Syttende Mai

Or in English, the 17th of May. Otherwise known as Norwegian Independence Day. Westby, WI, the town next to great-grandma's farm always has a celebration. Apparently they like to celebrate with cardboard head cut-outs. My favorite is the one of you and Thisbe as Ole and Lena, two factious, infamous Norwegian Americans. It is also the name of delicious cafe in Westby.

You and Daddy had to make a stop at the Lefse House for some sausage wrapped in a lefse called polse. Lefse is a type of potato pancake which you usually eat with butter and sugar. Some of us who are not of Norwegian descent found this polse to be rather gross but I couldn't complain because it was only a dollar! And in what other town in America are you going to find a little shack called the Lefse House?!?! 

We had good times roaming the streets of Westby looking at all the Norwegian crafts and poking in the stores and learning about rommegrot and eating it too! It was pretty yummy for the first three bites!!! This was my first celebration of Syttende Mai and I would recommend it for anyone's bucket list.  

Lisa who is a cousin or more like aunt of your father has a bakery in LaCrosse, WI. She makes the most delicious cakes imaginable. Seriously, the left over red velvet cake she brought to the farm was incredible! And it was adorably decorated with a gnome and the word UffDa! which is a Norwegian term of exasperation. The last picture is the type of Rosemaling from the region in Norway where the Jothen family came from. Rosemaling is a decorative painting style from Norway.  

So not only did we get to hang out with our mid-west family for a week, we also got to learn about your Norwegian heritage. And I have a lot to learn! However, I have already dubbed myself an honorary Norwegian for two main reasons: 1. I attended Syttende Mai festivities and 2. I have hosted and nourished two part-Norwegians in my body. I think both those reasons are pretty solid. I can now claim to be a teeny tiny bit Norwegian.

UFF-DA!

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Wisconsin Walking

The weather for our week in Wisconsin was beautiful, blue skies, light breeze, 70s. It was quite conducive to nightly walks after dinner. One night, we took Grandpa's stroller from the 1940s out because that's what we do here... we have each and ever summer since you were born, well last year it was during the early spring. This was Lucy's first ride. HOWEVER because I'm a lazy and  tired and didn't want to power two separate rides, we stuffed you both together into the single seater.

Our nightly strolls up and down that ridiculously steep and winding hill helped to even out the consumption of all those cheese curds. If you squint you can see us as a dot at the bottom of the hill in the picture (although that is not the bottom of the hill, it keeps going for quite awhile).  

Somehow we are never bored at the farm. There is always something to do, even if it's walking up and down the road in a vintage stroller enjoying the early evenings together. 

Our #1 reader aunt Molly is out in the wilderness for the next six weeks traveling across the U.S. camping with limited Internet access. My goal is to have a whole bunch of posts for her to catch up on when she gets home!!!

Home

It's the last week in May and this is my first update. It's been a busy month. Looking at the 2800 pictures(!!!!) and 35 videos from our travels is simply overwhelming. We left on Friday, the 11th of May in the wee hours of the morning (3:40am to be exact) by dinner time we were eating with great-grandma and Tina and Michael in Elwood, IL. We left for the farm on Sunday, Mother's Day and spent the week in WI. We left to come home on Saturday night May 19th at 8pm drove through the night and arrived at Nonni and Nonna's in time for Molly's graduation party by 1pm and her graduation ceremony on Monday.

Yes, your father and I are insane but somehow you and your sister were quite adaptable and flexible during the entire trip. During the initial 12 hour drive out to Illinois, Lucy was perfect for 11 1/2 hours and the last half hour was hell. We can't complain about that. You and Lu slept through the night as we drove back to Maryland. You both had your moments of exasperation and we had our share of meltdowns. But you also allowed our families to enjoy your presence and your spirit. Lucy was calm and you, Nora were an adorable ball of energy. You both loved to play and explore all the new places. I was generally impressed with how you both behaved and seemed to take in the experiences with curiosity and liveliness.
Yesterday we get back to Westminster and you both crumble and fall apart. Perhaps unhinged might be a better description. After traveling and meeting and playing and being tossed from this house to that one and sleeping in different places and completely off schedules. There was not one shred of normalcy. Then when we walk into our home last night at 7pm, you and Lu couldn't hold it together a minute longer.

So today was our first full day back in our own home and I thought you two would be relishing your time in your own space. But instead you both were cranky and over-tired and just plain unhappy.

Then your father came home and suddenly we were complete again. Lucy squealed in delight. You ran around jumping up and down  like an excited puppy. We had a delightful evening making dinner together and hanging out with our awesome neighbors who took care of Stan and Lazer for us. I realized for the last 10 days all of us have always been together. We need to get back into our routine again. Ms. Patti's tomorrow, library, playgroup, grocery shopping, church. It will take a few days, I'm sure.

