Whatsa Cabin

B finally came up to the cabin for her first time a little over a week ago. It was a tight squeeze in the car (we had to borrow my FIL's vehicle) to fit me, T, t, J, B and P but we made it work. The weather on Saturday was touch and go with rain, then sun, then storms, then sun, then rain...you get the picture. I used to it to my full advantage to take a nap when t took his nap. The others played Monopoly City. J, T and B shot targets with BB guns and went for a boat ride. Little man and I played outside and just chilled. On the way home B told me she had been a little homesick for Thailand (for the first time I think!) because she lives in a remote area and our cabin is in a remote area. We're happy she had fun with us and looking forward to the next time she can come up with us to have fun in the sun!

Eating at the Drive-In on the way up (and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes!)

Minnow Jim's hats

Nature walk (we saw a turtle, a chipmunk and a bunny on this one)

First boat ride on Nelson Lake

Me and my boys

Skol Vikes! (in Packer territory)

Shooting BB guns

B and t

Playing Monopoly

More on visiting au pair

Pics from B's weekend with A - they crammed a lot of activity into a short weekend!

Visiting au pair from Poland/Iowa

Last weekend we headed up to the cabin but B stayed behind because she had her an au pair friend visit for the weekend. B met A while they were in au pair school in New York and became fast friends. B called A her "translator" because her English was so very good and she could understand B and help her to understand others. A is from Poland and lives for the year with her host family in Iowa City. She takes care of four children. Two girls (I think 3 1/2 and 5 or maybe 7, I forget) and two boys (10 and 12). They've been in school the entire time she's been here so I think she was getting a little nervous for summer break to be coming. A is a very sweet girl; she brought us some cookies and popcorn! She left Iowa City on Thursday night and had to change buses a few hours into the trip. She arrived in Minneapolis around 5am on Friday morning and walked around and then took a bus to the general vicinity of our home and walked several blocks to get there. (It's too bad she couldn't figure out the bus stop that just down the corner from our house!) A spent the day with B and t and they had lots of fun playing with him. After we left Friday evening for the cabin, her and B had a fun-filled weekend full of bowling, shopping at the MOA, visiting the sculpture garden and more. We would welcome A in our home anytime.

Au Pair School in Maryland

Last Friday my MIL came over to watch the little man so I could bring B to the airport. She was headed off to Maryland for a weekend school that is designed for au pairs to meet their credit quota. B's plane landed Friday evening and the hotel shuttle picked her up at the airport and brought her to the hotel that the classes would be taking place. Saturday morning she had orientation and then a full day of classes. Sunday also was filled with classes and after B was done she met up with an au pair friend of hers that is from China but who lives with her host family in Maryland. She spent the next three nights with her and her host family and did some sightseeing and flew back to Minneapolis on Wednesday. It's was T's first day home alone with t and so they went to the airport to pick her up and B had missed t so much and volunteered to spend the afternoon watching him to T could get some work done. We missed her as well and are happy she had fun and made it home safely.

Baby Shower

Last weekend B went to her LCC's baby shower and monthly au pair meeting. A little over a month ago, S and her husband adopted F, an absolutely adorable little boy. When the invite came for the shower B was a little confused. She had never been to a baby shower before and the word "shower" to her (and most people) means to clean yourself in the bathtub. So you can understand the confusion. I explained to her that in America people have parties to celebrate the coming of a new baby. I told her that they call it a shower because you "shower" the parents and baby with gifts. Not sure if she totally understood the use of the word but she got the idea and had a lot of fun at the shower. B loves babies and F is a hard one not to love. He has the most pinch-able cheeks!

As you know, B loves taking photos of food

Gift for baby F

Momma S, Baby F and B

Cute little jammies (it seems like only yesterday little t fit into clothing that size!)

B, O (an au pair from Europe) and Baby F

B and her boss

Easter weekend

It was B's first time celebrating Easter. I had a hard time trying to explain to her what Easter was as it's become quite commercialized with the Easter bunny. We are not religious people but still celebrate with our families. She finally understood what it was after my mom asked if she celebrates Easter in Thailand and I had to explain to her that she's Buddist so they don't celebrate Easter. That was B's "a-ha" moment where she related it to Christianity. Friday night she went out with her "friend" B (I say he's her "boyfriend" but she says he's only "friend to be boy" which I believe she means he is just a boy who is her friend but for only a friend they spend an awful lot of time together!) to a party. Saturday she came with me to visit my family in Rochester and Sunday she came with us to visit T's family here in the cities. It was a nice weekend. We always enjoy spending time with our families and wish we could see them more often.

Playing an instrument at her party Friday night

Bloomin' Onion Bread

Carrot Cake

Easter Sunday meal