Indian Summer

As the summer winds to a close, we're taking every opportunity to get outside when the weather allows it. 80 degrees, sunny, and calm qualifies as 'allowing it'.

A perfect fall day to see some changing leaves.

Stumps are fun too.

A fallen tree makes a great bridge.

Hmmm, ants in the way. Anna wanted no part of the ants.

Laura gave it a shot though.

Hiking is fun. More fun however, when daddy carries you and you fall asleep. So, that's the last of the pictures.

Anna's a pre-schooler!

Anna had her first day of preschool, and boy was she excited. She has been counting the days and when the day finally arrived, she woke up extra early to be ready. Once her teacher took her away, there was no looking back at Mom & Dad.

Mom & Anna before school.

Daddy and Anna

Excited for her big day.

A couple nervous glances, but they passed quickly.

Back to smiles!

Even a little smirk.

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Laura's first day of kindergarten. She was very excited, and a little nervous. Afterward, she said her first day was AWESOME (with fist pumps).

Mandi came to visit and see Laura off on her first day.

Fashionable Shoes!

Laura's backpack

Go Laura, Go!

With Cousin Sophie 

Laura waiting for the bus.

Thinking of all the friends she'll make.

Ok, she was a little nervous, but she got over it.

Grand Marais, Part II

Worlds Best Donuts (Allegedly)

Swimming in Lake Superior

Beer Break for Mom & Dad

Laura is a much better artist than I.

Gotta love Wonder Woman (Emily)
"Mom, I think you really are a superhero, because I see it inside of you. You just don't know it yourself." -Laura, who had asked Emily earlier if she might really be a superhero in real life, to which Emily answered that she's not in real life, but she sometimes is in her imagination.

Rock Christmas Tree

Anna Kitty

Laura Monster (Self Drawn)

Grand Marais, MN 2012

Grand Marais, 2012

Lutsen Mountain

Emily desperately trying to keep Anna on the chairlift.

Zoom! Faster mommy!

Anna loved the slide.

I thought this would be a great setting for a sisters picture. They didn't cooperate.

Laura loved the slide too.

Laura enjoyed the view from the gondola.

'We're over the rooftops!'

Laura enjoying a nature walk.

Laura zooming down the chute.

I scream, you scream

We are celebrating Mike's return from a week of fishing in Canada. Because of the girls' (mostly) good behavior while he was gone, I took them to the ice cream shop this afternoon. Decisions, decisions...

Mango gelato, mom! Mango gelato!!

Mom, my mango gelato was good, but your Salted Caramel Fudge is wayyyy better.

Mmm, blue gelato ... And no, there was no flavor attached, it was just "Blue Gelato".

Welcome back, Mike! We missed you!

Awaiting the Tooth Fairy

[Guest post by Emily, trying to pick up some slack while Mike is away on a fishing trip!]

Laura lost her first tooth! It has been loose for over a month, and it finally fell out at lunch today, after a tough battle with a corn dog.

Anna doesn't like to be left out these days, so she often just jumps right in to whatever is going on around her. She wanted to pose for a picture too, showing off her own "loose tooth".

I thought I would just slip a couple of dollars under Laura's pillow, but then she casually mentioned something about how the Tooth Fairy might leave her some jewelry. Uh oh ... I'm not real tight with the T.F., but something tells me she's not traveling with bling tonight. Doh! But thanks to a super sweet neighbor, and a little pilfering of the supplies left over from when I was a crafty girl in a previous life, we managed to set up a special surprise for the first T.F. visit.

A little matchbox turned Tooth Fairy Treasure Box, with a trail of Fairy Dust for good measure. It may not be the kind of bling Laura had in mind, but it does sparkle!















The first tooth...