Busy summer Saturday

Yesterday was a VERY busy day at our house.

Maisie's been taking a dance class through Minneapolis Parks & Rec. Yesterday was her last day of class, which meant recital! I was a little nervous about how my shrinking violet would react to the audience...

but as it turns out, I needn't have worried.

The girls were as synchronized and together as you'd expect a class of 3-5 year olds, performing for their parents, would be.

It was also CRAZY cute.

After the performance, we'd hoped to play on the playground, but the skies were threatening rain. So we went home, Ella and Aaron took a nap, and Maisie and I decided to hop a train to the Mall of America to look for a birthday present for Maya.

Maisie was pretty excited for her first ride on the light rail train!

By the time we got back from the mall, the skies had cleared and it was nice outside, so we all headed out to do some yard work.

Ella, as it turns out, has inherited her grandmas' love of gardening and digging in the dirt.

She also shares her sister's affection for a camera.


Meanwhile, Maisie rode her bike up and down the sidewalk.


It's funny, it wasn't that long ago that she wasn't able to really pedal... she just wasn't coordinated enough. And all of a sudden, she just hopped on and was off to the races!

So anyway, that was our Saturday. Busy, but not atypically so. So if you ever wonder why Aaron and I are often tired... now you know why!

A little talking and a little walking

Ella has steadily been growing more verbal. Instead of some explosion of ability, I think she's slowly been sneaking up on talking without any of us being much the wiser. She's uttered sounds that are similar to words before, but always preceded or followed by baby talk, so that we were unsure it was what it kind-of-sort-of sounded like. But lately she's started to dial back on the baby talk portion, until today I swear she said "hi" and waved to one of the cats when she saw him. If she had a first word, I have no idea what it was. She's also taken to standing up, looking around, taking a step, and then sitting down. Sneaky, right? Apparently she's not going to really start walking until she can chase down Maisie and pounce on her.

I'll leave you with a few of Maisie's computer drawings.

Caroline & Nick get married!

Saturday, May 1, 2010 was Nick and Caroline's wedding day, and it was beautiful and perfect. Maisie and I were lucky enough to be included in the ceremony - me as co-matron of honor with Caroline's sister Dacia, and Maisie as the flower girl. Gramma Liisa and Aaron were Maisie handlers; Auntie Laura played the important supporting role of Ella's babysitter. :) For those of you familiar with the cities, this was at the Loring Pasta Bar.

We were very excited before the ceremony. We couldn't wait to get started!

We were wearing matching dresses - Maisie's is white on top with a garnet skirt, and Dacia's and my dresses were entirely of the garnet satin. We looked pretty cute if I do say so myself!

Everybody took their seats and it was time for us to walk down the aisle!

Blurry, but you get the idea... she did a great job of throwing the petals. :)

Maisie stood on the stairs with me and Dacia.


Caroline joined us...


Eventually Maisie got tired of standing, and had a seat.


Aaron somehow failed to take pictures of her making faces at him, and then shushing the crowd after I shushed her! But all in all she did a great job!

After that it was time to head to the reception, at the Varsity Theater down the block. Maisie was ready to have a good time!


She danced, made friends with strangers, and took pictures with our good friends Andrew, Howie, and Kari Hay.


All in all, it was a wonderful day and night. We had an amazing time, and are so happy for Nick and Caroline. Such a beautiful wedding. But with this flower girl, how could it be anything other than perfect? :)