Famously Hot.

It's hot here!!! I'm so happy. It was too cold, too fast a few weeks ago so this week of warm has been just lovely. I feel like it'll be easier to get through winter if it waits to come. Common sense yo. Not too many times we North Dakotans will beat Famously Hot's weather but we did today. (I'll mention it hit records so it's a fluke but we won't dwell there).

This kid. Treasure. Hard-to-parent treasure, but a treasure. 

I need to see beauty sometimes, to awake my soul to the greater Beauty. Glad for date night with this view for a bit tonight: 

I enjoyed connecting with my husband sans kids (thank you grandma and grandpa!). Sigh. It's been a crazy year. 

A week. Then our little missy will be ONE YEAR old, on her way out of baby status. Gah! So excited to celebrate her. I started taking video of her shaking her head "no", it's so cute. And took great pics with my camera of her lately too. Love taking effort in capturing her. 

-Heather

Ava Bava.

We hope you have a blast on your fourth birthday sweet niece/cousin of ours! We love you Ava Maelee Linn!

-Auntie Heather

Yellow Tree.

Us four at Applefest! Thanks, Grandpa, for taking a few photos. Here's the only one with all of us looking at the camera with eyes open! 

Fall, please stay for three more months.

-Heather

Two.

I am grateful for my two living kiddos, that they have each other. They are fairly close in age though gender will probably not make them insanely close (brothers and sisters are rarely as close as sisters and sisters or bros and bros, if I had to assume). But I hope they will love each other hard and be one of each other's biggest fans. May she help him to dress for a date and may he always give the nod to her boyfriend choices. And for now may he teach her the how to's and may she teach him patience!

-Their Mom

Beans.

-Heather

Scotty's.

It's cold. Cool. I'm sure this weather will feel great next spring but after days of hot, 48 degrees is cold.

This morning both kiddos had shots at the doctor. Ouch. 

So spontaneous lunch dates with daddy are a must to boost morale. Even better we made it a picnic in the back of the van!

Way too many fries. 

Mouths stuffed with Scotty's fries. 

-Heather

11 Month Cutie.

Sweet Annaelee. How we love her!

• At 11 months, she is standing on her own for short bursts but not walking yet. She can crawl insanely fast. 
• She goes up stairs but not down much at all. 
• This girl can say "hi da da" and light up when she sees Greg. She also can say "ma ma" which is usually in the middle of a crisis.  
• She ate a bug (part of one) on Saturday. 
• Still seems so opposite from Eli. She WILL NOT cuddle. Just won't snuggle up. Of course she wants to be held, but always facing outward and seeing what's happening. 
• She doesn't really have a set schedule for naps, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon but they aren't at certain times. This is usually super nice as it allows for flexibility in our lives. I notice this because Eli was much more regulated. 
• She eats like a champ! Yesterday was pizza for the first time at cousin Lilli's birthday party. She's a fan (of course, because Eli isn't). There hasn't been a food she won't try but we can tell she likes some more than others.
• Annalee's teeth. Oh my. Not textbook. She got her bottom two front, and last week got her top two NEXT to the front teeth (that aren't in yet). So she's going to look like a vampire or something. HOPEFULLY the top front teeth exist and will actually arrive soon. 
• She can often be seen with her top lip over the bottom, must be her hard concentration face. 
• She loves to climb things. Sterling wheels, drawers, etc. And the toy walker mail cart that non-walker Eli loved, she only climbs the front. 
• This little sister handles all the affection and smooshing from Eli quite well. I think she says his name (which is nothing really like Eli) and she loves to see him. 
• Annaleee loves stuffed animals. She likes to stuff her face in them and feel the fluff on her face. Her favorite is Eli's Chewbacca who makes noise. It makes her smile and tiny giggle.
• Speaking of, she doesn't give us all-out belly laughs or giggles. They are more like a quick HA and a quiet laugh and that's all (with a big smile though). 
• She still doesn't like books. A few with texture she doesn't mind getting into, but really not a huge fan. Her first birthday is a book theme and I'm feeling somewhat guilty for that theme since the girl could care less!
• Her cry can be so very loud so very quickly. Greg set her down on the floor this morning and you would have thought he pinched her. Then I pick her up and she stops instantly. That girl. 
• Mosquitoes love her. She probably got 25 bites last week. 
• She was 18 lbs, 7 ozs last week and 26 inches - still tiny! She can wear many 12 months clothes and dresses though... but still a few 6 months pants! Petite!

We love life with Annalee!

-Mama

Trip Up North, Eh.

Vacation = awesome.

They had their TEN year anniversary yesterday. Good work, Lipperts!

And this handsome man (the older one) had a birthday last Sunday. I love him. Glad he got some golf in on his vacation.

She's 11 months now. This doll. 

Farm wannabes! 

HUGE thank you to Dale and Ilene. They are so kind to all of us and we love spending time with them!

Even though I didn't get to go to Canada, it was still a great week. Can't wait 'til next year!

-Heather