I like her

Lately Lila has been practicing standing up on her own. Can't wait for those first steps!


Elsa and "D", as he's known around here.


Lila loves chomping on sunglasses, but wearing them is cool sometimes, too.


Tim and I went out to dinner in St. Paul for my birthday last week, and my sister Jenny met us afterward. 32 and 29.


Elsa wrote me numerous post-it notes for my b-day. She likes to pretend to write notes and lists, and uses a lot of made-up words. I really like what the last note says:

Busy summer.

It usually takes around 2 hours to update this blog. Not today. Here are some quickie photos and captions.

You shouldn't go to Maplewood Mall without 1) eating at Potbelly. 2) riding the giant double-decker Venetian carousel.


Lila digs my old Big Wheel from the 70's.


Bonnet baby! I'll be so sad when she can't wear stuff like this anymore.


A couple weekends ago we went to Amery, WI for a family BBQ. We had so much fun seeing everyone. The kids all got to take turns hitting a pinata. Cousin Jack cracks it open and there's candy for all! I love how Layla is already running.


Still mostly a stranger to candy, Elsa was in heaven.


Elsa still LOVES the swings - it's the only thing she wants to do when we go to the park. Lila finds them boring unless she's leaning forward and almost falling out. They couldn't be more different.


Couldn't help it - had to post another photo of Lila and her Spock hand. I hope it's not going to stay like that for life!


Whenever there are deer in the back yard, Lila bangs on the window and shouts,"Deer!" over and over. The little fawns apparently don't know enough to run away in fear. You can see them in the background above her right hand.


Tim played at the Deep Blues Fest in Mpls last weekend. We brought Elsa and she had a blast seeing "D" play with the band. She danced and had a great time until she demanded to play drums and we told her she couldn't. Then it was time to leave!

Clapping for The Gleam. Notice the little X on her hand from the guy at the door!




She still hates to get her picture taken, but I couldn't get mad at this one. It's a good Rock n Roll sneer, at any rate. That's the spirit!




Elsa dancing:


Today we went to Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater with my parents. It's a great park - lots of stuff to do, beautiful design, and a nice view of the city.

Lila's Birthday and 4th of July

For Lila's birthday we went to Fawn-Doe-Rosa in St. Croix Falls, WI. Seemed like the perfect outing for a 1-year-old's birthday.




After, we stopped at My Burger in Center City. Lila ate her entire burger!


A coworker of my mom's made Lila a beautiful birthday cake. She didn't seem to know what to do with such a large piece, so...


chomp!


Now in real time...


The 4th. Elsa pretended to drive Jake's 1969 Cutlass. If you didn't know, she loves old cars. As she likes to say,"I'm into old cars." She points them out when we're driving on the road.


Elsa and Lila also had fun in grandma and grandpa's pool.


The big pool was too cold for Lila, so we hung out in the kiddie pool.

Happy Birthday Lila!

This year went by so fast. I blinked and here we are.


Lila, 1 year ago:


2 months old:


With Elsa 2 months old:


With Elsa just last week.


Last Sunday Lila was baptized and had her birthday party. During the baptism she reached for the water and said,"Baff!" It's crazy how much she talks.
At the church.


Lila and her cupcake tower.


Cupcakes!


First sugar high kickin' in.


Opening some presents. She loves duckies.


When Lila's mad or hurt, she shrieks like nobody's business. And she still sucks on her left pinkie and ring fingers. If you look closely at photos, you can see her fingers on her left hand are always apart like Spock. Live long and prosper.


She loves to play with cords. All day I say, "Lila, no cords!" She says, "What are you gonna do about it?"


Playing piano with legwarmers on.