CHEESE

Getting a group of toddlers and kids to all look at the camera at the same time is about as easy as trying to herd a group of cats. 

PLAN B

Have you ever wondered what would happen if your dad and I passed away at the same time?  It's a grim thought, but it has to be thought about, or as luck would have it, it's bound to happen, right?  But then again in the same regard, now that we've thought about it and have a plan, then of course it shouldn't happen, right?  At least that's my thought on it. 

Well, in the unlikely event it ever does happen, we're going to have you  shipped off to Minnesota, to live in the middle of nowhere.  A place where there is probably more livestock than town residents and nothing to look at but a lot of farm land, as far as the eye can see.  Really, we are.  Don't worry though, you can still come back to Portland for visits during the holidays and summer breaks.   

Why?  What did you do to deserve such a thing?  It's not that bad really.  Here's why...

That's right, we're sending you off to live in Morris, Minnesota with your Uncle Eric, Aunt Meghan, Cousin Avery, and any other future offspring of theirs.  But why them?

After a long and thought out process by your dad and I, we decided that these two are probably most like us when it comes to parenting and raising kids.  Besides our similar personalities, interests, parenting style, and undeniably fabulous good looks, we share other things in common.  Things like...

They're dentists.  I'm a dentist.

I like to shop. Meghan loves to shop.

We like a good restaurant. They like a good restaurant.

We like to snow ski. They like to snow ski.

Your dad likes to golf.  They like to golf.  So much so that Meghan once used a golf cart to haul Avery around the course in her car seat, so that she could play.  I try to golf, but your dad only allows me on the $15 and under 9 hole courses, since anything more would be a waste of money with my golf game.

We like wine.  They like wine.

Your dad likes to water ski.  Make that loves to water ski.  They love to water ski.  I tried once and can't say that I loved it. 

Your dad likes to puzzle.  Eric likes to puzzle.  Really, they both like to puzzle.

Besides that, there are so many other reasons why we can see them raising you.  Did I also mention that they own another home on Lake Minnetonka and have a ski boat?  Not that that had anything to do with our decision.   

So, that's Plan B in a nutshell.  That is unless you're in high school and don't want to leave Portland, then we'll have to switch to Plan C.  Plan C?  This will thing is too complicated.  I'll leave that to the attorney.

ACCORDING TO AJ

According to you, it turns out the best and only part of a cucumber worth eating is the center.  I could agree with you on bread slices, but cucumbers?

HEAVEN

If Heaven was a place on earth, to your dad, it would definitely be Lakewoods. 

DAREDEVIL

You've always been a daredevil and at Lakewoods, your daring antics kept us busy...

Trying to paddle board with your dad

Chicken fights with Cousin Lia

At any chance, trying to get into the water

Being thrown up into the air

And jumping from any surface, whether or not somebody was ready

It's just a matter of time before we have another trip to the ER...

BIG KIDS

You love hanging out with big kids these days.  What could be better than hanging out with Cousin Lia, a big kid, for an entire week outdoors at Lakewoods? 

MY GRANDMA

At daycare, you're quick to correct your friend Samantha whenever she calls your dad, "Daddy."  With a quick hand grab of your dad and an even quicker reply of, "My daddy!" you set her straight. 

Besides learning to share toys with your cousins, what was the other biggest challenge for you at Lakewoods?  Trying to grasp that Grandma Kathy is not only your grandma, but also Lia, Adam, and Avery's grandma.  Nobody else can have your daddy, yet three others have your grandma?  Tough stuff for a 22-month old. 

DRIVING

You've become obsessed with driving these days.  You don't miss an opportunity to get your hands on a steering wheel.  At the sight of video games, you'll always go straight for the one that involves driving a car.  When  I get you out of you car seat, you immediately lunge for the driver's seat, grabbing and pushing at any knobs and buttons, all while one hand is on the steering wheel.   At the grocery store, we always have to look for the cart with a car attached to it, so you can drive it. 

At Lakewoods, it was no different when it came to Grandpa Russ and Grandma Kathy's boat.  You were thrilled to be able to sit up in Grandpa or your dad's lap and help them drive. 

LAKEWOODS

Lakewoods Resort...the legendary place where your dad spent his summers growing up and getting into mischief.  A place where parents could send their kids off at any age to play outdoors and not have to worry about them.  This is the place where your dad and his family spent their summers creating fond memories with close friends.  This is the place where you and I finally got to experience what a trip to Lakewoods is all about.  We spent our days...

Hanging out by the campfire roasting marshmallows

Playing in the water

Feeding the ducks

And going for boat rides on the lake while everyone skied.

NICE TRY

The big kids at swim school make it look so easy.  You almost have this swimming thing figured out...

GROSSER THAN GROSS

What's gross?  Kissing cousins.  What's grosser than gross?  French kissing cousins.  While I was doing the dishes, I had my back turned to you and Saiyan.  Every so often I would hear hysterical giggles from you both and was curious to find out what was so funny.  Apparently, licking somebody else's tongue is hysterically funny.   At least to a toddler.