We Could Make Everything Even if Only Mom Cared Enough

Sarah's been very sick for two weeks, including the worst of her sickness while I was in Utah (for three and a half days) and Travis was alone with the kids. She is finally on the mend, though still whiny and weak, so I decided to take the kids to the Mall of America to exchange a pair shoes we bought for Anna and to just get out of the house. There are no home-packed lunches during these packing days, so we splurged and shared a large milkshake from Cold Stone. I warned Anna and Michael (though we all know I was really talking to Michael), "The lady making our shake is pouring it into four cups. If you complain about the shakes being uneven, you won't get one." "OK. Thanks Mommy!" And then Michael, "Wait, will they be uneven? Because we can make them even."

Sarah's 2nd Birthday

Sarah hasn't had a cute, custom-decorated cake yet, but this Thompson family layer cake is always yummy. 

So far her cat is named Kitty Cat and she sleeps with him every night.

In a moment of insanity I decided I would rather do something creative than deal with our move, so I made a new birthday banner for Sarah. It's hard to see, but they are flowers and leaves.When we moved here last June, I kept thinking, "Sarah will be two when it's time to move." It's June again, Sarah is 2, and it's time to move at the end of the month. We had a simple family birthday party, but it was extra fun because Travis's sister Annie and her husband Tyson and their ten month-old April were visiting. Sarah was happy to open presents and eat cake, but the lit candles made her a little nervous. I hope that on her third birthday we are firmly planted and not packing to move. She got fun musical instruments from Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup, a faucet that suctions to the tub and makes a continuous stream of water from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson, the blue knit cat (which she hugged whenever we saw him in the store) and some Max and Ruby DVDs from us. Two year-olds are so easy to please! Aunt Angie sent a book called the Quiet Book that she found on her last adventure to NYC for the book blogger conference. We wanted to get her a tricycle, but we didn't want to move it. We hope some cousins have tricycles that they're eager to share when we come over to play. . . We sure love this little girl!

Visit with Liz and Andrew--newly engaged!

Liz and Andrew--newly engaged!

This isn't breaking news, but it's news that's made us all very happy. We got to met Liz's boyfriend Andrew before anyone else in the family (only because we live closest, but we pretend it's because Liz loves us best). Liz lives in Iowa City where she is a year-or-so from finishing her PhD in bio statistics. Andrew lives in Champagne, Illinois and is a year-or-so from finishing his PhD in physical chemistry (working with lasers, though I think his degree will officially be called something else). Sorry, Andrew, I should have had Travis check this before I posted. We had a wonderful weekend together in Minnesota. We spent the day at Lake Calhoun, biking, having a picnic, and canoeing. Liz and Andrew were great sports to have Anna in their canoe with them since Travis's and Emily's was full with Michael and Sarah. In the evening we got a babysitter and went out to eat at an Italian restaurant. It was one of those perfect evenings with perfect weather and perfect companions. Andrew is a great guy. He can talk optics with Travis, and he loves to garden and cook! Best of all, he adores Liz, who has always been one of our favorites. We've seen a lot of each other while both living in the Midwest. We couldn't be happier that these two wonderful people are getting married.