have gnocchi like the stuff he ate in NY a few years ago and I finally made it. It was easier then I thought it would be but still was quite the process. Boiling potatoes, peeling while they're hot, mashing them, adding flour and egg to make the dough.




By that point, I was getting tired of it so I didn't make the dumplings fancy, just cut them up.



I made a little tomato cream sauce.




Matthew loved it which is all that matters.



I couldn't eat too much of it because the cream sauce hurt my stomach.

2. We hung out the rest of the afternoon before our next planned event. We listened to Matthew's then (and maybe still now) favorite song over and over on YouTube. "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry.

3. I then took Matthew to get a pedicure. He had a hunch that we would be doing that. Right before going in he got a little nervous. I felt bad going in and there were ladies everywhere! The place was packed. I walked back with him and he sat down amongst 7 other ladies in pedi chairs. I know he liked it though, his feet were nice and clean when they were done!

4. We went to Minehaha Falls and were going to take a walk down to the falls but it was like 90 degrees out that day. Matthew could barely stand being out of the car let alone going for a walk. He opened his gift in the car.



A new watch!

5. Went out to dinner at Spill the Wine. We each had steaks.



6. Then Matthew ditched me to go to a Twins game with Jon (there were only two tickets available).



All in all a good day and a good way to celebrate Matthew's 28 years of life!