Last Thursday, Sophie and I packed all of our dresses and fanciest clothes and threw them in the trunk of the car.  Armed with thousands of fruit snacks and a full tank of gas, we headed West to the North Dakotan prairie.  Twelve miles out of town, we made our first stop.  We drove for what felt like forever, making frequent stops to get treats and use the bathroom.  Somewhere along the way, the landscape changed to prairie.


By the time we passed through Fargo, songs started to blend together, This Land is Your Land morphing into You Are My Sunshine.  I told Sophie that we were getting closer and began to feel a glimmer of hope.  Until we saw the sign that said 188 Miles to Bismarck.  That's when Sophie cracked.


To keep her occupied, I gave her my camera.  Then spent the next ten minutes with my arm stretched over the seat back, trying to retrieve it.  One shoulder cramp and forty pictures of the dirty footprints on the back of the seat later, I succeeded.


A million hours later, we finally arrived in Bismarck and spent the evening swimming and resting in preparation for the next day's big event.  The marriage of our friends Kathy and Pat.  Here are Mr. & Mrs. O'Brien enjoying their first dance.


Inspired by the promise of dancing, Sophie stood on the sidelines, waiting for someone to notice her.


She waited, positioned herself near the boys, hand by her side ready for holding.


Before the band really got going, the kids took over the dance floor, whipping each other around and falling to the ground.


Not only did we get to join our friends in their wedding celebration, but we also got to hang out with Sevda.  Sevda crouched down to get closer to Sophie's level, Sophie crouched down to do whatever Sevda was doing.  I could understand this thinking, I've always like to do whatever Sevda is doing too.


We took loads of pictures that night, wanting to make sure we had plenty of pictures of each other.  I don't really know who else was at the wedding, but Sevda and Sophie appear to be everywhere.


Back to the event at hand, we managed to remember to get a picture of us with Mrs. O'Brien.


Here's a picture of Kathy's new brothers-in-law taking a vote with all the O'Briens to determine whether or not they should allow Kathy into the family.  She made it in, but just barely.


We had a great time that night - good food, great music, fun crowd.  And by the end of the night, we were all exhausted.  We rested up a bit, then hit the town on Saturday.  Sevda, Sophie and I did a little shopping then went out for lunch.  Sevda paid for our bill with a stockpile of currency that she'd collected on previous trips.  Sophie thought it was awesome, seeing all those coins stacked up.  It just reminded me of the old days when we'd scour our apartment for enough cash to make another run to Bruegger's.


We ended the weekend with one more festivity - a picnic with more and more great food.  Even though Sophie could barely tear herself away from the playground to eat, when she did, she wanted to sit "right by that girl".  I cleared some space, and settled her in next to "that girl".


The next morning, we woke up early and packed all our loot.  Even though we were excited to get home, the thought of a full day in the car was daunting.  We stopped to take a look at some buffalo, excited to see the rare and elusive Albino Buffalo.


I felt kind of a kinship with that buffalo.  After all, our legs are the same color.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. O'Brien!  Thank you for including us in your very special day(s), for giving us a reason to get together with good friends, and for bringing us to North Dakota.  We had a great time.

It's been a long year of medical stuff for us, and over the past year, I've learned an awful lot.  In hindsight, it would have really been helpful if I had gone to medical school.  I think I would have been able to help us troubleshoot a lot of stuff if I were more medically knowledgeable.  Sure, I research a lot online.  And yes, I ask a lot of questions of our doctors.  But there are some things that are just hard to know without proper training.

That's why recently, when we were sitting and waiting for the doctor to arrive, I was really glad to see that they believe in a visual workplace.  This office had signs all over the place, the medical equivalent of post-its, providing handy reminders for loads of procedures and tips (including one handy one that gave the formula for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit - always handy!).  As I was reading the literature-laden wall, I saw one sign that I think gave very practical advice, seemingly delivered as an after thought.  The sign outlined the steps that should be taken when preparing a patient for transfer from our out-state hospital to one in the city.  It had probably twenty items to consider - the medications that the patient should receive, the stuff that should go with him or her, the people that should be notified.  And one last really important item handwritten at the bottom of the list in black magic marker:

REMOVE PANTS.

I don't know why that's on there, maybe there is an actual medical reason.  And although I really wouldn't want to see the repercussions of this, I think it would be kind of funny if this phrase were to appear in other places.

Like here.


Or maybe here.


