Summer's Gymnastics

Michelle and Pete's daughter Summer had a gymnastics event this past week, so Joy and I, along with Tim and Jenny's daughter Ellie went down to see it. Ellie wasn't quite sure why she was the only kid who couldn't play on all the stuff, but she did pretty well, and toward the end she got to try out a few things with Summer. As you can imagine, with the event being for pre-schoolers, it wasn't very formal.
First there was some time for the cousins to play together, and Summer shared one of her favorite books.
Then Joy and Michelle prepared a "roll it yourself sushi" dinner for us. Then we were off to the gymn. Michelle and Pete helped Summer along on her routines.

Ellie got to try out the summersault mat with Summer, with Grandma Mathiesen coaching.The awards ceremony--Ta Daa!

Joy & Summer make Japanese food

Joy and I were in the Twin Cities this past weekend, and we swung by Michelle's place on the way back to Fergus Falls. We had arranged for Joy to pick up some ingredients in St. Paul and make a Japanese meal at their house, and Summer got to help make Inari Sushi. She had a great time doing that. Then there was big excitement later that afternoon when Summer and I found a "lost" Christmas present under her bed! It was a toy for learning the alphabet, which she had carefully stored in a box and apparently tucked it under her bed and forgot all about it. Michelle said that they had been hunting for it for months.

Easter at our house

Tim, Jenny and Ellie and Anna came over for dinner after church on Easter Sunday. Joy had prepared an egg hunt, with plastic eggs containing raisins, dried apricots and an Easter Peep. Then Ellie got to open a little Easter bag that Joy had made with some special things inside. She made the same kind of bag for Summer that we mailed in time for Easter. Michelle and Summer called and left a message thanking us "for the Easter stuff." When Joy played the message back for Ellie and asked her who was on the phone, she listened a bit, and at the words "Easter stuff" said, "Sum-mer!!"

Yesterday Joy got some shots of Ellie throwing a tea party. Anna must be wondering what big sister is up too, as she looks on from the Bumbo Chair.

Anna's baptism

Today I was privileged to perform Anna's baptism at Bethel Church. Tim and Jenny's good friends Kaare and Michelle Kvenild served as sponsors, and Jenny's family was up for the occasion too. Gary and Brenda and their kids, and Joy's parents and her brother Nate and his family also joined us, and after the service we all gathered at our house for lunch. With all three of our kids here, we were able to get a good photo of the 3 siblings while we were taking pictures.

Hina Matsuri (Japanese "Doll Festival Day"

Pete, Michelle and Summer came up this weekend to see Anna, Tim & Jenny's new baby. Joy likes to put out all her Japanese dolls and decorations this time of year for "Hina Matsuri," and so we had the traditional Doll Festival food, and dressed Summer and Ellie in kimono.

Anna comes for a visit.

We got to watch Anna a bit on Saturday while Tim and Jenny went out to lunch for Valentine's Day. Ellie was napping when these were taken, then her mom and dad came and took her out to Burger King for a Valentine's dinner with her. On Sunday evening Tim and his family and Joy's parents joined us for dinner, so the Great Grandparents got to visit with Anna too.

Anna Lynne is home...

Anna Lynne is now home, enjoying her family. She's proudly wearing the hat that Jenny's mother Sandy knit for her, the same style that she made for Ellie when she was born, but a different color. Ellie loves to give her little sister kisses. When we went over today with Joy's mother, Myrtle, Ellie got out her cooking toys and was passing around little plastic cupcakes, and showing us her room (which she does each time you go over there).