First grade!

We just took Mary to school.  She is so excited to be a first grader.

Mary and Naomi on their way to class after the flag ceremony:

 

I am going to miss having my little friend home.

Austin's birthday

We can't believe our little boy is already three!  Austin loves to slam dunk in his new basketball hoop.

He also loves his new train table.

 Austin decorated his Thomas cake with Thomas the Train fruit snacks.

Grandma Luke also made Austin a birthday cake at the cabin.

He got a big kick out of all the attention.  We love this little guy!

Cabin trip!

We had the best family vacation last month at the cabin.  The kids had so much fun digging in the dirt in their new cowboy hats.  I love that the kids are getting old enough to really get to know their cousins.

 

Sarah got lots of lap time.

 

 Anna and Mary loved playing with these babies.

We watched a bear eat her dinner.

 

 

The kids loved going on walks to pick flowers.  These flowers were growing pretty close to a buffalo in Yellowstone (see the background in the second shot).

  

The kids waited patiently for Old Faithful to erupt.

 Grandpa made a fire so we could roast marshmallows.

We got to see Mindi and her kids on the way home.  Thanks, everybody, for some great memories!

Mother and daughter

Baby Lisa:

 Baby Sarah:

Princess Festival

Last month we went to the Princess Festival.  We promised the girls we would take them since we didn't make it to Disneyland, and they had been looking forward to it all year.  We were so excited to have Aunt Andrea and cousin Claire come with us!

The kids watched Cinderella go the ball:

They tried on sparkly slippers to see if they were "true princesses":

They made a wish for friends in Africa who need clean water (admissions are donated to charity):

Look at these beautiful princesses!

Anna as Rapunzel:

Mary as Rapunzel:

Austin and Daddy were such good sports!

Austin's favorite part of the day was meeting this frog.  He talked to the kids (Andrea noticed a tent in the bushes behind him where his "voice" was camped out with a microphone) and asked them questions.  Austin thought it was pretty hilarious.

Hanging out with Snow White:

Waiting to watch Snow White's play:

Mary took a picture of Princess Sarah when she woke up:

Anna wanted to stand on the shore for her picture with Ariel:

Mary said, "Next year, I'm going to bring my swimming suit so I can swim with Ariel!"

Back in the van, Mary wanted Sarah to have a picture wearing a crown:

It was a pretty magical day.  Here is what our drive home looked like:

 

 

 

Sarah's blessing

Our new little angel was given a name and a blessing by her father on Sunday, June 5th.  We were blessed to have lots of family with us.

Grandma Mary:

 Grandma and Grandpa Luke:

 Grandpa Edstrom:

 Grandma Joy and Grandpa Jay:

 This is the closest we have ever come to getting an Erickson family photo.  Austin was taking a nap in his room, but I added him later.  Only the Nissens are missing.

 Sarah Joy brings so much happiness to our little family.

 Austin's blessing photo, November 2008:

 Anna's blessing photo, January 2007:

 Mary's blessing photo, June 2005: