MN Family Time

We mixed in a little MN family time with our annual summer vacation.  First, some serious fishing with Grandpa...

Little lesson in fileting (Piper thought it was thee BEST fish she had ever tasted!)

Some boating, much to Bryndel's dismay that meant wearing a straight, I mean life-jacket.

Driving with Grandpa on over to the lake's restaurant.

That Hadley girl can eat!













And then we had the pleasure of being at Jeremiah's 6th birthday party!!

The girls had a blast playing outside with their cousins! While Bryndel snuggled up with Grandma & Opa.

As well as Oma,

and Great-Grandma Joan,

and Great-Grandpa Jerry. What a lucky little baby girl!







We also had the pleasure of touring Nathan & Heidi's new home just 4 days before their move-in date!  The kids loved rolling around on the brand new carpet!

Love that Auntie Heidi.

We finished out with a little time at the park for those cousin buddies.  Bryndel & Cylas are officially 11 & 10 months now! 

11 Months

My mom is unsure whether she's going to cry or throw a party one month from today, so I figured I'd take it from here.  Give her a little break from blogging, and save you all that emotional stuff, ha!

Its obvious my mom is a little wacky about taking pictures of us, but did you know that the only reason she ever gets a smile from me on camera is because I have these two amazingly crazy and funny big sisters? (They are jumping up & down behind my mom like monkeys!)

Hadley especially likes to play with me this summer, and even lets me touch her American Girl Doll (I love how the eyes open & close).  But when no one is looking, Piper talks to me in the sweetest and softest voice of anyone.  Just don't even think about touching A.N.Y. of her things. Apparently she doesn't like my 'slime?'

I love pulling up to stand now, doesn't matter how tall it is either!  Mom said something about, "CLOSE the toliets?" 

Oh, excuse me while I try out this wood.  Not bad, and definitely better than cauliflower (that'll make you shudder every time!).  My mom is still trying to feed me pureed food, and it makes me SO mad.  I can feed myself just fine, Mom, I have 8 teeth you know.  

I still think Dad is the coolest!  In fact, I love him so much, his is the only name I say.  It makes my whole family cheer when I call him 'Da da', and makes my dad smile really big.

Does anyone know the secret to climbing stairs?  I really really want to learn!  And what about that blanket sleeper thing that Mom makes me sleep in? It is making it SO hard to stand up and chew on the wood in my crib! Its summer, Mom, I should have naked baby arms and legs and, man, does that wood look tasty!


Bye for now!  We'll talk again next month, when Mom really is yuckin' it up or crying, or both.  

Much love, Bryndel 

the littlest, and loudest, and wiggliest, and 
 the only brown eyed Anderson sister

Pool Time

We figured the little plastic pool would help cool us off during this 90 degree week... but the sun turned it into a serious hot tub!  The girls thought it was really funny, and it was warm enough that even Bryndel decided it wasn't so bad.

Hadley got out her goggles and practiced 'diving' under the water with her head.

Piper lounged in the pool and got brave enough to dip her ears in, hehe.

And Bryndel eventually started splashing around like it was bathtime.  Can you tell she has a smidge of Kyle's strawberry hair?!

Black Caps

Its black cap raspberry picking time out at the Land!  They were such good pickers, despite the tremendous heat & bugs early this morning. YUM!

I think they sampled quite a few as they picked :)

And came home pretty messy to prove it!

Here's what Bryndel thought...

And I found the picture of Piper enjoying her first black caps during the summer of 2009.  We actually took her picking that year, and she would grunt from her stroller every 20 seconds for another berry!

 
 

Family Reunion Weekend

This past weekend it was a special family reunion that brought us back up North to spend time with Kyle's extended family in from AK, CO, MI, NM, and WA!  The girls had a blast meeting great aunts & uncles, and staying up late playing with all of their cousins.  The weekend began with a true Alaskan dinner, thanks to Kim's hosting and Kurt & Anne's halibut and salmon.  It was followed by a late night bonfire at Kara & Frank's home.  

I am not sure who had more fun catching fireflies that night, the 'big' cousins or the little ones?  {Tyler & Paige with the girls}

The following morning we caught a hilarious patriotic parade alongside Anne's family's lake cabin. {Kara, Kyle, Hadley, Brooke, Bryndel, Anne, Piper, & Sydney}

Shortly after the parade ended a nice rain rolled in, which kept us under the shelter for most of the afternoon.  Most of the 'big' cousins swam anyway, ha!  {Ava, Kara, Had, Anne, & Pipe}

When the rain did let up, the girls were quick to jump in the lake and swim with Ava.

And they somehow got brave enough to try tubing, and LOVED it!  Special thanks to Anne's family for having us, as well as Uncle Kurt for keeping Hadley safe on her tube.  

Bryndel was well loved by cousins both 'big' and small. {Sydney & Kennedy}

  

I hope this picture makes Ava laugh if she sees it, because Bryndel looked right up at her and burped.

And while she loved all of her big cousins, all 9 of them (plus Brent's lovely wife, Cali), she really only had eyes for Uncle Kurt!  She adored him, and I think the feeling was mutual. 











What a wonderful, wonderful family weekend. Here are Jim & Carolyn with all 12 of their grandchildren ~ Cole 17, Hayden 15, Tyler 19, Paige 22, Brooke 18, Cali & Brent 22, Sydney 13, Kennedy 13, Hadley 6, Piper 4, Bryndel 10 mos, and Ava 7.  God is good.

4th of July 2013

Happy 4th of July!

In the morning, we took Bryndel to Irvine Park & Zoo for the first time, and she was thrilled to see the animals!  For some reason, the pigs (of all animals!) got her most excited - note the picture below.

Hadley & Piper skipped happily throughout the park checking up on all of the animals.

They spent the afternoon out at the Land with Kyle, checking up on those all important food plots :).

And we concluded our day with a picnic down at a patriotic 'Music in the Park'.  We are blessed to live in this country!