Picnic in the Park

My mom loves picnics.  (Honestly, who doesn't?)  One beautiful evening she called us all together for a picnic dinner in the park.  My sister brought her camera and skills along and captured some great pictures of the kids and the fun times they had hitching rides on Uncle Kyle's motorcycle!

 My lovely Britta, getting so big!

Em had her turn first (of course)!

My fire-cracker, Juliana.  (And can you see Kari's little scowl in the background??)

A very wistful-looking Kari.

 Christian was up next!

 Erin captured a small sampling of the chaos that these four girls bring to the table.

Such a happy grandpa.  Britta just LOVES him!

 Yup.  That's Kari...

Grandkids, minus Kari, who was having her ride.

 At last it was Ju Ju's turn!!

 We also played at the park...

 ...picked flowers, played games...

 ...and took a walk around the duck pond.

We are so lucky to live so close to family and that my mom makes the effort to coordinate our schedules so we all get together!

Pajama Party with Auntie Erin

We celebrated my sister's birthday in style...comfortable style, that is.  Everyone wore their pajamas to her little soiree and we all enjoyed showering our Auntie Erin with love and homemade gifts:-).

I LOVE the sweet looks between Erin and Kari!

Kari and Erin also seem to share similar tastes in head-gear.

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Today is my sister, Erin's, birthday! We went over to my mom's and had a fabulous family dinner a la Chef Mom. Yummers. After dinner, it was time for presents and Erin was such a good sport about Emily and Christian just hovering over her, waiting for the next gift to be opened! They had each made her a little something--Emily made her a bookmark and a card. Christian had painted her a picture and also had helped with the card. Each of the children sure love their Auntie Erin!

Erin has a way with the kids--"playing" just comes naturally to her. Just like my mom. (A major gift I wish I'd inherited when Emily wants to play "puppies" and my lack-luster imagination just isn't cutting it for her!) She is always willing to come over if I need her. Often, it's with little notice and on her day off.

Erin is also a lot of fun. She has a great sense of style and man, is she funny! I almost always end up chuckling pretty hard when she's around. We're just under 2 yrs apart and so we grew up close friends, having Barbie marathons and fighting over whose socks belong to whom. I've been very blessed to have her as my sister.

Happy Birthday, Auntie Erin! We love you!