However, you both taught me an important lesson today. Our house is a place we live, our town is a place where we experience daily activities, our yard is a place where we imagine and weed, our possessions are things that entertain us. But. BUT. Our home is anywhere and everywhere the four of us are together.

I'm glad we could take our home on the road for a few days and bring love and laughter to our families.

Here are a few pictures that make me feel happy and renewed in a way that only the farm can do. Don't worry, I will do more detailed updates very soon.

We Met Elmo. For Realsies.

We have many pictures and a little bit of video but the memories for me will last a lifetime. Seeing the excitement and pure joy you both exuded was simply beautiful and worth every penny. Ok ok, it was free. But really this type of experience was truly priceless. I totally understand why Kevin Clash keeps up with taking care of Elmo. How nourished one can be by interacting with a never ending stream of kids who demonstrate what true elation is. Thank you Mr. Clash and Elmo for bringing so much love & inspiration to my girls and to the world.

 





In a 2011 interview with NPR Kevin Clash described Elmo as, "a 3-1/2-year-old with a lot of energy [who] loves hugs and kisses, and loves to laugh."

Gee! I don't know ANYONE like THAT.... ok I might know someone....

And I have to thank Daddy for taking such awesome photos and videos. Elmo caused quite a frenzy and  when it was our turn to meet him Daddy plowed through an entire crowd of people exclaiming "that one's mine!" So he could get to the front and catch those most precious moments. He would do almost anything for you Nora, including plowing through children and the elderly.

Purpose

I've been thinking alot about the purpose of this blog lately. Why do it? Why continue? Certainly I am not a mommy blogger making money from the funny stories or anecdotes of my life. I am not a writer weaving beautiful tales of childhood memories. I am not offering advise or perspective on how to raise kids. Who really reads this besides your aunts and grandparents? And Ashley, of course!

But.

I am documenting the lives of my children. For you. For your sister. I don't scrapbook. Tried and failed. I never filled out a baby book.

But.

I have this blog. I have the entries for you to read someday. I have the pictures and videos for you to know how you have been loved and treasured from the beginning.

I am not looking to make money or even have other people read this. If someone is here to see what's going on with us, WELCOME!

But.

The true purpose of this blog is not for them, Nor. It's for you and Lucy. You have always been my primary audience and always will.

I wish you will always know the love of your family and never loose the ability to laugh with them. I hope you will grow up to know Teddy like a brother. I hope you will know your aunts and uncles as an extension of your father and I.

We celebrated aunt Katie's birthday at their beautiful Georgetown home. We had a picnic at the park across the street from their house and hiked some trails in Rock Creek. It was quite fun. Nonni wanted to walk all the way to the National Zoo. We turned around before we got there. Next time :-)

Happy Birthday Aunt Katie clap!

YUMMMMMYYY Sandwich

Mmmmmmmm fresh Georgetown sand. It's better than your average park.

Picnic with Daddy

Rock Creek with Aunt Katie



Someone fell asleep during the hike.

For children ONLY, Daddy!!!

Walk, Teddy, Walk!

Daddy scaring me by standing on the edge of a steep ravine.

So there's an update on what's been going on. I will try to update more often. We do love our readers and  want to keep them abreast on our lives.

AND.

I really love the idea of you reading and watching your story unfold sometime in the not-to-distant future.

Easter

So Easter. It was fun. You were insanely adorable. We got up, hunted for Easter baskets in the backyard where I pulled a great prank on you (look for the pics), went to morning mass with the Wagmans, ate breakfast and then prepared for a humongous lunch/dinner with the Wagmans. We crammed 18 people into their dining room! Wow! We had a successful egg hunt after the meal but I think it was only successful because your only competition was little Lu. And she was more smitten with the cat than the eggs. Overall, we had a very lovely day frolicking about with friends, neighbors and family. What a little lady you are turning into... pearls and all.



I tricked you into thinking the Yoda basket was yours and you crumbled.
Totally crumbled to the ground crying "I DON'T WANT THAT ONE!"



Then I felt bad and told you to keep hunting and you finally saw your loot on the swing.
You took off running saying "I SEE MY BASKET!!!" 

And here you are counting your loot. Explaining to me how much the Easter bunny left you.

Lucy at Easter Dinner



Lucy wasn't feeling the bunny ears.



Let the hunting begin!

Lu is actually looking at the cat and has zero interest in that egg.



Yup, Lucy loves the cat.



This is what Lucy thinks of egg hunts.



Hunt those eggs Nor!

In the middle of the chaotic day, someone mentioned that it was Lucy's first Easter. Oops. Totally dropped the ball on that one. Happy First Easter Lucy! But Mr. Kevin's mom was in attendance and she is 94. I think your 94th Easter is a much more awesome accomplishment than your 1st. But maybe it's just me...



Hopefully you and Lucy will get to experience 94 Easters too. How cool would that be?!?!