Another Special Cousin Visit!

Jedd soaked up every minute with our adorable niece!

She has such a wonderful personality!

Look at precious baby Aasta! The fact that Sonna is touching her in this picture is so fitting. Sonna could not keep her hands off of Aasta. Hopefully the novelty of having Aasta around will play out a little differently when it is Sonna's baby sister. We'll see . . .

I'm betting Sonna graciously passed on her cold to Aasta as a parting gift on Monday. But I hope not. I wish I had a picture of Sara too. Next time, Sara!

Glacier National Park Day Trip with Cousins

It was a gorgeous August Day up on Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. The kids were all in good spirits and ready for an adventure and for whatever reason I wasn't short of breath on this particular day (at 36 weeks pregnant I get short of breath when I walk to the bathroom!). This is the boardwalk trail that leads to Hidden Lake. Although we didn't make it the full 1 1/2 miles up to Hidden Lake, we did hike up a mile and the mile back seemed like a breeze.

This mountain goat family was just about 8 feet in front of the kids! It looked like a mom, dad, and twins. Very exciting!

We stopped for lunch on this big rock.

People could not help themselves commenting on our family. They saw how pregnant I am and the five kids and Mat and assumed we were one family. Penny just turned two, Sonna is 3 years and 3 months, Simon is 4 years and 8 months, Mara is 5 years and 3 months, and Claire is 6 years and 1 month!

I was so impressed with Penny who just turned 2. She walked the whole way and climbed the steps like one of the big kids.

The kids all get along so well. It was such a fun four days together!

Exploring!

Claire and Mara

More cousin pictures to come.

Simon's Pizza/Pajama Birthday Party

Cousins Having Fun!

Claire at 5 1/2, Simon nearly 4, Mara at 4 1/2, Sonna at 2 1/2 and Penny at 1, these cousins get along so well. They love each other and are such good friends. It is so fun to see them together!

Cousins

I have always been so lucky to have wonderful older cousins, and parents who made it a priority to raise us together (meaning we got to spend lots of time with our cousins as kids). So this Thanksgiving felt so special when I got to see Daron and Richard when we were in Seattle spending the holiday weekend with Mat, Stephanie and kids. It was a great Thanksgiving for many reasons: great to be with my brother Mat, get to spend time with Stephanie, see Mara and Sonna love their cousins so much, and see all 13 cousins play together and love each other so well. (Daron has 5 children, Richard has 3, Mat has 3 and our 2 = 13!) The sun was even shining so we enjoyed time at the park (see the parade picture above) as well as sharing a Thanksgiving leftover lunch. I am blessed!