Dining room table

Leif has discovered how fun it is to play under the dining room table. I find this especially gratifying, since I can actually remember how much I liked playing under the dining room table as a child (probably until at least the age of 7!).

Also, since our table has a couple of removable leaves that are held in place by little locks, playing under the table gives Leif another chance to use one of his favorite words: "Ock!" And he is slowly but surely catching on to the fact that he has to wait until he gets *all the way* out from under the table before he stands up. Ouch.

MN Zoo with Auntie Sarah

Back in early June, Leif and I enjoyed a sunny Sunday outing to the MN Zoo with Auntie Ooh-ooh Ah-Ah, otherwise known as Auntie Sarah. We trekked way out to the far end of the zoo to check out the playground, which turned out to be rather disappointingly small (although Leif found it fascinating that they had little rocks on the ground in lieu of sand).


A short walk beyond the playground was the mini-farm, where Leif enjoyed running around the cow barn (although he seemed more interested in exploring the building than actually looking at the cows) and ogling the tractors. One of the tractors even had steps next to it, so he and Auntie Sarah were able to climb up and sit on it. Time for a photo op!

The world is my jungle gym

Father's Day

We did not do much for Father's Day since it was also Marathon Recovery Day and we were driving back from Duluth, but ever-thoughtful Leif had at least gotten a card and a gift (two dad-themed board books) for his pa.

Father's Day hug!


The card (pretty eloquent for a one-year-old, I thought): "DEAR DADDY, THANK YOU FOR REDING ME BOOKS, CHANGING MY POOPY PANTS, AND HELPING ME FIND ALL THE DOGGIES IN THE WORLD. I THINK WE HAVE FOUND MOST OF THEM, BUT THER MAY BE A FEW LEFT TO GO. WE CAN MAKE THAT OUR PROJEKT FOR NEXT YEAR! LOVE, LEIF"


Aaron reads Leif "Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug"

Grandma's Marathon

On June 18, Aaron ran Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, setting a new personal record time of 3:53. I was there to cheer him on at Mile 19, where the race course transitions from Scenic Highway 61 to urban Duluth. Here he is, still smiling!


Leif had unfortunately lost interest in watching the race by that time and was off with Grandpa B. walking around the block and attempting to open the doors of all of the parked cars he could find.


On a sad note, my maternal grandmother passed away just a few days before the marathon at the age of 89. Leif was never able to meet his great-grandma in person (she was in a nursing home and we had not made it up to visit her), but I am glad that all three of us were able to attend her funeral in Chisholm prior to heading to Duluth for Aaron's race. We love you, Grandma, and we will miss you!