Grandma's Farm

On the second day of our road trip we drove to grandma's farm in Cashton, Wisconsin. We drove through Wildcat Mountain, what a winding road it was! We arrived in the late afternoon and no time was wasted to begin playing with great-grandma Jothen. You loved exploring the nooks and crannies of the farm house. You showed great-grandma your toys and she showed you how to play cards.

Big Nora came for lots of visits. Think of it! TWO Noras together. How fun.

You enjoyed being the center of attention and proceeded to show off for anyone who walked in the door. You engage everyone and leave no one out. As one person put it, "she really knows how to work a crowd."
We spent our days helping great-grandma around the house, taking long naps, eating cake, swinging in the backyard, riding on the tractor with daddy and waiting for tornadoes.

What a life you lead Nora Verna.

We Made It

It's been awhile. We spent the last 10 days in Wisconsin at the Jothen farm. I managed to fill an 8GB card of pictures and videos. So much to filter through. So many stories and happenings floating through my head I don't want to forget to tell you about.

We are going to begin at the beginning.

The first day we drove from Maryland to South Bend, IN the home of Notre Dame University and Touchdown Jesus! We got you there a year and few months after that infamous incident in the College Park diner. It worked out perfectly as Daddy had bought us dinner hours before at a Subway in Ohio. We drove lost around the campus looking for the football stadium and the statue (which turned out to be a very large mural), it became apparent that this moment was meant to be. We finally spot the stadium as we drive around the corner there it is... Touchdown Jesus! A parking space was available right next to the stadium. The place was almost deserted. In front of the mural is a reflective pool and a very large grassy area with sidewalks /paths sort of like a miniature National Mall.

It was calling our name. We had the picnic blanket in the back of the van and dinner. After driving almost 10 hours, we were ready to stretch out and relax. A surreal picnic ensued with a friendly squirrel dinner guest. We played, ran around, relaxed in our own private party. A biker here, a car there. But for the most part, Touchdown Jesus was all ours for just a moment in time.

Of course we spent a copious amount of time trying to get you to do the 'touchdown pose' in just the right spot. You did everything but, including standing on your head!

Later that night in the scuzzy hotel your father booked, you did your first somersault and then followed it up with two more!

But as we were getting ready to leave, I still didn't have that "perfect picture" to match our perfect evening. So we set up the self timer and took a family photo of all us signaling a touchdown.

I will always remember the beauty of this picnic in front of Touchdown Jesus, just the three of us laughing, having good conversation and being together as a family.

My Linus

It started off innocently enough. A blanket from the thrift store, Amy Coe pink patchwork with brown butterflies. It was thicker than other blankets so we put it in your crib to keep you warm at night.

I don't know the moment I realized the corners were filthy and damp from your chewing and sucking. Now the blanket leaves your room and comes all over the house, in the car sometimes on long rides. Peek-a-boo with the blanket is always a side splitter. You suck on it while we read books and you cuddle with it when putting you down for the night. You sleep with it every. single. night. I think an attachment has been made. But in fairness you have also attached yourself to our pets, Brandy, Stan and Lazer so it isn't much different, right?

My very own Linus to love and snuggle.

STICKERS!

Oh my. You discovered the wonder that are stickers. Colorful, sticky, glossy, little pieces of heaven. At least 15 minutes of enjoyment. Ahhhhh the satisfaction of a good sticker. I have dubbed this period of your life as the "age of discovery" since you are discovering the real use of many things, such as stickers, crayons, the shape sorter. You are figuring out how items are suppose to be used instead of just gnawing on everything you put your hands on.

You are quite a little person and can pretty much do anything a bigger person can do. You take your plate into the kitchen after dinner, you know what you like and tell us when you don't want to do something. Today you made it very clear that you did not want the chocolate graham crackers but wanted goldfish instead. You now say "cat" and chase Lazer around at every opportunity. You say "down" and can howl like Stan. Hilarious. How much you absorb and remember. How much you learn. You can touch your head, nose, toes, teeth, ear upon request. You follow multiple step directions and generally make your own decisions in most situations. As a parent I have to change how I respond to your needs. Less about what I want for you and more about what you say you need. I cut you off after the second serving of dessert though. Go me!!! And baths / washing hair is not an option. But when it comes to what you want to play with, where you want to play, how you want to play... that's all you. Hence the plethora of stickers on you tonight.

You are so much fun lately; barring the "no" heaping fits and coloring on the walls.

We leave for Wisconsin on Saturday morning, after Becca's 17th birthday party on Friday night. Good times lie ahead. WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST WARM CHEESE CURD!!! Yum yum yum!

4th of July

Last 4th of July you were 3 months and slept through fireworks.

This year you are 15 months and a never-ending ball of energy. You were mesmerized by fireworks and enjoyed saying "hi" to all the other patrons watching the show.

You wore your blue and white crab dress, a gift from the neighbors for your birthday. It was a low key day and we spent most of the day just hanging out at home. Towards the evening, Grandma and Grandpa came for dinner and the concert in the park. We had a good time rocking out to oldies and watching you dance around in the grass.

Grandpa and Grandma stayed for fireworks and we set some of our own off in the alley behind our house.

Spending time with family, neighbors and friends is an important part of all holiday traditions. We didn't waste a moment this 4th of July weekend. The entire time was spent making memories and treasuring all the freedoms and choices we have been given.

Even if it's the choice to wear all our bows in our hair at one time!!! (Yes, you insisted on putting all your bows on)

July 3rd

Life is starting to calm down. Not quite vacation time yet but getting close. It has still been hot and your pool has been a welcomed relief on those sultry afternoons.

Mommy's extended family had a party on July 3rd to celebrate the 4th, summer, retirements, birth, just a reason to get together. You wore the Unique dress and sandals. It was appropriate since it was red-white-blue themed. Good food, good company, good times were had by all. Your first exposure to fireworks while awake. Although snakes and sparklers aren't very scary. In fact you were so curious about them we had to restrain you from exploring and touching. Daddy bought some bigger fireworks and we set them off in Nonna and Nonni's backyard. Nonni does not like fireworks but we were able to sneak them off without much to-do. This was just a warm-up for the real 4th of July.

Watermelon Summer

Grandma and Grandpa came for 4th of July festivities and brought some cubed watermelon pieces to enjoy at the concert in the park. Summer yum!!!