Jenny finally gets her house!

I'm loving summer in Minnesota! I forgot how cool Menards is. We scored this little kid's patio set for only $22! I'm still in shock from coming off of Alaska prices. However we do miss our friends in Alaska very much and after taking the girls for their vaccinations and going to church this week, I really miss my little Catholic Church in Alaska and our Public Health Nurses. Our nurse in Alaska, always checked out the kids herself to test their milestones by asking them to pick up a ball, or stack the blocks etc, rather than simply waiting for the parents to fill out paperwork, simply taking a very biased parent's word for it. All those Sunday masses in Alaska, at a Catholic Church and my ultra liberal moral code, produced not one day of feeling alienated or angry about something Father Jack said. I always left feeling a sense of community and felt like I wanted to go again each week because I got something out of it, not because of guilt. As usual, the very first time I go here they bash in vitro fertilization and stem cell research instilling nothing but a feeling that not all are welcome. On the up side, it was not the church in the town I live in, so I hope that one is better.

The girls completely sacked out after another busy day of playing with cousins.

Amber and Christa enjoying the summer day.

Bell and her "cousin" Addy take a short break from the swimming pool to have a snack.

My cousin Jolene and her family come to MN for a visit. We had fun getting our kids together again.

We closed on our house in late July, and got right to work painting nearly every room. Scott's mom and Dave helped us immensely with painting, power washing, plant pruning, cupboard washing, carpet shampooing, and perhaps most importantly, entertaining the kids!

The kids try out their new picnic table during a break from painting.

With the paint nearly dry, Jenny can't wait to replace the light covers for that finished look.

Isabel is in full imitation mode at 22 months. It was all we could do to keep that brush out of the paint. Poor kid just wants to help.

Is that Karen slacking? Of course not, she is doing the dreaded lower trim work trying to preserve the molding.

Jeffy becomes a Dad!

Jeff and BethAnn welcome their daughter Elaina into the world on July 23rd 2010!

Mom becomes grandma for the 3rd time.

Bell learning to swim, loving summer.

Brianna looking cute in her summer garb.

Being a sister can be tough but it has its happy moments for Isabel too.

Ahhh smooch!

Aunt Mary introduces Isabel to "blanket rides".

Summer fun in MN

We stopped off at Mille Lacs Lake en route to Elephant Lake for the 4th of July weekend. Elephant is way up north in Minnesota, close to Canada.

Scotty with his two girls by Mille Lacs.

Elephant Lake on Uncle Jonny's boat.

Isabel's first lake swim. Cousin Scott helps out.

Fearless little lake lover.

Jen's first "keeper" walleye of the year.

Scotty has a bit of luck in the evening.

Beautiful sunset on Elephant. The two times before this Brianna and Isabel experienced heavy rain on the boat! This was a welcome change.

Brianna, growing up already.

Brianna and mommy snuggling.

Point Lake at Grandma Karen's. The lake is low, which works out well for newly swimming toddlers!

The sunfish nip at Isabel's toes.

Scotty and Brianna on the dock at Point Lake in Wisconsin.

Bell feeding the sunfish.

Mommy chilling with her girls.

Auntie BethAnn and Uncle Jeffy getting a little parenting practice before their girl enters the world. Very soon!

Brianna getting comfy on Auntie BethAnn.

Oops out of sequence!

This blog entry should actually come before the last one! These are photos of our last couple weeks in Alaska. Grandma Karen came to help with the girls for a couple weeks, and Uncle Jeffy came to fly back with Jen and the kids while Grandpa Steve flew in to help Scotty drive to Minnesota.
Grandma had a lot of fun with the girls and they had fun too.

Sometimes watching the girls can be tiring work!

Doesn't Bell look like Uncle Jonny here?

Isabel enjoyed one last visit to the playground with her first friend Jake who she misses already.

Uncle Jeffy comes to help. The movers accidentally packed up Jeff's fleece with his camera in the pocket. Jeff in typical laid back upbeat Jeffy fashion didn't complain a bit, saying "oh well, I have another camera." He'll get it back in a month or so we hope!

The little great horned owl baby that we were waiting for since March. We kept an eye on the parents' nesting and Bell had a lot of fun with it.

Another photo taken at Auntie Christa's house. Don't they look gorgeous?

Back in Minnesota!

The girls adjust to the transient life as we move and then search for a house. They are adapting well........

.......most of the time!

After a long flight for mom and the girls, and a longer drive for dad, the family is back home in Minnesota. The girls are enjoying getting re-acquainted with family and friends. Cuddling with grandma.

Brianna with her cousin Mikkena.

The girls hanging out at uncle Jeffy's new house, celebrating the upcoming arrival of their baby cousin.

Uncle Jonny and Auntie Christa are always fabulous hosts. We spent our first week at their house.

Bell showing off her Mardi Gras bling to uncle Jeffy.