Firsts

Firsts this summer that I want to remember include:

- first Father's Day present that she picked out by herself (fish wind chimes from 10,000 Villages)

- first church picnic (with LOTS of sunscreen, courtesy of Sanne)

- first time writing her own name (mostly; A is still hard; and the E has 4-5 horizontal lines)  :)


- first time on a roller coaster, and other kiddie rides (at Cedar Point)

- first paddleboat ride (at cabin) 

 - first trip to Seattle (visiting Bo and Megs with Grammy and Gramps for their 40th)

- first week going to VBS (at NPCC, Egypt and Joseph theme)

 

- first Lego sets (Winnie the Pooh fishing, and outdoor fruit market stand), first Trio set (Construction set with wrecking ball), and first princess doll (Ariel for the bath)   

 - first play (Rapunzel, that we saw with Kate, Izey and Ando)

 - first garden - for all three of us :) - including a plot at church and one in our backyard

 - and that reminds me... first backyard :)

 
- first ballet class

- first Cubs game at Wrigley (on an unseasonably cold and rainy night, with dad, Leah, Sanne and families.)
 

Travel logue part deux

Another great trip we made this summer was to the cabin in WI that we've rented for five years in a row. It's situated on a beautiful spot off a channel that leads into a great lake, and has shady views, a paddle boat, a pontoon that we take out many times a day, and a nice little town nearby where we go jogging, get email and coffee, and visited the thrift shop and grocery store.

This year was a fun one because Eva was old enough to do so much more than in previous years. We went swimming a lot, including braving high waves on a very windy, very humid day, with her floaty and while the boat was tethered to the trees nearby.  She went paddleboating with Grammy and Gramps, wanted to play baby and mommy mosquito and get "seahorse" rides in the water. She helped roast marshmallows for s'mores, practiced her dance routines with Grammy, and even helped set the table.  We also enjoyed game time at the cabin, finding a new park and nearby ice cream place, watching West Wing Season 3 in the evenings, and watching Tangled (adults only). 

On the drive home from the cabin, we saw lots of farms, animals, and beautiful country-scapes on the way. Eva enjoyed this change of view from her backseat vantage point, and noticing what was passing outside the window helped pass much of the time driving.

My favorite car comment of hers was as we were driving through cornfields in Wisconsin. She pointed to the right side of the car and said, "Mom, look how tall that corn is growing!" And I agreed. Then she pointed to the left side of the car, at what was probably a soybean field, and asked, "Is that shorter field where they grow the popcorn?"

Seattle!

This summer is absolutely flying by... as most summers do! Part of the reason that this season is moving so quickly is that we've had many trips going on, where we are gone one week, then home one week, then gone again - since mid-May.  We have been lucky to see many friends and family this summer and make some great memories.

Our first big trip was in June to Seattle to visit my brother and sister in law. We three flew out from Minneapolis with my parents and left late in the evening; we then spent 5 days enjoying family time and celebrating my parent's anniversary together.  I finally got most of our photos from this trip online - and we had lots of fun moments that I want to be sure to remember, including: 

- Nighttime flight out, arrived at Tim and Meghan's place at 2am (Seattle time, or 4am central!)
- Spent first day out and about, boat cruise through the locks and up the shipping canal by Ballard where they live. The hood where they ended up - a Norwegian fishing village that likes to stick it to the man. :) Funny how certain people are drawn to certain things....
- Went to U of Wash campus to enjoy fab weather, fountains, flowers, and see where Megs will be living - I mean studying - soon (hee hee!)
- Enjoyed lots of time on their big cedar deck in the back - grilling, blowing bubbles, having a dance party, resting, admiring their flowers and the view, grilling again, and blowing bubble again. :)
- Tim and Megs planned a bunch of fun for us, including a wine-tasting one night at their place, complete with score sheets and info on each variety and how to taste it well.
- Celebrated mom and dad's 40th anniversary as a family up on the Seattle Space Needle with a ritzy, scrumptious lunch at the rotating sky deck. Rosemary and maple butter, lush salmon pasta, crab cakes with a creative remoullaide - all very delish!   
- We went out one night as 'kids' to the micro-brewery and hang out joint within walking distance of their place, and helped shut the place down.
- Our family scouted out toddler-friendly parks nearby, walking/jogging trails that ran behind Fred Meyer and wound their way down by the waterside, made the most of our VW minivan rental, and had salmon/seafood lunch whenever possible!
- We spent one afternoon down at Pike Place Market, where we got lavender soaps, a crocheted hat for Eva, fresh poppies, cedar grilling planks and stellar quality salmon, and enjoyed the whole scene.
- Explored downtown another afternoon and ended up at the science center and enjoyed the museum for several hours. It included a live butterfly tent exhibit, displays for toddlers and water play areas, machines to push and levers to pull, live music out by the needle, and a tram ride downtown where we enjoyed another concert and some shopping/wandering.
- Saw where Tim works at University place and enjoyed bookstore time and lunch together at the mall. 
- Grateful for lots of great time chilling, reading bks together, talking, job hunting, what color is your parachute conversations, sharing dreams, painting toenails blue, and taking photos of us all 7 together. So, so glad to spend time with some of the best people on the planet and have them introduce us to their new digs.    
- As part of this trip, we were also very excited to catch up with friends in Mpls on our way out and back from the trip - including quality time with Josh and Kara, Jed, Steve/Beth/Grace, Satte, Verdoorns, friends at Jackson's 1/2 bday party, and Molly.  Total successful trip!

Eva seems older lately when...

- She gives girl hugs, where her arms reach all the way around my neck and she pulls me in :) LOVE IT.
- I realized that she outgrew her first set of underwear - she has already grown another size and a half!
- She has little hair on her arms and legs now!
- She has for real little girl tan lines
- She breaks into serious dance numbers whenever she hears songs on the radio, in the car, at home, etc. - but her moves don't seem very baby-like; they seem, in fact, quite coordinated and fit the music well!
- She continues to ask to be a ballet or dance class (see above bullet point)
- She has new bruises, scratches, scabs and bumps almost every day
- She likes trying to write her name (with a pen especially), but insists on drawing 4 horizontal lines on her capital "E" instead of three