A Lovely, Calm Flight Home

I provide the following series of photos from our flight home from Detroit to give you a sense of the chaos we created -- chaos in that our little boy is a total ham with a TON of energy who made "friends" with everyone in the row in front of us (communicating with them by pushing on their seat backs), behind us (playing peek-a-boo with the family there), with our seat mate, a very patient woman in the aisle seat, and her flying companion across the aisle, both of whom Andy found hilarious for reasons unknown (he would point at them, laugh and ham it up any time they were looking our way, usually while jumping on my lap). What a relief to have flight mates who were patient with us and decided to find us amusing -- a cautionary tale perhaps -- rather than asking us to please, PLEASE, keep our child under control...

Okay, so after our crazy flight with our ham of a son, we stopped at Rositas for some MARGARITAS and BEER, a must for air-travel-weary parents. But just when we thought it was safe... Andy decides it's SO fun to put chips in his water, and off we go again!
We love our little mischievous boy!

The tortilla chip and water mixture.

Erkki's Birthday BBQ

We spent Monday afternoon with Shawn's family at Helvi and Erkki's in Northville, Michigan to celebrate Erkki's birthday. It was so great to spend time with Shawn's family just catching up -- the last time we were here was a year ago, so we don't get to do this very often! It was 90+ degrees and humid, and several of us just had to jump in the water to cool down (others, Finns to the core, actually went in the sauna!).

Andy and his great grandmother Helvi.

The Family Portrait
Back row, from right: Nikki, Derek, Ray, Kirstin, Sirpa
Front row, from right: Andy, Cherise, Shawn, Erkki, Helvi, Risa and Bev

Michigan for Memorial Day Weekend

We spent the long weekend plus a couple of days in Michigan. Our home base was grandma Sirpa's house, where Andy spent most of his time playing with buckets of water and running and jumping in the grass in Sirpa's back yard. On Sunday, we drove up to Lansing for Brandon and Melissa's wedding -- it was hot hot hot! We had a great time at the reception too, and what a gorgeous location overlooking the golf course. We leave tomorrow, but first we're heading to Shawn's grandparents' house to celebrate Erkki's birthday with the whole family!

Out on the porch playing with his buckets before we're even out of our pajamas!

Andy loves playing peekaboo ("bee-boo" as he now calls it) on the stairs at Grandma Sirpa's house.

Here is Andy playing in the grass with Shawn's cousin Kirstin, who is such a natural with kids!
On the stairs with Auntie Risa. When did Andy get so TALL!


The picture to the left is from exactly one year ago for Memorial Day 2005, also here in Michigan -- what a difference a year makes! Shawn looks a little more rested these days (strange, since we actually feel just as tired) and Andy has lots of hair!

Lot's of new photos!

After a couple of weeks on "hiatus" (i.e., doing yard work, watching Big Love, reading Us magazine), we're back with several new entries full of photos from the evolution of our new yard and driveway, to Shawn's sister Risa and her boyfriend Drew visiting from American Samoa. We'll be in Michigan for the next five days, so I'll post photos of our trip there late next week! Cherise

The Zoo with Risa and Drew

Andy and Shawn took Auntie Risa and Drew to the zoo on Monday.

Risa, Andy and Drew!

The new driveway

Here we are, rolling out the new gravel - that's Risa and Drew helping out, along with Juan -- they are visiting from American Samoa, and we put them to work - nice.
The work crew...
The finished product!

University Street Fair

Andy sleeked out his hair. Shawn did something else entirely to his hair!

Oh Happy Day --- LAWN!!!

Glorious, fabulous day -- we have sod!





This is the great new garden box and trellis that Shawn built for his hops and squash.

Yes, more photos from our front yard...

Okay, so I know these photos look pretty similar to the rest of our blog photos -- we spend lots of time in the yard!! And of course, as the mom, I think every moment with Andy is unique and every picture provides just a slightly different view of his fabulous personality. So, bear with me as we run through yet ANOTHER day playing in the yard (in pj top, true), in early May.







Patient Herbie

Yard work and flowers!

Another day at work in the yard - this is before we put in the sod.
Picking flowers for mama.