At Roxyann winery in Southern Oregon

The Roland Girls at Paschal, the first winery of our wedding tour. Steph had no idea she would be married at winery #4.

Please note barrette in hand

Zal and Ari Hirschstein serenading Ada. A highlight of our Oregon trip!

Yellowstone ~ Montana

Bon Jovi fan?

We had the pleasure of traveling to Montana last weekend for Jeff and Suzy's wedding (Sam went to HS with Jeff, who now lives outside of Bozeman). Ada cut two teeth while we were there, and wore us out completely.

We had a nice time, though, and the wedding (i.e. the merger) was a spectacular 3 hour event. I'm not kidding. There was beer and popcorn served during the intermission. We had dinner before it, 2 acts, and then dancing to a live band.

I quickly realized why my friends don't take their babies/children to weddings (or any formal event for that matter...). I quickly learned about the secret club of parents in the back of the theatre during the wedding and earned my "baby wrangling" badge. Not that we had a choice for this one, but the next wedding I go to that I intend to have a good time at (i.e. drink at Melissa and Zach's wedding!), I plan to get a babysitter. I can see now that weddings will be precious dates with Sam since a babysitter is required. So, sorry to all of my friends who I scoffed at when they wouldn't bring their cute munchkins to the party. I get it now.

Ada took a 20 minute nap the day of the wedding, which began its festivities at 4pm. She stayed up until 12-midnight and then screamed herself to sleep. I think it was worth it to her just to say she danced all night to a great band who did an impromptu cover of Bon Jovi (YES!), and a few excellent Dave Mathews Band covers. She has been dancing ever since when she hears a funky beat!

We also celebrated Sam's second father's day by driving through Yellowstone. That place is awesome and the most beautiful country I have EVER seen. Wow. Not a bad way to spend Father's Day (and Ada cooperated!)...and, Sam landed 2 tickets to see Pink Martini, one of our favorite Pacific Northwest bands who will be here in September. Now there's another reason for a babysitter!

I messed up and filmed the video of our dancing queen sideways, again. I'll learn someday, folks.

Swimming

I really need to remember to turn the camera the right way. Sorry!

June 1st

Ada turned one. Two weeks later she learned how to walk, talk, AND sign AND her two front teeth are growing in. Seriously. June 1st. It started happening!

What can she say, you ask? "Hot" and she says it with an emphasis on the H and T. "Cracker" is another favorite word (and food). We think she said "Hi" to passers-by at the park last weekend. But "Hot" and "Cracker" are the most important to her right now. Even if it's cold, it's "HHHHoT". But a cracker is definitely a cracker.

And what can she sign, you ask next? "All done" and "Milk". That's right. She's bilingual. :)

Other genius things she can do = Play peek-a-boo with her hands or nearby blanket, give a hug and kiss when asked, and boogy-down to any kind of music.

We'll get some video of the walking which is SERIOUS business now. I've never seen someone walk back and forth across a living room so many times at such a deliberate pace, and with an obvious place she needs to be in mind.

Busy, busy girl.