"Be-Be"

We took a nice bike (Brad on roller blades) ride to the Thursday night church service this week. It is a very laid back outdoor service. Dinner is served beforehand, so we go early to eat and set up camp on a picnic blanket for church.

This night, (coming off our Alabama trip, where Emma Claire learned that there is a "be-be" in Auntie G's belly) Emma Claire pulls up her Dad's shirt (during the sermon), points to his belly and says "be-be".

Brad has decided to go on a diet.

1-2-3 Jump

Emma Claire started swimming lessons again last week, this time at Lifetime for 4 weeks. Her favorite thing tonight was jumping from the side of the pool. One skill was to climb out of the pool on the side and jump back in with help. We did this over and over and over. She can nearly climb out without assist. When it was time to move onto the next skill, Emma Claire squealed and screamed and reached toward the side of the pool, saying "more". She apparently likes to jump.
Emma Claire is getting braver and busier by the day.

Mommy forgot to Leave Extra Clothes at School

Dropped Emma Claire of in a cute pink embroidered bubble and mary janes...picked up in a onesie, someone else's pants (a couple sizes too big with the kid's name written on the leg in sharpie), and her pink water shoes, pigtails gone. (she got wet in the rain and dirty in the sand)
Maybe I should get my act together and leave some extra clothes there!

What I am Learning at School July 13-17

I thought I would try to keep track of what Emma Claire has been learning in school by sharing the lesson plan on the blog (can you even read it?...maybe I should scan it in...still learning).
Thought it would be fun to look back at someday. They stay busy!

Bedtime Prayers

Bedtime routine is pretty much the same every night....bath-PJs-teeth-comb hair-books-songs-prayers and night-night. After the books and song part tonight, I told Emma Claire that it is time to go night night and we should say our prayers. She clasped her hands in prayre and then guided me to do the same.

At the end, Emma Claire will now say a-men. We were going through some words at the end of the prayer (Rowie, Opa, Auntie G, etc...) and I asked Emma Claire if she could say Jesus. She answered by clasping her hands in prayer position again. Priceless.

Up North with the Knauffs

We feel lucky to have gotten the invite to our friends cabin for a real "up North" summer cabin experience. This is what people do here in the summer...escape to their cabins/lake places "up North".

The only thing better than having your own cabin, is having friends with a cabin that are nice enough to invite you up every so often. Our friends, the Knauffs', families both have cabins in the Detroit Lakes area (near Fargo)... Dom, Suzanne and Addie. Addie and Emma Claire have quickly become best friends. They met in ECFE when only weeks old and have been friends ever since. Fun to see them play together lately. Did they ever have a good time at the lake!

It was coolish up there...70s during the day and 50s at night (I actually love that weather...what is happening to me?). Beautiful days. The girls played in the water, but never actually wore a swimsuit. Mostly only in diapers and birthday suits. Emma Claire got to touch her first real live fish (she poked it in the eye and stuck her finger in its mouth). Addie's grandfather gave the girls wagon and wheelbarrow rides. We grilled out and sat by the fire; played bean bag toss; visited the local establishment "The Hotel"; lounged on the pontoon; slept until 9am (yes, Emma Claire slept in 2 of the days); and just laughed at the girls. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Hope to do it again someday. Thank you to the Knauffs and their lovely families.

"Up North" Photos

Fourth of July

A recap of our Fourth of July this year... breakfast at Marjorie's, a bike ride with the Burley to Brookview for a picnic, an afternoon of working in the yard, an inpromptu gathering at the Hansons' (dogs included) followed by fireworks viewed from the top of the parking garage next to the neighborhood.

I am "borrowing" Whitney's blog post. The slideshow is outstanding!

http://thebickersonsblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/independence-day.html

More Pictures: http://eckadue.shutterfly.com/1372