"Re Re"

Emma Claire is a dog lover and an animal lover in general. She especially loves her pups. She wakes up in the morning and calls for "Re-re" (aka: Rudy). She will not go to bed until she has told each "nigh-nigh".

Baby George Marshall

Is on his way...3 weeks early. Greta is being admitted to the hospital tonight! Can't wait to meet him. Only wish I could be there.

Summer Weekends

Summers in Minnesota are much different from those in the South. Although we do get hot/humid days, they are nothing compared to the 100+ degree, sweltering summers in Mississippi and Alabama. I have very happy memories of those days. They really feel like summer. However, I have adapted to the much more mild Minnesota summers. This summer has even been cooler than usual. Few days that got to 90 and many days in the 70s.

We had a great weekend. Dinner on the deck Friday, a jog with Emma Claire and the pups Saturday morning and fun at Brookview Park; a family walk to DQ (via little red wagon + pups) for blizzards Saturday night; sleeping in (to 7 am!) Sunday morning and fun at the pool; splashing around in the plastic yard pool; an evening with the Grodnicks at Loring Park + Joe's Garage. Jonah and Emma Claire chased each other around, squealing and giggling. Emma Claire was afraid of the Basilica bells at 6pm.

It is just fun to get out and play! Having Emma Claire forces us to do just that.

Up and Down

Emma Claire is definitely into the "climbing" stage. She is a fairly cautious toddler in general, but seems to have no fear when it comes to the climbing thing. We have found her nearly to the top of the ladder for the bunk beds a couple of times, on top of her kitchen stove multiple times, up and down off the couch, etc.

She now loves to climb up the ladder or steps for slides and then go down on her own. Hard for me believe this is possible. She can even climb the tall rope ladder at the playground. Have to be on guard all of the time. She is quick!

http://eckadue.shutterfly.com/1587

"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!