Soccer has started again!!
We were thrilled to find out Coach Chuck is Emma's coach again (a little less thrilled some other dude thinks he is in charge), thrilled Emma is not the only girl on the team this time and thrilled at the beautiful Sept. day we had to watch her game.















We are still wondering who taught her this pre-soccer game pose... Alex? We have seen you in pictures, was you?!? ;0)

Working hard on Gee Gee's Birthday Birdhouse

Emma found some old sunglasses of mine and has decided they are hers. She does look cute in them, much better than I ever did, so I concur- they are hers! :)

Enjoying the last days of summer sun at the Raspberry Patch, YUM!

Emma's 1st day of Preschool

Emma did great on her first full day (read 2 hours and 15 mins) of Preschool! :) She has already made lots of new friends and seems to be really enjoying it! That makes Mama very happy. :)

Preschool visit day!
Just a quick shot right before we visited Emma's new school. Both teachers seem like they will be wonderful!

Just Emma being cute

Ketsch Backfischfest
While loading the MI state fair pictures, I remembered there was another fair Emma went to this summer. This one was in Germany and had a trampoline that Emmie loved!! It was amazing to watch her little tiny body fly up so far in the air. And although Oma Inge thought I was a little nuts for allowing her to jump), I was happy she was excited to try it out. So maybe if I can't get her to go hiking with me, I might get her rock climbing! She already has the harness experience under her belt!:) And of course she loved the Cinderella ride at the fair as well. No worries, the Princess in her still lives on!

Going to the Michigan State Fair
This year Emma had 2 of her 2nd cousins join us for our annual trip to the state fair. It was a long day, but the girls had a lot of fun together!

A few last cute Lake Michigan trip shots...

Visiting the cute little barn up near the lake

Dancing with Uncle Grant!

Cool Glow Sticks from Aunt Tomi!!

Visiting the Winery

Ready for yummy pancake from Chef Grant

Enjoying the Lake Michigan Sand Dunes behind the Lake House

Hiking in the Alps
First we rode the gondola up the mountian, notice Emma and Belle smiling...



Then we headed down the mountian....











There were lots of beautful places to stop and rest...

















Lovely large trees to explore...

















But at the end of the day Emma was not thrilled with our choice to go hiking... maybe in a few years she will learn to love hiking in the mountians like her mama.

In the Alps with Belle and her family

Off to the Bodensee to visit Caro, Jimmy and Belle

Heading to sleep on the boat...















Cheers with a nightcap...










Checking out the view of the Bodensee in the morning.