first day of summer

Monday did not start out feeling much like the first day of summer. It was another dreary day (just about all of June has been rainy so far); and we can't afford to go on vacation this year, while with school having been out for a week "everyone" else was doing fun summer stuff but us. After lunch, when it was my time to work, we all got ready to go for a walk instead. Of course it started raining even more, so we got into the car and started driving. Lilly fell asleep, and so we just kept driving; down south, passed Nerstrand big woods state park and eventually, through the stormy weather, all the way to Pepin, Wisconsin. After two hours in the car, just as we arrived in Pepin, Lilly woke up and the sky cleared. We had coffee at a cute coffee shop, drove by some impressive looking houses overlooking Lake Pepin, played on the beach, then had dinner at the much-raved-about Harbor View Cafe. And it was amazing! The food and wine were excellent, though way above our budget. (The meal was covered thanks to gift credit cards from grandpa Kent (Leighton's dad) and grandma Cheryl!) And Lilly was just her sweetest little self, nibbling on the food, playing with the guests around us, smiling to the server. What a fun first day of summer it turned out to be!

We did not bring our camera, but here are a couple of photos of Harbor View Cafe from their site. (Actually, since the restaurant doesn't accept credit cards, we were told to just send a check when we got home!):

We decided to keep up the fun the following day and headed out to Lake Byllesby beach in Dakota county (which Lilly had fun wading in, even though it was filled with alga). Afterward, we strolled around in charming Cannon Falls.

When we came home, we reserved a cheap room at a motel in Duluth on Lake Superior for next Monday-Thursday. We've both been missing Greece, looking out on the Mediterranean sea from our deck at Alechos' in Drios, Paros, surrounded by his vineyard. Lake Superior is the closest we can get here in Minnesota to something resembling a sea coast. I've only visited once, briefly stopping on my way further up north, and Leighton and Lilly have never been. We'll bring a cooler with food for breakfast and lunch, and will probably have dinner out. We hope to spend just about a total of $300 though, plus gas money; a fairly affordable mini-vacation. Together with this week's summer kick-off, it should fill our vacation needs so we can buckle down for work during the month of July--with an occasional day off to go visit other towns and beaches, or just go to the pool when it's nice out and we feel like we need some time off.

Lilly turns 2

Today is my daughter's birthday. I woke up with a strange calm feeling. To my surprise, when I saw her I didn't seem to be overly sentimental. I mean, I'm a softy, and just yesterday I was thinking so much about what it means for me that my daughter is turning two. So what's up?

We celebrated Lilly's birthday last Saturday, with a party at our house, with our friends and their kids, who are Lilly's friends. It was a great party! On Sunday, we as a family spent the day in the city as a kind of continuation of the celebration, having brunch at a nice restaurant (Lucia's) and seeing a movie (Babies) at a movie theater--our first movie at a theater as a family.

Monday was back to work as usual, with our weekly routines. However, hanging over us was the fact that Tuesday, today, Lilly is having her birthday.

It got late, and thus bedtime for Lilly. Anne most always puts Lilly to bed.

...

September 25--

I began the following post on Lilly's birthday. I don't remember where I was going with it; it's been such a long time. It must have been something I couldn't put words to at the time. I mean, your daughter turns two--how HUGE is that; how do you describe that 'whatever it must have been at the time' sentiment in a blog post. You can't of course; you can try (which is what I'm trying do in this blog) but nothing quite says it, you know. I'm leaving the post unfinished because that's all I can do with it now. I could just as well come across this way than if I had finished it; although, surely it would come across more to the point if I had finished it at the time, as it came t me at the moment (I mean why else would I try to write it all out). Leaving it as such and posting it might be just as worthwhile is all; there's no knowing if it would come across better.

hurrah for Lilly! hurrah for mama too!

It's Lilly's birthday! We celebrated on Saturday at our house with friends. We'll post pictures soon.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big congratulations and thanks to Anne, who (I'll remind you) carried in her body for 9 long months, and labored for 64 long hours to give life to, our precious daughter; this is a big day for mama, too, who continues to give so much to nurture our Lilly.

Lilly is thriving! She is such a big girl and we are very proud of her! She sends thanks to all for the birthday wishes and gifts, and we do too!

birthday party!

Saturday we hosted a birthday party for Lilly at our house with many of her friends and their families, our friends too. It was a big day for all. After breakfast on the porch opening gifts that family had sent her, Leighton and I were busy getting the house and food ready all day but it was all worth it. Everyone enjoyed themselves and Lilly was the princess of the party, all dressed up in a new dress from great-grandma and great-grandpa Hambrick that arrived while we took a break for lunch.

Lilly was delighted by all her gifts and loved the chocolate brownie cake. Leighton and I were so proud of her when she blew out the candles on her cake right as I was finishing the Norwegian happy birthday song for her (we all sang the English one for her first).

Below are some photos some friends of ours took of her as she was opening presents after we'd all sung for her.

 

garden time

We've been so enjoying spending time outside in our garden (gardens!) lately, clearing space, weeding, sowing, planting, tending, trimming, supporting, watching. I'll post some new pics. soon. In the meantime, check out our most recent album for pics. of us all hanging out in our friends' gardens too! Here's one of Lilly in my friend Marte's garden (her garden is amazing and with transplants she's also been contributing to the growth of our garden):

We're all healthy by now, busy plugging ahead with work when we're not spending time with Lilly or in the yard or with house projects. Always something, of course. But it's all of the good kind. Leighton and I are both feeling a little wistful that our little baby is turning into a big independent girl who's now two to be any day. And I also find myself craving some just Leighton and me time, say out for sushi  or something like that. But then I feel terrible about wanting that, what with her birthday coming up and then father's day: it is now (as always...) about her. It's our anniversary June 30 and I hope we can do something special then, either as a family, or, if we're lucky, just the adults.

the way we were ... Barcelona spring 2009