{remembering grandpa charlie]

I love these pictures of Kate and Annika wearing Great Grandpa Charlie's hats. What a special way to remember a very important man. We love and miss you Grandpa.

our fourth of july

Happy Fourth of July!

This year was our very first year to spend the Fourth of July at home. We usually are either up north in Two Harbors or in Milwaukee and sometimes even in Michigan.

Growing up the Fourth of July was always our family's annual summer vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We would head to Uncle Lowell and Aunt Mary Louise's camp in Lake Linden, Michigan, a tradition that started when my dad was just a kid. The Fourth was always filled with family. Lots of cousin. Lots of Great Aunts and Uncles. And time with my Grandma Mary Jane and Grandpa Charlie. I know that this Fourth of July I was a little more emotional. My Grandpa Charlie passed away on June 11. He was a proud World War II veteran and always would share stories of what it was like growing up in the Copper Country and serving in the Pacific. Some of my best memories growing up are from when we would spend time at the camp.

Sitting on the dock.

Pontoon rides.

Speed boat rides.

Playing Scrabble with my mom and grandma.

Playing Head Moose with all of the farm cousins.

Climbing the tiny staircase to the upper level.

Hearing Uncle Lowell's alarm clock.

Sweatshirt weather.

Watching Aunt Mary Louise and Grandma cross stitch.

Sneaking out to the garage and grabbing a Vernor's out of the old fashioned fridge.

Driving on the sand road to Uncle Ed and Aunt Barbara's farm.

Going into the barn and smelling that wonderful barn smell.

Walking around Uncle Ed's pond.

Fresh strawberries.

Playing Skip-Bo.

Watching the annual Skip-Bo tournament.

Pastie night.

Chop suey night.

Driving to Chassell and shopping at the Einerlie with mom and grandma.

Spinach salad and dinner at the Onagaming restaurant.

Subs at the Ambassador.

Driving across the lift bridge.

Watching for the Ranger III headed to Isle Royale.

Visiting the Michigan Tech pro-shop and watching summer hockey league.

Exploring John and Jeanne's house.

Aunt Barbara's apple bars.

Trips to Copper Harbor.

Driving to Laurium to do laundry.

The Lake Linden parade.

The sound of the firehall siren and church bells at the start of the parade.

Waiting to see the Bootjack Fire department trucks in the parade.

Visiting Jan and Earl after the parade.

Steak on the Fourth of July.

Watching the fireworks from the end of the dock.

Crying my eyes out when it was time to say goodbye and wishing that our vacation didn't have to come to an end.

I only hope that Kate and Annika will have as many wonderful memories from our family vacations and our Fourth of July celebrations.

cousins

big girl bikes

Ever since Kate and Annika turned three years old, they knew that when they turned four they could get big girl bikes. So last Sunday we went bike shopping, looking for the perfect bikes. We started at a "real" bike shop and couldn't believe our eyes at the prices for a little 20 inch girls bike. Yikes! We love you girls, but we have a budget. So then we headed to a local toy store. Kate was in heaven when she saw a green sparkly bike. I think her exact words were, "Oh my goodness!!!" There was no way we could leave the store without that bike, thank goodness it was more affordable. Annika also found a bike. You guessed it. Pink.

We got home, got out helmets on and away they went! They had so much fun on the path that is right near our house. I still can't believe that they are big enough for big girl bikes.

birthday pancakes

kate and annika {four years old}

kate elizabeth {6 months}

annika joy {6 months}

Happy Birthday to our beautiful gifts from God. The wait was worth every minute, knowing what we know now. You are both the light of our lives. God knew what He was doing sending us two daughters and our lives have never been the same.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3-11

\kate and annika {4 years}

our week in review

Monday: Annika has surgery. She does great! What a trooper. Her doctors and nurses are all amazed at her progress and send her home early. Which meant a great night's sleep in our own beds, not a hospital bed.

Tuesday: Annika and mommy spend the day hanging out. Lots of movies and soft foods. Annika's new favorite food is soggy Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Yummy, don't you think? We even ventured out to Target, upon Annika's request to get out of the house.

Wednesday: Daddy's turn at home. Annika had a rough morning after taking some Tylenol with codeine. Yuck! She was dizzy and didn't eat hardly at all. Daddy switched over to regular Bubblegum flavor at noon and Annike miraculously recovered. They even made a trip to Ace Hardware and a park to play.

Thursday: Grandma Bakke arrives! Both Kate and Annika spend the day with Grandma and loved every minute of it.

Friday: Uncle Chad's birthday!! The girls spend another day at home with Grandma Bakke and Uncle Chad enjoying a beautiful Minnesota spring day outside in their fort. We wrapped up the day at Old Chicago where Annika ordered spaghetti and meatballs and devoured almost all of it. She has now mastered the slurpying of noodles, especially the super long ones!

Saturday: In the morning we brought Grandma Bakke to the Minnesota Zoo and had a blast seeing farm babies and Grandma's favorite.....the tigers!


Sunday, so far: Church, Sunday School, playing outside, washing windows and screens and now a good long nap. What could be better?