A test

I have been trying to figure out how my cousin puts together great collages of photos on their blog, so that I don't have to post each photo individually. I think Ethan may have figured something out with the Adobe Photoshop. So this is a test to see if it works. The photos are from our 2nd trip to Bay Beach on Father's Day. We rode the carousel and the train for the first time this season. Katherine enjoyed both! The photo of Katherine with the sprinkler is from the fun the girls had yesterday. The there is Emma playing soccer, at swimming lessons about to jump off the diving board, and running the WPS Kids Run in May.

Bay Beach!!

Bay Beach is officially open and has been for a month now. We took the girls for the first trip of the summer on Memorial Day. Katherine was all for the rides but did not like having to leave the ride when it ended. We have since taken them once more on Father's Day and she has quickly caught on that when one ride is over there is another to go on. Many more trips to come for us. Although I think Emma is starting to become bored of the little rides. So more trips this summer may see Mom and Dad separated each with one daughter.

Katherine's crib friends

These are just a few cute photos of where Katherine's crib friends end up sometimes. This initially started with Ernie for many nights and then in the most recent of nights more friends have been added. We think it is quite funny. And if you could hear her talking and laughing at night after being put to bed you too would wonder, "What in the world is going on in there?" Perhaps her friends come to life like in Toy Story. We just took Emma to Toy Story 3 tonight. It is good. There are a few scary parts for a young 4 year old but overall very good and funny.

I love the change in expression from this to the next photo.


Look Mom my friends...

Strike a pose

Katherine actually will stop and smile for the camera most of the time. It is quite cute. And completely different from Emma. I do not remember Emma ever being so willing to strike a smile for the camera. We had a very rainy couple of days at the beginning of June so I pulled out the dress-up bin for the girls. Emma was super excited! And this was Katherine's first experience with dress up clothes. Many of these photos are from Katherine's fun first experience. Although, she is definitely not okay with her sister trying to dress her (unlike our friends the Pedersen sisters).
Miss T! :- )
This is me trying to get a shot for a Gerber cute baby contest. I think she could win, don't you?

Another little Snow White. Emma wore this dress when she was 2 or 3.

I love this photo of Katherine. She had been watching Emma have her photo taken in the dress up clothes up against the closet so she went and stood. It was too cute.

I like this one too! Little one trying to steal the show and big sister always on the look out.




This is Emma dressed up for Magical Kingdom dress-up day at Kamp Kermit a week ago.
Our star-studded girl!

What we love best about our Daddy!

Happy Father's Day Daddy! We love you, Emma & Katherine and Mommy too
We love that Daddy lets us climb on him and we always have fun with Daddy.

Bellin Run - Exciting times of running

This past weekend I took part in the 34th annual Bellin Run. I was one of 18,000 runners for this famous 10K race. It is one of the top 10 largest 10Ks in the country. They were worried it may be canceled because of thunderstorms earlier in the week and the possibility of more Saturday morning but the rain stayed away. Yeah! It was a cool morning in the 60s and overcast. Plus, a misting of rain which was great. Perfect for running especially for me. I ran with a friend and we did awesome! I actually pushed her along and ran 9:00 and some sub 9:00 minute miles. She actually asked me to slow up a few times. After the disaster of a half-marathon 2 weeks ago this was amazing to me. I felt awesome! ! My finishing time was 55:11. I still have to check on my PRs but I think this may be it. I don't have any photos to show for my awesome race because no one from my family was there to witness it and that's okay. My wonderful husband had a chance for free golf with my Dad and so he gave up the annual Bellin to golf. And initially he was supposed to work anyways.

Emma ran a kids run on Friday night and did great! It was a 1/4 mile and she ran the whole way without stopping. Plus, we were able to start at the front of the line and only 1 other girl passed her on the way to the finish and only a handful of boys were infront of her. I was so proud of her for running the entire way.

Way to go Emma!

Oh yeah, and Katherine tried "hooping"

She was mesmerized by this woman with the hula hoops.

16 months on the 16th

Does this make it her first "sweet 16"? :-) Katherine continues to amaze us. Plus she continues to be as cute as ever. This morning after our run she laid on the floor on her belly and played with her farm. Unfortunately I was not able to capture on a camera but I have it in my mind.
Her new abilities include:
*blowing a kiss (although her hand doesn't always leave her mouth)
*she now tries to give a kiss when giving "love" (her version of a hug)
*she knows very well how to shake her head "no"
*she is saying mama again; only to me or emma; dada is still daddy and everything else in sight
*she is starting to say "hi"
*she has attempted and completed climbing into her highchair and her car seat
*she can walk up and down stairs like everyone else (just more slowly)
*she has this adorable shoulder shrug that she does at no particular one thing but at various times
*she still hates to stop and have her diaper changed. Although there are fewer tears for it throughout the day
*she likes to "brush" her own teeth or hair after we are done
*she enjoyed swimming lessons for the most part
*she still loves dogs, loves runs in the stroller (although she prefers being alone and not with big sister), loves to play outside with chalk, big wheels, etc.
*she is still a picky eater and fruits are definitely her favorite especially grapes and strawberries
*she has learned of a new yummy treat (much sooner than her sister ever did) - chocolate chip cookies!
Matching sunglasses - ready to run!
Look at those sunglasses!
Her mismatched pajamas

Look Mom I can eat my toes too!
This morning before our run - alone in the stroller except for her dog who she doesn't mind.

Adorable! Taken Tuesday night at Emma's very wet soccer game.

Breakfast on the Farm

On June 6 we went with our friends, Liz, Dan, Jacob & Madeline, to the Brown County Breakfast on the Farm. We had a great breakfast, saw some baby calves, bounced in the bounce house (kids only), ate some ice cream, tried a kiddie tractor pull and took a carriage ride pulled by miniature horses. We were even given some free tickets to the Wisconsin State Fair in August which I have never been too. Ethan took Emma over to talk to Alice in Dairyland and the Fairest of the Fair and at one point he looked at me and smiled. I was not sure why. Later I come to find out the Fairest of the Fair asked him if we have ever been to the Brown County Fair or the WI State Fair and if we had 4 free tickets if we would be more likely to go. Awesome! I guess my husband still has what it takes to make the girls smitten with him. :-) The kids took part in the Cousins "Be Herd" contest. They had to moo like a cow. So below you will see a photo of their backs - they are mooing into the microphone. Unfortunately they did not make it to the next level at the Wisconsin State Fair. Katherine tried to ride a baby calf. We quickly pulled her away. It was a fun morning.
"Moo"

This baby calf was only 2 weeks old.

Yeah, I did a good job. Whenever Katherine does a good job at something she claps her hands - even when no one is watching.

Can I ride her? Do you see the look on Emma's face?






Emma giving the tractor pull a try.
Tried out a back seat of the fire engine
And of course, the driver's seat...look out here comes Katherine
And Emma's turn...