"KJ"

A.k.a Auntie Kjersti (pronounced Chair-sti in Swedish or Kearsti in America), Kjer, Kage, Little sis, and Buddy. This is my sister. Isn't she cute? She was born when I was ten and has always been the sibs little buddy. Dave (and actually all our in-laws) have seen her grow up. She is now 18 and in college, the last child at home, and Auntie (we had to finally teach the nieces and nephews that we are all Aunties) to all the Grand kids. Although she gets lonely, not having her siblings there she definitely has no lack of being spoiled!

I love her and am so thankful she is in my life. She keeps me young (I know that sounds dumb, but seriously, she doesn't know Steve Miller Band!!), and we joke around a lot. It was hard to have been away and missed her last couple of years of high school. We had to do a lot of skyping (especially senior prom) and I tried to re-live dance concerts and cheer events through video cameras.

We had the pleasure of having her visit us here in Modesto this week! I guess it says a lot about family relationships when your 18 year old sister would rather spend her first college fall break with you (at 8 months pregnant) and your family than with friends. I LOVE IT!

We hung out at home, rested, played, went to the park, the Oakland Zoo, went shopping (thank you for introducing me to H&M), played, watched our shows, went swimming in the 90 degree weather, went out to eat, and went to the Del Osso Farms! It was a lot of fun. I was thankful for her little body which helped pick up Anna and run around. It is definitely getting harder and more exhausting!

We miss you already and cannot wait for you to come back next month! (Makes goodbyes alot easier), except when you have a two year old ask over and over, "can we go on the airplane with Auntie?" or "why/where did she go?"

I didn't think we took that many photos, as usual I am wrong!

OAKLAND TEMPLE (we stopped by for a quick view on our way to the Zoo). It was GORGEOUS!

OAKLAND ZOO-

Trying to introduce Anna to the art of climbing through, she got a little nervous. I was glad Kjer went in, because I sure wasn't going to! Ha that would have been quite the sight!

(I loved these frogs they were SO Vibrant! too bad the photos turned out blurry!)

Laughing and scared of the funny Lizard.

Again, thank goodness for a playful Auntie!

DEL OSSO FARMS

(Pumpkin patch, train, tractor ride- that almost put me in labor, Corn Maze, and other fall things which I REALLY needed to get me in the fall spirits after 90 degree weather!)

I love how KJ and Dave get along so well. (After all Dave did attend Kjer's baptism with a swollen wisdom teeth mouth and many of her dance concerts growing up!) They have a good relationship which is so awesome. Dave had a "lighter" week this week which was so nice!

Anna begged and begged to go on the train so we did that while Kjer and Dave went to the haunted house. Not that you cannot tell from the photo, she had a GREAT time!

Dave's Artistic eye

Because I am pregnant I was "advised" to not go in the Haunted house. So we were able to get our money back by getting tickets to the scarecrow ride. We sat on bleachers hooked to a tractor and rode around looking at scarecrows made by girl scout troops, elementary schools, etc. It was cute, Anna loved it, but I was scared I was going to go into labor on this bumpy ride! We were lucky to make it back safely!

Anna loved the "Princess Scarecrow" the most, she was laughing so hard!

Being Silly, is what they do best! This was singing a song in a funny voice before getting lost in the corn maze. Anna loved the corn maze, she kept asking, "as we going to be lost forever?" and enjoyed dancing on the "stage" (the bridge in the middle of the maze), and singing following the leader. She cheered when we made it out and told my Dad that "Dave (Tibbs) helped us find our way out."

Resting and watching Mary Poppins, in Jammies and underwear, such a hard life!

CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT TIME! Thanks Kjerst for a lot of fun!!! LOVE YOU!

Little moments

I am trying to capture more of Anna's talents or should I say two year old creative moments. She comes up with the funniest things.

Decorating Daddy.

Getting ready for the park with her "too cool sunglasses" and "brown baby"

Making sure everyone is included in TV time.

Helping me "decorate her room" we still haven't gotten all the walls decorated so it stayed like this, until recently we moved a few of them. I love it. She organized them into families, mostly of color.

This is "the way" (I think that is what she called it)

Coming in from outside chalk art. I left it for days because I thought it was so cute. She will make "hand prints"(actually footprints) outside on the sidewalk, after walking in the wet grass.

She played with my doll ( I cannot remember the name) for days. This is how she organized them one day and gave them "cereal and tomatoes" or was it "pasta and tomatoes?" Wish I would have written it down.

Taking care of her baby (with much fondness) in her pink hat and ballet slippers. Such a girl!

Making book houses. I started this one day and it is now an almost weekly occurrence. If not on this scale she will make little ones for all her toys out of 3-4 books. She got all her babies and some animals to sleep in there and the front door is just under the table.

Helping me make cookies. She is all about lining things up or getting them to all be the same.

She found this "rake" in her sand toys, then later I found this display. She got out squeegee out of the tub. I left it for Dave, he came home and said, "It is so cute how she connects things." It's true I think she is a genius!

While making bead necklaces, she make up her own game with the lid. She called it "number 2."

Organization! Grouping similar things, found this display on the couch.

Bead time. She sat FOREVER doing this necklace.. then playing #2.

Being naked is an art form at our house. Well, not a family one, just an Anna one!

Making any hairdo work!

HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I LOVE THIS GIRL AND THIS AGE?

The Beach

My cousins told us about a great little beach just down from Laguna Beach. We had fun at the playground, doing the beach thing then exploring. It was SOOOO hot that day... the next day was record high heat in LA over 110 degrees! It was a gorgeous and relaxing afternoon! Then we went home and crashed early... Dave and Anna were out by 8:30!

And just for fun... again... ROCK ON!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Dave turns 29 today! I love this man so much (and have for almost 11 years!) He is truly amazing. Lately I have been amazed at his ability to balance: work, family, church calling, sports, downtime, bills, yard work, etc. He rarely complains- even when I know he is exhausted-and is willing to help me out whenever I need it. I learn so much from him and don't know what I would do without him. Happy Birthday Babe! You are simply incredible!

Anna woke us up early, which was a good thing because it got me out of bed to make chocolate chip pancakes and OJ. I think a great way to start a day! Anna said we needed a candle for his pan"cake." Tonight Dave and I will enjoy our first dinner date in a LONG time! I am excited!

PRIOR CELEBRATION...

On Sunday we had old (and new i.e. husbands & kids) friends over for dinner and birthday cake. I wanted something extra good and chocolatey... Yep, found it. I give you (with my food network narration) Devils food cake with fudge frosting and mint chocolate ice cream. Topped with icing made out of junior mints, chocolate chips, and an extra hint of mint flavoring. Oh and white chocolate for a little creative touch. Now the cake wasn't beautiful... I had too many ideas and not enough time, but it was DELICIOUS... and still will be for months!

We couldn't get the candles in the top, it was too frozen and the icing was too hard. Thank goodness Dave's birthday is in October. We got away with making it a little "spooky" or crazy however you what to refer to it.

Anna had a great time helping me and so did the rest of her body and her clothes! Who needs a towel. That would be a waste of good chocolate!

Inside... where the goodness lies...

The camera cannot do it justice and neither can a knife!