Hmmm, where have the last few days gone? Must be a post to come in the future. Anyway.

We woke up about 4am on the fifth, last Saturday. We left the house at 4:30am and Ali was still asleep in her carseat. She woke up in the airport, happy. She was so funny. We first flew from Des Moines to Minneapolis. Ali slept. Pretty sure I did too. The plane was bigger this time, which was a relief to me. In Minneapolis we had about an hour and a half to wait. We let Ali play a bit in this kid’s area. At the gate she had a blow-out (which she doesn’t normally do anymore) that required a clothes change. Glad we carried on her luggage.

Out last flight left around 9:30am and we got to PDX just after eleven! It was a three plus hour flight so we were putting the time change to good use. And on the way back….we got an extra seat between us! It was absolutely glorious. When reserving the seats on flights with three-seat rows Tony specifically reserved the window and aisle seats hopnig forthis exact situation. And it couldn’t have happened on a better flight. ali didn’t fall asleep until we’d been in the air for awhile. Then she was awoken shortly after by how FREAKING LOUD they talk on the overhead system. For the first time we had to work to amuse her.

Before take off.

First nap.

Eventually we all napped, Ali and I laying down across Tony. It was nice. Well, airplane nice. When we landed in PDX we had to descend through layer after layer after layer of clouds. Welcome home. It rained over the mountains. We got home about 2pm. And now, about a week later, I think we’re actually to a point we could consider "recovered."

In case you haven’t seen the third album yet, which has party pictures, pics from the 4th, and these click here.

Just blogging about the trip is making me tired at this point.

The fourth we woke up at like 6am because we wanted to leave around seven. Above is what Ali looked like before we had to wake her. Basically a birthday hangover. I have no pics of her outfit in it’s entirity but the plaid fabric is a little skort (skirt-shorts combo for those of you not up on your little girls’ fashion) with a tiny polka dot tank and a big, pink, polka dot bow. She was adorable as adorable could be. The tank you’ll see much of later.

The memorial service was for Tony’s Great Uncle Dan, Grandma Swalla’s older brother. He passed away in December, in California where he lived. Though I never got to meet him, he sounded like a great man. There was a mass held in his honor (my first Catholic service and it was kind of nerve-racking). The one that started at 8am. Ali did so well. She was a little antsy and just wanted to talk and sign. We kept tryingtoput the pacy in her mouth but after the fast everyone seemed to love she was making noise. I guess her tiny joy was keeping with Uncle Dan’s spirit.

From the service we went to the graveyard to bury the ashes and then back to the church to plant a tree in his memory , followed by a brunch. Somehow we didn’t take many pictures. Probably we were too busy meeting/catching up with so many people. Ali and I got to meet so many Swallas (or former Swallas), everyone nice as can be. There weren’t many "kids" there, meaning Tony and I’s generation of younger which waskind of disappointing. Also disappointing was Susie and Steve sneaking out without saying goodbye! I’ve only been asking Tony for about ever if you guyswere going to come because I was so looking forward to seeing the Wolfe family again.

After the brunch Ali was so, so exhausted so we drive over to Mary’s house. Ali napped inside while Tony and I sat out in the sun, enjoying so peace and quiet. Then Mary and Billie came home! Haha, I kid. Eventually Ali woke up and played around. Their land (farm?) is so, so beautiful. We ate fresh raspberries and showed Ali chickens and ducks in the pond right off their deck. And then there was inside!

Mary and Steve are so obviously experienced grandparents (besides Ella and Joey, they have Kate who is two or three and we didn’t get to meet), they have a whole set-up that Ali just loved. And Elmo chair, numerous riding toys, a piano thing, and all sorts of noise makers. Add to that FIVE people paying attention to just her and Ali was pretty much in heaven. But, backing up, when Ali first woke up Steve (Mary’s husband if I didn’t mention that) put some water in this bird bath for her to play in and then began snapping pictures. Beautiful, beautiful pictures.

Finally we had to leave. We were headed to Hyperion were The Carrolls were (and had been since, like, 9am). First we had to stop at Target to get baby bug spray and some of this new-fangled spray on sunscreen we’d been seeing. Then we went back to the house and packed some (I think Ali had needed a nap and immediately fell asleep but woke in the Target parking lot) because our flight left the next morning about 6:20am.

