it's all happening!: SUMMER!!!

First - Thanks so much for all of your comments on my last post. Two more nights, and more of the same, but we have tried to be more consistent about not going in there unless she's been crying for more than 5 minutes, and we've found that hasn't happened yet at all. Both nights were just 1-2 crying sessions that were over within 5 minutes. Eh, oh well. Mostly my issue is that our AC unit in our bedroom sounds JUST LIKE Annie crying when it fires back up. Drives me completely batty.

Second, SUMMER IS REALLY HERE! This past weekend was SO awesome - the reason that Minnesotans love this state. If you've never experienced Minnesota in the summertime, I highly encourage you to visit - seriously! I'll plan a knock out weekend for you, complete with outdoor adventures and delicious food :) It's an underrated (or even unheard of) destination for a vacation for sure, but I promise, it's awesome here.

We had an awesome weekend - observe:

Mia and Annie playing with the water table

Started off by breaking in Ben's new Weber with some chicken taco burgers, followed by water table playtime for Annie and Mia - where do you think Annie gets her smile from?!?! :)

Annie going out to the porch

Took our first trip to the Farmer's Market on Saturday - Annie had a fun jaunt around Mears Park after we were done

Finally get to bust out all the "walker" toys :)

Ben used his grill yet again, for beer butt chicken

Annie will remain occupied for a good long time with an empty bubbles container...

Clapping along with the metal band at Newell Park

Went to the Spring Festival at Newell Park, where Annie clapped along with a heavy metal band

On Sunday, Ben's whole family came over for the "spring/summer birthday" celebration (we can no longer coordinate individual birthday celebrations for all 5 of the kids - so we have to do it in chunks :) we had to get some reserve patio furniture to seat everyone from Nate & Molly - thankfully it was nice out so we didn't have to pack 11 extra people in our tiny house!

Oh, I have the cutest niece! Check out Becca and Joe's blog for updates on Sam and Grace!

Annie greatly enjoyed Grace's exersaucer

Then took Grace's teething ring - I guess it looked like a nice armband :) Is it just me, or does Annie have a BIT of a ghetto booty?

Um, who are these children that will just fall asleep on a blanket outside? Where can I get one of THOSE next time??

Annie stayed in here happily for like 25 minutes. Maybe we SHOULD have gotten one of those...

Ben and his pops by their grills

Steve and Grace in the jungle like back yard

Annie, Grace and Grandma at the water table

Grandma and her granddaughters playing at the water table

Grandpa teaching Annie how to grill his famous chicken wings

Family!

Aunt Laura gave Annie her phone - immediately raised to "Favorite Aunt" status. When Steve called it and made it MAKE NOISE?! Annie's mind was blown.

Grace the snuggle muffin

Aunt Amanda helping Annie eat some wings

Yeah, she really liked these

Sadly, Grandpa did not want a frozen pea

Dad took it though

That's a huge pile 'o pork, grilled by Ben. Here's the link to the recipe.

Super flattering shot of everyone eating

annnd my favorite picture ever

Attempt at a cousins shot - FAIL. Thanks Grace.

Awwwwww

Serious face.

The last 2 days here were HOT! We made it to 102 yesterday. Everyone couldn't shut up about it. We had pool times both nights - it was awesome!

I love getting home and gazing down the backyards, seeing Allison and Molly out - yelling across 4 yards and asking if we can come over too :) I just will miss them so much when they are 3 whole miles away!

Tuesday night we went over to Laura's condo to swim with all of my college roomies - do you notice how I still have on my tank top? Seriously - I was so excited to get in the pool that I completely forgot about it. Oh well. We could only stay in for like 20 minutes because the wind was FIERCE but it was awesome while we were in there.

Annie can be the biggest mooch ever. That night, she ate: one spinach smoothie at 4:45 or so, a few goldfish, an ENTIRE large slice (the size pictured, which was mine that she also wanted) of veggie pizza, a huge mound of fruit, a few veggies with ranch dip. She proceeded to them take all the fruit off my plate, and walk around the room trying to steal everyone else's food too. But yet some nights she will eat nothing. Sigh.