First we walk. . .

. . . then we boogie

K-Daddy was out of town for an entire 30 hours last weekend. I was a little concerned about my first solo-parenting gig, but I didn't have to worry for long because my sister, niece and nephew spent the night with Ivy and me. We all had a blast and we ended the sister/cousin sleepover on a high note at a kids' disco at the Great Dane brew pub.

We started dancing at 11 am and didn't stop until nearly 2 pm! The event called for our most awesome 80s outfits, as evidenced by my totally new waver nephew:

My niece is a total rocker and said, "I knew that the disco was going to be fun, but I didn't know it was going to be SUPER FUN!"

And Ivy boogied herself right to sleep:

Here's a gnarly music video that we made of the dancing cousins. My nephew has a bass player's stance & attitude and the next time anyone needs a pick-me-up all one has to do is watch my niece's joyful dancing. Ivy loved bopping to the music and eating as many complimentary cheddar bunnies as she was able to charm from the brew pub staff.

We have lift-off!

"That's one small step for Ivy and one giant leap for Ivy-kind."

(Cue soundtrack to 2001 Space Odyssey:)

Happy Earth Day

The weather was beautiful on this Earth Day and we spent a lot of time outside. My favorite time of the day was after dinner, when the three of us went into the backyard and basked in the late afternoon sunshine.

Ivy explored the gardens and discovered all the new growth, budding trees and garden ornaments that survived the winter.

We sat on the deck with our own little Drop of Golden Sun. I gathered fallen wisteria seeds that I hope to germinate and transfer to the garden later this summer while Ivy and Kevin played with a slinky that I picked up at a meeting last week. It was a perfect, beautiful way to end the day.

I've always loved Earth Day and it holds a special, sacred place in my heart; my grandpa Ottmar passed away on Earth Day in 1988, which I think is fitting for a man who spent his life on the Mississippi River. I thought of him today and smiled when I realized how much he would have enjoyed his youngest great-grandchild. I think that they would have been very good friends.

(A special note to my knitter friends - in honor of Earth Day, Ivy is wearing a dress that I knitted for her! It's a little too big and I have some ideas for altering the pattern when I make it the next time.)

Swing Dancing

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do

The Swing, R.L. Stevenson

We have the pleasantest park in our neighborhood. It's nestled in a slight dale just across the street from our house and Kevin, Markie and I take Ivy there as often as possible. She loves the swings, the green plastic tunnel that connects an elevated platform to a slide and the little pebbles that serve as a cushion beneath all the playground equipment. The gravel is the perfect size for her little hands and wee mouth and so far I think that I've deterred Ivy every time she's attempted to slide a pebble into her mouth.

There is nothing like early spring days or the first swing of the season:

Ivy and her peeps

The Easter Bunny wasn't the only creature who celebrated spring by jumping about and leaving chocolate in his wake this weekend:

Ivy had a great time with her cousins at Grandma & Grandpa B's house. Our holiday weekend began with a road trip with our silly baby who is happy to finally be in a forward-facing car seat:

Peek-a-boo is an awesome game.

Grandma surprised everyone with matching dresses for the girl cousins and a corresponding vest for Mr. Kindergarten. They were the sharpest dressed kids in Western WI and we snapped about 5000 photos of them in their matching attire.

Ivy loved finding eggs and put every one right into her mouth:

Ivy is so lucky to have patient cousins who never seem to mind when she invades their personal space:

Our day was filled with chocolate, polka-dots and basket-loads of happiness. Thanks to my mom and dad for creating another memorable holiday for all of us!

Generational Garb

Once upon a time, when K-Daddy was a little boy (if you can believe he ever was), his grandma knitted him a little outfit. Here are a few photos from that time, so very long ago (just to prove he was indeed a little boy once).


Recently a package arrived from K-Daddy's parents, and among all the great gifts for Ivy was the little knitted outfit. Of course we had to try it on Ivy, and here are some images of Ivy wearing something from her great-grandma. Warm and snug on a chilly Spring day! Thanks Grandma Pauline, Grandpa Frank, and Auntie Christine!