Tuesday, July 16, 2013

twenty-eight

week twenty-eight of fifty-two
Bliss.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Twenty-Seven


week twenty-seven of fifty-two
that I couldn't pick a favorite photo from the past week
so I just narrowed it down to 31
(which really is saying a lot 
because I do tend to take quite a few photos)
but if I haaaaaad to choose
I think I would pick this one:
because my goodness are we in the middle of a pirate phase.
If I had gold doubloon for every time I heard 
"Peter Pan" 
or 
"Smee" 
or
"Neverland"
or
"Wendy and Michael and John"
or 
"Yo-Ho"
or 
"Binkerbell!" (from Ingrid)


Monday, July 8, 2013

Up North for the Fourth {in photos}

We were lucky enough to be invited to spend the holiday weekend
with some very dear friends 
at their family's idillic Northwoods cabin
While Issac and I had visited the cabin many times before
Amelia had only visited once:
two summers ago
while I was still pregnant with Ingrid
Miss Ingrid was a cabin first-timer
but, like usual,
 she quickly acclimated to things
and jumped in head first
We took in a tiny town festival 
 where the kiddos played 
some very authentic carnival games
like Ring Toss
Pick-A-Duck
and Ingrid participated in a very competitive live minnow race
the big kids helped her minnow learn the way
(however the little carnie decided that extra help was grounds for disqualification..)
then we headed back to the beautiful cabin
in the woods
for some dinner
(note the photo bombing hungry toddler...)
and some time to chill out by the water
and blow bubbles with our friend Mister Evan.
In the morning, the moms headed out for a bit
while the little ones watched the dads
We're not sure what they did, 
but everyone was all smiles when we returned!
and the moms didn't return empty handed:
99-cent pirate eye patches x 3 = money well spent
FYI: I'm pretty confident this is the only photo I am in all weekend.. 
We snuck in a trip to the park 
to tire out the kids, 
when in reality it really just tired out the grown ups..
Still, we put on our bravest faces 
to take three overtired toddlers
into a restaurant/bar for dinner
Which really actually went quite well.
I ate the first burger I have had in maybe 2 years
(which reminds me, I should take an extra dose of lovastatin..)
 and Amelia drank a Kiddie-Cocktail and used up all of dad's quarters playing Pac-Man

the children didn't fall off of the dock,
though Ingrid almost dove in seconds after this photo was taken
because she said she saw a "fishie"
(disclaimer: these outfits were not coordinated on purpose)

Just before starting the road trip back home, 
we ended the trip with a bang
by stopping off at a pirate ship!
these pirate-loving girls were in heaven!
Ahoy, mateys.
and no trip to the Northwoods is complete without moccasins!
some for me, too!
Gosh we were lucky to spend the weekend 
in such great company (mosquitos excluded)!
















Tuesday, July 2, 2013

twenty-one through twenty-six

Well, it was inevitable that I would miss a week (or five).
Our heads have been spinning since we returned from vacation in North Carolina in May.
Spinning with good things, but spinning nonetheless: work, yard work, nice weather (finally), kid-stuff,  doctor appointments, more work stuff. All good.

Week Twenty-One
While mom&dad were on vacation, the girls had a fun vacation of their own at Grandma Mary & Grandpa Bill's house. They rolled out the red carpet for our little ladies, introducing new adventures each day: pool, swings, t-ball, visits to the farm and probably many grandparent/grandchild secret sugary treats that we will never know about.

Week Twenty-Two
Our very dear friends came to visit from Illinois, so we needed to take them to Cheesefest because.. well, it's called "Cheesefest." Amelia certainly had no complaints about the carnival rides!

Week Twenty-Three
We are not quite sure when or how it started, but we are in a major dress-up phase at the Olson house. Every day starts with a tutu (at the very least) and most often is also accentuated by a hot pink feather boa and oodles of costume jewelry. 

Week Twenty-Four
This week the girls had to say a very sad farewell to their little neighbor friends Ms. Natalie and Ms. Audrey as they prepare to move to the East Coast. We feel lucky to have the luxuries of technology that will hopefully allow the girls to feel a little bit closer! 

Week Twenty-Five
{Three photos for this week, because I make the rules here.. }
I celebrated by birthday this week. 
Amelia threw me a birthday party in my bedroom with two balloons and a very enthusiastic song!

Ingrid loved that my birthday involved ice cream, sprinkles, and swimsuits.

and 
last but not least:
The girls started their summer dance class this past week. 
Back-to-back lessons!
I snuck Ingrid into the two-year-old class 
they both love to practice their tap-tap-tapping