The afternoon and evening was spent out by the pool. The sun was kind of spotty by the time we got there, Ali was cranky, and we were hungry. Around four the buffet opened, then we swam a little, then Ali napped a little. Later we swam again, until about 7:30pm and it was so awesome. I love warm nights. Love them love them. they are pretty rare in the Puget Sound area and basically non-existant here. It was one thing I have always missed about the Portland area. Anyway, after swimming we changed and went back for more food. Then the bingo began! Which was fun and Karen even won. And itwas good prizes too, like $100-$400(!). But if more than one person won you had to split it.

Finally, about quarter to ten the firework show started. I seriously thought Ali would have already been asleep so never thought about what she’d think. But she was awake! At first she looked pretty scared and was covering into Tony as they lay on a lawn chair. But then she started kind of babbling and yelling. And by the end she was clapping! It was so, so cute and we were so proud of her. Becuase this was no driveway firework show. This one was intense and it was loud.

Trying to get her to nap amidst the chaos was fun. Eventually she did though.

This last pic is her wiped out when we got home. Which was around ten-thirty or so. A lot of planning had to go inotthings such as the outfit she was wearing. After swimming she wore it (needed to be warm enough for the night air), then slept in it, then we just put her right into the car seat in the "morning" (we had toleave the house by 4:30am!) and she flew in it too. While she slept we packed everything else up. I went to bed eleven or eleven-thirty but I don’t know when Tony did. I do know we were up before 4am!

As already mentioned Ali slept through the first part of her party. And it was her third nap that day. She woke really cranky and was so, so unsure of all the people when I brought her down. All the people = Tony and I, George and Martha (Karen and Georgia were at a swim meet and came later), Uncle Jim and Aunt Connie, thier son Todd and his girlfriend Meredith, and Grandma and Grandpa Carroll.

We’d gone the day before to the party store to pick out some decorations. We endedup getting an array of stuff; some "First Birthday," some Elmo/Sesame Street, and some Dora. We got to keep it a surprise because Ali let Karen, and even Georgia, hold her while we shopped. So she was super happy to see the Elmo platesand Dora napkins. She actually took an Elmo plate with her on the flights home and is still playing with it. She likes to fold it in half and then open it like she’s playing peekaboo with Elmo.

Sometime during dinner Ali spotted the presents and wanted nothing else than to be able to get to them. She was obsessed. Finally it was time and everyone headed in to watch. Tony set her down, expecting a beeline to the gifts and….nothing. She got scared and hid behind the rocking chair! Also notice that once she does come into the room she gets scared again and tries to climb on who she thinks is her daddy but is actually her great uncle Jim. It’s kind of shaky because I was laughing.

The next video is her opening her first present and then one of her opening her last, the "bike" Tony got for her. As good as she’d been for the past few days, at the farm, at the mall, everywhere, she wasn’t fully herself at this party.  Not as outgoing, not as friendly, not as funny. So that was kind of sad because it was the only time she saw all of the Carrolls.

Can you tell I was holding the video camera (well, actually Tony’s phone) instead of the camera during the present opening? Then it wastime for cake and ice cream and the unveiling of the final surprise:

The singing basically terrified her.

We have a one-year-old in the house!

Afterward we were supposed to do some sparklers but the mosquitos were out and people were starting to leave so it was brief. Then we came inside and Ali watched her new DVD and played with her new toys. Then it was to bed because we had to be at a memorial in Madrid (thirty minutes away?) at 8:00am the next morning.

A rare picture of Auntie Martha.

Chatting with the lid to her new toy.

The remains.

We all (Tony, Ali and I) woke up at 6:30am on her bday. Weird. Especially considering she was born at 8:49am Iowa time. At breakfast this happened:

If you can’t tell the dog was licking yogurt off her hands. Which Ali found to be quite hilarious. After breakfast we walked to Starbucks (which was a looooooong walk). Ali fell asleep which made me happy because she had a long day ahead of her. We went swimming at Hyperion and then home to shower because we were meeting Tony’s cousin Lyn, Aunt Mary, Billie (aka Grandmere), and Lyn’s two kids, Ella and Joey at the Merle Hay mall in the afternoon. Once again Ali napped and we were able to do some decorating for the party that was happening in the evening.

