Story Time

I caught Kendall reading to her puppy the other day.  It about melted my heart.

So Tired

Natalie was just too tired to stay awake through lunch.

A Visit In Bellingham

Our sister in law Jenn's parents, Mick and Chris, live in Bellingham, a short 90 minute drive north of Seattle.  Jenn and Michael were going to be there for a wedding last weekend so we jumped at the chance to see them, and Mick and Chris.

We met the gang at the Boundary Bay Brewery in downtown Bellingham.  Such a fun place - perfect atmosphere, good food and most importantly great beer!

After the brewery we stopped in at Mick and Chris's home.  We loved seeing where they lived and the kids had so much fun playing with Uncle Michael and Aunt Jenn.  Chris makes a pretty mean margarita, too!

Natalie loved lying on the soft carpet.

Ryan playing catch...surprise, surprise.

Chris helping Natalie on the stairs. 

Michael, the Tickle Monster, and Kendall.

Jenn and Kendall with their beautiful headbands.

Ryan putting on a puppet show with Jenn.  His attention span did not last long, but it was pretty cute when he was into it.

Mick narrating the puppet show.

  

Natalie inaugurating the new high chair.  

The gang!

Summer Plans

At the beginning of June we started a list of our summer plans.  I asked everyone what they wanted to do this summer.

Ryan's plan included purchasing 5 swimming pools so we could each have our own.  We purchased two, and that's all we are getting.  He and Kendall have been having a blast in the back yard jumping from pool to pool and getting sprayed by their Daddy.

David's plan was to perfect the cheeseburger on the grill.  He hasn't gotten a jump on this plan yet, but nothing a friendly reminder can't cure.

Kendall's plan was to swim.

Natalie wanted to learn how to walk, talk and climb.  She's well on her way to accomplishing all these goals with 2 already down.  The talking is coming way too quickly as well!  

And my plans included so many things that I haven't quite gotten them organized yet.  Not entirely true, but sort of.

My biggest plan was to go to Minnesota.  Summer at the cabin is the best.  It brings back so many memories from my childhood, the days are hot and the water is cool.  What more could you ask for than to have your children share that with you?

Anyway, enough about my love affair with Minnesota.  We are now back in Seattle where the average summer temperature has been a cool 73 degrees.  Not really my idea of summer but we can still have fun, right? 

Here is my top 10 list for the rest of the summer:

1.  Go to an M's game (or two) with Ryan.
2.  Take the kids swimming at a local lake.
3.  Go on more bike rides.
4.  Eat David's perfected cheeseburger.
5.  Jump rope.
6.  Blow bubbles.
7.  Move.  (This really isn't in our hands.  We're still waiting to hear if we get the house)
8.  Take a ferry ride.
9.  Watch as much as the Olympics as possible.  Yay!  They start today.
10. Go to a County Fair.  (more on this soon!)

What are your plans now that August is creeping up on us?

Goodbye, Minnesota

Thanks for putting up with us for 10 days, Mom and Dad!  We had such a wonderful time.  We love you!

P.S.  Next year we promise to bring David.

More Minnesota Memories

The pictures from our Minnesota trip could go on FOREVER.  We really got some good ones, and had so many fun moments that I could share.  But we've been back in Seattle for two weeks and have to get back to reality.  Plus, we've been having fun here so need to get the blog caught up!

Here are the final pictures from our amazing time in Minnesota:

Ryan and Emma

Brave Evie

Waiting for the 4th of July Boat Parade

Ryan, Charlie and Emma

Emma and Grandpa Ken

The kiddos watching the firework display.  The unfamiliar faces are Raya and Sierra from next door.

Jet ski rides from Unlce Benny!  Gabe and Ryan waiting their turn.

Ahhh!!  The crawfish got Gunnar.

Grant with Zac, Charlie with Natalie and Jeannie enjoying the shade.

Gunnar's big catch.

Lexi with her new BFF Kendall.

The neighbors had this raft floating between our docks.  It was quite lovely.  The kids loved playing on it as much as the adults loved relaxing on it!

Emma doing jumps with Andrew.

Cousin Abby with Evie.

The sein net.

Ryan showing off his big catch!

Kendall loved playing fetch with Coho.  So cute.

Emma, Ryan and Gunnar on one of the last days.  Can you tell they are tuckered out?

Sisters.  The only reason I'm posting this is because it's such a cute picture of Gina.

Beauty Time!  Emma painting the other kid's toenails.

Auntie Gina

Loved these two pictures of Gina!  I'm so glad she's my sister.

Gunnar

Pondering.  Should I ride on the tube or not? 

This boy is the best story teller you'll ever meet.  He is so animated and exaggerates better than any other 8 year old I know.

