End of September...

This little family gathering took place towards the end of September, for a birthday. Keep in mind we live in northern Minnesota...crazy nice weather we had all fall...nice enough that these pictures were not our last afternoon spent at the beach!

 As James independence evolves so does his clothing choices! Some days he likes to be in control a little with what he wears...and lately he loves his "little man accessories" as we call them. So some days we find him with a tie, a bow tie or suspenders...I think he looks pretty cute! On this day he found his tie and insisted on wearing it with his swim shorts...we let Elsie dress herself and explore her independence and creativity through dressing herself and we will do the same with James.

 Love this picture...

 Someday this just won't be quite so cute...but there is something so perfectly adorable about a 3 year old with a swim suit wedgie...

 The gang...all gathered together on the bench under the big tree.

 Sisters...I feel so blessed to have a whole gaggle of sisters! We all have great times together. Just a few years ago I regarded half of the girls as "my little sisters"...now that they are older, they are my friends. I love the evenings when the girls all come over after my kids are sleeping and we sit up way too late talking. We always have plans to watch a movie...but we talk for a couple hours before we start the movie, talk during the movie, and talk after it is over. Love every one of my sisters...we have a bond like no other...we "get" each other!

 Elsie and Emma...the honorary sisters...these two already have that unique sister's bond going on!

 My parents...there is something about this picture I love...

 In Elsie's mind, no one can do things quite as well as Emma...therefore, Auntie Emma had to put Elsie's hair in a very high pony.

 Perfect...

 Papa wayne and Colter took James on a little walk around the park...I had high hopes of him falling asleep...but he did not.

 Who knew rocks could be such a comfortable place to lay?!

We had a great family afternoon at the beach to celebrate Lisa and Marissa's birthdays...after the beach we ate a hearty homemade gluten/ dairy free pizza...then headed up town to the local bowling ally for a little more birthday celebration!