OMA

... was here! While Marko spent 4 days in NYC at the annual conference of the ASA (American Sociological Association), Mama/Oma Ennser joined Samu, Sofia and Hanna in Minneapolis. She was a huge help with the children and household chores and fit perfectly into our everyday life. But most importantly, she developed/renewed strong ties with all members of our family.

Samu was especially fond of reading and drawing with Oma.

 We also took a walk around Como Lake with two incredibly well-behaved kids.

 What is this if not a seriously committed grandma? Thank you so much for Samu's new favorite toy. And for putting it together, which was quite a challenge! 

 

Many hours of deep and calm sleeping on grandma are deeply ingrained in Sofia's memory.

On the last day, there was even time for a visit to the Walker Art Center with newly returned Marko.

 Spoonbridge and Cherry - and chocolate! Yummy.

Thank you for these wonderful days, Oma/Mama! Thank you for all your time and energy, support and care. Thank you for doing all the work you did. Thank you for the attention, appreciation and love for all of us. Thank you for the many, many gifts, for teaching Samu to eat without making a giant mess and for calming down Sofia countless times. Thank you for taking our first good family pictures! The memory of these precious days will remain with us. We are looking forward to seeing you again!

COMMUNITY LIFE

We are so grateful for our community! It's not only super easy to meet our best friends and neighbors here, it's also amazing to see what kind of life and activities this community is offering. We can choose from yoga, zumba, dance, work out and guitar classes, enjoy our garden, yards and playgrounds as well as family story times, water slide play dates, puppet theaters, outdoor movies, cooking workshops, art projects, trips to cultural sites, apple picking, beer tasting ... and and much much more - and of course, there are countless festivals and celebrations. Here are some pictures from our National Night Out - our first night out with two kids:  

Thank you, CSCC!

LIFE WITH 2

... can be hectic, but mostly, it has been wonderful. Here are some things our kids have recently been up to. 

Sofia (like baby Samu) loves to stare at her dad forever.

Samu continues to be our sweetest little lion with the least scary roar in the world.

Pure rock 'n' roll.

Sofia seems to be quite a social gal. At least she has enjoyed all the visitors of the last weeks.

 

Getting out is absolutely necessary for our mental health - and both kids seem to enjoy the new stroller a lot.

Our Sunday outing to the wonderful campus of St. Katherine's University. One kids was fast asleep, the other one feeding ducks and running after a ball. Good life.

JUST SHARING ...

... a perfect moment.