Overnight to Missoula

Look at this joyful baby! This captures Svea. She is so content and happy.

We went to stay with our friends, Cristian and Sarah Borge, and had a great time! The girls went sledding with Sarah in her backyard, we had a dance party in their basement with friends Julie Engh and 2 year old Everett, enjoyed wonderful Chilean food made by Cristian, went to church and ran into some favorite former counselors, met Kels and Jess (counselors) for lunch, and saw Julie and Greg's new acreage. It was an excellent 24 hour 'trip'!

Borge's camera is awesome. She and Cristian took these pictures.

Many, many games of UNO were played! Lydia, another camp friend, came over for the evening too. She also got in on the Hide and Seek action.

Minnesota Road Trip Part 3

After the Twin Cities, we drove to Hendricks to Grandma Joan and Grandpa Lanny's farm. It was a gorgeous summer day and the girls loved swinging on the pillow swing, laying in the hammock, meeting the baby kittens at the neighboring farm, and exploring all around the farm. The next day we went to visit Grandpa Lanny at the nursing home in Minneota. It was Joan and Lanny's 38th anniversary so we brought ice cream, strawberries and an angel food cake from the bakery in Hendricks to celebrate.

Hendricks is usually very windy as seen below! Our girls are so lucky to have such wonderful grandmas! Such a treasure to be loved by grandparents.

My mom was lovely to help me drive back to Montana with the girls. Even though I had originally thought I could do it on my own like I did last summer, it was definitely one of those times when "Mother Knows Best". I was exhausted and am so thankful for her company and all her help getting us home again.

Next stop was Omaha where Becca and Rory live. We arrived in time to see Becca's camp and hear her give the message for the closing worship that week. It was great to see her 'in action'. She is so gifted. It was a blessing to see each other because it is the only time during our pregnancies that we will have that opportunity. We swam twice the next day - at the hotel pool and at the outdoor pool near their apartment = a banner day for Mara and Sonna!

Sharing some love with Aunt Becca and Uncle Rory.

We packed in a lot of fun in about 24 hours in Nebraska!

I am thankful for the opportunity to take this trip. We are fortunate to get back to Minnesota two and sometimes three times a year. That is a gift. Our girls are so well connected to their Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and Cousins and that means the world to us!

Minnesota Road Trip Part 2

We met some of our favorite former camp counselors at the Grand Old Creamery. Marija, Linnea, Joel, Karin, and Michael are pictured here. Karl and Laura aren't in the picture but we loved seeing them too. The girls remain very connected to these wonderful friends who spent the first 2 and 3 summers at camp with us.

Mara and Walter, my friend Jane's son, are just a few days apart. I love the way Sonna is looking up at him. (: We had a fun playdate at a local park together.

The girls enjoyed sorting all of Grandma Margaret's jewelry. Much of it she has made herself. The girls also love Grandma and Grandpa's deep tub for taking baths!

My dad took the girls to the Minnesota Zoo, something he often does with the girls when we come to visit. I assumed they would be gone for an hour or two because Sonna was a little fussy (tired) before they left. They were there for 4 hours! He bought them a fun fuzzy critter at the zoo gift shop shown below, rainbow suckers, a bomb pop Popsicle to share and they covered most of the zoo exhibits. They were so excited. Sonna fell fast asleep on the way home and I brought her inside to sleep on Great Grandma Bredberg's lap. A special treat to spend time with my grandma too!

I love this picture of Sonna and my dad. She's playing with the pen in his pocket.

After the zoo. Smart Grandpa - he put them in a double stroller at the zoo.

This was one of my favorite evenings of the summer so far and I don't think that can be overstated. Petraya hosted a potluck so I could share an evening with my girlfriends. Pictured in the top row are Petraya, baby Mia, Kirsten, Mara the blackberry monster, Sonna, Alecia, and me. On the couch are Payten and Heather, bottom row Morgan, Andi, and Katie. It was so good to be with these dear friends! My mom came to get my girls after an hour and a half so I could enjoy uninterrupted conversation. (:

Sister Sara and Cousin Aasta came to visit us. Oh, how the girls love their baby cousin!

Blowing bubbles with Grandpa Paul. I wish I had a picture of my mom in her garden with the girls. Many mornings I woke up to find Mara in the garden with my mom cutting flowers for bouquets to give to friends and her sister Jan.

We truly have an amazing community in Minnesota. Much of our family is there and many good friends. It was hard for Jedd to get on that plane back to MT after just a short 48 hours in MN, especially after being back at our church for Aasta's baptism and being reminded of our church family there. We are blessed.

Minnesota Road Trip

Packed up and ready for the 22 hour drive to Minnesota! The girls do this trip so well.

Mara, Sophie and Britta and our old church, Grace University Lutheran in Minneapolis, where niece Aasta was baptized June 6th. She delighted in her baptism and splashed in her baptismal water!

Beautiful baby and beautiful Mommy Sara.

Proud Uncle Jedd and our goddaughter, Aasta.

Sharing a summer meal with dear friends Nora, Charlie, Jill and Steve. Jedd was visiting his Dad and then flew back to Montana that night but the girls and I were able to spend another whole two weeks with friends and family. We missed Jedd - there is nothing like having Daddy around - but I was so thankful for all the help we received with the girls from my parents. More pics to come!