I can’t even begin to post all the absolutely adorable photos of Ali and Joey that I have. Mary has the nicest camera and seeing her high quality puts our camera to shame. So please check out her pics here and the rest of our here. Okay, Joey turned one mid-May and seems like such a mellow guy. And Ella you can tell if just a total sweetheart. Mary said that they sometimes look at this site together and that Ella asked when she got to meet the "girl who lives on the ocean." So cute. Without further ado, here is some of what went down:

Ali modeling for Mary.

Joey being silly.

Lyn and Joey, Tony and Ali, and Ella.

Ali got some presents!

Giving kisses!

And then these two starting loving on each other.

Joey got a little excited and bowled Ali over.

Right back to loving.

Ella playing with Ali’s new toys.

Ali trying to drink Joe’s milk.

Letting Grandmere do something that resembles holding.

Time to go.

Then we went home and put Ali down for yet another nap because there was no way she would last through a whole party…especially a laterish one. I think people began to arrive at 5:30pm and she didn’t wake up until after 6:15 or so. But that’s another post.

We all (Tony, Ali and I) woke up at 6:30am on her bday. Weird. Especially considering she was born at 8:49am Iowa time. At breakfast this happened:

If you can’t tell the dog was licking yogurt off her hands. Which Ali found to be quite hilarious. After breakfast we walked to Starbucks (which was a looooooong walk). Ali fell asleep which made me happy because she had a long day ahead of her. We went swimming at Hyperion and then home to shower because we were meeting Tony’s cousin Lyn, Aunt Mary, Billie (aka Grandmere), and Lyn’s two kids, Ella and Joey at the Merle Hay mall in the afternoon. Once again Ali napped and we were able to do some decorating for the party that was happening in the evening.

I can’t even begin to post all the absolutely adorable photos of Ali and Joey that I have. Mary has the nicest camera and seeing her high quality puts our camera to shame. So please check out her pics here and the rest of our here. Okay, Joey turned one mid-May and seems like such a mellow guy. And Ella you can tell if just a total sweetheart. Mary said that they sometimes look at this site together and that Ella asked when she got to meet the "girl who lives on the ocean." So cute. Without further ado, here is some of what went down:

Ali modeling for Mary.

Joey being silly.

Lyn and Joey, Tony and Ali, and Ella.

Ali got some presents!

Giving kisses!

And then these two starting loving on each other.

Joey got a little excited and bowled Ali over.

Right back to loving.

Ella playing with Ali’s new toys.

Ali trying to drink Joe’s milk.

Letting Grandmere do something that resembles holding.

Time to go.

Then we went home and put Ali down for yet another nap because there was no way she would last through a whole party…especially a laterish one. I think people began to arrive at 5:30pm and she didn’t wake up until after 6:15 or so. But that’s another post.

This is Ali’s Elmo cake that we MADE. And DECORATED. I know, it turned out pretty good, didn’t it. Before this though, we went to the Jordan Creek mall with Karen, Martha, Georgia, and Martha’s friend. Before that we stopped by Pink Hippo Bows where Ali got a few more "birthday presents." Actually they were probably more for me. Last year Karen bought Ali some tiny, tiny bows at the local farmer’s market (and if you’re an avid reader you probably saw the girl wear them often). We then ordered more from their website. Then, they opened a store and we got to visit. I am loving our purchases. You will perhaps spot these cute bows from now on.

Anyway, we went to the mall and they have a really cool kid’s area. Ali had so much fun and is such a little butterfly/daredevil. She tries to make friends with anyone and everyone. She’s also not afriad to climb up, down, or around anything. It was kind of scary to watch. And older girls (like 3-6) absolutely FLOCK to her. It was so hilarious to watch.

And now, the progression of Elmo! We didn’t leave the mall until pretty late. Ali almost fell asleep while eating in the food court. When we got home Georgia helped Tony and I bake the cake, then Karen came home and the four of us ate ice cream while we waited for it to cool. Then the decorating began. We didn’t finish until 11:30pm or so but it was worth it.

As already mentioned Wednesday we ventured out to the Swalla farm in Stuart, Iowa. It was like thirty or forty minutes west of where we were staying in Johnston. I think we were able to get up, showered, and ready by just after ten. Tony’s Grandma Swalla lives on the farm, along with one of her (fourteen!) children, Rosie, and her three kids (Jonathon, whom just graduated high school but we didn’t get to see; Kaitlin, and Megan).

