Road Construction

Our street is under repair. Today was very hot and humid, so I thought I'd share some lemonade with the men at work. Gracia liked this idea and put her lawn chair out to monitor the lemonade and greet guests. It was meant to be a FREE lemonade stand, but the men were generous and dug into their pockets for change, saying "she's got to earn something for this!" Gracia was pleased. She enjoyed watching the big machines. I'm kind of enjoying it too, and I'm reminded of the earthquakes I felt living in California, feeling rumbling in the floor and the windows.

Tonight, the girls and daddy went to the Rochester Honkers game, while I chose to stay home as I'm experiencing most of my morning sickness in the evening.

Baptism Birthday

Today, Sunday, July 27, was Faith's and Gracia's 5th Baptism Birthday. We remember each year to light their baptism candles. We lit the candles at breakfast and twice at supper and they wanted to have spaghetti for supper. The girls love hearing about their baptisms and I think are a little frustrated that they don't remember that day. They were baptized at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Neenah, WI, by Pastor Cath Mode, who, along with her husband, Bill, serve as godparents, as well as Uncle Adam and Aunt Mary.

I had my first prenatal visit today. Everything is progressing well. I'm just about 10 weeks along, and the baby is measuring 3.3 cm (a little over an inch, crown to rump). Heart is beating and baby is moving. All is well. It's just one baby...sorry, Faith and Gracia (who wanted twin boys)...let some other parents have a turn with multiples! I'm happy to try my hand at a singleton! Baby's due around Feb 20, 2009.

Hiking with Cousin Paige along, in Frisco, Colorado, while visiting my cousin Elise.

Preparing to Mount: Horseback-riding in Colorado at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA. A first experience for Faith and Gracia.

Examining a Teepee at Crazy Horse in SD. Gracia can't stop calling them TPT (a term she knows for Twin Cities Public Television...with every sighting, Gracia calls out, "a TPT!")

The obligatory photo of the children in front of Mount Rushmore. The girls were less than cooperative and we really don't have a good photo of them here, despite spending 2 days exploring the monument and museum.

A few highlights of our summer vacation. Gracia and Faith pose in front of the Blue Bunny ice cream visitor center in Le Mar, Iowa

Faith stands proudly (as though she shot the bull!) at the Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney, Nebraska.

Enjoying a Coke in the old fashioned glass bottles

Finally! We make it to Cousin Paige's house, and she is prepared for the visit with matching ladybug t-shirts. We always try to get a photo of the 3 cousins in matching outfits.

Faith enjoys cuddling with a baby bunny on a field trip with preschool. Mom got to go along and snap some pretty cute pictures. I didn't get as many pictures of Gracia on the field trip because Gracia chose to stay with her class rather than join Faith's class in order to spend the afternoon with her "boyfriend". His mom chaperoned, and evidently hand-holding and a peck on the cheek occurred.

While at preschool before the field trip, I managed to snap a few pictures of Gracia intently doing her school work. My girls love to draw and color.

Welcome to Dancing Twinkies. Well, okay, the Twinkies aren't dancing in this picture...this is actually what Gracia's face looked like in most of my pictures of our family vacation to The West this summer. Faith manages a coy smile most of the time.

This is my first honest attempt at blogging. I figure it's time to keep up with the times, and now that we are expecting a new baby in February 2009, I have a little time to learn this blogging thing.

Our family is made up of John (a.k.a. Dad; Lutheran preacher), Siri (a.k.a. Mom; nurse practitioner), Faith (Twinkie #1 born 1 minute before...), and Gracia (Twinkie #2). Faith and Gracia are 5 years old, anxious for Kindergarten this fall, excited about a new brother or sister in February 2009 (they want twin boys), and in their spare time, enjoy ballet, made a hearty attempt at T-ball this year, and have recently taken up Suzuki violin method. Our household contains 2 pets. Sable is our kitty, who was Siri's roommate before meeting her mate, and Teddy is our 1 year old American Water Spaniel.