“Draw a picture of Momma…”

Rare representational-ism from Art the usually abstract artist.

(Artistic development alert – my likeness now has a torso!)

Seamen.

We sailed Lake Minnetonka on a very windy Memorial Day with my brother captain Josh. It was extremely fun for the boys and a little stressful for their Papa. They had on life vests, though and it was safe enough. Josh’s boat actually has an area you can call ‘below deck’, complete with three beds (one’s actually a double), a little sink and bucket to relieve yourself. We only put up one of the two sails and still, at one point, we had to move to one side of the boat since it was leaning so far over.

Right after we left the dock both boys said with foolhardy certainty they wanted to jump in the water. As the loving and kind Papa I am I wouldn’t allow this. Although we did dip them overboard waste high and they immediately became panicky and scampered up the ladder. The water was really really cold. Icy cold. But refreshing!

We stopped on an Island in the middle of the lake, played in the sand and then explored an old burned down house some abandoned structures. And saw two really big frogs.

Exploring the island.

How to dress your twins.

Okay, so these girls are just so adorable and cute. I can barely stand it! But I must admit it took me until just the last couple months to come to terms with their mutual cuteness and how to dress them appropriately for it.

You see, I had this idea from the beginning that I should just give each girl her own style of clothes to help distinguish them to the rest of the world. I really did NOT want to do the matching outfits or in any way treat them as a unit. I somehow decided that Netta’s name and face begged more muted, Hippie-dippy clothes and Bailey more saturated colors and more preppy stuff. Turns out I liked the muted, Hippie-dippy clothes best and so Netta always looked cuter to me. Then one day, after Ben tried to convince me of this imbalance I decided to dress them both in the floral-muted-dress-over-pants cuteness and see what happened. It was eye-opening. I had been cheating Bailey of cuteness all that time!

Ever since that day I have decided to dress them in a matching theme everyday so whatever cute outfit idea inspired me for one girl is somehow shared by the other, even though I actually don’t have any doubles of anything (except for these lovely rompers my sister picked up. Thanks Em!) Some popular outfit themes have included knit shirt over flowery poplin pants, short-sleeved onsie with overalls, monochromatic from head to toe, and my favorite, dress over pants. The possibilities are endless! And both babies are equally cute every day. But of course they are!

A letter to a special person.

A couple weeks ago Art and I somehow got on the subject of either Reading Rainbow or something we saw LeVar Burton do or say and he said, “LeVar is a special person, right Momma?” Of course I agreed! “Oh, yes. He’s very special to be on that T.V. show for so long and share all those adventures with us!” Art wished we could call LeVar and tell him how we felt. I suggested we could write him a letter. What a great opportunity to use an ancient form of communication before it becomes completely obsolete!

Anyway, I helped Art with basic form for a personal letter. Here is what he came up with:

Dear LeVar,

I watch you on T.V. and I even saw the one “Seashore Surprises”. I wanted to write you a letter because I like you. I am Arthur and my other name is Arthur James and Art and Artie. You can call me any name.

If you’re ever in Minneapolis tell us where you are so can see you and come play with you.

Your friend,
(“Well, not his friend yet, but soon I will be!”)
Arthur

Bike ride to look at and throw stuff in Minnehaha Creek.

Sailing.

Today my brother Josh took me and the boys sailing on his fancy new. It was fun, especially for Art and Lew who had about as much fun as you might expect two little boys who’ve never been sailing to. More photos tomorrow hopefully.

Lewis’ bones.

Today we had a scare. Lewis’ fingers were smushed in our backdoor (accidentally by his big brother). He had a tiny little bone fracture at the top of his middle finger (along with some scary looking blood oozing out of his fingernail). A really tiny frature, the doctor wasn’t concerned and didn’t do much beyond a bandaid, but of course it was plenty painful. They gave us a print of the xray which we have hanging Lewis-eye-level on our back door. When Ashley came over tonight he asked her, “Do you want to see a picture of mine bones??”

Immediately after it happened Art knew it was bad and felt bad, too. I joked on our way to urgent care that Lewis should smush his fingers in doors more often because Arthur becomes so nice to him. But then Arthur smartly corrected this bad idea saying how that could really hurt all his fingers. Art had a good time telling each nurse and the doctor about this funny notion.

Anyway, Lewis was so brave. The nurses were so impressed with how calm and quiet and attentive he was. They’d push at his painful fingernail and ask, “does this hurt?” He’d quietly nod yes. Sometimes there’s just nothing I can do to describe the love and admiration I have for a kid.

Nanna’s back.

Just barely a week after she left for Arkansas my mother drove the 12-hours up again and is staying indefinitely with us. It’s such a wonderful gift having her around to help and take care of our children and house. It’s a hard time for us as a family, but having my mother around makes it so much easier. And, most importantly, she’s made it possible for Jessica to spend a great deal more time with her mother. Thank you, Mama. Thanks so much!

Phone archive.

I just downloaded a bunch of photos and videos off my phone, many of which I either forgot about or deemed unpostworthy. But no more! Here’s a collection of some random stuff from the past couple months:

Netta eating the camera:

A letter left for Arthur and Lewis left on our dining room table from the Easter Bunny (who clearly has horrible hand writing):

transcribed:

Thanks for those beautiful eggs. I hid them in your yard. Take a look, it won’t be hard.

And if you’re lucky you’ll find something chocolatey. And maybe something sticky to put in your pockety.

Thanks for the carrots, gotta run! I mean hop.

Bye,

-Easter Bunny

Full house.

Art and Lewis look out over downtown St. Paul from up high in the Pioneer Press building.

A story idea for the paper. Who does this?

Lewis and I had lunch the other day at Keys Cafe on Raymond in St. Paul, a half block from University Ave where there are miles and miles of diggers and backhoes working to build the new light rail line. We sat and watched them work (and Lewis played with his digger) while we waited for our food.