Sugar Cookies

Every once in awhile I talk about my friend Becky and her kids Brynn & Sophie, well I babysat both girls one morning while she was at a funeral and decided something fun for Brynn & Joshua to pass the time would be to decorate cut out sugar cookies (inspired by my sister). I pretty much had the dough ready when they got here, Sophie & Miriam both took naps while we made cookies. I let them each decorate (with sprinkles) a couple pans each and I frosted the rest later. It was fun, except that Joshua wanted to help with everything, I almost needed another person to help keep him at his station... not to mention keeping him from moving or eating the cut out dough on the pans before they made it to the oven!

Joshua decorating his pan of cookies


Brynn creating her masterpiece pan of cookies

8 months old


Having a snack


Looking cute in this dress


Being silly


Not one but two dishwasher helpers!

On our way back from Fort Wayne we stopped in Moline, IL and decided since we were right there to take some time and check out some John Deere. After finally finding the Headquarters we decided they need better signs for people like us who had never been there before. Here are a few pictures from that.

Fort Wayne trip

Just after our trip to the lake we drove out to Fort Wayne, IN to visit G'ma & G'pa Harvala after they just relocated to the Seminary there (this time mainly to teach, not as much to learn). Here are a few pictures from our stay there. Joshua & Miriam did really well traveling, the key is when you stop somewhere it's to do EVERYTHING - make sure the gas tank is full, feed everyone and change the diapers/use the bathroom, then get back on the road again!

Visiting Grandpa in his dorm room office - Joshua was helping him... with something.


Feeding the ducks at the seminary duck pond.




Playing under the table.




Getting a piano lesson from grandma.

Our vacation at the lake

At the end of August we took some vacation time, spent a week at the family lake cabin on Big McDonald lake (MN)and then went out to Fort Wayne, IN to G'ma & G'pa Harvala at their new house on campus at the seminary. Here are lake pictures, Fort Wayne pictures are yet to come.

Taking some time to see Phelps Mill, an old flour mill in Minnesota.


Adam, Joshua fishing off the dock. Grandpa Hanson helping Joshua


Joshua's 1st fish!


The line's back in the water, let's try for another fish.


Adam untangling the line caught in the reeds


Adam and Joshua went fishing out in the boat and came back with supper in the live well!


Miriam trying to get into the excersaucer


G'pa Hanson would be proud.. Joshua ate the last of the Kuchen like a piece of pizza!

Mallory's Birthday

Our niece and cousin Mallory's birthday was August 17th, to make it easier on the traveling fam with gathered on saturday instead (the 16th). She is now 2 and although about 2 months younger than Joshua is just about the same size... pretty much. Here are some pictures from that day.

Mallory drawing with sidewalk chalk


Joshua playing t-ball and Mallory's new puppy


Mallory blowing out her candles


Matt was hauling garbage in a wagon out to a burn barrel and Joshua found another wagon to follow him. It was so cute!

Here and There

Joshua and Brynn at our park in Holland, Sophie (Brynn's sister) in the back left.


Joshua going down a slide at a park in Tyler, MN


Joshua posing with a hat he got from G'ma & G'pa Harvala when they were in the process of packing up there belongs to move out to Fort Wayne.


Looking cool riding in the van


My babies playing together!


Joshua "reading" to Miriam


Miriam at the park here in Holland


Miriam sat up on her own... now she's a pro at sitting, she can sit up so nice and tall.