Our Best Summer Yet?

Your father and I have been together over three years, four summers. It all started in the summer of 2012 - I had just moved back from Texas after a recent break up and Erik was going through a life changing reformation/realization of who he wanted to be and what he wanted to put out in the world (good timing, I might add). We were inseparable (minus the Oregon mishap) from the beginning. I heard Dylan (your father’s best friend, the man that married us) call the first 24 hours as Erik’s best. I would have to agree. I was unemployed at the time, so spent every moment at the boys’ house, boating, tubing, playing constantly. You’d think that was our best summer.

The following year began with an engagement - literally on the day that we met, June 1st, 2013. I once asked him after we knew we were ‘it’ for each other when he would propose. His answer, I will never forget, “four seasons”. I took that as the different seasons a relationship went through, different stages of growth. Nope, he meant quite literally 365 days. We spent that summer in sheer bliss that we had found one another, celebrating, and planning our dream day.

That day came June 21st, 2014 - the longest day of the year, summer solstice. It was more than dreams could paint. I still can’t believe that I found your father, that he has committed himself to me and that I get to share the rest of my life with my best friend. I hope one day you too get to share the same joy. That summer was more celebrating - from bachelorette parties, showers, etc.

One year later we are still slaying our summers. Perhaps it’s that we’re Minnesotans, the greatest lovers of summer known to man. It’s certainly that we’re aware you have three months of gorgeous sun to squeeze all your favorite activities in, so squeeze we did. When there was still snow on our ground, I began booking our weekends.

I’ve decided to document this [once again] epic summer, as I never want to forget how much fun we have had. Every parent keeps reminding us, do everything you want to now, once you have a baby, the activities change, sometimes halt altogether. The awesome parents, the ones that continue to live their lives remind us that life changes, but for the better. I am going into this with that mindset. I hope to incorporate you in our activities, to see things through your pure eyes.

Nevertheless, if my hope is pure ignorance, I want this as a record:

(already having forgotten what started the summer - May and the missing weekends which were definitely filled with something)

6/5 - BWCA - too far, brought Saydee, she got eaten, too much food, bugs had popped (Owen, Mike, Tyler, Pat, Erik, Myself)

6/19 - Anniversary weekend in Lanesboro - copper mugs, tubing, biking, bugs, father’s day at Johnson’s (whole fam)

7/3 - Fourth of July in Rochester with Jared and Heather @ Chester Woods and parents, Milwaukee (Candice and Adam), Summerfest, fireworks, brunch, Wisconsin Dells (just the two of us)

7/11 - Claire’s bachelorette party (E at Mike’s cabin) in the cities, dinner at Bario, dancing at Honey, beach, Kevin drove, gay brunch club, drinking, round sprinkler in Claire’s yard

7/17 - Thursdays on First and Legends with the crew,

7/18 - Chelsie’s cabin, paddleboard surfing behind pantoon, beersbee

7/19 - Saints game, peanut eating contest (Erik and I in front of stadium)

7/22 - Eugene, OR with Dylan and Ellen and Nicole, new dog, Kublai, hikes, hot springs, bee stings, waterfalls, best tapas restaurant for Dyl’s birthday, pizza, Mexican, the trimmed view, beach in Wilderness

7/31 - Dan & Erica’s wedding with Dylan and Ellen in hotel, pinstripes, summit, wedding, pool party

8/7 - Devon and Taylor visited, parents, tubing, hiking, Thursdays

8/14 - Emma Heim’s wedding with Jen Heim and new husband time, Billy White

8/15 - tubing for Laura’s bachelorette with Jenna and boys, then out that night

8/16 - parents anniversary, Rob and Claire at TapHouse, then concert by Riverside

8/20 - began Rob and Claire’s wedding festivities, lunch, drinks, rehearsal din, drinks, hair, hotel, wedding

8/21 - Lake day in Prior with Christie’s fam before she left for Hawaii

8/28 - the first weekend Erik and I had to ourselves, so went camping for two nights in Minneopa, pizza and beer, hiking, fishing on shore, frogs, future buffalo, brunch at Rapidan Dam

9/4 - found out I was pregnant with you!!!

9/5 - had to tell Nicole I was pregnant with you bc we were boating together all day for the tie up (Erik at Sam’s bach), began building shed

9/11 - celebrate Bri’s birthday at Rob and Claire’s, paint shed panels all day, first girls soccer game, Rasmusson’s, mom and dad’s (trying to avoid drinking at every turn).

Thus catches us up, though the epic summer is not yet over. This coming weekend we are going to Nashville with Mike and Lindsey to celebrate Matt’s 30th birthday (Mel being the gracious host). Erik leaves two days after we get back for a five day BWCA trip with Mike. I have more soccer, plan to play catchup, and avoid telling people I’m pregnant, maybe paint your nursery. Grandma will visit the following weekend. Matt comes home. We get to see if you’re healthy and have a heartbeat (which all my nerves are pending on), then we celebrate (hopefully). Sam and Tiff get married. Becca and Tim get married. Dan and Erica have a Halloween Open House Party. And that is the end of October which definitely is not summer anymore.

In summary, your dad and I have done everything we have wanted to do besides a honeymoon and that is pending my stupid job. Even if we hadn’t done what we wanted to do, you are what we want to do. Please please please be a survivor so that I might hear your shrill cry. I want to meet you more than I have wanted anything in my entire life. Do it for me ;)