nurturing noah

I've really started to turn the corner on imaginative play.... at Noni and Papa's house I prepare "ot toffee (i.e. coffee) in the pretend "ditchen" ... and here I am feeding my Pooh-bear with a tender spirit...

these are the moments mommy loves to capture and wish they lasted forever...

Go West Young Man

After what seemed like FOREVER, it was finally time to start heading to Mimi and Papa's house. Noni brought up her van, we packed it to the brim and off we went.

This is actually a trick picture... it looks like I'm on an airplane ready for take off BUT - we road-tripped it, so this is just me watching Elmo with the super large earphones in Noni's car :-)

I was so excited I could hardly contain myself (OR fall asleep, as I lasted about 3 hours in the car, until 10:30pm before I fell asleep) as we began our through-the-night journey to ND (our first stop)...

We made two stops along the way....

First stop:

to visit little A and her mommy and daddy!

Our dear friends opened up their home with an energetic welcome (before 7AM!)

Hannah and A got acquainted real fast and off they went...

exploring the world together...

What's the best thing to do after a long 12 hour car trip of sleeping in your car seat (besides going to see and ride in one of Justin's BIG tractors - OR - take a really long "catch-up-nap"?)...

Go to the park!

Thanks for letting us come in and double the # in your home!

Next stop:

Aunt De De's and Uncle Donny's.... for a quick energy-release and energy-storing (lunch)..

Next stop - Mimi and Papa's house!

fun, fun, and more fun

1080 minutes spent in a car travelling out to get here....

+

5 minutes rejoicing on Uncle Bruce's lap

+

560 minutes showing preferential treatment to my Papa, uncles and cousins

and showing my super-sad-poubty eyes to my aunties and Mimi's

+

3000 minutes playing outdoors with everyone...

+

420 hours just relaxing and spending time as a family....

+

300 minutes editing/cropping, arranging and coordinating these pictures for these blog entries
=

The memories made to last a lifetime .... timeless

Mountains.... snow up der

Mommy and daddy were amazed at my comprehension of things as we travelled. One of the things that I loved to point out the mountains, and snow on top... and railroad tracks, etc.

So - we journeyed to the mountains for a day -

but first, we had a picnic...

And then we started our ascent

mommy's/daddy's friend Ashley (who gets to see the mountains every day!) joined us with her two "puppies" for our hike...

We took a break at the top - a waterfall...

and headed back down....

Now that was a workout...

On the Road again...

Well, it was finally time to wrap things up and start our journey/adventure back home. Travelling through the night worked so well on the way out that we decided to try it again for the return trip.

But first, one more day of active laughter and play with cousins before packing the car up to head out... we said farewell to Auntie Darcee's and Uncle Brett's new house...

and Megan and Maycee's room with Noni's new artwork...

Our final night we got to visit with my godparents and family....


Noah was too precious as we bundled him into the car (after he had already been sleeping in Mimi's guest bed) and sweetly said "bye bye Mimi" and was back asleep by the time we had pulled out of the driveway!

Said goodbye to Papa's red truck...

and headed to our 1/2-way stopping point - the Fjosne's! All I can say is - WOW...for a natural-born food lover, this is the house to visit! Brian and Margot spoiled us rotten with yummy yummy food (and LOTS and LOTs of it too). Brian gave me a quick culinary lesson or two ...

and Margot brought out some of her boys old toys and let me take it for a whirl...

They even have this great store in Fargo that my daddy took me too and mommy walked around the corner wondering who I was being so friendly with, only to discover me saying "hello" to this new friend...

I can see how my mommy and daddy have a special love for these friends! (and no Brian, by special I don't mean..."special" :-)

THANK YOU!