Getaway

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name.

And they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

I love that song.  As I wrote this, I sang it out loud, in my head and typed it out.  Dan said, "I have never known you to know the words to a song.  I'm impressed".  He didn't know I had to go to lyrics.com so I wouldn't type something like, "You wanna go where people loooooove you, oh yeah!"

Well, we did.  Maya and I jet-setted it to Minot, ND to see some very special people in my life. 
People she hadn't met yet. 
People that hadn't seen her static electric hair, her 7 teeth, her sweet smile and her signature cough sound that she affectionately makes to alert us her belly is hungry.
And she hadn't met some of my favorite people in the world.  It was time.

Maya and I were lucky enough to grab a Caribou coffee, grab a couple seats on a plane and in 62 minutes, we were greeted by a smiling, ecstatically waving, energetic entourage. 
We were rock stars. 
We prepared for the paparazzi.
We felt the love, people.
We really were in the land of, "....and they're always glad you came".

It was like old times.
Laughter filled the Bloms house. 
Delicious food....including the infamous Scotcharoo bars (that I had for breakfast....both mornings)....covered the countertops.
Memories of babysitting Brekka and Blair....and almost burning down their house...came flooding out. 
A visit to the farm....peaceful, calm, and beautiful.  I could refill my spirit there.
Jeff's wise teaching of sticking out his tongue intrigued Maya....she became a pro.
We learned Maya doesn't love dogs......and that she loves mashed potatoes.
We miss Minot...the Bloms have a whole lot of love in that house.  We walked away grateful for you guys....you have hearts, spirits and souls of platinum.  Its better than Cheers. 
We love you.

Until next time....

Aloha and a future Olympian!

The Pina Coladas were cold, the tattoos were glittery, the conversation was spirited and the pool was a hit!  Maya experienced her first Luau this summer, one of the many "Firsts" over the past month.

We feel like Maya has two big sisters whenever we're with her cousins.  Brooke transforms from a recent Kindergarten graduate to a mature 12 year old when she's around Maya.  We're pretty sure Brooke could babysit her by herself...while her diapers wouldn't be changed and she might get lots of treats, she sure would laugh a lot!!

Aloha, my friends!

Maya is crawling like crazy, going up stairs in high speed, eating every fruit and veggie she can get into her little fingers and going crazy each night when she hears the bath tub fire up! 

Meanwhile, Dan and I have been crazy over the Olympics... Dan might be a little more obsessed than myself, but nonetheless, we both were excited to get Maya into the Olympic spirit.  After all, just 438 short days ago, we were sitting in Trafalgar Square in London watching the seconds count down on the Olympic Countdown clock. 

And fast forward those hundreds of days and our Olympic hopeful is here, a part of our many future trips and adventures.

We have hopes and dreams for her....maybe the Olympics...maybe just the local community ed class.  Regardless, seeing the spirit, joy, fun and intensity of the Olympics reinforces that regardless of whether she's a really good athlete, a really good reader, a really good baker, a really good speaker or a really good friend, I hope that she puts her whole heart into it--without reservation, without holding back, with full-force giving of all that she has! 

GO Team USA!



Making memories.

I once read that laughing actually makes you healthier. It works your muscles, eases tension and a whole lot of other stuff I don't remember.  I just know..its good for the soul...good for the spirit.

We laugh a lot. 
Her tongue is out of control.  She wants to feel her teeth at every opportunity.  She ends up looking like a baby lizard.  I laugh every time I see that tongue slithering out.



We feel like we live with Shamu's cousin.
We're constantly in the splash zone.  I've actually considered wearing a poncho, but the heat has swayed me away from wearing such a large piece of plastic.

We love taking her places....and love that she loves to go where we love to go! 

We had been in Rochester for the day, visiting our friends, Robin and Steve and their boys.  On the drive back, we decided to celebrate that '10 years ago today, we got engaged'. 
We stopped at a winery that we enjoyed Maya....and we enjoyed it again...live music, a wine flight, tasty pretzels and an energetic aura in the winery. 

We felt proud...proud that we were able to 'have a fun experience as a family', sip a glass of wine and enjoy the babbles and smiles of our sidekick.  As we enjoyed this fun family moment together, I looked down at Maya with her legs propped up her stroller and had an 'OH NO' moment. 

Prior to leaving Rochester, I had my first 'I didn't plan very well moment' and had run out of diapers.....luckily, I had brought a recently purchased swim diaper along!
As I looked down at her legs propped up, all I saw was a soaking wet skirt. 

While Maya babbled, I gasped. 
I put her legs down.  She grunted and raised them back up.
I normally don't slam wine....I slammed the wine.  It was time for the 'family that brought their baby to the winery' to leave. 
Lots of laughs, lots of joy, lots of memories of how our lives have changed since that beautiful July engagement in Colorado!

Making memories this summer....and loving the simple moment.

What made you smile today?

This level of joy.  Every Single Time this girl smiles, my insides smile. 

