Wee-fall is here!

Um...yeah. So I don't blog "well" so here are a 1.5 months of updates. Life has been beautiful and crazy.  And I might have learned one of the most essential of all life lessons as well.  Will write about it soon. Let's just say it has to do with joy and choosing.

The Normans...

1) Went to the coast, twice. Once for a church retreat and once to celebrate my amazing mother's 60th birthday. (photos to come) It was 75 degrees...

2) Celebrated Handsome's 36th birthday with our first night away from our punkie bean as well as little soiree with awesome friends (complete with American Dream Pizza)

3) Went to Washington DC to visit Matt's amazing sister for 6 days*

4) One of my bestest of besties got engaged and they surprised me in DC (she lives in NYC) and I started crying.  And her ring...wowsers, Pat.  I mean it's soooo gorgeous.  I told her it was like one of those rings you would see on the classiest 80 year old lady at airport and then hope you got to be the heir :) (Well I didn't tell her I would hope to be the heir but...)

5) Had a dinner party to get-to-know another of my besties' new boyfriends. Did I mention I cried when I found out he officially asked to date her?  Well I did. Another tear shed for love.

6) Dinners with amazing friends (Cecils: we love you and are in awe of your family and your hearts). Morgan-you delight my soul

About the crying thing: I LOVE my friends.  They are salt of the earth sort of people and to be honest, I barely think anyone is worthy of them.  Hallelujah many of them have met insanely awesome men and thus, I cry when I find out their good news.

*And in case you are wondering how 7 hours on a plane with a baby was...here is my advice: 1) don't do it if you don't have to. 2) Try not to fly with a constipated baby (sooooo sad-we are ditching "real" food for now and sticking to what she loves, milk). 3) If you can, fly first class (for real. We had miles so we used those. Let's just say it left us desiring to always fly first with a baby. I don't think the fancy pants business people liked it as much). 4) Again, try not to. Of course Ruth doesn't like her car seat so road trips are out of the question for us for now but it is a great option.

Here you go!!!

Gracie's Brunch.  Ridic. If you live in Portland, you MUST go and get the bread pudding french toast. Yep. I couldn't stop smiling.

Us returning home :)

She was rubbing her top teeth against her bottom and her faces because of it were epic.

 

Matt's birthday at home with my hottie girlfriends.

And the handsome boys (and a dancing Alomae) 

Dinner with the incredible Cecils (Emma is Ruth's bestie)

DC first lunch with Aunt Kate! 

Natural History Museum.  I barely stopped smiling here to..you'll see why below.

It's a fox, like daddy's tattoo! 

Here's why! YOu could hold bugs! I LOVE bugs! And you could hang out with hundreds of butterflies!

And this my dear friends, is a madagascar hissing cockroach.  Yeah! 

Pure joy.  Hopefully you saw our instagram pic of Ruthie flying 

I asked how much it would cost to get married in here on my 8th grade trip: it was $25000 then (without anything but the space)

The engaged beauty!!! 

Highly recommend the Bike the Sites tours!  Ruthie might not...

Future Uncle Pat! 

xoxo, Anna N