Last week

We got lilja a big pool for the back yard .. do big she can put her floaty in it with a friend !! Oh yes, it is that big !!

Our first kanoeing morning . I think this is my favorite thing to do as a family .. no tv, no phones just us and the water .. so lovely !

Aran fishing and lilja trying to catch sticks .. this year she is so good in the kanoeing , very calm and loves it .. 

We could have kept going but the wind started up.. let's keep it positive... for momma ...

Trying to keep her a little writing g throughout the summer. Kids will forget 60 % of what they have learned during the summer months.. lilja is loving to write on her "journal" this one was one of her best . I just had to help with the word nectar .. she is het father's daughter ...a biologist  . Other kuds would probably write about princesses etc...

We love our little riverside park. This year again a year older and more indeoendent...

Mom, can you take a picture of me like a mermaid ....

All by her self...

Love this picture .. they were waiting and watching the big Rollercoaster in the mall of America .lilja likes speed !!

the new singer in the family ??

Between the intermission of the multiple plays she suddenly said... "to keep you busy, I will sing " out in no where a song bird appeared ... or maybe not ??

Lilja's first play

shaw reunion

Every two years aran's mom side of the family has a Shaw shindig.. about 25 people come from all over the place . With 4 little cousins in tow for lilja to play with.. her favorite one?? Her true cousin Tae ..they played together all weekend. The weekend was full of fun. Great food, Fire works, a wedding party, a trip to Hayward and lots of waterplay.. great vacation !!

We got to Hayward at 2, we were in the water at three !!

These hammocks were a hit .. I think we might have to get one for lilja . Two kids can lay in it and play..

Ofcourse there were marshmallows ...with her favorite cousin Tae 

Walking to the water with grandma 

Disco the baby parakeet was a huge hit with lilja .. now she wants a little one too. I told her she had to wait till she was 10 and could take care of it by herself .. we'll see if the love of birds sticks .. right now she wants to be a bird biologist, just like her daddy .

Aunt margeret , tae and lilja on the island ..lilja loved having the freedom to swim all the way to the island , but of course with 7 adults on alert at all times  

She is such a little fish.. she swam the most in the water of all the kiddos .

Pizza party !! Lilja wanted to make a heart shape one ofcourse with aunt margaret as assistent 

Now it goes in the stone oven outside 

Tomatoes, sauce and artichokes and cheese yummy !!

Lilja has her own fashion sense 

Oh, how I love this kiddo.. so proud of her being such a great traveler and such a fun kid to be around with so many people .. she did great !

Sparklers !! And huge fireworks .. but sorry could not capture the excitement 

Wedding party for Anna and Daniel . So fun 

Little fish 

When tae and lilja get together they watch out for eachother, have the same imagination and love to just chill .  Great cousins 

But then I have to get a little snuggle too. She was so on the go.. got one snuggle in..

It doesn't get better than this 

Uhhhmmm, who is in trouble now ??

The boys took their father fishing for father's day 

And the kids took their dad's .. we had yummy sunfish for dinner 

Happy father's day to an amazing daddy .. we love you !! Nicole and lilja 

this weekend

Reading good night moon  to barney 

Lilja and her new bike .. my new exercise is running behind her as she leaves me in the dust . Leon is running between both of us..an extra bonus.. a tired dig 

Lilja's new independence... she ride all the way back to the hoyse as I am catching my breath .  Leon is wondering why I am so slow .. I'm coming boy !!

Water fun with jt and daddy .. splash pad is open at the rec center 

Ok lilja started to swim today !! Just like that she started swimming under water . So cool to see her get it .. step by step 

If swimming wasn't tiring enough lilja wanted to climb the wall.. and climbing she did .. all the way to the top .. she got some determination. 

She actually did it three times.  I could see her little legs shake . But when she realize I did not take a picture she went up sgain, and again one time so aran could see her .. wow, oh, wow, 

Two great friends sitting g in lilja's little fairy garden .. her new thing !! Lots of fairies, houses and now she wants little tables and chairs . 

Tiday was so hot , i put the sprinkler under the trampoline , the girls had a blast  

swim class !!

This year we signed lilja up for group swim class. Funny enough the night before her class she told us that her imaginary friend was back.. but not ruby the bat but this time it is a little ducky .....because she knows how to swim. We had not heard about the imaginary friends for a while now.. but here she is. Mind uou, she has not talked about ducky since the class.. she really loved the class and had one of her favorite friends from school in her class. So I think she is over the anxiety of the unknown. She rocked it !!