Joy could literally ooze out of my pores. 

Rolls.

Thick, soft, squishy thighs.

Big, chubby calves that won't fit into the "narrow fit" baby jeans.

Arms that have creases.

Blue eyes and little raised eyebrows.

Letting go.

Watching new experiences unfold and actually being inspired by avocado-filled-finger-nails.

I know she's exploring this big, crazy world.

Two little teeth.

Two little teeth that will take off your finger.  Beware.

Crazy, messy baby fine little blondie hairs.

She gets it.

She continues to teach us lessons about life.

Summer is here....and a family trip to the lake to make some memories was in order.

Warm days, sandy beaches, love from family, s'mores, bonfires, pontoon rides, morning walks and evening game time.....exactly what a June weekend should be all about.

It makes me giddy when I see these cousins together.  Brooke turns from a 5 year old into a 13 year old within seconds of being near Maya.  It is adorable and warms my heart every time I see her trying to make Maya laugh.  On Saturday morning, Maya was chewing on one of Brooke's little dolls.  When Brooke saw her, she nearly started crying and said, "I NEVER wanted drool on that doll!!!!"  Yes, she is still just 5!  Jada on the other hand, just takes Maya's toys....they'll be good friends....in a few years!



The weekend was perfect.  During our time there, we gave our Mom and Dad an Anniversary present of a "photo shoot" with a photographer that met us at Grandview.  We spent an hour together with Laura, a talented photographer that was gifted in capturing the simple moment....not too formal, not cheesy, not too 'senior-picture-like". 

We had a blast, as you can see on her blog...if you are ever in the Brainerd area, check her out!  http://www.lauraradnieckiblog.com/











Mom.

It was 1982.
Tijuana, Mexico.
I was 3 Years Old.
She decided to put me on a donkey.

I look at this picture and it makes me laugh out loud.
My Mom likes animals about as much as I do.
My Mom isn't one to prop her child up on a live donkey without being firmly attached....after all, she didn't let me ditch the water wings until I was well past the age of 12. 
And, hey....we're in Tijuana, Mexico...not exactly the most vacationed spot in the world!
I have a feeling my Dad is behind the camera and my Mom is grabbing a moment with her two little girls....little girls that think its fantastic to hang out with a live donkey.

She's taught me a lot over the years. 

She's been my most avid encourager, my strongest cheerleader, my biggest fan and my best friend.

(Nearing the end of my 1st and only marathon here....I'm pretty sure my Mom burned more calories than me during this almost 5-hour run.  If you could press play on the picture above, you'd see a woman that looked like she was jumping on a pogo stick, you'd hear her cheering as if she thought I was close to actually being in 1st place for the race and your heart would flutter, 'cause you'd feel the love for her daughter)

I am so entirely lucky to call her my Mom. 

On Sunday, Mother's day was just a little different.

It felt amazing.
It was one of those weekends that just feels "right".  It felt complete and it was full of joy and love.  I went to bed on Sunday and could only feel lucky.
For celebrating Moms and Daughters.  For celebrating Grandmas.  For celebrating Family.

I hope Maya looks back one day and sees the joy she brought to me. 

I hope we have a photo of her little chubby legs propped up on some random animal and she realizes....that I, just like my Mom, wanted her to have memories..simple moments that brought me joy and that brought her joy too.

For now, we'll steer clear of the animals, but will keep loving these kind of weekends.



Half-a-Year

Birthdays are such a milestone. 
It's that formal acknowledgement of that very special day that some mama, somewhere, celebrated a miracle happening in this world.  She had her breath taken away as she looked at this tiny little baby and realized, 'this one is mine'.....to hold, to hug, to kiss, to teach, to learn from, to snuggle....and to love and be loved. 

And, every day forward, that day will be imprinted into that mama's mind as "the day".

We hit a milestone last week.  Maya's first half-a-year-birthday. 
Some might think it was just a little crazy and a little over the top to celebrate, but I couldn't wait to show her how fun her parents really are!  I also realized how I want to celebrate  getting closer to 'that day' that my heart fell in love with someone that I had never met.

6 Balloons.

A half-a-cake.

Lots and LOTS of rounds of singing, "Happy Birthday"!

A morning ride around her new size 3 diapers.

A beautiful warm evening walk.

A finale (and bittersweet ending) to "the perfect candlelit bath" that took place every night on our kitchen island....our hardwood floors were at risk of warping and Dan and I didn't want to have to wear ponchos, so we've had to make a transition.

Trying sweet potatoes for the first time.  These sweet potatoes are her Lays Potato Chips.  She couldn't just eat one bite.  Or two....but the whole container seemed to do.

And, a weekend visit to Maya's favorite little people.  Two cousins who know she's not as "fragile" as she once was...they've found their groove with making her smile, holding her just right and tickling her.  Love is in the air when these three are together.

The celebration continues...of the simple moments of each day....and each month...and for the 'latter half' of her half-a-year. 

Loving this moment indeed.