Popsicle time

Eating popsicles on the back steps -- one of Leif's favorite things to do in summer 2013!

Nap? ME?? Never!!!

We've had our share of challenges trying to get Leif to sleep enough over the past year and a half. No, make that the past three and a half years -- i.e., ever since he was born. Always a short napper even as a baby, he started dropping his morning nap by around age 1, and after turning 2 he was rarely able to fall asleep for a nap at home. Initially, this meant lots and lots of car naps (or being carried into the house after falling asleep in the car), and since turning 3, more and more days of skipping nap altogether.

Of course, there are still some days when he is clearly NOT going to make it through the afternoon without a snooze. Apparently, my error had been trying to get him to lie down in some logical location (such as his bed or the couch) to nap. A spot he chose himself is shown below:

He had actually curled up on his unpadded wooden chair in the dining room and started to fall asleep there while he had been watching a DVD. When I roused him up enough to get him to climb down from the chair (so he would not fall off), he simply moved to the hardwood floor, sprawled out on his back, and went back to sleep. Looks comfy, eh? Maybe I'll have to try it next time I have insomnia....

Playing with Rachel

Leif got to have a special one-on-one play date with his cousin Rachel one evening in early July while Auntie Sarah (who had been watching Rachel) was at her golf class for a couple of hours. They spent quite a bit of time in the back yard filling up their cars at the "grass station," and then retired inside for a snack and Leif's all-time favorite activity, playing with Matchbox cars on the window seat (a.k.a. the "car shelf") in the dining room. We've heard from Jessica that Rachel is not very into cars when she is at home, but she is always up for playing cars with Leif whenever they are together!

BBQ at Auntie Sarah's house

In late June through early July (yes, I'm a bit behind here!) we enjoyed Aaron's sister Jessica and her girls' traditional summer visit to Minnesota. As always, the kids had a blast playing together at Auntie Sarah's back yard barbeque. A few highlights from that gathering are below.

Sweet cousin Libby! (~13 months -- same age as Bjorn)

Rachel (4 years old) & Leif (3 years old)

Aaron, Libby & Bjorn

Rachel and Leif getting bubbly with Gock G.