The first thing I noticedwhen we pulled up was KITTENS! I love, love, love kittens but am less enamored with cats. Speaking of cats, Trista told me last night my cat, Peaches, died. I got Peaches when she was just a kitten from a friend the summer before I went into 4th grade. She was 14 years old. Today when I asked what happend Trista said they think she might have been eaten(!) because they haven’t found her and that she had a seizure a few days earlier. I asked aboutthe seizure and she said ti was a "funny story" and she’d tell me later. Bad enough that my cat dies (though, to be honest, I haven’t lived with her for anmost five years so I don’t really feel as if she’s mine anymore) but…THIS?!? I don’t want to think about it.

Anyway, it was really nice to see more of Iowa on the drive out. I’ve never been to the midwest so I spent a ton of time just staring out the window being amazed at how far you could see. And, in Johnston, at the amazing, amazing houses. They all looked like mini plantation mansions.

After playing around for awhile (well, Ali at least) and searching outsome animals (I think we came across three kittens, one momma cat, and two dogs) we satdown for lunch. Grandma Swalla made a rice casserole that was not only good, but that Ali loved at well. She ate so much I was surprised there was anymore left to put the birthday cake she was later presented with.

This picture cracks me up!

Can we say sugar coma?

So excited about her card. Seriously, this kid LOVES cards.

Ali loved playing in this tiny rocking chair that was Grandma Swalla’s mother’s. It is nearly 100 years old!

So cute!

After more playing we went out to tour the farm. That is when Rosie came home so Ali and I got to meet her. By this time Ali was so, so exhausted (kind of a theme from here on out) so we really had to just go. But we had such a nice time and I really wish we could have stayed longer and can go back for a more extend timein the near future. Farm life is so very different from anything I’ve ever been around (even if it wasn’t exactly the crop-growing type of farm) and the space and isolation are so interesting.

In the morning there were some sprinkles too…the only moisture we saw for the week. To give some perspective, it rained a good portion of our drive home from PDX. Welcome back to the NW!

Also, I uploaded the first of three (so far!) photo albums. Check it out here.

Okay…I am going to try to get through these as quickly as possible. If you’ve noticed I haven’t uploaded new photos yet, I’m waiting until I’ve had a chance to post about them first, but soon people, soon.

Monday I mostly slept. I fell asleep at, like, noon and didn’t wake up until 4pm. Ali napped with me at the end and I have no idea what else happened during that time. I know Tony did NOT sleep. Then we had dinner, Karen made meatballs which is a favorite of Ali’s. After dinner, about 7pm or so, I went upstairs to put Ali to sleep and…fell asleep again! Slept through the night, clothes and all. Besides getting little sleep the night before I attribute part of this to not having and coffee that day when I usually drink 2-3 cups. Again, I don’t know what went on that night, Tony may fill in some of the blank spots as he stayed up a few more hours.

Tuesday morning we went to watch Martha play a match of tennis for this tournament she was in. She’s really good, especially for someone who hasn’t been playing that long and was going against really competitive girls. Watching made both Tony and I wish we could spend more time playing ourselves. Babysitting, anyone?

I think Tuesday was the hottest day we had, upper eighties maybe? Yes, we were blessed with basically mild weather. It could have been much hotter which would have been a huge shock to our systems. As it was it quickly became apparent that I just don’t have the wardrobe for hot weather. One pair of longerish bermuda shorts doesn’t really suffice. Obviously we live in a place where pants year-round is a definite possibility.

So in the afternoon we went to Hyperion, a country club that the Carrolls (Tony’s dad’s family with whom we were staying) belong to. They have an outdoor pool with this amazing kiddie area. Ali seriously had the time of her life.

She basically has the doggy paddle down already!

All Georgia’s friends gathered around (Georgia is on the left).

Later that evening We were just hanging around in the backyard and Georgia was reading Ali her [Ali's] favorite book ever. Enter Hallie (pronounced like Ali but with an "H"). Ali and Hallie were so cute together, weary at first but eventually warming up to one another. Ali would go over and pat her, even kiss her on the face! The funniest thing was when either of them was called, both would come because their names sounded so much alike.

Ali hinting to Aunt Georgia.

Sad it’s over.

