"Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest hight..."

April was WINDY in Minnesota! While the wind is not loved by many outdoor activities, it is particularly well-suited for one- kite flying! Especially when one very wonderful Grandpa David sent us 2 magnificent kites. We have a huge field next to our house, perfect for activities such as kit flying. The box kite was a bit more tricky, but we were able to get one of the kites high enough that it crash landed half a block away.

WAY up high!Bjorn attempts to work some magic.
Lily and Gia flying together.
Elliot put in a lot of effort with this one.

Lily has truly become her own person lately in her sense of style. She went through several weeks when all she wanted to wear was her rubber boots. "Mama, where are my rubber boots?" "Can I wear my rubber boots please?" Easy to put on and highly fashionable, they make quite the statement.

We finally busted out the fire pit that we got 4 years ago for our wedding. Here is Lily roasting her first marshmallow. S'more? How can I have s'more if I haven't had any yet?
At the beginning of May I was able to road trip to Door County with 5 of my college roomies to cheer on Margie and Tavia as they ran in the 1/2 marathon. It was a great excuse to be together and we had a fabulous time!

The amazing athletes!

The only picture I have from the weekend with most of us.

Lily has been taking swimming lessons during the month of May with her dear friend Melina. They are quite the pair and have made any apprehension for swimming lessons disappear for each other.

The cutest girls at the pool!

They have the coolest platform for the girls to stand on and hold onto as they kick.

With the warm weather the apple blossoms bloomed a bit early this year, but still looked fabulous.

Last weekend the rain finally let up, the cold went away, and we were able to head to Bachman's to buy our annuals. Lily thought it was wonderful there, especially when I showed her the lily section. She would read the labels and exclaim "Mom, these are my flowers!!"

She hid out here for quite awhile. Her own secret garden.

Last Saturday we had a bonfire, what a beautiful night! It was warm enough, with no bugs. Lily and Anna ran around the dark yard chasing their shadows and enjoying the chance to stay up late.

Erin, Julia & Elliot stopped by and we decided that we'll have to do a lot more bonfiring this summer.

What is a good limit when it comes to marshmallows?

Dressed as her favorite garden fairy, Lily really got into the spirit of watering the flowers. Hopefully we can train her to do the lawn too by the end of the summer.

I was wondering where she got her mad gardening skilz, but needed to look no further.

Like father like daughter.

These two really know how to light up my life. We're so exited to share another great summer together, and to welcome our new little flower this fall. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Sliding into summer with a smile!

"What a day for a daydream..."

They say that March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb. This phrase must have been created in Minnesota. At the start of the month we had this much snow left in the circle:Mom celebrated her 58th birthday at the beginning of March, and I let Lily decorate the cake for her. She decided Grama would want Belle on her cake this year.

Grama was also nice enough to let Lily help blow out the candles. Lily is ALL about birthdays this year. In her mind, May 23rd can't come soon enough.

Can't take her eyes off that yummy cake!

On one of the first "warm enough" days, we decided to trek over to one of the parks near our house. Lily was excited for the opportunity to wear her rubber boots.

She's not easy to keep up with!

We arrived to find the park under water. I guess Fargo isn't the only victim of flooding in the spring.

Fortunately we've got several parks within a few blocks of our house, so we just headed for higher ground. The season's 1st swing found Lily on a BIG girl swing! She sure is growing up fast!

Anytime is a great time to dance! Anytime is also a great time to dress up in a tutu!

Right after Lily wakes up is one of my favorite times. She is always so snugly in her jammies. We got to spend a whole week of fun mornings during my spring break.

One day during spring break we hit up the Children's Museum with Anna, Alli, Sam and Mara. It was fabulous to go during the week, and we even visited an old-fashioned candy store and enjoyed a little lunch together in St. Paul.

Jumping through the shapes and exploring the little river.

Anna and Lily chillin' in the tree trunk.

The highlight of spring break this year was our "staycation" at the Water Park of America. We booked a night in one of the suites and had the family over for pizza, NCAA basketball and hanging out time together.

Everybody maxin' and relaxin'.

Beth is starting to show her twins bump! Lily is so excited to meet her new cousins!

Lily had a BLAST at the water park! She especially loved the wave pool, riding the tubes and all the great slides. We even brought her on the BIG group slide. We didn't realize how intense it was, and at the bottom Lily announced "I don't have to go on that slide!".

The kids area was spectacular, with lots of little slides and spouts for her to play on.

Lily must have went down that slide 100 times.

We may not have went to the beach, but water fun was had by all.

Erin joined us the next day for some water time too. Lily had a blast playing with her auntie.

They rode the slides, floated and frolicked around all morning.

Flying like Tinkerbell!

Lily has become a big fan of the "Little Critter" book series recently. There is an Easter book in which Little Critter wakes up Easter morning to find his basket, then heads to church for an Easter egg hunt and picnic. Since reading it, Lily told us daily how she wanted to go to church and have an egg hunt. While at a new neighborhood church we've been attending they announced a "bunny brunch with egg hunt." We knew we'd found our new church home. : )

Our neighbors and Lily's best friend Anna also attend there, so it has been a lot of fun to see her there for fun, as well as singing and dancing in the service. If we can just get Lily to stop trying to shout out to Anna while she is up front...

Lily showing me her blue tongue from her blue sucker.

Easter morning Lily woke up to find her basket filled with treats from the Easter bunny (though she told me the night before he didn't have to come). Bjorn bought her 3 chocolate bunnies, which I didn't understand until I came home to find him munching one after work.

After Easter brunch we headed back to Grama and Papa's house for a warm afternoon of playing around.

Lily LOVES the fact that it is nice enough to be outside all the time.

Showing off her Easter dress.

Hoppy Easter!

Always up for community events, we headed to the Apple Valley home and garden show last weekend. There were tons of booths with all sorts of home improvement ideas. A firetruck was out front, as well as Lily's FAVORITE thing, a bouncy. Lily has adamantly requested one for her birthday this year.

Erin's birthday is another highlight in April! We went out while Grama and Papa watched Lily and celebrated Erin, as well as our 4th anniversary.

The boys and Erin & Erin and the sisters.

It was a beautiful day at Papa & Grama's to celebrate Erin as well. We spent the entire day outside.

Lily wanted to trade Grama for her big cone.

Birthday kisses from the birthday girl!

(Lily excitedly knows "My birthday is next!")

The snow was completely gone from the circle by the end of March and April is shaping up to be another fabulous month. Summer is just around the corner!

Ball around, spring is in the air!