Or even here, although this one you might not catch right away and only notice it later when you're back at home balancing your accounts.



I think this could really catch on.  Medical reason or not, I think it's a good idea.  I think we can all agree that it's more comfortable to be without pants anyway. 

A few months ago, I started a new blog to share and organize all the foods and treats I make for my family.  I have such a hard time finding recipes that are tasty AND non-dairy AND appeal to my family.  But more than that, I also have a hard time keeping track of it all.  I haven't updated the site as regularly as I'd like, but over the past four months, I've managed to add 43 recipes and food ideas.  Most of the entries include links to recipes, printable versions of original creations, and even a few photos.  Like this one:

Doesn't that make you want to take up baking?  Or at least come over?

If you're looking for some good stuff to try at your house, check out the index we're creating over at On The Table Tonight.  We've tried them all and liked them enough to make them again.  And even though my updates there have been a bit hit or miss - I have twenty recipes that are in the queue to add to the site.  And I swear, they're not ALL cupcakes.

Monday mornings are kind of hard for us.  This morning when I woke up, I had to look at my calendar just to remember what day of the week it was.  Most Mondays we have a really hard time getting out of the house anywhere near our target time.  To be very honest, we are perpetually late no matter what day of the week it is.  Today, we were ready to go right on time.  Until the kids decided to have a photo shoot.


Both Martin and Sophie were feeling pretty good about the outfits they'd put together on their own this morning.  Martin wearing his "sport guy shirt" and Transformer flipflops.  Sophie in a sundress, pink high tops, shades, bracelets, and most shocking - pigtails (which she calls two ponies).  They did look pretty good, so I obliged.

Which is why we were late.  AGAIN.


Made even more late by their insistence that they each take a turn taking a few pictures of their own.  I wish I could figure out how Sophie took this one - a focused center and blurred and skewed edges?  I have no idea how she achieved the accidental effect.  But I do know that it only set us back nine minutes, and really, that's not too bad. 

Summertime finally feels like its arrived.  On Sunday, the sky was filled with sunshine and felt warm enough to break out the kiddie pool.  The kids were thrilled, not even minding the freezing cold water in the newly filled pool.  Probably because as quickly as water poured from the hose, it was tossed overboard.


Martin kept himself really busy throwing a quarter in the pool and in plastic containers, pretending that it was a wishing well or that he'd discovered a treasure.


I spent most of my time trying to keep the kids from flipping over the side of the pool where I imagined every ten seconds that someone was going to break their arm or gonk their head.


Despite the fact that the pool only holds about ten inches of water, goggles were required.  As were frequent breaks to bundle up in sun-warmed towels.


After about an hour of splashing and water tossing and sliding around, we took a break for some snacks.  Martin having chips and salsa, Sophie eating chips and spaghetti sauce.  Kinda gross, I know.


We sure are glad that summertime is finally here.  Spaghetti sauce and all.

This year we've been very baby fortunate and have added three babies to our extended family - my goddaughter Maddyn, my nephew Miles, and my niece Nadia.  This fall, we're expecting two more babies - courtesy of my brother-in-law Mike and his wife Chris.  Twin boys - how awesome is that?

Saturday we held a baby shower (babies shower?) for the new Nelson shrimps.  Chris spent the first few months of her pregnancy not feeling very well, and since she got her appetite back, the only thing she really feels like eating is teppanyaki.  And who can blame her.


To start out the party, we opened gifts and ate some snacks.  As I learned from my cousin Michele, no baby shower is complete without the requisite cake made out of cloth diapers.  There have been so many babies around here that I've become kind of a pro at making them.


After oohing and aahing over little matching blue bathrobes and marveling at tiny baby stuff, we headed to the restaurant for some tasty food.


Our tableside chef posed for the camera, creating a burst of flaming appetizers for us.


Our little momma of the hour kept cool with a fancy drink, loading up on nourishment for the boys kickin' around inside.  Here are Chris and my soon-to-be nephews:


They haven't finalized names yet, but if Martin and Sophie have their way, new babies Colin and Martin (yes, another one) should be arriving sometime in September.  I can't wait to meet them. But really, I don't think anyone is eagerly anticipating their arrival more than Chris.

