A worded account of summer '09

HI everyone who follows our blog!  All...10 of you?  :)  So, it's been a fantastic summer of traveling (again), gardening, and chasing after a beautiful daughter.  We've managed to make some new friends (the LaBarges, fantastic photographers!), and have been spending significant time with them...including their 1 1/2 year old, Devin (who seems so close in age to Mina, I frequently think of him as a 2 year old anyway.)  We had a camping trip with them in their hometown of Wisconsin Rapids, which is a lovely place, by the way!  Previous to this camping excursion, we spent some time in Michigan on the annual Reichle retreat, which was a blast as always, a week at Camp Luther which was the best summer yet-thanks to the superb staff (especially Tom and Jen), and a weekend with MY family at a reunion at the really quite awesome resort called Heartwood (Heather and Dan, it's VERY close to you guys, and you should see it...it's AWESOME!), and a week at Lutheran Island for Aug. Family week, which was more awesome than ever, since Nate came with Mina and I this time!  Good grief, what a busy summer...but FUN!  

SO about Mina....she is now 2 years old!  She is indeed getting big, as you probably already gathered.  She has the long limbs and taller stature of a young girl...emerging from the round, short-limbed, dimply and adorable baby girl of just one year ago.  I can't believe it, just can't.  I still have about a zillion (rough estimation) of baby pictures plastering the walls, and so I have the daily reminder of how much she's changed.  Sigh.  I love it, and I am afraid of it....so many more responsibilities on my end that can shape her whole life at this point!  Potty training, reading, disciplining, scheduling, etc...  AND...next year is preschool!  It's downright shocking!  I still adore my little girl, and we just have so much fun together.  We go on lots of "adventures" (I say:"Mina, want to go on an adventure?"  Mina: head for the door, and wait for mommy!), which usually involve a bike ride/walk somewhere.  Yay, Mina!  She is speaking more and more, and showing understanding of the potty (even though she's not really that interested in using it yet), and her hair!  It's so long, it's nearly down to her bottom by now.  And yet, I still have reservations on cutting it...it's so lovely!  I do cut her bangs, though.

Well, that's a quick update!  How about that?  It's now September, and soon summer will be technically over...it already feels over, except for the heat!  Back to work!  Love you all!