easy peasy activity

step one: buy capsules from dollar store
step two: drop in water and give them a hug!

step three: say "cheers" while you wait patiently for them to grow!

step four: have mom read the directions and use HOT water!

repeat step one.

but not steps two or three since glasses will be too hot.

step five: watch your transportation shapes grow!

there were 12 capsules.

natalie put one in glass 1,

three in glass 2

and eight in glass 3! traffic jam!

step six: carefully scoop them out of the hot water onto a towel.

step seven: play with your new foam toys, glue them on paper, put them in dog food...whatever your little heart desires!

strawberry picking

inspecting our first pick!

strawberry slushie!

at home. can't wait. dig right in.

strawberry cobbler! fresh out of the oven!holding her hair back while she blows to cool it off!

grandma's marathon - duluth, mn

my bff courtney and her dh, john, drove in from chicago on thursday night. friday we drove to duluth, mn just a couple hours north and went to the expo for grandma's marathon, that courtney was running all by her big bad self! we (she) met hal higdon (if you're a distance runner, you've used his training sched i'm sure! why wouldn't you?)
the race was saturday morning and fortunately the weather conditions weren't too bad. could have been cooler for the runners but for the spectators, it was just right! :)

our first courtney sighting was at mile 9. fortunately the course was straight so we'd see her, run up the street back to the car, drive down a couple/few miles, park and run down that street, cheer her on and then repeat. we totally broke a sweat.

woo hoo! you go girl! lead that pack!

we think we were the best spectators! although natalie was confused by all the getting in and out of the car!

it really wore her out!

court tied her PR at 3 hours and 46 minutes. is she a rockstar or what!?!?

i'm impressed she can even squat and smile!

sunday we stayed in duluth to check it out. here we're at lake superior.

being "bears"

we took the scenic route and made a roadside shop stop. no purchases were made. although if we're here this winter, i think she needs this hat!

1, 2, 3 wheeeee!

the whole way to the lighthouse!

happy father's day, daddy! you're the best!

thanks for spending YOUR day looking at lighthouses....

....and waterfalls. i'm glad we could make it up to you with pie!

thanks, courtney, for running 26.2 miles in minnesota just so we could get to see you!

thanks, God, for your beauty!

and for friends and family to enjoy it with!

chino latino

our good friends, jen and ben came to visit from kc! they were actually visiting relatives but they were so kind to see us while they were here. we went to this super fun, super yummy restaurant chino latino. they print a new menu every day and it's a LONG one with every kind of decadent, yummy, ethnic food you can imagine!
this gave me a good idea for a halloween costume for natalie. but she might want to be a princess or something. when do i have to start doing what she wants?
aren't they sooo cute?! ah, parents need a night out! does it surprise you that their babies have smiles that warm your heart too?

montego bay jerked chicken is pictured below. we also got philippine paella and snoop dogg's smoked out salmon roll. while i love sushi anyway, some things you order/bet on just because of their name!

now wait, i know you will come to minneapolis JUST.FOR.THIS!

HOT FUNKY LOVE: deep fried snickers with vanilla ice cream

omg i want one RIGHT NOW!

where would you travel for food?

american swedish institute

natalie and i checked out our heritage at the american swedish institute.
it's a mansion not far from our apartment.

with a wonderful gift shop. and a darling coffee shop downstairs for fika!
a handmade dalahorse ride for 25 cents.
a little kid corner with clothes and books.
i want to become a member and make it our new hang-out.

we had so much fun and all the volunteers were super nice! of course they were, they're swedish!