Waiting for the Sun

Time to stock up on the $1 sunglasses at Target!

It's been a hectic week. Dad was out of town for one night, mom was out of town for 2 nights. Grandma's helping all around. It's going to be nice to get back to a regular schedule, although those are seemingly rarer and rarer these days.

Mamapalooza

Center stage: me (your mom). To the left: your Great Great Grandma (Pipaw Jon's side...is that right?) and holding me, my ex-uncle Dave. Is that right, do relatives become exes with divorce too? I'm going to say since I've only seen him once or twice since that occurance, than yes.

Your uncle Dan, Sister Helenette and me in our living room in South Minneapolis. That carpet! The couch! I remember it. You guys have met Sister Helenette...which reminds me that we need to go visit again!

Grandma Jane and me. Hard to believe we all start so little.

Hanging out on a ship up in Duluth harbor. When I verified this with your Grandpa Jon he wrote back that it was true, and a foreign sailor offered $50 for me. Yeah, that's your grandpa. My family would go up to Duluth fairly frequently, I'd guess at least once a summer. Lake Superior is as close to the ocean as we're going to get!

For the record Zoe, "I feel pretty" too.  I was one of few girls in the neighborhood.  Here we are seated on the front stairs of the house I grew up in (mostly, and still dream about).

Top row: Scott (friend) , my cousin Pete, your uncle Dan, your uncle Dave. Next to me is my cousin Joe. Pete and Joe lived two houses down for almost the first 10 years of my life. I guess I didn't realize how unique that was until much later.  

Oh boy. look at that outfit. I do appreciate the sneakers though. My out-of-state boss thinks it's funny that I call my athletic shoes "tennis shoes". I just do. No, I don't play tennis. But when I saw these I didn't think of them as tennis shoes. So there.

I'm standing in the yard of my aunt Carolyn and uncle Mike's cabin in Wisconsin (parents of Pete and Joe, above).  We had some fun times up there.  But it's funny the memories that pop in my head. One in particular: I went up without the rest of my family. It was me with Carolyn, Mike, Pete, Joe and Laura (who was adopted later on and closer to my age), my Grandma Vivian and Grandpa Cliff (Carolyn and Grandma Jane's parents).  We were sitting at dinner and I was served chili. Let's just say the kids in my family (not in tow) were not known for being adventurous eaters. If, or when, we had chili it didn't have much (any?!) spice to it. My aunt Carolyn didn't play that way. I'm not exactly sure how it went down, but my memory is of everyone at the table staring at me and laughing because the chili wasn't to my liking. I'm guessing it was one of those "taste it" scenarios. Yep. Nope.  And probably one of those moments when I missed my mom. :) Because that's the way it is. Your mom knows you. Your mom will put up with some of your...oddities. Or make your chili so bland that it doesn't cause a 4 alarm fire going down.

So having said that, I now like my chili with a little spice. Granted, it's still Minnesota variety spice, but hey... that's better than 57 varieties, no? :)

I feel pretty

Oh so pretty!

The great outdoors, indoors

This was a cool space in the Children's museum - art work that's come to life. There was a piece of artwork and then a 3-d adaption of it. This is where the Mona Lisa was too. You two made your way into this tent right away. Later Zoe grabbed me and brought me in the tent. It smelled just like a campfire. Nice touch. Except Zoe pinched her nose and said "stinky". Well, I suppose it might be, if you've never had the joy to experience a campfire. One of these days, little ones.

Me and my Daddy

walking down the Avenue...

Time keeps on slippin'....

This is my clock. As of Monday night. Wonder how it got this way? Hmmm. Anything to do with the little boy who likes to play with it and make the light go on? Mr. Butterfingers.

Wonder why the alarm doesn't work anymore. Discovered this Monday morning at 7am. Oh, no...it's light outside. It's not supposed to be light out when I get up on a workday. Not this time of year.  Monday night I made sure the alarm was on. Check. But had your Dad set his alarm too. Sure enough, my re-styled, stripped down utilitarian clock didn't go off. So bye bye clock. It's been replaced with a battery operated travel one. Which I'm sure will disappear pretty quickly...

The best part of Valentine's Day?

Chocolate!!!

Yes, the animals still stink at the zoo

Just ask Zo. She'll tell you all about it.

For your dad...

Happy Valentines Day!

Media stars in the making

I'll do the shopping, Ma

Driving a city bus?

again, awesome.

Life lessons, or how we learned to make you earn your keep

Cook us dinner, Zo!

And with your able helper, you'll have it done in no time.

Then you can mop up.

and do some dishes

Or maybe you want to eat first (as a fireman, of course...how appropriate with the sweater you were wearing).

But I guess it may come at a price.

This place is awesome. Awesome.

I'm like the kid in the candy store (taking pictures)

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa

 And I can't get the song (or here) out of my head.
Your dad says he doesn't know that song. Don't know why I do, but I do.

Time to finally break in the sleds

wonderment and awe

Saturday night we brought some pizza over to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner and then headed out, with Grandma Jane in tow, to Hudson, WI. Why? To visit the hot air balloons (or course).

Grandma had mentioned this last year. Actually she mentioned the balloon launch, which takes place in the morning. Early in the morning, weather permitting. Friday morning I determined this wasn't something we were going to shoot for. I wanted to sleep in on Saturday and Sunday! But there was something they called a "hot air balloon moon glow" event at 6:30pm.  The balloons are tethered to the ground, but light up with the glow of the flame.

It really is a pretty awesome sight. I asked to take a picture of Grandma Jane and Zoe and grandma told Zoe to smile for the camera. Yep. She did.

As we first approached, this is the first one we saw. Yes, we called him Nemo, but that's not his official name.

The weather was actually perfect. Winter, yes, but no horrible winds.  I kept my mittens off so I could take pictures and had no problems. Your dad on the other hand left his gloves in the minivan (the minvan!) and wished he hadn't. Live and learn..

At intervals an announcer would count down and ask the balloonists to light 'em up. 5-4-3-2-1!

Sometimes it was hard to know which direction to look!

There was just something about it. Quiet. Beautiful. Not over packed with people. It kind of felt like I was walking in someone else's imagination of a hearty Midwestern life (we get out there and ENJOY it). Yeah, well...not so much. Not really. But this was Magical. Big M. 

We'll be back next year...Only next time maybe with sleds to pull you around in the snow :)

This Zoe's model face

say cheese!

 

 

Sunday is for...

 Eating french toast topped with berries (and even a little whipped cream left over from Uncle Dave's b-day cake!)

 Despite the face above, she was having a good time. In fact, when they first saw the plate they did a little wiggle dance in their highchairs.
[sidebar: this face reminded me of someone, and by a quick google image search I confirmed it: Pink. Somehow, that is SO appropriate, little Princess]

Actually, your mama was impressed with herself on this one. My culinary and "plating" skills are less than stellar. This actually looked good, and you cleaned your plates.

 

 

Even if you haven't quite gotten over shoving half your hand in with the food.

Forks? Who needs forks?