BBQ

When Jo got here on Saturday she was laughing about how excited she was to visit Minnesota, and who would have ever thought she'd love this place so much?

Little did she know that Minnesota would welcome her with about 120% humidity and bugs.for.days.  I'm talking Miserable with a capital M.  Luckily she has the cutest niece ever that follows her around like a little puppy dog to make things somewhat tolerable.

As soon as us girls got home from the airport we had a BBQ for some of Ryan's work people.  L thought she was queen for the day with all the extra attention.  I think the picture of her about to drink out of the beer bottle might be my all time fave. 

- K

Auntie Jo!

On Friday Aunt Jo texted me and said she was thinking about coming out.  She got in the next day around 4pm. 

I kind of dreaded the day Lyla was more interested in her family visitors than her mama, but the day has arrived and it is pretty darn cute.  Kind of.  I mean, seriously, L.  She's not THAT much cooler than me.

Needless to say, we're having a lot of fun.  And Lyla is in Auntie heaven.

- K

Sunday

Sunday was a pretty perfect day.  Lyla and I let dad sleep in for Father's Day, made a big breakfast and went to church.  It was a beautiful, sunny day so we walked to the park after church.  I had to take a picture of the sky because I was beginning to think blue skies no longer existed.

 

L is really getting the hang of the playground, running and squealing and trying to throw herself off of the highest parts.  Never a dull moment with that girl.  She definitely plays hard...and then sleeps hard.  One of the best parts of my day is going in her room after a nap where she greets me with a big smile, a "mama!" and a sweaty, crazy head of curls.

 

After all that we went over to Joan's house to play in the lake and feed some baby ducks.  I think Lyla might think "Father's Day" is actually "Lyla's Day."  ;)

 

- K

 

Happy Father's Day!

One day when I was pregnant with Lyla I was thinking about being a mom to a daughter and what kind of person I hoped she would be, and what kind of role model I needed to be to achieve that.  Then a country song came on the radio about a dad going fishing with his daughter and making memories, and it dawned on me that as important as my role would be, Ryan's role as her father could very well be even more important in shaping the woman our little girl would become.

You dads are charged with a pretty daunting task.  You are responsible for teaching our sons how to be good men, and for turning our daughters into strong, confident women.  You teach our boys how to work hard, respect others and love women.  You teach our girls what it means to be loved by a good man, how it feels to be respected. 

You are more important than you know.  You are leaving legacies in your children which will affect many generations to come.  For that you are loved and appreciated every day, but most especially today. 

Our family is blessed to have a lot of good, strong dads and granddads.  I am so thankful for each of them, and especially to have a good man by my side, raising our little baby.  His legacy will be an amazing one.  Love you a million, Ryan.

xo

- K

She's a Maniac!

Happy Friday Eve! Here's a little video of miss Lyla and her new dance moves. :) Sorry for the fuzzy sound, my phone's bit the dust a few too many times so the microphone doesn't really work...

She's A Maniac! from Kassi Chapman on Vimeo.

The Weekend

 

Last Saturday was the best.  We strolled around 50th and France, this cute area in Edina with lots of shops and restaurants.  Lyla stole my necklace and ran around like she owned the place.  She's such a ham, stopping and waving at everyone that walks by.  When we found a baby store with a just-her-size shopping cart, she was in heaven.  I think we have a shopper on our hands. 

 

We, on the other hand, were in heaven sitting on the patio at Barrio drinking margaritas and eating tacos.

 

- K

Happy Weekend!

Our Saturday started out with sunshine, donuts, chocolate mustaches, and a baby cardinal sighting...all by 9am.  I have a feeling it's going to be a good weekend!

Hope yours is too!

- K

Someday I'll Learn

 

I have to say that as fun as L's new toddler stage has been, I've encountered my fair share of struggles.  The more capable and self-sufficient she gets the more I forget that she's not actually a mini adult with the ability to reason and/or be reasonable.  I constantly weigh things in my mind before letting her have or do something, and more often than not think to myself "she can't possibly do that much damage".  Then she quickly proves me wrong and takes us immediately to the worst case scenario.

Like the other day when I handed her the bag of goldfish crackers, thinking she could have a couple while I go around the corner to get something.  When I came back around the corner .5 seconds later the goldfish had been flung all over the living room.  Then she stood up and crushed them into the carpet.  For the millionth time that day I asked myself WHYYYYY?  WHEN WILL I LEARN?

And then she wandered over, grabbed my hand and kissed my face.  And everything was right in my world again.

- K

P.S. Please don't judge the sock - shoe combo.  I promise that isn't the norm over here, and we definitely didn't leave the house like that.

See ya, May

Let me just say that May officially kicked this family's a$$.  It was a tough month in a lot of ways for both Ryan and I, and Lyla is not exactly the type to sit quietly so we can get things done.  In fact two words really come to mind: "high" and "maintenance".  After a particularly exhausting day I asked Ryan how she could possibly have SO MUCH energy ALL FREAKIN DAY.  He said, "well, she's my daughter."  Touche, Mr. Chapman, touche.

But seriously, May was just the worst.  And so effin long - like one of those nightmares where you're trying to get away but can only move in slow motion. 

But enough about that, now that June is finally here I feel like I can breathe again, so I'll just move right along to gushing about our little miss.  Because that's pretty much my favorite thing to do...obviously.

A couple of new things I'm loving about that girl:

Her dancing skills.  She spent a good 10 minutes on our table dancing tonight before bed.  Twisting, spinning, clapping, running in place a la "Flashdance".  (Which is actually pretty appropriate because she really is a maniac.)  It was the best 10 minutes I've had in a long time.

Her hugs.  I know I keep going on about her hugging and kissing, but it keeps getting better.  We're talking wrap-around-your-neck-squeeze-with-all-her-might hugs.

The way she grabs your finger and drags you wherever she's going.  It kind of melts my heart because it feels like she wants you to come with her.  It's definitely not just because she needs me to assist in whatever maniacal plan she's come up with in that little head of hers.

And then of course the way she thinks it's hilarious to run at top speed toward the stove and try to touch the burning gas stovetop.  Not strongwilled at all, that girl.

Here's some pics from lately.  :)

- K