Lara and Claire are up in Alaska for a week to visit the grandparents, and Claire got to meet her cousin for the first time! Elsa was born three weeks before Claire (little sneaker, we'd hoped they'd have twinner birthdays) and together they are the first grandkids for my in-laws. Elsa and her mom Emeline were visiting from Chicago.

Lara has promised me that she has taken loads of pictures, though I only have six that she's sent (which have been a constant, but welcome, distraction during studying).

The two girls pre-bath. Lara states that they spontaneously linked arms several times--without any coaching--including for this picture.

Bath fun times:

And my new all-time favorite of Claire:

I love this little girl.

And while it's tough having them away, it's great that we live in the age of free video chat. And also great that the tubes reach all the way up to Alaska.

We're looking forward to meeting Claire's OTHER new cousin, Lydia--born just last week!