8/5/06...Nathaniel riding a truck at the his new school's playground.  He won't start until mid September - but we have started visiting the playground to feel at home there.

Nathaniel in another car - the school can be seen in the background.

The playground is very nice...gated, lots of play equipment and a huge sand area!

Nathaniel with the first and perhaps only cucumber from our garden.  There have been dozens of blossoms and even the start of cucumbers and zucchinis...but then the disappear (perhaps the chipmunks!).  I'm planning on installing an electric fence next summer!!!

Annabelle and Nathaniel in the treehouse.

8/11/06...At Split Rock Lighthouse with Grandma Rudy!

Hiking Little Two Harbors Trail at Split Rock

Playing on the beach, the lighthouse in the background.

Nathaniel is like a mountain goat on rocks!

Our campsite at Tetteguche State Park.  It was a lovely walk in site - or at least until it poured down rain while we were packing out Sunday morning.  I was cursing that secluded 300 foot walk down a muddy path!

Crossing the Baptism River on the way to High Falls

Annabelle on the Baptism River.

Annabelle and Grandma Rudy by High Falls, reportedly the highest waterfall in Minnesota.  We had to climb a lot of steps to get there and back!

At Two Step Falls.

Nathaniel and Annabelle by a huge rock in our campsite.

8/12/06...hiking to Shovel Point.

On Shovel Point.

The view from Shovel Point.

Me and Annabelle...in a rare moment of mother-daughter harmony!

Playing on a pebble beach at Tetteguche.

Playing in the (relatively) warm water of the Baptism River.

Where the Baptism River flows into Lake Superior.  The river is in the foreground and the lake lies over the rocky peninsula.  

Nathaniel and Grandma Rudy with their raspberry pie!

Grandma Cindy waking Annabelle up on Saturday...Annabelle slept until 11 she was so wiped out from the show the night before.

Grandad reading to Nathaniel during the ir visit to see Annabelle in the Spell of Sleeping Beauty.

Playing outside Sunday afternoon.

8/21/06...Finally - a quiet morning!  Nathaniel took advantage of it by hosting a tea party for all his bunnies!

8/22/06 Nathaniel and Annabelle at the Transportation Open House sponsored by the City of Eden Prairie.  Buses, fire trucks, tractors...a great time for Nathaniel!

Nathaniel in a Bobcat ATV.

8/25/06...Camping at Wild River State park with our Bible Study group.

Annabelle enjoying a hike with friend  and Nathaniel.

The group campsite at Wild River.

Annabelle posing in hammock with friends 

Nathaniel posing with these wardrobes we fashioned out of cardboard boxes and a dowel rod for hanging.  Annabelle made one for her American Girl doll and Nathaniel made one for his bulldog, Fred.

Annabelle with her wardrobe for Kailey, her American Girl doll.

8/30/06...Annabelle at the Prairie View Open House.  She brought flowers for her teachers, new and old.

Annabelle's 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Ewen (pronounced You-In).

Annabelle's classroom.

Annabelle and friend Jenna posing with their first grade teacher, Mrs. Stauffenecker.

Annabelle with her 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Lantsberger.

8/31/06...Visiting the "Secret Garden" exhibit at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  Annabelle is pictured here with one of the gardens, the "Butterfly Chapel"

The "Penny Garden", a series of miniature gardens in copper planters. (Pennies were scattered in curious places in the mini-garden)

Shaggy Chairs!

Annabelle with a gorgeous rose that matched her shirt.  Of all the things I can't grow...roses sadden me the most.