The one day we were home, we had a little party for Mat's 31st birthday. We had red curry tofu and cake and everything, and magically, the house did not burn down from the torch that was the cake. 

Claire Helen is awed by Daddy's candle blowing out abilities 

 

 

Aunt Annika's birthday, and Mat's 31 and 4 days day. 

Whenever you see a picture of a baby smiling, know that somewhere a woman had to do this to produce it. 

I cannot overstate how cool the Northern Lights were. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Grandma Series 

 

 

 

Claire Helen and great grandma are going to be the same size anyminutenow. 

Old friends of Mat's family, and also a sock that Claire helen finds absolutely riveting. 

Mama is pretty funny for putting her in an outfit that doesn't fit so well. 

Grandma and grandpa are SO FUNNY. 

Claire Helen meeting her second set of great aunts. 

Claire Helen was entranced by great Uncle Karl our last night in Minneapolis. We flew out the next day on an itty bitty fake plane, but Claire Helen was as always a star. 

We went to Colonial Wiulliamsburg for dinner, and a nice older couple bought us dinner, I think because we let them hold Claire Helen. 

The day before the wedding we took Claire Helen to see the ocean for the first time. It was my very favorite kind of beach day- cold and grey, so we had the whole beach to ourselves. I am not sure how much Claire Helen got out of it, but we all had a good time.