Visit from Grandma Cathy and Uncle Ant

We had a visit this weekend from Grandma Cathy and Uncle Ant.  We had fun playing in the water and swimming. 

 Grandma Cathy loved going on the tube with Odin.

Everyone had a fun time kayaking around the cove.

 Aunt Connie and Uncle Henry also came to visit for the day and had a blast on the water. 

 Going for a sunset cruise.

Pennsic

Lots of fun was had by all at Pennsic this year!  We even talked Grandpa Dave into joining us on our annual medieval adventures...he loved it as did everyone else!

This year was surprisingly cool with temperature getting COLD at night!  Refreshing change from the HOT, HOT weather we've been having in Raleigh!  As usual we camped with our best, best buds Mark, Mel and Madelyn.  Our campsite was really awesome this year and right next to three apple trees (made for some perfect target practice and entertainment for Odin--also the apples we collected made super yummy applesauce).  Here is our campsite:

Dad only got to fight in two battles this year and we all watched the first one.

The wagon was critcal for some of the walks around (also great for naps for kids!).

Björn thought the helmut was funny.

After watching Dad fight the boys needed a rest in the wagon and a cupcake!  (coconut flour for those of you wondering...;-).

Mark, Mel and Madelyn in front of the castle!

Odin fighting a knight!

Björn taking a rest on Mel during the kids festival.

 

Family Visit from NJ and NY!

This past weekend we had a visit from all of Bronson's siblings from NJ and NY.  Odin and Björn had a great time with their cousins, Sydney and Brooke (Uncle Brandon and Aunt Mary came too!) as well as with Uncle Ant and Aunt Lisa & Uncle Frank.  We all had a great time at the lake and got some R&R as well as a lot of sun!

Here is uncle Brandon and Brooke going for a dip in the lake.

We just got some "sit on top" kayaks and they were a big hit with both adults and kids.

 Sydney quickly learned how to get around on a kayak!

 Here is Celia on the wake board ... others also gave it a try.

 I mostly drove the boat.

 Going out to see the fireworks on the lake for the 4th of July was great!  We actually go to see 2 shows, one by the bridge by the town, then a private residence put on a huge show back by our place (miles away) that we caught by chance on the way back to the dock.  We got right up under the fireworks display over the lake.

 All of the kids got along very well (mostly :).

 Uncle Anthony needs to practice his light saber moves...he's not used to fighting 3 big kid warriors and one little warrior (with a penguin!).

 Brooke and Odin finally hit a stride and played well together and weren't in constant competition...

 Aunt Lisa and Uncle Frank taking a relaxing break from the craziness of all the kids!

 Bouncing around in the tube was lots of fun...Aunt Lisa couldn't get enough tubing (constantly wanting to go faster!)

 On the last run of the weekend I figured out how to do a hard enough turn to get them really moving...screams all around!

 Here are the 4 cousins.  Odin (almost 5); Sydney (almost 7); Björn (almost 2); and Brooke (almost 4).

Here are the 4 siblings.  Brandon (Age = over the hill + ); Bronson (Age = over the hill); Lisa (soon to be climbing the hill); Anthony (just looking at the hill).

milestones

Before having kids I never thought peeing on the potty would be such a big deal...but here I am blogging about Bjorn's self potty training. Yes, at 2.5 month shy of 2 years old Bjorn is peeing on the potty.  He smiles and gets so excited when it happens too! A a reward we let him go without a diaper (he has made it very clear that he is done with diapers). And for the past two days more pee has gone in the potty than on the floor. Such a big boy...

Garden

A cucumber from the garden...a boy that loves cucumbers...

A tomato from the garden...a boy that loves tomatoes (with salt on them;-)

Björn the boy with beautiful curls!

Björn is really starting to show his personality and it gets stronger and stronger as he grows!  Like his Momma and Papa he likes organization!  This is polar opposite of his brother, Odin.  Below he helps by putting away the flatware.  Often after playing with a toy he insists on putting it away.  If he can't put it away he will hand it to someone so THEY can put it away for him.  He's not satisfied until the item is in its correct place.

Björn also loves music.  He will often dance and grove to music and...much like his older brother...LIVE music is the best.  Last weekend we took the boys to a friend's 40th b-day party.  They had a live band and Björn was mesmerized.  He wouldn't let anyone touch him while he was listening to the music.  He sat very still and swayed slightly occasionally breaking the trace by dancing a bit in his seat.

Björn truly loves his big brother and wants to be near him at all times.  Last night he enjoyed sitting on him and pulling his hair!  Odin didn't enjoy that so much...

Björn is an avid gardener learning from Odin.  He likes walking around in the garden tasting everything.  He's partial to the green leafy stuff (basil, kale, collards).  We harvested the garlic recently and hung it up to cure on the porch.  Both Björn and Odin liked our new porch decoration.  Odin said it looked COOL!

A hike in the woods

This past Saturday we took an absolutely lovely hike in the woods with our best hiking friends, Lynna and Luca.  Odin and Luca blazed the trail  (like always) at top seed while Momma carried Bjorn and chatted with Lynna.  Bjorn, too, did some walking and soon, I'm sure, he'll be blazing the trail with the older boys (or at least trying his best!).