First day of Sunday school 9/14/2008

Beth preparing for her first day of Sunday school at Hosanna Lutheran Church.

Beth watching ladybugs

Beth had fun hanging with pappa while mamma worked....especially when she spotted this ladybug on the window.

Beth's 3rd birthday party

Beth turned 3 this year..she is growing bigger daily and really amazes her parents at times ( OK most of the time). On Sunday Aug 24th Beth had her family and friends over to celebrate. She had picked an Ariel them as she is very much into princesses at the moment. The hat didn't stay on for much of the party but she kept the dress on and the balloons are amazingly still inflated a week later.
Everyone seemed to have fun playing in the backyard with inflatable jump house that her friend Jackson lent for the occasion. The cake was a hit, Beth choose a strawberry filled white cake, and the princess fell into an exhausted heap that night.

Goodbye my friend

Beth's best friend Alex and her family are moving to the Caribbean this fall so that Alex's father can go to medical school. Beth will miss Alex terribly but the girls had fun at the going away party Heather's parent threw for them up in Apple Valley. The party dresses were a hit as were the balloons.

Beth will see Alex again a couple times before she moves and then again in Dec. when they are back in MN for winter/Christmas break.

Beth's first wedding dance

On Aug 9, 2008 Beth attended her aunt Dawn's wedding in Waterloo, IA. This weekend was full of firsts; first car trip longer than 90 minutes, first night sleeping in a hotel alone with only mommy (daddy stayed home to work around the house), and her first wedding/reception and dance. Beth was a great trooper as she didn't sleep much that day and was around a bunch of people she didn't know/remember. As you can see not much of that bothered her and she had a blast dancing, especially with the bride and her grandma "Hogskins".

Como Zoo

Beth and her friend Alex, along with their parents enjoyed a wonderful day at the Como Zoo. There was a picnic to start off the day then the girls enjoyed a wagon ride around the zoo occasionally getting out and running off to see the animals. The especially liked the treats Heather packed to eat in the wagon and both fell fast asleep on the ride back to Mankato.

http://picasaweb.google.com/n.becky/ComoZoo#

pigtalied sidewalk chalk

Beth greatly enjoys hours of fun with her sidewalk chalk and on this day decided to give a try and chalking her hands and face as well.........she had fun but the bathtub still shows scars of that battle :)

Relay for Life

On July 18th we spent the evening at Ray Erlson Park enjoying a picnic, playing on the slides and walking around looking at the luminaries giving tribute to and remembrance of those afflicted with cancer. Beth enjoyed the variety of luminary bags especially those brightly decorated as well as all the kid friendly activities available that night. She really enjoyed the bag with her grandma's name on it and wanted to take it home!

Jackson's 3rd b-day

Beth's friend Jackson celebrated his 3rd birthday on July 13,2008. The kids had a great time playing in the pool and "jumper" as well as chowing down on pizza and birthday cake. After gifts were opened there was more time to play outside before heading home.

Alex and Beth in the park

Beth and her friend Alex had a blast playing at the park behind her house. They swang, went down the slides and enjoyed filling up the buckets with mulch to make various projects. After a tough day of playing we all enjoyed a relaxing dinner on the deck.

4th of July at Grandma and Grandpa's

Beth had a great time playing at the park with uncle Tony, Christine, Yorie, grandma, grandpa and mom and dad on the 4th of July. As you can see Yorie didn't mind the attention once he was safely within eye sight of "mom" (Christine). Beth was so tired after playing hard in Rochester that she was fast asleep once the fireworks began back home and slept right through them....maybe next year!!

Beth and the billy goat

Last weekend we went to the Sibley Park Children's Zoo, unfortunately it's still under construction but they had peacocks and billy goats which Beth very much enjoyed looking at. They have some new playground equipment too but it was busy with other kids so we are planning on returning later this summer. Hopefully they'll have more animals then too!!

My first sparkler

Last week Beth got to enjoy her first sparkler with mom and dad. Here she is sitting on dad's lap and watching....she lost interested after about the 2nd one and went about coloring the sidewalk with her sidewalk chalk but hey! what can you say, she's two!!!!

Hanging with friends

After enjoying the day at the summer solstice event Beth and her friends Ava, Olivia and Alex (and their parents) enjoyed grilling out, playing and just being together.

Solitice event at Land of Memories 2008

We went to the summer solstice event and Land of Memorie park a few weeks back with the Hahn family. It was a beautiful weekend and the girls had a blast playing with the all the "old time" games on hand, not to mention eating all the junk. Here Beth and Ava and Olivia try their hand (feet) at an old time ski game.

Loon Lake Triathlon 6/14/2008

Jim, Dawn Thomas and I completed our first ever triathlon on Sat June 14, 2008. We each competed individually and survived! Jim and I are planning on definitely doing it again next year and are hoping to beat our times from this year.

Dora gear!

Beth got her first bike helmet and pads at the same time that mom and dad were preparing for their first triathlon. Isn't she cute??? Now if only she had a bike!!

Beth and baby Anna

After enjoying a wonderful dinner and playing boce ball with Anna and her parents, Paul and Mandy Kapsner, Beth enjoyed helping "auntie" Mandy bathe baby Anna and then held her alone ( for the first time!!) before both girls got ready for bed.

Beth got to enjoy her first "big girl" corn on the cob without mommy cutting it off the ear the other day. As you can see, she very much enjoyed it and is looking forward to more throughout the summer.

Bonfire with Alex and family

Beth had her first bonfire with her friend Alex and Alex's family....as you can see the girls were more interested in the wheeled toys than the actual bonfire. They did however greatly enjoy the marshmallows roasted over the fire!!

Dora and Diego

After papa (Jim) ran in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, we (grandma, grandpa, mommy, papa, uncle Tony, Christine and Beth) went to the Mall of America and Beth got to meet Dora and Diego. After taking some pictures Beth then played in Lego Land for some time and then we all ate lunch before heading home.

Look at me!!

Over Mother's Day weekend we spent the night up in the cities with grandma and grandpa. Beth spent most of Saturday night swimming in the pool with mom, dad, grandma, uncle Tony and Christine.

The pool was a very warm mineral salt pool and Beth enjoyed being able to swim for over an hour without turning into a little blue fish!

As you can see there was a lot of playing, jumping in the pool from the edge and Beth's favorite..."toss the baby".

Beth and Alex

Alex and her family came over for dinner the other night and Keith (Alex's dad) made Asian lettuce wraps that were really good. The girls played together well while the adults enjoyed conversation and a couple (OK 3) bottles of great wine.

Beth and Alex were sharing their food and kisses along with toys and hugs and colors and books, which they tried to read to each other.