Happy Girl!

Anna really enjoys our walks. She just eats up the fresh air, sunshine, and nature all around her. She's so observsant too, she really looks and studies everything. Such a happy girl!

Grace's New Bike

Grace got a new bike this summer (actually, it's her first bike) and she's been having a lot of fun learning how to ride it. She's a little bit too cautious sometimes, but that's okay with Mom!

I can't believe how fast she's growing up!

Ladybug, ladybug!

Grace loves her new sunglasses from Grandma Barb!

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!)

Hello Again! It's been a while since I've had a chance to give an update (we've been slightly busy!) Let's see... April 29th we recieved an offer on our house, 4 days later on May 3 we had a home inspection done and with the successful completion of that we had the moving date set for 10 days later on the 13th. Oh, and we also had Anna's baby dedication the day after we moved on May 14th, which was also Mother's Day! Thankfully, we were able to have the dedication party at Ryan's parent's house, so that saved us yet another headache. It was fun, exhausting, exciting and nervewracking all at the same time, and we are glad it's over. Since then we have been in the very slow ongoing process of trying to get settled in with all of the unpacking, arranging, painting and so on. Fortunately, we've had some really good help and we have time on our side now. So, here are some photos from the last while here to give you a peek at what we've been up to lately, enjoy!

Father's Day

Ryan and his trio of side-kicks, enjoying a beautiful Father's day out at his parents place.

Daddy feeding Anna on her first Father's Day with us. If you look closely, you can see that he is actually wrapped around her little finger! What a cutie pie!

Taking time to stop & smell the flowers

Grace in Grandma Barb's flower garden on Father's Day

Picnic

June 10th we were visiting my parents and tagged along with them to their annual homeschool group picnic. The kids had a lot of fun even though it was a little bit on the cold side.

Hello Daddy!

Grandma Jeanne feeding Anna (all bundled up in blankets from the chilly weather!)

In my Daddy's shoes!

Micah loves to play with shoes and he really likes to walk around in Daddy's shoes, although they're really more like skis on him! Keep practicing honey-boy, and someday you'll be a big enough man to walk in your Daddy's footsteps and walk in the shadow of the heavenly father.

Good morning Sunshines!

Playing

The kids (and us too!) have really been enjoying our new backyard. It's nice to have an established space with mature trees and landscaping, as well as a really nice patio area off the back of the house. We've been spending quite a bit of time out there. Ryan's mom got this slide with a pool of balls for the kids and they've been having a blast with it!

The New House!

Saying Goodbye to the old House

Moving day! Sad and happy all at the same time. Here are the last pictures of us in front of our first home, where all of our kids were born and we became a real family. We're ready to move on an make more happy memories in our new house!

A Date!

Ryan and I were able to go on a date to a Casting Crowns/Nicole Nordeman concert April 29th (the same day we received the offer on our house) at the Excel Center. It was an awesome concert and time of worship and we had a fantastic time!

Grace at swimming lessons

Grace at her YMCA swimming class. Last week was her last class, so she has now graduated the "Pike" level and is ready to move on up!

She loves the water and wants to go swimming everytime we're at the Y. I think we have a little fish on our hands!

We had a Photo Shoot!

Tuesday, April, 25th. I decided to take some photos of the kids this morning in celebration of both Anna's 12 week birthday and, also on what would have been my Grandma's 84th birthday. I think they turned out pretty well. Unfortunately, 19 month-old boys don't like to sit still for the camara, so I wasn't able to get very many pictures of Micah. Oh well, maybe I should give it a try when he's sleeping! Sometimes I just look at these beautiful children that I've been blessed with and wonder what was God thinking giving them to me?
Then I remember, He put them in my care to help finish the work He's started in me. (I just hope I don't really screw them up in the process!) But, even if I do, I know that He's a redeeming God who can use imperfect people like me for His glory, and I'll just love and enjoy the little miracles He's given me.

Playful, Beautiful, Kissable feet.