A Wedding in La Crosse

Two weeks ago, my cousin Caitlin and her new husband Doug got married on the beautiful shore of the Mississippi river.  

Caitie, as she was called as a little girl, and  I had been regular playmates during family get-togethers in the early years, despite our seven year age difference.  Our sisters were a year apart and paired off,  leaving us to find common ground.  Luckily it wasn't hard to do.  Caitie was smart and remarkably mature for her age (and still is).  When I got engaged at twenty and she was just thirteen, however, those seven years felt quite noticeable.  And now she is married.  It is funny how time leads and lags, making a difference in years feel bigger there and smaller here.  

The wedding was sky-blue, picture perfect.

The trip to La Crosse was also the first overnight we've done with our new baby Charlotte.  She slept beautifully at the hotel.  She was a delight during the wedding (even the ceremony).  And she cried heart wrenchingly in the car.   As a result our family camping trip will now be one hour away from home instead of three.  But we are glad we made it to La Crosse, and congratulations to Cait and Doug! 

 

    

                  

 

Charlotte likes...

Here are some things Charlotte likes.  For those who are keeping track, she just turned four months old.

  

-Grabbing the rings on her bouncy seat (she is getting quite good at this and can sometimes get them all the way off). 

- "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" (done on her).  This always gets a smile.  

-Her Bears.  These are the first toys she noticed.  They hang over her changing table. 

-Minuets II and III by Bach, played by her big brother.    

-Sucking her thumb and nursing AT THE SAME TIME!  She just started doing this last Wednesday.      

Picnic Perfect

First cousins, second cousins, first cousins once removed,  aunts and great aunts, sisters, moms and kiddos, friends.  However you say it, we had a lot of special people over a few weeks ago. I had plans of making pinwheels, but the sheer fun of outdoors on one of the first days of Summer was more than enough entertainment.  Running through the sprinkler and squirting each other with water pistols were enjoyed by the younger set (seven and under) and I think Katrina got wet too!  We wrapped up the afternoon with a picnic lunch and a lot of visiting. Thanks to all for coming, we hope to see you again soon!

Nova is reading (and she knows it!)

Nova has been working her way through the "Bob books" this year, a series of early readers.  Curled up on the couch next to Mom or Dad, sounding out the words (or occasionally guessing based on pictures), she has progressed from "Mat.  Mat sat." to "Suddenly, Joe drove his bike over a bump."  Still, Nova insisted she couldn't read--until last week.  In her words "I like reading!  I didn't before because I couldn't do it."

On Monday, she pushed through two Bob books in order to finish the fourth set.  Then she went on to A Fish Out of Water, which she read by herself.  The next day, I found her with one of A.A. Milne's original Winnie the Pooh stories, sounding out the names of the characters. (For those of you that only know the Disney Pooh, you should check out the originals.  They are charming and funny, even for parents.)  On a trip to the art museum this weekend she read "park" and "exit" at the parking ramp, then asked to play at the "park."  We have a reader!