Moving on to "Aloha is…"

I think Tuesday was also the night we played a modified version of Apples to Apples. Modified in that George, Tony’s dad, was the one and only judge. Anyone who’s played the game knows that the better you know the judge the bigger your advantage. Since I was playing with Tony and Georgia (and later with Georgia’s friend Emma) I started out at a distinct disadvantage but I think I ended up doing pretty well. Something about finishing up the green card brilliant and my laying down lawyers. I’ll let you guess as to George’s occupation.

In the evening we ventured out to Target, a necessity as we were low on diapers. Can’t waste precious luggage space with something you can easily buy, you know. There we also ended up picking some items out for the birthday girl. It’s so funny how a Target can seem so special and full of possibility when you don’thave one near and rarely get to go to one. Tony bought toys and I picked out two outfits. No surprises there, right?

I also think Tuesday was the day that we went to the library to get the pan (yes, you can BORROW mold pans from the library there, how cool is that?) to make Ali’s Elmo cake. This was Tony’s brainchild and you’ll see much more of it later.

The next morning we needed to get up and get going as early as we could manage because we were heading out to the Swalla farm for lunch and an early birthday semi-celebration.

First, I would like to say that I truly didnot anticipate the recovery time we, and especially Ali would need from this trip. Geez, we’re still worn out. To the point of feeling almost hungover! And Ali…she took a good nap flying into Portland, slept most of the nearly two hour ride home and went to bed at 5pm! I thought it was just a nap so she was still in her clothes and everything. She woke up once earlyin the morning and laid with/played around me for about an hour before going back to sleep until, like, nine thirty.

Today we have to work on re-training her to sleep in the crib, which she is throwing a big fit about. One of my least favorite things. We also really need to go to thestore as there is no substantial food in the house to speak of, definitely nothing remotely fresh or parishable, but finding the energy or desire to get up and out is proving to be a struggle. Also wondering why I bothered to clean before leaving. Coming home somehow seemed to tear the whole house apart. 

Anyway, backing up:

We left here around 8pm last Sunday. Ali slept in the car. Got to the airport and did long-term parking. Ali woke up and was excited and confused. We took the shuttle and checked our bags and the whole time Ali was so cute talking and smiling and having a great time. We checked two bags and had two backpacks, Ali’s little suitcase, a stuffed diaper bag, and a stroller to carry on. Which, plus Ali, was a LOT to lug through the airport. SO GLAD we ended up vetoing the carseat.

Entertaining herself at the gate.

Mom and Dad.

Ali stayed up and played until we got on the plane and fell asleep just before take-off (about 12:30pm). We flew first to the Minneapolis airport, a little over three hour flight. So we got there just after 5am after the two hour time change. Ali didn’thave a seat and I have to say it is a pain to have a one year old on your lap. And it was exclusively my lap b/c I’m the one she sleeps with and we were desperate to do whatever possible to keep her asleep. I slept a little but with my arm squished between the girl and the armrest my hand kept falling asleep and waking me up. Eventually the sun started to rise (so amazing to see from the sky!) and I just stayed up. I don’t think Tony slept much, if at all.

Over Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes.

Tired eyes.

Landed in Minneapolis and she’s still sleeping.

Ali didn’t wake until we were in the airport. And then she woke very happy and excited. She was seriously so funnywith all her airport wakes. Not at all how she normally wakes up. In Minneapolis we had about an hour to make ourway across their HUGE airport (from gate F to A something). I started to feel a little sick on the first flight (I get motion sick pretty easily) so I took a non-drowsy Bonine at the gate (thanks Alyssa!). Almost immediately, probably because my stomach was empty and I had slept very little, drowsiness set in. 

The flight to Des Moines was on a tiny, tiny plane. It was scary tiny- at least to me. Again, Ali fell asleep before take-off and didn’t wake up until we were in the airport. What a good girl! I also slept through most ofthe short flight. I don’t think Tony did though. He is crazy like that.

We got into Des Moines at about 8:30. Karen and Martha (Tony’s stepmom and sister) picked us up. We didn’t even have to wait at baggage, apparently a benefit of having taken a tiny plane. And then the fun began…

We’re back. Hope to get time to post pictures and write stories soon. Until than, we’ve made it, left with a baby and returned with a ONE YEAR OLD, had an amazing time with amazing people and are now completely and utterly exhausted.

And a little sunburned…