Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The first time I met Kent, he said he was from Pennsylvania. I told him that I had been to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. He told me that Valley Forge was not in Pennsylvania. And he wondered why it took me so long to admit that he was my boyfriend! Since we were in the area, I had to prove to him that in fact Valley Forge is in Pennsylvania!



Kent posing as George Washington



Washington Chapel



Inside Washington Chapel



EB & Kestra

Labor Day Weekend in Philadelphia, PA

Kent, Annika & I spent Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia with our friends Kestra & Todd Kelly. (Kestra & I used to work together at VIKA engineering). I had visited Philadelphia when I was in highschool, but Kent, who went to highschool in State College, PA had never been there. So, we figured it was about time for a visit. Plus we wanted to see our friends!



Kestra & EB in front of Independence Hall



Kent, Annika & EB with the Liberty Bell





Independence Hall



Annika, just happy to be walking around



An outline of Ben Franklin's home



Buildings that Ben Franklin owned or worked in

Annika's 2nd Birthday!

Annika turned 2 years old on August 25th! We celebrated for a few days, first on Saturday with our friends the Ringels, Ryan, Noelle, Zach, & Andrew. Noelle's parents were also in town, Neal & Judy Busk. Then the Christensens, Tiana, CJ, Ches & Ellie came over for dinner on Sunday. On Monday, her actual birthday, the Christensens & Aunas came over to swim.

Annika with her princess castle cake - She looks so grown up!

Blowing out the candle at the Ringel's house

Family photo

Ches, Annika & Elise



Ches, Tiana holding Ellie, Elise, EB, Annika & Elijah

Annika, Elijah, Jackie Auna, Ches, Tiana with Ellie & Elise

Yeah, Cupcakes!




Annika's Birthday Presents!


Train from Mom & Dad


Puppy from Robyn & Eric. Annika told me "He so cuddly!"

New outfit from Grandma Karen. The shirt and pants have sequins & beads on them, Annika calls them "sprinkles"


These photos were taken by Annika - her new puppy, bear with a new princess dress & Mom.

Old & New

We finally bought a new car! I got the jeep in 2001 and it has been a great car. We loved it and were sad to see it go, but it was a 1996 and it had 160,000 miles on it. Plus, the week before we sold it the A/C started to go out, so it was time to sell. The guy we sold it to loves jeeps and was so happy to get it, A/C problems and all! The plus side is we have a new car, a little bigger than the jeep and a lot nicer. The main reason we wanted a bigger car is because I am pregnant with twins! These pictures were taken the day we took both cars to the car wash for a good cleaning and transfer of stuff from one car to the other.

Pool on the Roof

This summer we have had so much fun swimming at the pool on the roof of our apt. building. Annika did not want to have anything to do with her baby float from last summer instead we bought her a suit with floats in it. She started kicking and paddling the first time we tried it and didn't want us to hold her anymore in the water.

The water was a little icy this day, it didn't seem to bother Annika, just Kent! Annika can swim without the arm floats, but her friendChes had some, so she thought she needed them. I know it has been awhile, but I am still getting used to seeing pictures of me with short hair! A picture to show the pool really is on our roof. That is the National Cathedral in the background. View of the Washington D.C. Temple from our roof. Just a few of the fun stores across the street!

Ham it up.

Annie was in a performing mood. Two videos in one day!



For the benefit of those that don't speak toddler,
she says, "I can't shake my bum, it's too big." Have the
Disney princess movies and Barbie dolls warped her
body image already? Either that, or my daddy license
is going to be revoked for not changing her all afternoon.

Hulet Summer Hootenanny

I almost had to write this entire post with the words underlined. It's not that I think friends and family should read my prose with extra care. I just couldn't figure out how to turn it off. Now that I have it off, I kinda wish I could underline a favorite word or two.

Grandma knows that the way to Annie's heart is with a good marshmallow bribe.

Seeing these "bare" swimming bodies reminded me of a little Disney trivia tidbit. Did you know that the voice for Balloo the Bear is also the voice of Little John the Bear in Robin Hood and O'Malley the Alley Cat in Aristocats?

EB's surprise coming home from UT a week after me was that she chopped her hair! It's shorter than it's ever been before, but she was ready to do something crazy for the big 3-0. 10" cut pony tails are accepted by "Locks of Love" to make wigs for cancer survivors.

My mullet is only 4" so far, so I'll post a picture once my neck curtain is ready to ship out, or once I look as good as this guy:

My sideline project will be to grow a manly goatee. The pic below is 5 intense days worth of hair growth, so I believe that more extreme measures are justified. Does Rogaine work for the face?

Annie may seem excited about her ride in a big wheel, but she told me afterward that she was only elated because she was no longer forced to destroy the ozone in our gas-hungry SUV and she was one upping the pious Prius owners by going completely electric. Little does she know, my Cannondale tops them all.

EB's 30th birtday bash! We had to hide the disco ball and glow sticks, clean up the foam, and change out of our reflective hammer pants just to take this photo.

Annie's poor little leg and hand! She keeps getting these huge blisters from what we think are just mosquito bites. Can you be allergic to mosquitos?

Most kids play outside on their front or back lawn. Annie has a carpeted L-shaped hallway to trundle back and forth in and a magic box that opens when see reeeeeaches for her favorite button.

Betrothed at age 2.