Emma's 3 Year Pictures

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Playtime

Callie checking out her big sisters' toys.

Playing with cousin Lily.

Playing with Barney.

First Day of Preschool

A Weekend Trip

At the beginning of August we traveled to Minneapolis to take Callie to her first Twins game. Aunt Tammy met up with us so to hang out with Lauren and Emma during the game. We also visited the Mall of America.

This was the "Fly Boat" ride (from Wonderpets). Emma's smile was quickly replaced with a look of terror when the ride went up in the air and jerked up and down. It was awful to watch her clutching the safety bar and feeling completely helpless. After the ride, she just told us, "That ride made me a little nervous."

Lauren and Emma both went to Twins games before they turned one. We decided Callie should follow the tradition. We could have waited until next spring, but decided that with an outdoor stadium, we didn't want to chance the weather.

Camping 2011

We enjoyed a hot, but fun weekend camping at Randall Creek with some friends from church. It was Callie's first camping trip (a fun way to celebrate turning 2 months old!), and our only one for the summer. Of the 5 families that went, we had a total of 14 kids. Nine were boys, so our girls were fairly outnumbered. Thankfully they had tons of fun with the 2 other girls that were there.

The girls watched a movie for a while to cool off.

Emma riding around on "Callie's bike." Emma has a new bike, but wanted to take her old trike (which she has kindly given to Callie) with us.

We didn't spend much time at the playground, but Emma was able to put on a short show from the top of the play set (Emma always announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls..." before singing and dancing.)

Sleeping in on Sunday morning.

Lauren found a "waterfall" to play under (the condensation from the air-conditioner).

Randall Creek is right on the Missouri River, and sits below the dam. Because of the strong current from the dam, we weren't able to get in the water. It would have been perfect weather to enjoy swimming, but we made do. Sadly, we did not get to go on a dam tour and we did not take any dam pictures.

Catching Up

We've been off the blog for a while, so here are some pictures from the last few weeks. They're posted backwards, starting with the most recent.

We got to help Grandma Peggy celebrate her birthday a little early. Brandon, Kim, Taylor & Kara came over to celebrate too.

The girls enjoyed the slip-and-slide and the little pool.

Lauren said she is "nursing Callie." She was Nurse Rapunzel and Callie was a cooperative patient.

Lauren and Emma turned their sandbox into a swimming pool.

Acting out "Jack and Jill"

Proof that it is nearly impossible to get 3 little girls to smile and

look at the camera at the same time.

One of the few times Callie has enjoyed her swing.

A blurry first picture of Callie's smile.

Lauren and Emma pretending it was winter time on a ninety-degree day.

Callie's first time swimming (our awesome neighbors share their pool with us quite often).

She seemed to like it!

Lauren and Emma enjoyed an afternoon at Lake Byron with Daddy and Grandma Peggy.

Jared took Lauren to the rodeo. Emma and Callie jumped in the picture before they left.

Callie's First Two Weeks...

Our first two weeks as a family of five have flown by! Callie is doing great, and Lauren & Emma are wonderful big sisters.

First day home from the hospital.

Lauren & Emma hold Callie every chance they get.

Callie was a little jaundice, so she spent some time soaking up the sun.


First sponge bath at home...with lots of supervision!

Meeting cousin Lily.

Lily found her big cousin Emma much more interesting (and color coordinated!).

Jared built a campfire for us to enjoy by the house. The camper was popped up for the girls to pretend camp in.

Aunt Tammy keeping Callie warm and protected from the bugs.

Photos with Aunt Tammy after Callie's first church service.

The first real bath when Callie's "stick" fell off. (Emma called Callie's umbilical cord her stick.)

Daddy and his girls after the bath.

Josiah came to meet his new cousin. He wasn't too interested in Callie, but enjoyed wrestling with his bigger cousins.

Grandpa and Grandma with all 5 of their grandkids.

Aunt Robin with Josiah and the Hofer cousins.

Lauren all ready for crazy hair night at VBS.

Emma doesn't get to go to VBS yet, but she found a way to express herself before she left with Mommy and Callie for Wal-mart.

Our friend, Lori, stopped by to take a few pictures of Callie. She did a great job!