Tuesday

Time to drive down to Chicago. Kids and especially babies grow fast. You blink an eye and they're no longer newborns, but grinning broadly at your silly face. Or sitting up. Or moving into their college dorm room. I pack my bag for a visit before they're out the door!

I could not have picked a better spring day for it. Meaning -- I cannot do a thing in the farmette flower beds. I'm stuck waiting for the bitter cold air to pass through. 

And so soon after breakfast, I get into Blue Moon and head "south." And it does feel like I've gone south. Spring is at a far more advanced point in Chicago!

Primrose and Juniper (one girl is 4 years the other girl is 4 months) have grown a lot since my last trip to see them in late March. And that growth is measured in ways other than mere size: they have had a spectacular road trip vacation, which of course, means they have raked in new experiences and tasted new foods and breathed mountain air and smelled early spring flowers -- something we're still waiting for here, in the upper Midwest. 

But of course, the core remains what it was: solid sweetness, clever game play, excitement at everything that the new day generates!

First, a quick visit with Juniper:

You know, the girl with the eyes filled with amazement...

Next, I walk over to pick up Primrose at school...

We have our own dedicated playtime at home.

In the meantime, Juniper watches, happiest when family activities are close to her. In her own way, she participates.

We have a lovely birthday dinner. Whose birthday? Well, mine!

A feast of a trip! In all ways.

With so much love...