My garden is flourishing and so are the bugs that live there. I caught this picture of a GIGANTIC grasshopper in my garden the other day. Seriously, you know a grasshopper is big when you can see what color her eyes are!

I've really been loving my playground. I like to walk up the slide while someone holds my hands. Mom wasn't too keen on that at first and Megan has told me that it's not allowed when I go to school but I figure it my backyard I can get away with it. I've also figured out how to climb the yellow ladder and crawl through the window onto the ledge. Pretty big stuff for a little girl like me.

Daddy had to do dinner out for work a couple weeks ago. Mom decided to take the opportunity to introduce me to Tuna Noodle Casserole. See, he'll try to deny it, but my father is a bonafide picky eater and a food snob ta-boot. He will only eat tuna if it's the big old hunks of sushi grade stuff. No tuna packed in water in a can for him, no way, no how, nuh-uh. Now my mom, she loves the stuff. In a casserole, in a tuna salad sandwich or in a tuna macaroni salad. She'll even eat the casserole cold the next day. Grandma Jan used to make too much on purpose because she knew Mommy would eat the cold leftovers for breakfast the next day. Well, much to my father's dismay, I L-O-V-E-D the stuff! I can't wait for my next Tuna Noodle Casserole Rendezvous with Mom. I hear Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob love the stuff too so I think I'll probably invite them. I'm getting to be such a big girl that I'm ready to learn to dress myself. Here I am with some shorts I found in my clean laundry trying to put them on with my dress. At one point I actually had both legs in the shorts-even in the correct leg holes-but couldn't figure out how to pull them up. I didn't get too down on myself though-I am only 15-months old.

Tuna Noodle Casserole Rendezvous night turned into Bedtime Snack in Mommy and Daddy's Bed Rendezvous night as well. Mom had lots to do to get ready for Kerstin's arrival, so she went against her better judgment and let me lay on the bed eating my snack and watching a little television. The American Academy of Pediatrics says I shouldn't watch television until I'm two years old. Mommy tries her best to stick to this but did give in this one time. She saw a glimpse into my future as a total brain mush if she keeps it up...

(NOTE: Mommy and Daddy did not enjoy the graham cracker crumbs in their bed that night.)

Kerstin arrived safe and sound from Germany on Sunday, August 3rd. We had a great time with her!! Here is a picture of her and Mommy on a riverboat cruise.

We all had lots of fun on the boat. I really enjoyed dancing with Meggie. (I like to call her Eggie, but that's just my special nickname for her.)

And I also had fun sharing water with Nathan. (Yep, he has a nickname too. I like to call him Nanan or Nadan.)

Mommy decided if Kerstin was really going to have a good Minnesota experience they needed to go to the North Shore of Lake Superior. They went to Duluth and Gooseberry Falls. Here is a picture of Kerstin at Gooseberry Falls. She and Mommy hiked all the way out to Agate Beach which is where the river meets the lake.

While Mommy was up north with Kerstin and Daddy went to work, I got to spend my days at Grandma and Grandpa's with my cousins. We had lots of fun having water balloon fights.

On Friday night I got to sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's while Mom and Dad went to the Irish Fair with Uncle Klayton, Nick, Lacy, and Cooney. Me and the cousins cuddled on Grandma's lap together. (Pardon my hair. Must have been a rough night's sleeping.)

What can I say? Sometimes I have jealousy issues and don't want to share Grandma's lap. Sorry Nate.

On Sunday I was sooo ready for a bath that I jumped right in before Mom finished getting my clothes off. Teehee.

Then she got me out and I wouldn't let her put clothes back on me. So I had snack in my chair in my birthday suit. I'm such a crazy baby!

Well, that's all of my (mis)adventures for the week. I hope you've had as much fun as I have!

I'm off to see what kind of creatures are hopping and swarming about in my garden now.

Tator Bugger