The Great Minnesota Get-Together (A.K.A. MN State Fair)

Norah's first State Fair...she was a dream baby...like she is everyday of her life! Most of the photos I got of her are with her sucking her thumb. She was so content all day. I think she enjoyed being outside seeing so many new things and people, colors, smells, and sounds.

Norah's a little mad here...she doesn't like wearing her sunhat. Gracia, on the other hand, loves her hat, and Faith seems to wish she had one, looking into the sun!

Gracia could NOT WAIT to get to "Little Farm Hands" at the Fair...her favorite stop.

Probably this is the last year the girls are able to ride the mini-tractors. Aawww :(

Cute!

It was a great day! And so far, no H1N1 at our house! Knock on wood! (But I did diagnose a probable H1N1 today in a 15 year old dismissed from the Fair Sunday with other 4H'ers.)

Picture Day!

Our darling Norah Kathryn is SIX MONTHS OLD!
She started SITTING UP unassisted last weekend, just in time for her 6 month portraits. She is so proud of herself, and is already plotting how to crawl.

We all love this little look with closed-lips smile she gives off so often.
Such a charmer!

All THREE of our beauties...Faith in polka dots with pink trim, Gracia in Paris poodle, and Norah in her Baby Tutu!

Mommy's personal FAVORITE (above).
Reminiscent of the baby pictures of the 1950s...isn't it?

Norah is our PRIDE & JOY
and we are so BLESSED to have
three beautiful daughters.

Active Summer...Active Girls

Norah is growing by leaps and bounds. She loves her FARM exersaucer and gives each of the toys a turn. She is rolling around and realizes this is a mode of transportation.

Norah visiting Great Grama Gerry and Grampa Lloyd 2 weeks ago.

Faith and Gracia are playing their first year of soccer. Except for itchy socks and shin guards, they love it. They chase the ball with the rest, and are starting to "get" the game. They are the purple team, and in these photos, Faith is in the wide plaid headband, and Gracia is in the light green headband. They have practice and game twice a week until Sept 2. It's fun watching them run. More fun for them than the outfield in T-Ball.

Norah enjoys her trayful of toys, and is enjoying throwing them over the side, although doesn't find humor yet in watching mom and dad (& sisters) pick them up constantly.
She is such a happy, easy baby.

WE SURE LOVE ALL OUR GIRLS!

Storytime

Norah is getting into the routine of bedtime stories. We hope she'll love books as much as her big sisters do. We started reading to the twins when they were still in Mommy, and Daddy was very instrumental in teaching them about books, taking the twins to the library at 3 months of age. It is a great gift to give your child a love for reading.

Requesting Prayers

Dale (my dad's cousin) and his wife, Tammy, lost their 2nd child this weekend. Rhonda, 17 years old, was one of 3 in a car driven by a 14-year-old (!!!) under the influence. All 3 were ejected from the car during a "loss of control" single-vehicle accident, and Rhonda died on the scene. The other 2 survived. Her older brother, Tony, died on his 21st birthday last September, driving home from work, and probably fell asleep. Dale and Tammy lost their only 2 children within 10 months. Pray for peace and comfort for this family as they cope with this immense grief. And, kiss your children!

Fun Pix of the Kids

Auntie Stevie from California giving Norah a bottle at the pool party the night before her baptism.

Uncle Adam with Faith at the hot tub.

Cutie Pie Norah. She'd just rolled onto her tummy from her back. Play by play action below.

"What, Mom?"

"Ah! I did it!"

"I'm rolling over now! Watch!"

Faith and Gracia have their maiden voyage on the canoe with Dad.

Taking off from shore.

Boarding the canoe. Faith is sitting above and Gracia is standing.

Visiting Grandpa Lloyd at St. Mary's in Rochester. Grandpa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer mid-June.

Uncle Adam and Norah having a cuddle.

Norah, gazing into her Uncle Adam's eyes. Adam adores his nieces. And LOVES BABIES!

Norah poses just like Grandpa Lloyd and Grandma Linda when they are "disgusted." Norah, however, is not disgusted, and just resting. But it was cute.

Mommy couldn't help herself! She just wanted to see if Norah liked a little rice cereal from a spoon. She did! But that little immature tongue thrust makes swallowing difficult. We'll wait a while before this is a regular practice.

Mommy HAD to use the bathroom at Kwik Trip in Rochester, and we were alone, so fortunately, there was a a little baby seat. Norah looked so darn cute sitting there, I snapped a picture from the "throne."

Grandma GG gets a little time to feed Norah with a bottle.

Not a good photo, but a sweet moment. Grandpa Dave was singing a quiet little song in Norah's ear and she was listening so intently.

Grandpa had a window ledge in his room that Faith found was a good perch.

BIG GRANDPA, little great-granddaughter

Daddy with Norah in Grandpa's hospital room. Appropriate bib on Norah, "Daddy Loves Me."