A Sunday Afternoon at Peter's Ocean

Scott and I loved living in the Avenues of Salt Lake for the first three years of marriage. We loved having the mountains be literally in our backyard. We would hike up into those mountains almost daily. It was the perfect place for an evening walk or to spend a Sunday afternoon. We got engaged on one of the overlooks; we call it "Engagement Hill." 

It's nice to have something like that here in Eden Prairie. It's not a mountain, or even really a hill. But it's the highest point we can see for miles, and we're lucky to have it up the street. We love walking up in the morning or after dinner. It overlooks a lake that Peter calls his ocean. We'll happily claim this little spot of land for our family. 

More Hyland Park

Hyland Park. This is the most amazing place. We love all the winding trails, the lake, the giant climbing structure. It is my favorite place to take the kids for a morning run. We thought we'd try one of those pedal boats. Yikes! It was a workout! 

Poor Brooklyn was so uncomfortable in her lifejacket! Look at those chubby cheeks!

At this point, Peter was really concerned about the storm he heard Scott and me talking about. We barely made it off the lake before the greatest pour of our lives! I love these midwest storms. They come on fast and fierce. 

Home Again, Home Again. Jiggity Jig

Am I finally done with all of our May and June updates? Sheesh. We have loved all the fun time spent in Canada and Utah, and we miss our family and friends. But it is nice to get back into the swing of things for a bit. We are in love with summer in Minnesota. It is absolutely gorgeous and pleasant. This is the only time in my life I've loved summer more than winter. I am crazy about snow, but not -30 degree temps, which is what we moved into last winter. (I'm seriously thinking about waiting the winter out in Utah, where I get my favorite kind of winter with snow and mountains).

Some random summer minutes:

Walks at Hyland Park

Peter has always been a wonderful little reader, but lately Brooklyn is really starting to get excited about books, or "buuuuu," as she calls them. 

I love this silly boy and his concerts. He loves to set up all the instruments and have his "friends" play the music. Sometimes it's dogs. Sometimes it's bugs. Sometimes it's his mom and dad. 

My Superhero.

My Sunshine.

My World.

Staying busy with beading...

cooking...

playing music...

hiding from giant bananas, aparently...

playing pirates...

wrestling...

playing with friends at the park...

going to the aquarium...

dressing up as an elephant...

painting...

making a paper chain until Peter's first day of preschool...

driving daddy's "noisy truck..."

and trying to help this guy kick his finger-biting habit. We're getting better!

Cousin Crew

I love how this little crew has grown. They are seriously the best of friends. I'm excited for them to all get older together, but I also want to freeze the stage we're in right now! I can't wait until this October when we get to spend a week at the Beach House together! It will be amazing. I love my sister and brother-in-law. Scott and I miss spending time with them. I love my nephews and nieces. It's amazing how much love you can have for your sister's kids. We miss them so much! What would we do without facetime?

Despite everything he had going on, Uncle Bob made sure to find a couple minutes to pop on over and see the kids. Uncle Bob is the best. He loves our kids and is so good at showing his love. When we were on the plane to Utah, Peter and I were talking about all the people we might see while in Salt Lake. He was really excited to see "Amma" (his cousin Emma). And he also said we was excited to see, "Uncle Bob! He is so silly! He always says 'Petah, Petah, Petah!"

I miss my parents most of all. Perfect examples of love. They never do love casually or halfway.