Summer Lovin

Man it's been a great summer!  

I realized, however, that I haven't blogged much about it.  

Since we've officially closed out summer, I decided to recap a few of our favorites.

• Staying Active - Luke decided against playing baseball this year, so we had a lot more flexibility in our evening schedules.  We were able to get to several All Comer Track Meets and Luke participated in kids' sprints at the Go for the Gold Childhood Cancer Research Fundraiser (more here), the Eyota Days Kids Obstacle Race, and his first triathlon organized by TritonKids. Brent and I kept busy too.  Me with a few 5Ks and Brent with a 5K and the Tough Mudder.  Luke also took some community education classes/camps during the days while we were at work.  He got a big variety with basketball, football, and kickball.

Luke and Ethan in the Eyota Days Kids' Obstacle Race

Obstacle Race Accomplished!

Tough Mudder Accomplished!

Worn out after 10 miles and 22 obstacles

Luke finishing the triathlon

• Visits with Ericksons - Our friends, the Ericksons, who live in Baltimore, were in Minnesota for a week and a half and we got to spend lots of time with them while they were in Rochester as well as a fun day in the cities shopping and swimming with the kids.  Brent, Luke, and Nora also got to spend a few days with them at Pine Haven Christian Assembly for family camp.  We are always blessed by our time together:)

Swimming with Jael

• Date Time - Brent and I got to have a few extra fun dates this summer including two nights at the Basilica Block Party, a few nights away for my cousin's wedding for the groom's dinner and wedding/reception, and a day of shopping at Oronoco Gold Rush!  All were great time together during the summer of our 11th anniversary:)

Dinner before Basilica

Beautiful night at Basilica

Steph and Richie's Groom's Dinner

Steph and Richie's Wedding

• Celebrating Growing Family - My sister, Bridget, and her husband, Ross, had their first baby on August 1!  Piper Marie Moyer arrived a few days ahead of her due date and is the sweetest little thing!  She had a few bumps in the road to begin (long labor and some time in the special care nursery), but she's been doing great since.  In June, my mom and I hosted a shower for Bridget with family and friends and we also attended a shower with Bridget's friends.  It's so fun preparing for and then enjoying a new arrival!  Piper is a content baby who does great being out and about with Bridget & Ross already.  I am so very proud of Bridget and Ross as they have moved into parenthood so smoothly:)

Piper's Baby Shower
Gma (Mom's mom), Mom, Bridget, Me

Holding Piper in the hospital

The new family of three:)

Already one month old
and playing with Nora

These guys love babies:)

• Wisconsin Dells - We spent three days in Wisconsin Dells with the Picker crew in July.  It was a great get away!  See more here.   
• Staycation - Brent and I took a week off work to spend at home with the kids.  See more here.  
• Watching Our Kids Grow - Nora turned two in July and has been becoming very conversational this summer.  She will tell us about her day spent with Papa and likes to play pretend around the house.  Luke grew nearly an inch over the summer and, unfortunately, had many growing pains to go with that growth.  He's also shown much growth in his maturity as he's more confident in new settings and has shown more independence and responsibility.  It's hard to believe that next summer we'll have a nine year old and three year old.  

Heading to family camp with Greg, Cally, and kids
 and NO mom and dad.  He was so excited:)

Saying goodbye before family camp

Ribbons from an
All Comer Track Meet

Learning to climb the ladder

Man, it was a good summer!  

Many memories made:)