Sushi 101

Tonight, JLO and I attended the very popular Sushi Class at Whole Foods in Minneapolis. We registered for the class in January and it was well worth the wait! We learned the basics of making rice (the hardest part about sushi), adding ingredients (slippery ones first!) and rolling the rolls (using a Ziploc bag on the mat is key!). As you might expect, JLO's rolls were very pretty and precise. Mine, of course, were thrown together and had ingredients falling out of them. Thankfully, they still tasted yummy. What's next on our cooking food agenda? A sushi party!

Being A Parent

I have spent the last five years telling my high school students to be nice to their parents. I make quite the argument for this, and typically cite that, "I have more education and training to be your teacher, then your parents do to be your parents." The kids always think about this for a minute, and usually agree with me. It's true if a person really thinks about it. I spent five years in undergraduate school, two years in graduate school, thousands of dollars (okay,well really that was Mark/Deb--thank you!), and each year I typically teach the same thing, so I get a lot of re-do chances.

I've been thinking a lot about this now that I am actually a parent. Part of the reason I am excited to go back to work is because I am good at my job. Am I the best teacher in the world? No. Do I have a lot to improve on and learn? Yes. But relatively speaking, I feel confident in my abilities as a teacher. And when I don't feel confident or question something--I count on my training and education to help me. But as a parent--well that is a whole different story.

JLO and I went to baby class before LJ was born. Six sessions for two hours each. Hardly what I would call training. We have eight nieces/nephews who we adore and have spent significant time with during their upbringings. We have always known that we are smart and responsible people. But then we met LJ. It's amazing how such a little bundle of joy and love can make a person second guess him/herself. Is he hungry? Does he need is diaper changed? Why is he crying? Does he feel warm to you? Should we take his arms out of the burrito (swaddle)? Do you think he needs a bath every night? What about nap time? How long? Where? The questions, the second guessing, will, I suspect, go on forever.

So when I am back to work in a week, I know that I will work extra hard to convince my students to be nice to their parents, will feel more confident in my abilities as a teacher, but will rush home each day to snuggle with my, "you-never-know-what-you're-gonna-get" little man!

A Wild Week x3

LJ's newest cousin, Lyla Terese, was born on Wednesday, March 16th. This happened just one day after Lyla's newest cousin was born on Tuesday, March 15th and two days after her other new cousin was born on Monday, March 14th. Yes, that's right--my sister-in-law and her two sisters gave birth to their daughters exactly one day a part. To say it was a wild week is putting it lightly :)
Here is a picture of me holding Lyla and Lance. I can't believe how big he looks compared to her!

Jakey and LJ

Cousin Jakey and LJ are already good buddies! Here is a photo of Jakey teaching LJ how to roll over. My favorite part about watching Jakey and LJ interact is that Jakey talks to LJ as if he expects him to respond. It's so cute! Eventually, he gives up and does something else, but for quite awhile you can hear Jakey saying, "Baby Ance, hi Baby Ance!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Thanks to Nick and Kristen for supplying LJ was this cool bib! He pretty much wore it all day. And no, he did not drink any green beer or formula. JLO and I did, however, eat some reubens to celebrate!

Grandma Knows Best

I couldn't imagine becoming a mom without the help of my mom. She is a wealth of information, love, patience and guidance. Not only does she love spending time with LJ, but she is so insightful to his needs. She gently will make recommendations and she's usually right! Her best advice yet (which I shared with a fellow friend who is a mom and she promptly said, "Stac, you have to put that on your blog for other moms to hear") is that "you can listen to the doctors, but they don't live in your house." Thank you Grandma Deb so much for all that you've done for us. We love you so much!

(ps. I'm getting use to the fact that JLO is using this phrase more often: "I want to do fill in the blank (possibilities include storing food, folding towels, etc) the same way Deb does.")

Good Morning!

For those that know me well, you will not be surprised to hear that I'm ready to go back to work. Yes, I adore my little man and the time off, but I know that I am a mom that needs to work (mentally and financially). It might be easier for me to go back to work knowing that LJ will be in very, very good hands each day (thank you, thank you, Grandma Deb!) and that it's just for two months. I will heart summer break even more this year! BUT....I know what I will miss the most each day is watching LJ wake up. We have so much fun in the mornings--singing, laughing, dancing, reading and waking up the daddy! When I go back to work our mornings will reduced to a quick kiss good-bye. So while I start thinking about what is in store for me back at school, I will cherish each and every morning with LJ even more.

Squirmy the Worm

Long before LJ was born, I blogged about all of his nicknames. It just comes with the territory when one is an Olstadt. I can't even count how many nicknames JLO has from his family, nor can I keep track of all of mine. And now that LJ is here he has many: LJ, lil' buddy, Little Joe, Little Man, buddy, Lannie, Lancey and my favorite, Squirmy the Worm. Here is a picture demonstrating how he got this nickname. If only Icould figure out how to upload the video from iPod to this blog, I'd have even more evidence!

ps. Lance has gained another nickname since I posted this yesterday;

his cousin Jakey calls him, "Baby Antz."

Valen Family Dinners

Almost every week my family has dinner together. We all take turns hosting (although my mom does it the best and most often) and really enjoy just hanging out one another. Here is a picture of the latest one at our house (JLO made ribs, garlic mash potatoes and salad!). Although the menu and venue may change each week, one thing that is always a given at Valen Family Dinner is lots of laughter and fun.

ps. yes, that is a banner hanging from our lamp

in the living room to the stairs in the hallway :)

Minneapolis- St Paul Restaurant Week!

You don't have to ask us twice to attend Minneapolis/St Paul Restaurant Week! In fact, we look forward to it twice a year, and now with the 'lil buddy here, it's a great excuse for a date night. Tonight we took advantage of The Capital Grille's amazing Restaurant Week menu. Seriously, it was delicious (and very, very gluten-free friendly) for just $30 each. Thank goodness, because the last time we went out to eat and it wasn't good, I heard JLO complain about it for weeks! The best part of the meal, for me, is that I even got to eat dessert--which is a rarity when it comes to dining out gluten-free. In fact, I ate two (with the help of Joe)--classic creme brulee and a flour less chocolate cake. JLO has banned me from saying "yummo", but if I could, I would on all accounts for The Capital Grille.