Princess Maribelle

In this video she's Princess Something Indistinguishable, but ever since has been Princess Maribelle. After watching Veggie Tales "Beauty and the Beet" Lukas asked if we could call Frida Maribelle instead. I compromised by offering that as her name when they play Knights and Princesses. I hope the strong knights always want to lead her away from blown up castles into places of safety.

Comparing the Children

We understand that comparing the children in general is a bad idea, as each is made in the image of God and He has done a good job making them unique and wonderful. But when comparison makes us delight in them we figure it's ok. 

Here are their thighs, decorated with band-aids after their 2 month immunizations:

Lukas, February 2015

Theo, July 2017

Frida, June 2019

And here they are at 3 months:

Lukas

Theo

Frida

The Porch and The Foot

This was certainly the event of the season, after the event of Frida's arrival. Daniel did some excellent work reinforcing and fixing up our back porch. And at the end of June it looked like this:

And then he looked like this:

because he broke his foot falling off that gutted porch.

Our nephew Caleb broke his leg the same week! He slipped on a fun water contraption in the yard.

Jonathan, his work buddy, took him to work in this very fine bike which usually hosts his children. He took the front seat out for Daniel:

Then my dad and brothers came to the rescue - they spent the 4th of July doing this:

And now it looks like this:

It will have railings and paint when the foot is all better!

It's been a bit of a bleak month, for Daniel of course because of the pain initially but even more that he has to drive to work and doesn't get to bike! And that he cannot (couldn't) carry out all his servant-hearted desires. I also suffered mildly in that I had to learn how to take the trash out after not having done this one time since our wedding 6 years ago. I also had to use my very strong arms to do things like lift heavy saws from the basement out to the car to return to the tool library. The boys also had their suffering, they both froze and could not approach their strong and brave Papa who was just lying on the ground moaning. Theo has recently taken off in his #WPM, and one of his mantras is "Papa, owie!" He also said his first prayer (that we know of) the other night. He folded his hands, closed his eyes, rocked back and forth and said passionately, "Papa, owie!"

July

We got a nice camera now, so I like to take photo shoots!

We got to have some very nice Thomas family time up by Lake Mille Lacs on 4th of July weekend. Can you tell how Maia feels about Lukas' find?

Uncle Nick's cherries!!! Daniel made them into cherry soup.

Playing with these fine cousins at the park across the street:

A regretted moment of ambition:

Here she is doing her new trick, sleeping without the swaddle:

June

Not much commentary is required here. Look at our cute baby. See our photos from our day trip to Afton State Park. Crying baby photos are uncommon because parents are trying to soothe their babies, not because we are ashamed of admitting our babies cry. You'll see one here where I just had to take a photo for Grandma to see Frida in Theo's outfit, made feminine by a bow.

One very notable thing about June, Daniel's 6 week paternity leave!!! (end of May - beginning of July) 3 weeks in, I realized I felt pretty good! I found myself getting things done during naps instead of passing out myself.