Mikayla's Birthday

We had Mikayla's birthday party this weekend. Her birthday isn't until next weekend but Nate has his high school reunion on her actual birthday (August 3).  I can't believe she is entering the double digits! My big 10 year old.  She is growing more beautiful each day and I am so very proud of her! She wanted her birthday party at the bowling alley like Elyana had.  We all had a good time as you can see.

Sophia's Birthday Party

Sophia had her birthday party at a bounce house in Appleton. For me, Sophia's birthday party was a bittersweet day. It was so sweet to see Sophia's have such a blast yet I terribly missed my sister that day. Before I came back to Minnesota, I stopped by her grave with my mom.  Some days it still doesn't seem real...

This was a neat inflatable chair they had for Sophia to sit in.

Mikayla kept slipping at the end of the slides.

Here is a good picture of the wreath I made for her grave.  I'd love to know if the solar cross on it works.

Connie's Wedding

This is very belated.  A week before we left for Florida, Nate's sister, Connie got married. The girls now have an Uncle Jack! The wedding was at her home that overlooks the Wisconsin River.

Miscellaneous Photos from our Florida trip!

My happy niece, Sophia!

Another break time!

We were thankful for this plug in charger.

We saw these weird ducks around our condo. They looked like ducks and turkeys.

We are still missing this incredible bathtub!

The view from our balcony from our condo.

Photos from the coolest rest stop ever in Iowa!

Sleepover Time! Sophia slept over and read Elyana a bedtime story.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom was the last park that we went to. Brian and Sophia did not join us at this park. It was neat.  Our girls really enjoyed the petting zoo and just watching some of the animals.

The girls and I went to this neat 3D show about bugs.  They had a mist spray you from the seat in front of you when a bug sneezed.  They had a stink bug spray you and there was fog inside. At one point the seat under you moved as if there were bugs crawling.

Look how scared we were on the Dinosaur ride!

They had this huge carved tree in the middle of the park.

The girls look sweaty here, but we actually got completely soaked on a white water rapid ride.

There were tons of exotic looking birds everywhere.

We got to watch workers train a hippo.  It was neat seeing it swim.

We loved watching this gorilla family rest.

Petting zoo fun!

We went on a super cool safari ride.