Our little Genius!

Looks like the little bookworm fell asleep with her latest good read, The Alphabet Book (check it out on the best-sellers list!) She's got beauty and brains, better hold on to her tight Daddy!

Brothers are so Fun!

Micah wanted us to put Anna in this small toy box and then he started pushing her around the family room floor giving her a little ride. He was very careful with her and she was totally loving the new adventure! He was so cute and so proud of himself too!

July 3, we went to Lake Andrew out at Sibley State Park to go swimming and hang out at the beach with Grandpa & Grandma Fox, Kate, Jessica, Joe, and David. Grandpa & Grandma Lindgren joined us later for a picnic dinner and then a personal fireworks display (courtesy of Joe, David, and the biggest kids... a.k.a. Ryan and both Grandpas!) It was a gorgeous day and we had a lot of fun! And, we needed the break after all the work we did at the house. My mom and I painted the girl's room and the main-floor bathroom (after we scraped the wallpaper off - ugh!) and Ryan and my dad hooked up a gas line to the kitchen and replaced the electric stove with a gas range (yeah!) The kids played with and took care of Grace, Micah and Anna while worked too. We have the best help! It's so satisfying to see things being accomplished and working towards making our new home truly ours.

Anna's 1st Swim and Day at the Beach!

Anna's first swim! Well, she didn't actually swim, but she wiggled and splashed a bit and got wet up to about her diaper. She was apprehensive at first, and then progressed to curious caution. What fun we had! And sweet memories seeing her wear Grace's old swimming suite again.

The bathing beauty, catching some zzz's after her swim. It's hard work being so cute!

Poor Micah! He was so cold he was shaking so we had to drag him out of the water, quite against his will, to try to warm him up a little!

P-p-please M-m-mommy, I want to go back in!

Grace was having fun building sand castles (with a rotating crew of help from Mom, Dad, and her other willing subjects!)

The Girls! Kate, Grace, Jessica, Grandma Jeanne, Anna and Mommy.

Micah and Anna, enjoying a day at the lake with their two beautiful Grandmas!

Grace helped paint her new room!

Grace was quite excited to be able to help paint her (and Anna's) new room, and she proudly tells any visitors that "I painted this spot right here"! Good job sweet-heart! We decided to paint the girl's room the same sage-green color that Grace's room was at the old house since green is one of her three favorite colors. (And mom wasn't about to paint it pink or purple, which are the other two favorites!)