Constant Beginnings

We just wrapped 6 glorious weeks in North Dakota. It was lovely! We had an unusual summer in that we camped out in one location--my Mom and Dad's new house in Bismarck vs. traveling anywhere and everywhere to visit. Chris' family was invited to visit us, but declined. My parents came to Bismarck, stayed awhile, then returned home, repeating a few times over the 6 weeks. It was perfect! Claire played club soccer, practicing 3 days per week and a game or two on the weekends. She loved it, met some nice girls and improved quite a bit. Mya LOVED being surround by her cousins. Luke and Olivia showed her first class treatment, taking her wherever, doing everything to entertain her and lovin on that spunky kid. She had a great summer! Gavin loved the daily treks to the playground, lots of playtime with Jackson, Avery and baby Easton. He thought their playroom had the best toys ever. We spent a lot of time at the playground, swimming, boating at the lake and soaking up as much family...

Gavin spent his 4th month in the United States, meeting all of his cousins, Aunties, Uncles and Grammy & Papa. It was a busy, busy month, but he took it in stride. He traveled from North Dakota, to Minnesota, to Montana, taking in his first baseball game, first boat ride, first night camping, and first trip to the zoo. It was the most amazing month yet!

We have some new blog readers (yay!!!) who are thinking I am crazy (stupid??) posting everything and anything, so I feel the need to clarify the purpose of our blog and the numerous entries. My family, whom I am very close to, lives across the country. We talk each and every day (3 sisters + my Mom/Dad = a lot of minutes), but the phone calls still do not fill the void of not seeing them in person. We've been fortunate to see them every 2 months or so, but because we were roomates or saw each other nearly everyday in years past, phone calls just don't compare. To top it off, we have a baby with whom they want to develop a close relationship. Do you get it?? We're tight. Consequently, this blog is a family journal of sorts that they can look at whenever they want to see what we are up to. Yes, I post some dumb stuff, but everything we do is interesting to them. Even Chris and I love to look back to previous entries and review the events in our lives or the changes in Claire....