minneapolis-volume one

hello everyone!

I am still in Minneapolis and won't be flying back to Portland until this coming Sunday. I arrived Friday evening and was scooped up from the airport by Greta who jumped out of the car to give me hugs and kisses. We were all grins and giddiness. We stopped at the Chatterbox for a beer and talktalktalk before heading home where Adam was cooking (per usual) a wonderful dinner. We had chicken chipotle with potatoes and tortillas and cold beers. I peeked in Valentine's darkened bedroom and marveled at how much bigger she is, more and more a little girl at seventeen months old than a baby. Downstairs the three of us discussed our plans for my ten day visit and talked until sleepiness took over.

Saturday morning I woke up and heard little Valentine talking upstairs. I came up to see Greta changing her diaper and to reintroduce myself to this child I know so much about. Greta got her dressed and we all went downstairs where Adam had coffee for us and breakfast for Valentine. Greta had to work for a few hours so we dropped her off then Adam & Valentine and I headed to St Paul. Our destination was the Dragon Festival at Phalen Park. We saw assorted Asian dances and kung fu exhibitions. We walked around Phalen Lake for a bit and watched the teams practicing in their huge dragon boats. Adam pushed Valentine on the swings for a while then we sent her off down the slide. She would wail when she got to the bottom, upset that it was over so quickly and eager to go down again and again. Adam and I got some spring rolls and egg rolls to eat before taking the shuttle bus back to the car. Back at home Adam put V down for her nap and we hung out in the backyard under the shade of their tall trees.

In the evening we picked up Greta from the shop at headed straight to Dulano's for a shared pizza and a pitcher of beer. Valentine was being extra-hilarious and entertaining the table next to us with her "hellos" and "ta-das" and "boos". She's a little ham and is really talking up a storm. You have to be careful what you say as she's really good at parroting and will say back anything you say. No cursing Carolyn!

We came back from dinner and Greta put Valentine to bed for the evening. Greta and I sat out on the porch swing and explored their beautiful crazy front yard garden. We watched a spider spinning its web on the front porch then began searching for bugs in the garden that we could toss into the web. It was impressive to watch the spider quickly strike and wrap up the insects. I had the pleasure of watching a mosquito be masticated and wrapped up after it made the mistake of biting me. Adam even tossed in a June bug but it was too big and just tore through the web. I'm still fascinated by bugs and spiders after all these years. Nature Lover lives on.

Sunday morning we had morning coffee while Valentine ate breakfast. We went to Yummy for dim sum with Antonia, a friend and former-coworker of Adam's. The dim sum was delicious and Valentine charmed the whole staff with her personable ways. From the restaurant we went to Lake Harriet where we loaded up Valentine in her stroller and walked the loop around the lake. I was amazed by the huge numbers of bluegill in the lake. We also saw freaky giant carp (Adam thinks you should be able to shoot them), a bass and a magnificent heron. We stopped at the tiny door in a tree where children leave notes for a gnome. The little space behind the door was full of notes and little trinkets left by kids. I continually commented on the incredible number of weeds in the lake. There even is a special boat that goes around the lake scooping up the weeds, mulching them, then sending them off on a conveyor belt to be trucked away. From Lake Harriet we drove to Liberty Frozen Custard as I absolutely MUST have frozen custard anytime I come to the Midwest. People in the Northwest haven't even heard of frozen custard and I feel sorry for them. It's creamier and dreamier than ice cream and definitely one of those very specific things about the Midwest that I miss. I'm still hoping for a thunderstorm and some fireflies while I'm here.

Sunday night we drove over to Erin and Ryan's house for a bbq. Their daughter Juniper is two now and was adorable with her face covered in chocolate after eating her fudgsicle. We had brats off the grill and I talked with some old friends and met some new people. Dan Richmond and his wife showed up after returning from their day of tubing down some river in Wisconsin. Big hugs all around! Unexpectedly Betsy and Ross showed up with their six month old daughter Eliza. They had come straight from the airport after returning from their annual family vacation in New York. This was first time meeting little Eliza and I was so excited to see Betsy after so long. Minneapolis is definitely the city where I have the most old friends as so many people I went to middle school and high school with in Waukesha have moved there. Betsy and I talked and laughed and smacked at the mosquitoes biting us. The skeeters aren't too bad as it hasn't rained much lately but they still come out around dusk and they still love to bite me.

Monday morning Greta, Valentine and I headed out early to music class. Erin and her daughter Juniper were going for the first time too. We sat in a circle and sang songs and clapped our hands. The teacher does a great job of keeping the kids excited with different instruments and toys. It was really fun and I loved watched Valentine clap her hands and wiggle her fingers with the songs. After class we went to a coffee shop where the little girls played and we chatted and drank coffee. Greta had to work in the afternoon so we headed home and she put V down for her nap before going to the shop. I read for a while then took a little nap myself. I made myself some lunch then read some more until I heard Valentine awake upstairs. I came into her bedroom to find her grinning in her crib. I changed her diaper and we went downstairs to play. We sat outside for a while and she ate blueberries. I sang "Say Say Little Playmate" to her and she loved clapping our hands together. We were inside playing when Betsy stopped by with Eliza to hang out for bit. Valentine loves other babies and it was so sweet to see the two of them together. Betsy and I chatted and got her some lunch (mmmm that chicken chipotle Adam had made). It's so crazy to see all my friends as mamas. Greta came home from work and we all hung out for a while before Betsy took Eliza home and Greta and I headed to the grocery store. Valentine had a bit of meltdown in the store. Greta said it's the worst she'd ever been though I must say I've seen kids in the grocery store doing worse. Eventually I walked V over to a beanie baby display and distracted her with the fuzzy, colorful animals and talk of elephant trunks and kitty cat tails. She was just a tired and hungry girl.

At home Greta prepared her dinner and then we began working on our own dinner. V went to bed early as she was clearly exhausted. Greta prepared a fantastic salad with roasted vegetables (including squash from my garden in Portland) while Adam grilled the salmon. Greta and I took a quick stroll through nearby Powderhorn Park before coming home to finish up dinner. We cracked open a bottle of Pinot Gris I'd brought from Oregon. We ate outside and relished our delicious meal. After dinner Adam went inside to do some homework (he's in a graduate program at the University) while Greta and I talked and talkd outside long after darkness fell. We cleaned up the kitchen and watched tv for a little bit before going to bed.

Tuesday morning Greta took Valentine to daycare then went to work. Adam had the day off work but had lots of homework he needed to do for his class this evening. I read my book and laid in the grass outside listening to music on my headphones. Adam and I went to Midori's Floating World for sushi lunch then went for a little drive, taking advantage of the convertible on the sunny day. Now Greta is on her way home and we'll go to the beach for a bit before dinner and then her softball game this evening.

I'm not able to get my pictures of my camera at this point (I'm using Greta & Adam's Mac which I not very familiar with) so it might be awhile until I can post any pictures. I'll write again once I'm back home.

I'm loving getting to hang out with all the babies here in Babyopolis (as Betsy called it). I feel so lucky to still be so close with my old friends. It's important to know people who knew you when you were 15. That's half my life now. Time is a flyin.

Please let me know what you've been up to. I hope all is well!

xoxox,
carolyn