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.

Jed's Visit

My family knows it's hard for me to say goodbye when they leave after a visit, so Jed came to Minnesota only two days after Elisa left. He actually had his ticket first, but it feels like they planned it all for me. We had a great time, of course. Sarah and I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on Thursday while Anna and Michael were in school. On Friday the weather was rainy and cold so it was a perfect Mall of America day. Sarah loved her time with just Mom and Jed. Jed alone is pretty great, but it doesn't hurt that he buys things like lunch and chocolate milkshakes, and her mom never does. I'm afraid our kids will be thoroughly spoiled after all of our fun company. On Saturday the rest of my jealous family got to play too, but the weather was too gray and cold to do all of the outside things we had planned. We went to the Cheesecake Factory (we called it a Mothers Day lunch) and Michael has claimed it as his new favorite restaurant, even though he was disappointed that it wasn't a true factory. Jed and I saw Iron Man II at the IMAX theatre while Travis stayed with the kids because we couldn't get a babysitter. Then Travis's pager beeped at 11:30 PM when he was staggering into bed. There was an eleven year-old with an open globe, and he was up all night sewing a boy's eye whose brother poked it with a stick. (Our kids never get to touch sticks.)Travis didn't get to go to church or the beautiful Walker Art Museum sculpture gardens, where we walked after church. It was Sunday, Jed's last day, and we finally had beautiful weather. I love spending with Jed, and I hope he finds his way to Ogden often!

Passed!

A little announcement for the family and friends who knew Travis had taken the written ophthalmology Boards in April. He passed! He was even pleased with his strong score, which is gravy, if you ask me. He has worked really hard his fellowship year, and I'm proud of him for studying as much as possible, which he didn't think was enough. In November he'll take his oral boards in San Francisco (another $1600 on the credit card) and then he'll be exam free for another ten years. Way to go sweetie!

Elisa's Visit

For her birthday, Elisa's sweet husband Matt bought her a plane ticket to visit us in Minnesota. We have had so much fun! We went to the Mall of America with all of the kids and actually went on a ride in the Nickelodeon amusement park and ate at Noodles & Co. (and maybe shopped a little while bribing the kids with the rides and food). We stayed up late talking with Travis, which was really fun because Travis wasn't on call and got to spend some time with Elisa too. We went window shopping at a lovely boutique mall, ate lunch at a couple of yummy restaurants called Burger Jones and Yum Bakery, and bought some treats and snacks at Whole Foods and Trader Joes, which are both within one mile of my house! We live in St. Louis Park, which is an idyllic suburb of Minneapolis. Travis's commute is only 12 minutes without traffic and without his walk from where he parks. We took several walks in the perfect spring weather and soaked up the charm of our lush, tree-lined neighborhood. Elisa stood guard while I cut branches from a bank of lilac bushes lining a nearby gas station. Lilac bushes line the freeways here. They are as numerous as dandelions, so I didn't think anyone would mind. Now every room in our house smells of lilacs.We also walked around Lake of the Isles, one of our favorite nearby lakes. Elisa took some great pictures, including the best family picture we have ever had since adding Sarah. Elisa even schlepped out her beautifying equipment and colored and cut my hair along with giving Michael and Anna much-needed cuts. I hadn't had a haircut in eleven months! I look and feel so much better. And my new poppy red glitter toenails are fabulous. Anna has red glitter toes too, and with Elisa's assistance, we learned about buying flip flops at Target to show off our new glitter toes. We had a ball! Thanks for the visit Elisa! I love you!

Participation Medal

Michael's 1st medal won--very exciting

I can't think of a caption. I just keep chuckling. Travis might cry. We're glad Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup have got a hoop now! I think this picture shows where we're at.

Anna entertaining Sarah while Michael plays his game on the other side of the court

Michael Max's 7th Birthday

Michael with his car cake. He and Anna planned this cake weeks before his birthday.

This is Michael's birthday banner. I didn't know when I made it that it would become a tradition to hang it every year. Anna has a banner in shades of pink and thinks Sarah needs one of her own.

Like all kids, Sarah loves balloons and cake, so Michael's birthday was a fun day for her. Travis stayed up late making a big poster for Michael and hanging pictures of Michael all over his bedroom door. What a cute little boy he has always been!

Fun presents from Aaron and Angie and Will and Piper

Michael's got his own Playmobile airplane. Now he doesn't have to borrow Anna's (which she doesn't like to share) and their games have become more fun. Michael had a great birthday. Travis and I felt like he needed a little extra attention this year. The whole family went to watch his baksetball class in the morning. After basketball we ate at a sub shop called Jimmy John's for lunch, which Michael has been talking about for 9 months since he ate there when we moved here in June. While Emily took Anna to her violin lesson, Michael and Travis turned our basement into the Cougar Den with their decorations. We had a great time watching the game together (I can't remember which game that was four weeks ago!), and got to drink rootbeer in the basement while we watched it. We ate Michael's favorite dinner, spaghetti, had cake and ice cream, and went to Chuck E Cheese's in the evening. It was a full, Dastrup-style birthday celebration. Michael got his Playmobile airplane, rollerblades from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson, Myth Busters Explosions (we've watched all seven hours at least once) and a great storybook called Wolves in the Walls from Aaron and Angie, money from Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup (very exciting--the possibilities for spending it are endless!), and a Bakugan from Anna. I think he had a special day, and he's a pretty special boy.