What we did on our summer vacation. . .

I love to do fun things with the kids. . . so I tried to do it all this summer.  Here are a few things we did on our summer vacation. . . our picture essay

Camping in the backyard, the living room, and going camping in the camper with Grammy and Papa!

 Water balloons, squirt guns, sprinklers, playing with the hose

 Hiking to Hanging Lake . . .

 Roasting marshmallows on the grill, while camping, and on vacation at the cabin

 Made our own costumes for cow appreciation day. . .

 Making a foil river in the backyard

 Swimming and swimming lessons (BJ did great!)  He has learned to put his face in the water, blow bubbles, and do bobs.  His teacher always said "Let's give that one a round of splash" and we love it that he still is doing it!

 Daddy teaching him how to shoot baskets. . . in the rain!

 Putting the jet ski into the water at the cabin.  BJ loved tubing and driving the jet ski.  He could get it going about 32 miles an hour all by himself!

 More beach time, and a little sand on her nose.

 A Car show- where we saw a hot dog truck!

 Painting a mural in the back yard

 Trip to the new Elephant exhibit at the zoo,

 Train ride at the zoo.

More swimming

 Trips to the park

 Watching mommy at some races

 Train ride and petting zoo at Airplane park

 Cart ride with Papa on vacation

Lego Woody at Mall of America

Plus trips to the Children's museum and their water exhibit, trip to the new Centennial splash pad, and the Civic Green splash pad, painting pottery at Arts on Fire, making popsicles.  What didn't I do?  Take enough pictures!!!

BJ's 1st Day of Preschool

We have a preschooler, crazy to think he is already old enough for school, but he is.  We really struggled with whether or not to send him, given it will be 2 years til kindergarden (the age cutoff is 5 by October 1st, so he'll be one of the oldest in his class).  Then we struggled with where to send him. . . there are tons of options, church based, private, charter, public, but in the end we decided we really wanted him at our neighborhood school.  We don't think sending him to private/charter/Christian schools "shelters" him anymore than the others, and we want to focus on character training in the home, not at school.  It was hard to decide, and whatever anyone else decides for themselves, I don't disagree. . .Plus, it is a 5 minute walk (with and without a 3 year old) Today was his first day of preschool.  He'll be attending Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.  There are lots of boys in his class although he said he didn't make any friends today, just played by himself, with a MONSTER truck!!  I suspect it will take some time since a lot of the kids have been attending around 3 weeks by now.  BUT, he says he has to go back because "I LOVE it!"  He played on the playground, played letter Bingo, and wrote his name!  I asked what he had for snack and he said, "the thing you packed in my backpack"- evidently ants on a log aren't that exciting.  Here are his first day of school pics. . .

 How excited are you to go to preschool?  "This much!!"

 Complete with Lightening McQueen backpack

 Walking to school

 Coyote Creek Elementary

Anika at 12 months

Nicknames: sister, Little Miss, sweet girl, sweet baby, Baby Anika

Weight &  Height: 18 lb 6 oz, 28 " long, both around the 25%

Hair: getting blonder daily with the length mostly in the front

Favorite foods: anything her brother eats :), puffs, fruit, bread, breastmilk

Favorite toys: sweet small blanket my sister made her, anything BJ is playing with, cars, a magnetic block set, her princess car

Favorite stuffed animal: she's really not into them much right now
Bedtime: 7 p.m.

Wake-up time: 6:30 a.m.

Naps: AM hour to hour and a half, afternoon 2 hours, sometimes more

Favorite person: BJ, Angie, Mommy, Daddy

Latest Accomplishment: walking- she loves to walk and to crawl up the stairs (but still doesn't know how to get down)
Likes: being with people, being carried, playing with BJ, swimming

Dislikes: being left alone

What she is saying: she loves to have a conversation with anyone in her baby gabber, says a lot of mamamama but not sure its something specific

What gets said about Anika most often: how much she looks like Mommy

Fears: being left alone

Health: she has done great- a few colds, still no signs of food allergies :)

How she's like Daddy: she loves to ride/drive cars/bikes etc.
How he's like Mommy:  her looks, her temper- she quickly gets frustrated and lets you know about it!

 We love our sweet baby girl!  She has been a blessing to all of us.  You are amazing, and I love to see how you grow daily. . .

Angie and Anika with Angie's beautiful canvas she made for her. . .

 BJ's gift to Anika- her princess car to match his Diego car. . .

 Hanging out, watching a quick movie

 Reading a book with Grammy in pigtails :)

 Anika by the month for her birthday

 Her birthday "cake"

 "Do you love it Baby Anika?" 

 Chowing down on her birthday cupcake

 She loved it . . .

The Family on her birthday at the cabin

12 months of Anika

I can't believe our sweet girl is one!!  We celebrated while on vacation at the lake, so I'll send details later, but thought I would give you her pics through the year.  We love you Anika, you are an amazing addition to our life!  

Birth

 1 week or so

 few weeks or so

 1 month

2 months

3 months

 4 months

 5 months

 6 months

 7 months

 8 months

 9 months

 10 months

 11 months

 At one year,won't stay still for a pic!