a choo-choo-Chase party.

When Lorelei was first in swimming lessons, we got to know a little boy named Chase and his mom, Karen - whom I had actually met once at a breastfeeding support group when Lorelei was just a week old. Then, this fall, we got to know their whole family because Lorelei and Chase took the same music class together at NIU on Saturdays. Today was Chase's 2nd birthday, and we were happy to be invited to attend the celebration, which was held in one of our favorite places: the Children's Museum!

After an hour or so of fun time on our own, we gathered in the party room to open presents and eat cake - actually cupcakes frosted to look like a big train engine. Lorelei has declared that she wants a train cake for her birthday, too. Karen is pregnant with their second child - a girl! - so I think we have lots of playdates in our future.

It's a day early, but consider these pictures to be Lorelei's 22nd month update. Side note: she just started wearing barrettes in her hair when we were in Washington. I still can't get over how adorable she is.

we went to Wenatchee, WA. whee!

For Jason's spring break, we braved about 24 hours of travel time by car, plane, plane, and car (and then back again!) to get all the way to central Washington state where Jason's parents now live and where his sister and her family will move this summer. It's a beautiful, small town surrounded by mountains and apple trees and the weather was just perfect.

Unfortunately, Jason's back went out on our trip into town, so a fair amount of our vacation was spent with him in recovery mode and this pregnant mama lugging too many suitcases and a toddler all at once! Fortunately, though, Lorelei thought playing in her grandparents' backyard with their adorable dog was the best thing in the entire world - she had the time of her life.

Lorelei LOVES the travel-sized easel she got from Grandma Sara and Grandpa Sam! Kirby does too :)

many coffee outings all about town

impromptu dance party time!

One day we ventured out to a cute German-themed tourist town not far from Wenatchee - and had a delicious Mexican lunch there! We did manage to get some gingerbread in our bellies that was a little more culturally appropriate...

snow baby.

Jason and Lorelei tried to make a snowman. It turned out a little small, so we're calling it a snow baby instead. Lorelei is in love with it and looks out the window at it whenever possible.

21 months.

This morning, to celebrate my 21 month birthday, Daddy took me to Caribou on the last day before it's closed for good. It was the very first place Mommy and Daddy took me for an outing after I was born, and I've had lots of fun playing here and having treats with Mommy on Monday mornings, so we're feeling a little sad.

We also got to go out for a special night - a pasta dinner at Mommy's church where they had a high school choir and an accordion player! I couldn't believe my eyes and ears and stared and stared at them for the whole dinner in between bites of spaghetti and a big piece of chocolate cake. Here are some pictures of me getting ready for our outing:

Daddy is always writing in his books so I thought I'd give it a try, too!

la langousta de cuba.

Jason took Lorelei grocery shopping, and there was a promotion on seafood that involved large lobster balloons. Lorelei was so fascinated by them - and so darn cute - that later, when they were in line to check out, one of the Jewel employees came running up to them with a balloon. "We're getting rid of these soon anyway," she said, "and I thought she would enjoy having it."

When Lorelei and I went back to the store a few days later, they still had one of the lobster balloons up - and Lorelei cried when we left, thinking that we had abandoned her balloon at the grocery store! I don't think she believed me until we got home that she still had hers, safe and sound in her playroom.

happy heart day.

We've got heart tights on and we're ready to party.

Lorelei's first time using play-doh was two days ago - she spent 45 minutes straight rolling, squeezing, and squishing it with no attempts to eat it (Play-Doh's official Twitter account even remarked about how amazing that feat was)! We had similar success today, though making shapes is still a work in progress...

the snowy day(s).

We've been reading a lot about Peter and his snowy day adventure these days - because we've had a lot of snow. Jason hurt his back, so I've been out shoveling a fair amount which isn't my favorite activity to do while pregnant. Still, being outside with this little girl who is so excited about the beautiful falling flakes makes me a little less crabby about the weather.

can you believe that flock of geese?