[In answer to, "Who is going to come visit us next?" See here.]
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| All weekend, Timo wanted "Mr Erik" to read to him. This book is one that Erik and Jane sent us when Gemma was born. |
It had been 8 years since we last saw Erik (and his now-wife Jane), back when we lived in Wheaton in a basement apartment on Wesley Street, 2005-2007. Our first year there, Jane and her college roommates lived in the 3rd floor apartment of the house, and the next year, Erik and his roommates were in that apartment. Erik and Jim met together regularly. It was SO great to see him again and share life together for 3 quick days. One of our mutual loves & interests is in cooking, and making things from scratch - so we had a lot to talk about and compare notes as to what things are regularly going on in our kitchens. We agreed that the main answer to that is, of course: "washing dishes". But such is the task of cooking!!
Of course, we had to take a walk through the main part of Garden of the Gods, with a picnic lunch. Amazingly, it was a chilly & cloudy day (the only chilly day we have had in months!) but it was still beautiful.
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| Once again, Timo asked, "what's this sign say?" |
Lunch time, and the first of 3 picnic meals with Erik (that's the only way to maximize outings and mealtimes with little kids' schedules!). Hey Mom, recognize this spot? This is the same table we sat at on our very first picnic in the park, with you in August 2013!
Erik definitely has a calm, relaxed, comfortable manner - and both our boys took to him and enjoyed him easily. (Thank you, Erik!!)
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| What's that face, Jim?! Oh, it's because Mattias is grabbing your ear. |
Back at home - making applesauce. We do this regularly in our house, but I have never taken the time to can it, even though I have been wanting to for a long time (and we have everything in the house needed to do so). Since Erik and Jane do a lot of canning, Erik did a primer lesson with me and we canned this batch. Hurray! One of my life goal's accomplished/begun!
The other thing Erik taught us was how to make homemade sauerkraut, which is another item I have been wanting to try, ever since Karin Svenson told me about it a few years ago. And we're not just talking cabbage in brine - we're talking green cabbage, purple cabbage, beets, carrots, onions, and garlic, with sea salt. Incredible and colorful!! Well... we hope so... the first batch is still fermenting and we have yet to try it. (It takes a couple of weeks until it's ready. Another post coming on that.)
Second day's walk and picnic lunch was on Colorado College campus. It was back to our usual warm and sunny this day. We sat at a bench on a patio overlooking the soccer field, and up to the mountain range.
That evening, after a full afternoon of naps (for the boys) and cooking (for us 3 adults), we headed out again for a picnic supper and playtime at America the Beautiful Park.
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| ...it's just iced tea... |
Sunday morning was church, and that afternoon Erik's brother Bruno came by to pick up Erik. Bruno and Jim were classmates from elementary school (or "grammar school", as Jim says) all the way through high school!! Now Bruno and his wife live near Pagosa Springs, Colorado (about 5 hours from us). We had a great afternoon catching up and talking all things Colorado and Wheaton memories - and Bruno got us inspired to continue to explore Colorado. Then the two brothers were off for a night of camping, before they both returned home the following day.
Erik, it was amazing to have you here! Thank you for coming! (And thank you to Jane, and Meredith & Eliza, for loaning him.)
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