Soccer star!

Mira started taking soccer last week. Her team is the Wizards and they wear purple t-shirts. Mira is number 12. (Chris was disappointed she isn't #16, which was his number through high school. I don't remember my number!)

Right now she'll be having two practices a week, and then the Saturday games begin until mid-October. She's really loving it! Her favorite part is being in the back defense position (so far!). She likes it because you get to protect the ball and keep it away from the goalie. "Defense is fun," Mira says!
Amelia posed for the camera too! She's wearing the dress Great Aunt Debbie gave her for her birthday.
We'll post more photos after her first game on Sept. 11.

Introducing 4 Seasons Book Design!

I've been freelancing for two years now with a couple of book publishers in the Twin Cities. Lately, I've been thinking more and more of making it official and starting an actual business (although a side business) and getting the word out there to other publishers that I'm ready to work for them!

Introducing 4 Seasons Book Design! I'm super excited about this endeavor! If you have a chance, go to my website and look around. Or, better yet, if you have a book you've secretly written, call me up. (Spread the word too!)

http://4seasonsbookdesign.wordpress.com

Love, Michelle

Braid, ponytail, braid

Mira has taken a great interest in how her hair looks lately, coming up with some new "designs" she wants me to try on her. Her latest and greatest she likes to call "Braid, ponytail, braid." See, how pretty?
We went out to Chris's dad's house on the lake last weekend for a couple hours. The girls got a nice ride on the pontoon and posed for a few photos.

My little model posing for a swimsuit ad:

Amelia LOVES to drive the pontoon:

And while we've been back-to-school shopping for Mira, Amelia also snagged a new skirt. She loves to wear skirts and shrieked with joy when I brought home this blue tie-dye number!
We've been enjoying a bit of family time lately, with a family wedding AND a family reunion this coming weekend. Mira just finished another round of swimming lessons, which she absolutely loves. She'll start soccer in September and it looking forward to that.

Pas de bourrée and Arabesque galore!

Amelia had her last ballet class last night. Her class did a short routine for the parents and played a few games. We got to see what they have learned so far. Amelia seemed so proud! She was probably the one who paid the least amount of attention, but she still learned quite a bit. Here are a few photos from last night:

The routine:
Cute as a button:
Final bow:
The whole class:
Amelia had a fun time with ballet. We'll see if she wants to join again next year or try something else.

Bunk beds!

Chris and I bought Mira and Amelia bunk beds last weekend. Last week we found the time and energy to put together Amelia's full bed for the bottom. And tonight we finished up by assembling Mira's twin bed for the top. They are very happy with their new beds. And their room looks much bigger than with the two separate beds they used to have.

Buffalo Bill Days!

Greetings! I know I haven't posted in a month, but there hasn't been anything really exciting happening worth posting about. We've been spending quite a lot of time at the club, both exercising (I joined a 90-day Challenge at Lifetime!) and at the pool. Every week has been much of the same. Mira has swimming lessons every Saturday, and Amelia takes ballet on Wednesday nights. Look for a post on her last ballet class this week!

This past weekend we did get out of the big city to stay in Lanesboro for Buffalo Bill Days. My siblings, their families, and mine all congregate at Mom and Dad's house for the weekend. It's so fun and relaxing and the cousins can get to know each other better. We have lots of bean bag toss games, make s'mores at night, head to town for some of the festivities, watch the fireworks just across the street from Mom and Dad's house in this great open space in the country, and go to the parade on Sunday. We are tuckered tonight!

Dad and Sara taking on Jeff and Duey in the bean bag toss:
We celebrated Abby's birthday:
Sweet cousins:
Mira and Amelia enjoyed a dip in the pool:
Mom and Kelly at home:
Amelia showing her patriotic side at the parade:
Mira and Amelia at the parade:
Mira and Logan:
The kids got more candy than they know what to do with! It's a great yearly tradition we look forward to.

Fun family time

My sweet sister Kelly and her two kids visited us this weekend. We had such a wonderful time and Mira and Amelia got to know Chesney and Logan a little better. Now that they are back from Australia, we are making up for lost time!

We spent Saturday afternoon at the swimming pool. The kids had a great time! Mira tried the rope swing for the first time. And Kelly and I went down the water slide!

That evening, Chris graciously agreed to watch all four kids while Kelly and I met two college friends for dinner. What a great evening out we had!

Sunday was a movie day, then Logan came with to Mira's birthday party with her classmates. (Chesney wasn't feeling well.) Seventeen 6-year-olds and me! It was loud and busy. But Mira had a great time. It was fun to see her interacting with her classmates. Here is Mira and Logan at the party place.
And Mira with her "boyfriend" Isaac:
Mira received so many cool presents. One of them was a Barbie doll with a hair straightener that put pink streaks in hair. She tried it out on Amelia this morning.

One satisfied customer. Pretty!
The sweet kids just before it was time to go.
So much fun packed into a short weekend! We'll have to do it again soon!

Little Miss Sleepy Pants

And, Amelia the day after:
This kid never naps anymore.

And . . . three hours later:
Mira and I took advantage of Amelia's nap and skipped off to the pool for a couple hours. It was fun to have alone time with her and watch her swim. She's gotten really, really good this spring!

Sleep tight, sweetie pie! We have a big day tomorrow.

Happy 4th of July!

A little weatherman told us that it was supposed to rain today, so Randy and Terrie had their annual 4th of July party on Saturday this year. And what a beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful day it was! (And I'm so glad it was yesterday for it's pouring out as I write this post on Sunday morning.)

Our happy hosts!
Amelia enjoyed some quiet time on a raft:
Loving the water on a hot day:
Amelia let Chris take her out on the jet ski . . . and then promptly told him to bring her back in! She's not too adventurous.
Mira was high-flying from Uncle Matt:
Mira and her cousins rode on the Seadoo behind the pontoon:
Jumping off the dock using the springboard:
Just enjoying the view. I love this suit of Amelia's. It reminds me of the bloomers they used to wear in the 1930s.
Amelia and grandpa Randy on the hammock:
Amelia on her third dessert!
Mira's first taste of a sparkler. She was a little unsure of it, like I was when I was a kid.
Amelia tried a sparkler too!
All in all, the weather was beautiful and it was a spectacular fireworks show at the end of the evening. Thirteen boats were docked in our bay to watch our show, put on by Chris's cousin Travis and his friend and a couple other houses. It was the best fireworks show the lake has seen yet!

Many thanks to Randy and Terrie for another wonderful summer holiday. It was great fun!