Happy Time

Summer time in Canada is happy time. I need to cherish these days because the memories will get me through the LONG, DARK winter! We have been having so much fun this week playing outside. Thanks to my friend Marilena I have some photos of this week's play dates.

Allie and Marilena's son Nicholas are so sweet together. They share toys, play house, and read books together....without fighting or crying. It is amazing. Nicholas is a two year old Brazilian cutie who used to call Allie "the girl with the flower in her hair" in Portuguese. He is such a sweetheart and I think Allie might have a little crush on him!

Nicholas explaining what a spray park is since it was Allie's first time there. He is older and wiser!

They had so much fun!

How sweet is this picture? I am "reading" them a book that is actually in Portuguese...it turned out that Nicholas read it to us!

A few shots of my little peanut.

YAAAAY for summer!

Happiness

This photo defines happiness to me. A grandpa with all his grandkids on his birthday. My heart is happy when I look at this picture and I don't think my dad could possibly look any happier! Life is very good.

Minnesota

I didn't have my camera in Minnesota because Dan took it fishing with him in northern Saskatchewan. It is a good thing he did because he got photo proof of catching this fish!

But, because I didn't have the camera, I didn't take any photos. Luckily my mom took it upon herself to capture some memorable moments.

I got Allie some new bows made by Deanna's high school friend Kate. They are the most adorable bows and since Allie wears at least one every day, I asked Kate to make her more. Allie had fun sticking bows all over boppa and herself when Barb and Craig were over at my parents' house.

Boppa is such a good sport!

We spent Father's Day at Minikahda. It was a great way to spend the day, but Allie and I were really missing Dan. Father's Day really wasn't the same without him and we hope to never be apart from him on Father's Day again.

The cousins! (Minus Daniel who was sleeping)

Allie and Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary bought Allie the adorable swim suit. It has hearts all over it, so it will be perfect for Love Lake next week!

Thanks for sharing the photos mom!

Table for Two

I realized it has been awhile since I posted about Allie. I promise to get some good pictures this week. We got back from MN last week and have been too busy at the pool, spray parks, regular parks, and catching up with friends to remember to take photos. I promise to do better!

While we were home, my sweet friend Kelly offered to watch Allie while I had a meeting. I submit into evidence a photo of date #2 for Allie and Charlie. Not only did Charlie share all his toys and his mama's attention, he even got her flowers! :)

Thanks Kelly for taking great care of my sweet girl and raising such a gentleman! :)

Baby Time!

How many of you thought that maybe I was pregnant again???? It's not true, but I did host a baby shower for one of my dearest friends while I was home in MN. One of my childhood friends, Alissa, is pregnant with a baby (sex TBD on her due date in Sept.). I hosted a shower with two long time friends, Annica (home from Portland), and Katie. We had a great time organizing and planning the shower and celebrating this huge milestone for our friend Alissa, who has joyfully celebrated all of our big milestones with us.

The theme of the shower were owls.

Sweet Retreat cupcakes.

Some good old Edina High School friends!

We recreated our Sweetheart photo shoot...circa 1995. (The shower was at Annica's parents' house, where we also had Sweetheart photos our sophmore year).

Me and Katie. We have been friends for almost 20 years and had babies about 6 weeks apart!

The mommy to be.

The hosts (wearing our apron hostess gifts).

The hosts with the beautiful mommy to be.

10 Years!

I just got back from my 10 year college reunion at DePauw University in Indiana. I had a blast visiting my old stomping grounds, eating Marv's (home of the GCB), and catching up with old friends. A few high lights were visiting the Theta house, meeting the cutest married couple at their 60th reunion (she was a Theta and he was a Phi Psi), and exploring the new nature park and conservatory DePauw built sometime in the last five years. It was a wonderful vacation and trip down memory lane.

The Thetas!

Although we live all over the country (and now Canada!), we have met faithfully at least once a year in Dallas, Sanibel, Chicago (twice), Minneapolis (multiple times), Love Lake (twice), San Francisco and Las Vegas. This summer/fall we have two more weddings in Ohio and Oklahoma. Although these ladies live far away, they are some of my very best friends and I'm so thankful they are in my life.

I think we look pretty good for being at our 10 year reunion! :)

One thing I definitely did not appreciate as much as I should have in college is how remarkable my sorority was. I was in Kappa Alpha Theta and it was the first sorority (or female greek letter college fraternity) in the country. It was also founded at DePauw (formerly Indiana Asbury University), so I was in the Alpha chapter. This sign describes Kappa Alpha Theta's history and this specific chapter as being the first in the country.

How beautiful is this house?

It was a wonderful trip, but I did miss Allie like crazy and am happy to be back with her. (I won't be reunited with Dan and Bella until next week since Allie and I are staying in MN this week). Plus, I know that I get to see my Theta sisters two more times at weddings in the next couple of months and during many, many more trips in the future!

Snack Time

This is what happens when I give Allie yogurt for a snack while I make dinner. She had a blast...until I tried to clean her up! :)

Precious Life

Yesterday I received some devastating news that one of my friends in Saskatoon went in to labor six days after her due date, only to find out her daughter no longer had a heartbeat. My brave, courageous friend went on to labor for 15 hours to deliver her daughter. As a mom, I don't even think my brain can fully grasp this tragedy. As a friend, my heart breaks and my eyes weep along with my friend. As a Christian, I pray for peace that passes all understanding for my friend and rest in the knowledge that God has a plan for all of our lives, even if we can't understand His plan. I know that little Ava is in heaven today and I know that my friend will see her again someday. That thought gives me some peace.

I've posted this on my blog in the hopes that those of you that follow will pray for my friend and her family. I have been praying Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Tragedies remind us never to take life for granted. I promise to never take Allie for granted because even if she's acting like this,

I know I that I'm blessed she's healthy, happy, and that God placed her with me. For that, I will be forever thankful.

Uh Oh

"Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh" was what I heard this afternoon signaling that Allie was up from her nap. Once I opened her door, I realized why she was saying uh oh. She must have known her hair looked like a total train wreck. Seriously, how can her hair even look this bad? But she's still my little cutie pie...and a well rested cutie pie after such a great nap!