June in Pictures

Hmmmm...let's see. Can I remember all the way back to JUNE?! It seems like forever ago. This summer has been exhausting. Super fun, but exhausting. We're so thankful for the time and ability to travel and see friends and family - which we've done a lot this summer! We're definitely living it up around here. 

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Family Pictures:

I'll never get sick of seeing my hubby reading books to the kids. He walks in the door and instantly gives them his undivided attention. (Even with "ice" on his shoulder because he was in pain from an injury we can't seem to find a solution to.) What a guy! They're so blessed.

Dinner date with the girls (Nicole left before I thought to take this!) Laura ended up having a little girl in July (gender was a surprise!) and Betsy is due any day with a little boy. Both are their thirds. So exciting! 

(And crazy that my friends are having their THIRDS?! Didn't we just graduate from HS?!)

Water table fun

It's getting harder and harder to get a decent pic of these two. But I just had to try when they were wearing matching outfits.

I need this enlarged to a 16x20 and framed asap. Love those faces!

MOA fun with Leslie and Trishy and their babes!

I'm not sure who had more fun (in all seriousness, this ride rocks and is fun for both adults and kids.)

(Hopefully that link works? I made it unlisted.)

Twins in stripes!

No, they're not the same age. They just look like it.

Not sure this swing is intended for a 3 and 1 year old, but we thought we'd at least try.

My cousin, Eric, adopted sweet Eden from Ethiopia, so we took them up on an offer to try Ethiopian food at Fasika's in St. Paul while they were in town. Despite Gwendolyn's face, it was actually quite good. And interesting. It was definitely a fun experience!

Conrad really took to Eric. So precious.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

We've spent a lot of time at parks and on walks this summer. 

Love meeting up with the Deutsch's for family walks!

Saturday morning play (waiting for daddy's famous almond French toast...so yummy!)

And playing at Lookout Ridge!

Celebrating Nathan's 3rd birthday.

(Sorry, Nathan...Conrad's now old enough to steal toys from bigger kids.)

Last dinner with Matthew and Kate and fam before they moved to Iowa. *tear

Miss this girl so much!!

Gwendolyn:

Gwendolyn has had quite the summer! She's been able to experience so many new things and totally impressed us with her bravery as she went to multiple new things (VBS, day camps, etc) not knowing anyone all by herself. I've been so proud of her!

I made a smoothie with oj, pear, green grapes, banana, frozen pineapple, and kale and she exclaimed..."mmmm, it's like frosting! It's so good good gooooood."

I didn't ask her to pose like this. Or wear those cowboy boots to the park. All her.

I hope she never outgrows her need for snuggles.

First night of soccer. Looks like she has quite the kick!

Love her and her warm and cozy little nest.

Pool party with church friends.

Gwendolyn really enjoyed her first experience of VBS.

A little close to the edge....

Daddy caved and agreed to take a Sunday afternoon nap with her. This was back when we were debating about dropping her nap because she started having a horrible time going to bed at night (crying, screaming, etc). As it turns out, she was just going through some 3 year old separation anxiety and we quickly turned a corner allowing her to sleep with a flashlight, a book of her choice, and switching our video monitor around so she could see us down in the living room since she "didn't want to be alone." I also moved her nap time up to 1:00 and don't let her sleep much past 3:00. 

Both of us still desperately need nap time....

I signed Gwendolyn up for multiple half day camps throughout the summer, which were huge hits. She can be quiet in new situations (not sure I would describer her as shy), but she stuck close to one of her "teachers" -aka high school kids working for summer Park & Rec - and jumped right in and followed direction. They always started the morning with outside games and I'd stand back and just observe for a couple of minutes, of course with a giant frog in my throat as I watched her take the hand of someone she didn't know and go and do her best at a game she had no clue about. She didn't cry or seem scared. The girl just knocks my socks off with her bravery

She loved each of them and they got her out of the house and kept her active. They were: Terrific Bubble Blast camp, Ooey, Gooey camp, Kings and Queens camp, Zoom Zoom Zoom camp, and Butterflies and Bugs camp. She played games at each one, did crafts, had a snack, and did various things focused on the different topic. 

First day of camp before...

First day of camp after....

She had so much fun!

And then there was tee-ball...

She again didn't really have any clue, but it was so fun watching her try something new. And an added bonus that she was on the team with Kaleigh so we got to see the Schwager's twice a week for three weeks. Woohoo!

She paints her fingernails while her toes dry, naturally.

Look who got her very own balance bike! 

She was thrilled at first until she realized that it wasn't that easy to "ride" and then she decided it was "too wobbly" and said she was done. Daddy wasn't happy as he spent multiple hours researching and finding her the perfect bike. We'll keep practicing...

She used to "collect" things and make giant piles like this on a regular basis, but hadn't done it in forever. After a few times of this happening more regularly, I took that as my cue that we had too many toys upstairs and a good half of them went to the basement. 

Conrad:

Ohhhh this baby boy (he was still a baby in June, by the way, since he wasn't walking yet) just makes me grit my teeth together. His giant smile, squishy legs, sloppy kisses, fantastic personality, big teddy bear heart....it's all too much for me to handle sometimes. 

Everything he does melts us. Including when he plays nudey at the water table. 

Snuggles with daddy.

If you say, "where's Conrad?!" this is what he used to do. (Thinking he was hiding...) Not to be mistaken with blowing kisses.

His "it's OK, mom. If I fall, I won't fall far" face.

Seriously. 

Chubby thighs. Adorable face looking out window. Right hand under knee.

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Found him napping like this. I just want to squish that tush!

DQ treats with Tenny!

Notice his fingers....love the way he points at things and either grunts (when he wants something) or says "ohhhhh" if he thinks it's cool, like the animals at Woodbury's new Cabella's. 

We also had the wonderful opportunity to see my dad's side of the family at a Sinclair family reunion up in Duluth, which will be getting it's own post if I can pull my life together. A super fun June!