Over the weekend we celebrated Father's Day.  I'm a big fan of extending birthdays and holidays, and this year we added Father's Day to our list.  On Saturday, we focused on Marty - letting him sleep in, hanging out in the yard, mowing the lawn, going to the dump (and we broke records by hauling 800 pounds of grass to the dump!  that's almost half a ton!), and eating a tasty meal (not at all related to the trip to the dump).  It was a good day and we had a lot of fun together.  On Sunday, our extended families joined us for another tasty meal, the parade, and hanging out in the sunshine.  The weekend was great fun, and I feel very blessed to have two such great men as the cornerstones in my life.

Grandpa Pat and his favorite granddaughter who lovingly responds to the name he's given her - Sophienuts.


Marty and the boy who lovingly shares the name he's given him - his own.

Although it hardly seems possible, this lady just turned SIXTY (hint: the one with the shades).


As is now our tradition, to celebrate one of my parents turning sixty, we took my mom to a parade.  This one was a lot bigger than the one we took my dad to for his sixtieth but unfortunately didn't include any green beer.

Happy Birthday, Momma!  I hope this decade is as good as the past six (gulp).

Last week our town had their festival.  There are activities all week long - canoe races, kiddie parade, 5K run, queen coronation.  This year, there were only two we participated in - the Midway and the parade.  Like many smalltown festivals, the Midway is collection of rickety-looking rides and games with stuffed animal prizes.  I wasn't too sure how safe the rides appeared, but I was reassured by the new approach of letting parents buckle in their own children, and the ride operator's willingness to set down his smoke while the ride was in progress.

Sophie loved the rides, especially the motorcycle vintage 1978.  In fact, I may have ridden the exact same model thirty years earlier.

Martin preferred the airplane ride which came equipped with a not-so-PC machine gun.


We didn't stay too long at the Midway.  The rides were all short-lived and the games were five dollars a try.  I did let them play a fishing game where they each won a prize.  It didn't take much skill and the game operator sort of made up his own rules.  I think that guy ran the game like he lived, making up rules as he went along.  Like the rule I think he made up that morning for a game called "happy hour" based on the impression I received when I stood down wind from him.

On Sunday we joined what appeared to be the entire city in viewing the parade.  Arriving only fifteen minutes before the start time, we weaseled our way into spot wide enough for one child to sit between blankets that had probably been "saving" space for days.  Sophie loved running back and forth between the street and the rest of our crew tucked back in the shade.


After watching some of the bigger kids, Martin learned how to dash out into the street and scrap with other kids over parade loot.  I've never seen kids so excited to get tootsie rolls and free pencils.

Now that I think about it, it's sort of the same behavior that adults exhibit when attending trade shows.  Which, of course, has nothing to do with our festival.  And with a summary like this, I'm pretty sure that the Chamber of Commerce will never call on me to write about what our town has to offer.

Last Thursday was day two of t-ball.  I can hear what you're thinking already - "Is she really going to post something about t-ball twice a week until the end of July?  Could there possibly be that much to say about a five year old in t-ball?"  I don't know.  I don't THINK I will, but really, it's hard to say.  I MIGHT.  Especially when I think you know just how RIVETING t-ball can be.

For example, last week I caught a great shot of Martin learning how to play right field.  Intuitively, the coach must have known that it was his LEGACY to be in right field.  After all, it was where I was first able to exhibit my own natural athletic ability.

And without even telling him, he did just what I used to do in right field.  Except here in this shot he's waving at his pals instead of trying to keep the bugs away from his head.

Then, it was his turn at bat.  He took a few swings and finally connected.

He was so proud of his accomplishment that he took his new pal The Bat all the way to first.

Once at first, he obtained his first minor injury when he lightly skinned his knee in the dirt.  After he fell off the base when his base spinning and dancing became too wild.


From the side of the field, Marty and I chatted about Martin and his athletic abilities.  Marty talked about how he would work with Martin on the game, help him understand the rules, and practice catching and throwing.  I told him that I thought that would all be good, but that we also ought to be really proud of the really nice sand drawings he made with his glove that night in the infield dirt.

Correction from previous entry:  In the first entry I posted about Martin's t-ball career, I reminisced about my own illustrious athletic past.  In the entry, I said that the head of the t-ball program would yell at me to "look ready".  But last week, as I listened to the other people, I remembered what he actually said was "look ALIVE" which strikes me as all the more funny.  I remember at the time that phrase making me want to actually die, and if someone were to say it to me now I'm sure I'd stare at them with eye-bugging fervor - that kind that drips with sarcasm as it silently says SEE ME, I'M TOTALLY ALIVE. BLINKING. AND JUST STARING AT YOU.  Because that's just how much I've grown in the past thirty years.