WEEKEND

This weekend was special because it was not. No conferences, no big trips. Just simple family life and hanging out with friends - exactly what we needed.

Walking around Lake Nokomis

 Where are the geese?

 There!

We are not quite sure how this happened, but Samu knows most letters. Weird but cool. :)

ZOO

Samu has been so fascinated with animal books lately. He even makes very complex connection, for example between pictures of real horses and his hobby horse. He is also saying "kidda" (kissa = cat) "tidda" (Tiger = tiger) and "nanne" (nalle = teddy bear). It was about time we took him to the nearby Como zoo to see the real deal.

Very happy in his new car seat, reading the Dunstkreis book.

 Welcome to Como zoo!

 A beautiful carousel outside the zoo.

 Samu could not ge enough of animal watching. He was so fascinated, he could barely speak. (He is usually quite chatty.) He was just pointing and staring, sometimes whispering a quiet "da-da".

 Tidda!

 Lion.

Leopard.

 Another tidda!

 Samu's favorite.

 Lion.

What a nice Sunday, what a nice trip, what a nice kid! :)

ATLANTA

Hanna spent most of the weekend in Atlanta, where she presented some of her team's research at a conference. With this view from the hotel room, even a busy work weekend is bearable.  

Besides numerous presentations and workshops, there was also a little bit of time for visiting some sights. For example, Atlanta's beautiful Olympic Park, where spring was still in full swing.

Or the world's biggest aquarium featuring sea creatures in all sizes, shapes and colors.

 Shark, ray and Hanna.

 Giant ray.

 Shark!

 Sea anemones and starfish to touch.

 Sea dragon! Hanna's favorite.

 Alligator.

 Sea turtle.

Coral reef.

It was a great but exhausting trip. And it feels great to be united again.

GAMES

Samu must have had a cognitive growth spurt. His games are so much more sophisticated these days. He also tries to trick us constantly. For example, he would take food that he does not want to eat out of his mouth and hide it behind his back, then he'd put on his most innocent face, shrug and turn his palms up as if to say "Where did it go?" Very sneaky. Here is another game he loves:

WEEKEND

... is the time to listen to your son when he reads you a story,

 climb around on a train

 or in it,

 slide down a ship,

 and play hide and seek in a truck.

Thank you, Como neighborhood for this awesome playground!

FALL

Even after three years, we are still overwhelmed by the beauty of Minnesotan fall. Wherever we end up, we will miss those trees (and plant similar ones in our future backyard).

 Soccerson and soccerdad.

 Mississippi

 Our 'hood.

 Sunday walk around Lake Como.

 Maroon and gold, the U of M colors.