To Grandmother's House We Go

Me, My(mini)self, and (samura)I along with Bill (who was obviously the photographer that day) all took a short day trip to visit my Grandma in Little Falls on Saturday. The girls were very good in the car, both taking naps there and back, and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day. Spring is here to stay people!!

Grandma made a really great lunch for us big people - tacos with all the fixings. She also let Cecelia make her own pizza which, of course, Cecelia thought was awesome.

I love to visit my Grandma and be in her house. It's so comfortable and soothing. Lately I've been leaving with more than I came with. Last time it was 5 pairs of really great pumps that my Grandma no longer wears. This time, a step stool that my Great Great Grandpa made for his wife along with some cookie cutters and a salad bowl. Thanks Grandma!!

Bill and CeCe went to the zoo and Grandma, Delaney and I went to a quilt show. Not usually my cup of tea but I can appreciate hard work and, let me tell you, these people spend literally years working on these things. They were fun to look at and any time spent with family is a good time.

Today is another warm and sunny day. No complaints. Love you all.

No More Hives

The rash is gone!! Of course, I didn't take any pictures in time but she looks great now and that's all that matters.
Both girls are enjoying this beautiful Minnesota spring weather. We spent some quality time picking up the backyard this weekend and taking some nice long walks. It's fun checking out the neighborhood since we're still technically new here. Lots of walkers, riders, bladers and even a few lemonade stands here and there.
Too bad the weekend ever has to end.......

Poor Delaney

After taking amoxicillin to cure an ear infection we came to find our little girl has an allergy to penicillin. She has broken out in hives and has a terrible looking rash covering her entire body. If I remember to take pictures I will be sure to post. She seems so uncomfortable and it could take a week or more for the rash and hives to subside. On top of that she's getting a top tooth. Send your love her way this weekend.

View From the Top

This is the view I usually get of Delaney. How quickly I forgot that, at this age, babies want to be attached to your body at all times. Last night, this is what she was doing at I ate my dinner: cold macaroni and cheese straight from the pot using the wooden ladle that was used for serving. Seriously, that was my dinner. Cece and Bill were at gymnastics and then the grocery store and ate before they left. When Laney finished her mac & cheese I realized she had peed through her diaper and needed a bath. By the time bath is over and the kitchen finally cleaned, all I had time for was the delicious dinner described above. Gee, I just can't wait until they're ALL in activities and we're chasing our heads off. Now I know why I have so many memories of my mom eating Oreos and drinking Coke over the kitchen sink for all those years.

Stickin' With the Sisterhood

Ever since Delaney was born I've been consumed with thoughts and questions about sisters. I am pretty lucky to be the only girl sibling in my family. In some ways I feel that I've been a little more spoiled than my brothers. I don't mean I think I'm the favorite (I'm totally the favorite), but more like I've got to do all the "girl" things without having to share. For example, be my Dad's little girl, my mom's shopping partner, that sort of thing.
Having two little girls of my own is a blessing. For me, it's just the more the merrier for lunches out, spa days and doll shopping. My questions lay in how their relationship is going to be with eachother.
My hope is that they become best friends and remain that way for all of eternity. If I could mix the perfect batch for an ideal sister relationship it would be a combination of the relationship I have with my brothers, the closeness I have with my Mom and the loyalty and love I have with my best friend and all my other close girl friends that I have made and kept for all these years.
I hope my girls are girl's girls. What I mean is that I hope they can value eachother as girls and women as well as sisters to eachother. I want them to put eachother as girls and women first, above all else.
Is this a blog about feminism? Not really, just more about stickin' with the sisterhood.

Playing Catch Up

It's been a long three weeks without internet service so we're playing catch up.
This is a picture of Bill in I visiting Grand Marais while on a trip to Lutsen for Bill's company's annual meeting.
This is the first picture of Bill and I on a trip - alone - for more than one night. You can gather, then, that this was our first trip - alone - for more than one night. Man, was it fun.
I dutifully left a good five pages of instruction for our rotating care takers. First, we had my aunt Minda. For her I am eternally grateful because she single handedly decided it was time for Cecelia to potty train - and it worked. Then we had Bill's mom Nancy who had bath duty - God save her. Lastly, my Dad and his girlfriend Marilyn kindly drove all the way from Moorhead to do the last leg (that included a poopie underwear and bath incident at 4:00a.m.). We are so grateful to all of them for taking such good care of our girls while we were gone. I figured it would be easier for the sitters to rotate than the girls.
After all my notes were written, groceries bought and sleepless nights (with worry that the entire world of my kids would fall apart if I were to be gone for an entire weekend) the trip was on. Go figure, after talking to Minda the first night everything went perfect. No worries for the rest of the weekend.
Bill and I stayed at Caribou Highlands resort in a nice, big condo just for the two of us. We ate casual dinners with uninterrupted conversations, drank until the wee hours of the night and bombed around town stopping to eat and shop whenever we felt like it. We slept in and caught up on things we haven't had the chance to talk about over the more chaotic dinners at home.
I have to tell you, it was really great to be able to spend some time with Bill and dote on eachother for a couple of days.
It was also really good to come home.