Memorial Day

Josephine had her first official lake day! We had SUCH a blast with Timothy and Rachel on their boat out at Lake Skiatook. After packing up lunch, supper, drinks and fishing poles, we set out for a fun day. Considering what day it was we should have been more prepared for the lake police, because of course, we got "pulled over" and didn't have an infant life jacket on board! Ah. Tickets, tickets. All was well, though, and we recovered quickly. :) The next day we went to Target and fixed that problem promptly. Not that the enormous life jacket would fit tiny Josephine, or save her from drowning, but the principal is what the cop was after apparently.



The guys caught several fish, the gals sunned ourselves and Punki screamed when we stuck her feet in the cold water. I guess we'll wait for the lake to warm up before trying the swimming thing again.

Ode to Branson

Branson has been a fantastic getaway for us over the years. We usually stay at Big Cedar, play mini-golf, shop at the Branson Landing, walk around smelling the fresh air, fish, and a million other things.


Last weekend, Clare got off work (at 7 pm), and we called some of our best buds, Timothy and Rachel Wallace. We informed them we had just decided to run up to Branson for 24 hours to pick up some coffee equipment - they should come, be ready in 30 minutes and we'd vacay. We threw stuff in a suitcase, made sure we had sufficient diapers and took out at 9:30. After a mandatory McDonald's stop on the turnpike we set out and had a blast. We got in at 1:30 am and slept - after Tor worked an inexpensive deal on a Big Cedar fishing cabin for one night. We slept in, ate French Toast room service style, drank Starbucks, shopped, ate again at Cantina Laredo (presently our favorite restaurant in Branson), watched the cool water show, shopped, drove down 412 through the mountains and Eureka Springs, AR, ate Italian and fried chicken in NWA at the Venesian Inn, then called it a night back in Tulsa at 10:30 pm. We all decided that had been way fun and felt much longer than 24 hours! It was a spring celebration of good friends and what a wonderful stage of life we are all in.

May Love

We spent a week in in Seattle because Taryn Ro Nordstrom, Tor's sister, was married May 9th. The wedding was beautiful, as was the bride. Tor and I were both in the wedding, so Josephini was watched by family and friends while we rehearsed and did our weddingly duties! Josephine could not have been a more peaceful travel companion and made many a fellow plane passenger smile with her coos and smiles. Being in Seattle is always fun and the beauty of the surroundings and fresh air is incredibly refreshing. We reconnected with lots of Tor's friends and had some wonderful times introducing Josephine to the "Northwest" family members. We left Tulsa's 80+ degree weather for the 40 and 50 degrees in Seattle. Thankfully, Clare packed jackets for all.

Meeting first cousin Anders was so much fun for Josephine - and fun for the parents! They gave each other a friendly hug. Good signs for beginning a relationship I would think. :)

Tor is working out the Mr. Mom role like a champ, and even managed to give Clare a Mother's Day card that made her cry, along with the most gorgeous Northwestern peach tulips ever grown. Josephine goes to work with Dad and loves to sit in the carrier on Dad's back. She has also been sighted on the docks with a crappie rod in her hand.


Josephine now weighs 12.4 lbs and has received her third round of immunizations. She is a dainty little girl and still feels like a little feather until you try to lift her in her 10 lb carseat. You might as well be lifting weights. She has an amazingly sweet temperament; she is truly a gift to us.