Nina is Four!

Nina has grown out of the toddler stage and is our big little girl.  She likes to draw and write, she has participated in swimming lessons and tee-ball, she looks after her sister, and she has taken to reasoning.  She is a very good girl, an excellent listener, and very sensitive.  It's been crazy to see Nina's transition at daycare as she is now one of the older kids there and tries to be a helper.  She will be enrolling in preschool for next year.  We hope her tendency to whine decreases after turning 4.  She loves to sing, although her tone needs work, and so her new video features her favorite from the year; sorry if it gets stuck in your head.

HD Link

Our trip to Nebraska has been fun and busy as we've been busy catching up with everyone and it's been a while since we've gotten to spend time with Jake and Kelsey.  The girls have been showing off and talking non-stop.  Vivian likes to keep their dog, Nellie, up-to-date on all of her endeavors.  

Bug bites, sand, and a little tan

We must be in summer mode as the girls seem to end each day with the things mentioned in the title.  They have their little routines that they like to stick to and are both pretty independent.  Nina wakes up first every morning and watches a little bit of a library movie until Pip wakes up 10 minutes later.  Vivian then asks for apple juice and cinnamon life cereal while Nina prefers orange juice and mini-wheats.  They know what they want.

The girls were sad to see Cassie go and enjoyed all the time they got to spend together.  It was a nice way to see more of Annie, Adam, Maggie, Grandma, Grandpa, and Grandpa Don too!  Grandma & Grandpa threw a lovely early birthday party for the girls so Cassie could help celebrate.  Nina loved smashing the piñata and, shockingly, Vivian did not.

Despite all the family visits, the girls have gotten a fair amount of trips around the cities too.  Nina went to a Base Camp at Fort Snelling with activities, saw Minnehaha falls flowing fast, and we went to our Priest's retirement party where the girls liked the bagpipers.

 

Minnehaha         --------      Rainbow over St. Paul

Summer wanderings

We've been all over the place the last week or so, and are thrilled to have Aunt Cassie back in Minnesota.  The girls have been playing in the pool, with blocks, singing songs, eating, and much more.  Cassie and Nina are currently at a play and are having a slumber party with forts, toenail painting, and other girly things.

The girls had fun wandering the U of M campus, pointing out the Green Line light rail when we saw it, and planning for their futures.  And we went to the zoo again.

Taking a ride on the green line

The light rail has opened in St. Paul and the girls enjoyed getting to ride on it.  There were a lot of activities and games, but the weather put a stop to a lot of it.  Nina loved mini-golf in the skyway system and really liked her scorecard of stamps.  

 

Vivian talks pretty much non-stop (at home - not as much in public) and here is a brief video of some of it, and a bit of Nina's first t-ball game.