Foster Family Update: Meet Gianna Marie

Name: Gianna Marie Foster

Weight: 8 1/2 lbs

Length: 20 1/2 inches

Mom and baby are doing well! For more photos, check out the album on Shutterfly.

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcMWzVo0cNH-A

Read more!

Baby News: Minnesota Family Baby Shower

Baby Shower!

Hosted By: Tara, Lynsey & Brenda Foster
Location: Tara Foster's House
Date: March 6, 2006

Attendees: Brenda Foster (My Mom), Maddie Foster (Niece), Tara Foster (Sister-in-law), Lynsey Foster (Sister-in-law), Linda Ashfield (Family Friend), Sara Franzwa (Family Friend), Pam Lande (Family Friend), Barb Knoll (Family Friend), Barb Gilliam (Family Friend), Joyce McBeath (Matt's GodMother), Aretha Lloyd (Matt's Grandmother), Tamra Maroushek (Family Friend), Elise Maroushek (Tamra's Baby Girl), Sharon Rollefson (Matt's Mom), Mary Martin (Family Friend), Theresa Jones (Sister-in-law), Pam Rollefson (Sister-in-law), Angie Warren(Sister-in-law), Sherry Kinatader (Family Friend)

Thank you so much to everyone for the WONDERFUL gifts. Matt and I are truly blessed to have so much love and support. The shower was a lot of fun, even though I did terrible in the rice game! Did I find even one pin?? I don't think anyone had a chance once Grandma Lloyd had a turn :) Aside from the rice game, the Milwaukee girls swept the rest of the prizes! I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did. Thank you again!

Check out pictures from the shower: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AcMWzVo0cNH6Q&notag=1

Read more!

This Old House: The Cribs Episode Not Seen on MTV

The producers of the MTV show CRIBS would be proud, but since our baby does not yet have a double platinum album their camera crews have not come knockin' to document this Crib. (We did put some "Chriss-taall" in the fridge though, just in case.) As for the remodel, the nursery is pretty much done. As usual we did the fresh paint, outlets, switches, carpet, pad, moldings, lights and doors. Check out the pictures by clicking on them to enlarge.

We are going to take a remodeling break until the baby comes next month, and then it will be onto the guest room after we get into our new routine.

.................................

South Wall, Before and After... No furniture.

.................................

South-West Wall Before, During, and After... with furniture.

Read more!

Baby News: Not from Sweden; the furniture is finished.

Just in time, I finally finished all of the baby furniture painting and polycoat sealing and we now have all of it in the baby room. Everything is pretty much done and Steph has spent the past two weeks putting everything in it's place...you know that whole "nesting" thing. Anyway just a few more tweaks, some artwork, drapes, and what-nots, and we should be able to call the baby room done too.

Read more!

Baby News: Where Oh Where Has the Baby News Gone??

AHHHH...I know, I know, I know...where has all the baby news gone? I've been terrible at keeping this blog up to date. So, what's new? Here is what I promise I'll post about before the end of this week...

• Nursery is almost complete
• Surprise Baby Shower in New Jersey
• Baby Shower in Minnestoa

We had the last of our bi-weekly appointments this week. Baby is head down and doing well. Heartbeat = 140 (which I'm told is good). Starting on March 30th, we'll be going to weekly appointments. I really can't believe how fast time is going by now!

Lyns update...no baby yet, but only a few days to go. She'll be induced on Sunday (3/19) if the baby doesn't decide to come earlier. I'm so excited I jump anytime the phone rings :)

Okay, picture update... like my new glasses? (I found them bargain shopping with Aunt Donna and Mom in Jersey)

Read more!

Guilty Pleasures: Shiny Objects That Grab My Attention

Here are a few "Inna'net" interests that I regularly digest and find interesting. You may find them interesting too...or maybe not...but that's your own issue to deal with. Maybe you are just not an interesting person, have you ever thought about that?


1: The GM Death Watch. I'm addicted to this column located at 'The Truth About Cars" website. Since two-fifths of the Hughes fleet are GM products, I like to see where the company is going. Okay, actually that's bullshit, what I really like to read about is how this company is going to try to save itself... from itself. Competitors are not even half it's problem and the GM Death Watch consistently dissects the real challenges this behemoth is facing.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/1141419410727162957/


2: Gawker Media. I love reading niche blogs and this media company keeps on top of them all. They have professional writers that are given free rain (sp?) to write/blog/opinionate about what ever they want as long as it fits there blog's topic. Below is a list of their current blogs with descriptions of the topics. The ones I regularly visit are in blue text. Check 'em out, you may fall in love with their writing style and humor as I so badly have....but they still never call.
Gizmodo - Gadgets and technology
Wonkette - DC gossip and politics
Deadspin - Sports
Defamer - Hollywood news and gossip
Jalopnik - Cars and automotive culture...my personal favorite.
Screenhead - Internet miscellany and humor
Gridskipper - Travel
Lifehacker - Productivity, tips, tricks, downloads and getting things done in general.
Sploid - Headline based news...not exactly CNN, so not for the sheltered souls.
Kotaku - Video games
Gawker.com - New York City area media local stuff (for my east coast family)
Valleywag - San Francisco and Silicon Valley stuff (for my west coast family)
The Consumerist - Consumer advocate and exposer of the evil corporate world with an affinity for picking on Best Buy.

3: Wikipedia. An online encyclopedia that is in constant editing mode by it's users. Scary huh. I'm not saying you should write a thesis based on information from this site, but it is interesting stuff. Search on a topic of interest and learn everything about it in a matter of minutes. Go ahead try it....you will learn something....I promise. If something is incorrect or out of date submit your change to be reviewed. This is perfect for all of you out there that have to be "that guy" and correct the sorry understandings of inferior minds. Here is your chance...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Read more!

"Picture book; pictures of your mama, taken by your papa a long time ago..."

Queue the Hewlett Packard photo-printer commercial music....(Picture Book, by the Kinks)... Just a friendly reminder that all pictures on the Hughes Week family blog can be seen in a larger size by simply clicking on the picture inside each post. I have heard from a few people recommending that we put bigger pictures on the site. When Steph and I create new posts, the images are just smaller versions of the full size digital pictures. If a certain picture interests you and you would like to see it in more detail, click on the image to view it at actual size. Easy as pie..... mmmmmm..... pie. :)

Read more!

Homeward Bound: New Job Moves Me Back to the Arden Hills Office

"I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind... You could have done better but I don't mind...You just kinda wasted my precious time." Bob certainly speaks to me on that one regarding how I feel about leaving the downtown Fair Isaac office and returning to the Arden Hills office after only a two month separation. Being back in the Arden Hills office is kind of like going back to a nicer ex-girlfriend after some time going your separate ways, you actually appreciate her more. Sure everything was exciting during your little fling with lots of new sites to see and things to do, but after a while the cost of the dinners and movies were adding up and the new girl never pays for anything, nothing! Add to it that she lives on the other side of town and never wants to go out for drinks near your house which really sucks since you spend all your time in the car. So you finally get wise, call up the ex-girlfriend, make amends, and voila...you go back to were you belong. Every day seems brighter with no commute, every free parking space, even the ones at the end of the lot, seem.... well, frickin' awesome! It truly is the little things that make the day-to-day life enjoyable; so I am doing my best to not take it all for granted.

Oh, and I got a new job.

Read more!