Visit Home For Mom's Birthday in April

Happy Birthday Mom! We met up with my parents, Anna, Nikolai and Helena for a celebration with Chinese take-out and lemon meringue pie.

Bliss

Violet and I stollered down to the playground. Beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. Then we came home for some peanut butter toast. Perfect day.

One Big Sick Family...the Domino Effect

Cousin Helena came down with a stomach virus last week. My mom came to town on Wednesday to help me take care of her.



By the time Helena started feeling better on Friday, my mom and Violet had taken ill. Violet's temperature reached 103 and she couldn't keep down water during the worst of it. Next to follow was Anna, then Nikolai. Not so fun.




ALL BETTER...enough to enjoy a gorgeous Spring day, and eat some dirt and leaves.

Portrait From Aunt Barb

Imagine our surprise and excitement when we found a watercolor portrait in the mail, commissioned by my Aunt Barb from an artist friend of hers! We were thrilled and have proudly placed this painting on our mantel. It shows one of Violet's first sippy cups, and her fabric bunny in the painting. The post of me holding Violet is from a picture taken on the day we met her. Thanks so much Barb. It is treasured.

April Video Update

Here is a new round of videos we wanted to share:

Standing On Her Own Two Feet:


Dancing:


More Dancing:


Sharing a Laugh with Grandpa Benton:


Learning to Walk:


Using her Popper Toy:


Queen of Lulu's:

The Aids Resource Center Fundraising Gala

Anna invited me to the ARC Gala last Saturday, where I met some of her co-workers and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I had not been out without Violet for quite awhile, let alone to a complimentary Gala. We got dressed up with the intent to have a ball, and were home by 10pm, before the band even started. It was great while it lasted, but so is a comfy bed these days.

Spring Day at the Zoo

We decided to spend the first 60-some degree day at the zoo. So did everyone else in Milwaukee. Despite the crowds, we were were impressed by the zoo, and loved watching Violet's joyful interest in the animals. I think she particularly liked the fish.

Violet's Baby

Violet's "Auntie Anne" sent her a baby doll with a soft hand-sewn nightgown and blanket, and needless to say, Violet loves it. She carries it around giving it kisses and hugs. Anne managed to find Asian dolls for Violet and Helena. Thanks Anne!

Playing With Light

The amazing Betty Brinn Children's Museum

What a treasure to have this Museum so close by. Violet and Helena had such a good time. It has enough range of activities to keep a child interested from one to ten years old, including a artificial flower shop, puppet stage and vegetable patch (fake veg. of course). We eagerly bought a yearly pass for $50.