Thank you Aunt Sarah!

Annika and Luka have been showered with love from all of their aunts and uncles in NC. Aunt Sarah (Kristin's mom's sister) was recruited by André to help Diane babysit in the mornings so Kristin could catch some extra zzzzs. Sarah arrived 3 days this week at 6am bearing gifts of lox, capers and bagels and a desire to cuddle with the kids. As a result Kristin slept in until almost 10am, she ate really well, and the kids had a LOT of uninterrupted cuddle time with Aunt Sarah and Diane. 

Here are some of our favorite pictures of Aunt Sarah and the kids. Thanks so much for all of your help this week and especially for all of the love you have shown Annika and Luka! 

Early morning naps are the best!

Luka's smile is infectious!  

Play time on the awesome animal blanket that Aunt Sarah made. 

Uncle Jimmy even stopped by for a visit.  I think Annika may have won him over with her smile. 

Saying our goodbyes to Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Sarah with a reminder to "come see us in Portland!!"

 

We love y'all! Thanks again!! 

Sunday was a FUN Day in NC

Annika and Luka got to see Mt Moriah Lutheran Church, where Kristin grew up going to church, and meet about 100 of their closest NC relatives. 

They also got to spend some quality time hanging out with Aunt Kim. 

Luka wondering why someone woke him up during his morning nap. 

Ohhhh...it's Aunt Kim. Well, that's just fine. 

Aunt Sarah meeting Annika for the first time. It's hard to tell who is happier. 

A grand introduction - Luka, meet Garrison. 

Instant friends and proud grandmothers. 

Meeting Linda Ann for the first time. 

Our ladies man - Luka, with cousin Marisa...

and with Marisa's beautiful mom, Jennifer. Look at those smiles. 

And Annika gets her turn with cousin Marisa. Winning over her Uncle Jimmy from afar. 

Meeting a new cousin, Solei - who was absolutely great with the kids. 

Annika's turn having some fun with Aunt Kim. 

Some nursery time, hanging out with cousin Alan. 

And nap time with Aunt Kim. 

Hanging out with Auntie Sonya and Todd at the White Owl Antique Fair in Concord, NC. 

Supporting June Bug Bees - Annika & Luka both think you should check out JuneBugBees.com

Wrapping up the FUN Sunday with some yummy lasagne dinner and lots of love from Uncle Dave and Aunt Val.

First Night in NC

Our first night in NC = play time, feedings and lots of love

Gramma giving Luka oodles of kisses

Grampa feeding Annika

Aunt Ann and Uncle Wayne stopped by for a visit

And to help feed babies

...and play with babies

Even Uncle Dave stopped by for some late night entertainment. 

But we missed André/dad!! 

Saying "see you in 1 week" at Charlotte airport. 

Up, up, and away!

    Luka and Kristin enroute to Charlotte

This morning the scramble began to undertake the logistically complex pilgrimage of baby gear and familial entourage from the apartment in PR to the airport, then on to the flight to Charlotte and, for André, eventually  Portland.

It began with some beautiful, calm moments for Abuela and Tía Idalia with Luka and Annika,

...while André and Abuelo (who left PR today too) packed and scrambled about like so many cockroaches at the aftermath of a steak dinner party.

But not the kids! They had been up half the night, growing and teething, and maybe responding to all the sights, and growing and teething and.... By the time morning came, they were ready for a nap! They slept soundly with Idalia and Abuela and then played calmly while we ran about getting ready to go.

Playing with Abuela on the bed while we pack. (Annika continues to talk all about it, although we are left wondering what the 'it' is, exactly!)

Ready to roll to the airport:

Annika gets excited when going somewhere new. May she always keep that spirit of adventure!

And somehow, in the scramble, we managed not to get a picture with Abuelo before he left. 

So here are a couple of nice ones of Luka and Abuelo that we haven't shared yet  from their mornings on the balcony:

We enjoyed such a beautiful week with abuelo, Abuela and Tía Idalia—and it was so nice to see the kids bond with them too. I am sure they will miss them a lot! 

And for us, it was fulfilling to see everyone with the kids, to see Annika and Luka cherished and showered with love, and for them to be clearly so nourished by the love too.

Thank you all, for everything you did to help us! Logistically, of course, like: holding babies while we packed; letting us catch up on sleep by watching the kids after a rough night; making steak dinners; tactical pre departure vehicular AC activation; or washing dozens of baby bottles only to turn around and do it all again! But thank you, especially, for being so loving with our children.

We are so lucky to have such family. I can only imagine the experiences that Annika and Luka are getting ready to have with their North Carolina family. But I will have to read about it on the blog, like you.

For now, here are some parting shots from our flight:

Post bottle drunk? Hmm... We'll have to watch him!

They both slept hard after an initial flurry of excitement (and maybe a little hunger, as we were timing the meal for takeoff to help with the pressure in their ears).

Like son, like father? What was that about who was sleeping hard?!

Parting calm...

See you on the other end of this week!