He is also Ryan's twin (only with blond hair).  He knows how to push his mother's buttons just as well as Ryan pushes mine.  I can't tell you how many times I've called Gina for advice when dealing with a behavioral issue with Ryan.  I just know she has dealt with the same thing with Gunnar.  Gina is always so good to give me the best tips that have worked for her.

Gunnar was a little out of sorts the week we were there.  He wasn't well, and he and Ryan don't get along as well as you'd think.  We know this is because they are so alike.  As Ryan and Emma are off playing, Gunnar is left with no one to hang out with.  Although, when it was time to play baseball he and Ryan did get along pretty well.

Gunnar is a funny kid.  He's very obsessed with the wind.  He does not like when things blow in the wind and is completely paranoid that things may blow away.  This always makes me laugh.  Gina is still trying to figure out what happened to make him like that?  Hmmm...  He gets himself worked up about all sorts of things.  He would not go tubing, and rarely goes in the water.  It's just not his thing.

I can just see the stories he has to tell in that expression.

His thing is to fish.  And fishing with Uncle Charlie is the ultimate.  He always comes back with the best stories, so does Charlie!  He'll even get up at the crack of dawn to go out fishing.  He actually woke up at 4am to go out with Uncle Steve and Andrew one morning.  And was so patient as they waited hours for a tow truck to come after the boat trailer broke down.  He'll do anything to fish.  

It's so much fun to watch him grow up.  He has such a vibrant personality!

Cousins

These six spent the whole week together, and had such fun.

Jillian, Gabe and Zac joined us many days to bring the total to 9.  What a line up!  So fun and so crazy.

We missed Jack, Luke and Grace all week who are currently summering in Alaska.  They will spend 5 days with us in Seattle before returning to Minnesota.

Baumann Reunion

We had a small Baumann Family reunion on July 8th.  My cousin Anna, her husband Kurt, my cousin Chris and his wife Mary were the only ones to make it.  It was so fun to see them all!  And I am so bummed this is the only picture I took.  With all the pictures I took over the week, how did I not get a good one of all of us?

Anyway, Anna and Kurt and Chris and Mary have college age kids for the most part so they loved watching all the chaos at the cabin.  We all thought it was so funny that Kurt figured out right away that you need to keep your eye on Gabe.  He could see "trouble" written all over his face!  Anna didn't miss a beat and jumped right into the Natalie Rotation.  Thanks, Anna!

It was such a fun afternoon, and so wonderful to be able to spend time with family I don't get to see nearly as often as I'd like to.  

Weeding

Natalie weeding the beach.

Natalie posing on the beach.  What cuter than a baby in a bathing suit?  Not much, in my opinion.

Dynamic Duo

Kendall and Evie were quite the pair.  Watching them interact was probably one of my most favorite things about our trip.  They had so much fun together.

Gina and I thought it was so funny that they played so nicely together one day, but that evening as we were putting them to bed they had this to say: 

Me. "Kendall, did you have a good day?" 
Kendall.  "I get mad a Evie 2 times.  I don't play with her ever again." 

Gina.  "Evie, did you have a good day?" 
Evie.  "Kendall kept running away from me."

Evie was quite bossy this particular day so Kendall just needed a little space.  It really wasn't a big deal but so funny that it impacted both of them so much.  They were thick as thieves and booty shaking (yes, seriously) the next day, so all must have been forgiven.

Evie has quite a set of dance skills.  She was good to show Kendall all her moves!  Hilarious!!

Don't you love the contrast in their skin color?  You can tell the sun does not shine in Seattle!

Holding Hands.

Hugs.

Kendall:  2 3/4 Years.
Evie: 3 1/2 Years.

Gabriel

This is the kid you must not take your eyes off of.  He is so busy, just like his daddy, and a bit mischievous.  A pretty dangerous combination, if you ask me!

He's got the best little kid voice I know.  It's deep and raspy, and beyond adorable!  And he knows how to use it.  He can talk up a storm.

He disappeared one day, and we found him shortly after in one of the parked cars.  Not that big of deal on a cool day, but on a 95+ degree day it could have been a big deal.  He was only in there for a minute, so not a big deal but it was a good reminder for us all to keep track of him!

He gets these ideas in his head and just has to do what he's thinking about.  I don't know how Trisha and Ben keep up with him!  But I do know why they love him to pieces!!  He is such a sweet kid.

Gabe: 2 3/4 Years.

On The Farm

Gina took Gunnar, Ryan and Evie to the Gunderson Farm one morning.  Ryan had so much fun.  He asked if he could go back the next day.  

This one cracks me up.  Two boys in heaven!