Raegan & Eliza May 2012 school picture

They are both so wonderful!  Although their coloring is quite different, their features are similar.  And they adore each other!

VACATION here we come

Raegan at the cottage getting ready for 4 wheeling!

Our family is going to take our first week-long vacation together!  Actually longer than a week because we will be gone from weekend to weekend plus a little...so 10 days total!  Yay.  We are very excited.

We'll be spending it at the cottage in WI.  We are planning some fun outings to the Jaycees 4th of July fair they have in Wausau every year the weekend before the actual holiday.  We think Raegan will have a lot of fun.  We are also hoping to go up further north to Minnoqua to wander around that lake town.  In addition to fun activities, Eliza will be baptized on July 7, 2012!  My family pastor (who baptized me and actually married Andy & me) is going to come and baptize her up at the cottage by the lake so my grandparents can attend.  It will be a lovely, special, and blessed event!

Andy's twin sister is coming from AZ with her 6 yo son Dante for the baptism so we'll get to see them this week too!  Lots of fun and lots of family.

Lots of Change!!!

Well hello!!

It's been a whole year since this blog was last updated.  There's been some change in our family.  We welcomed Eliza Jane into our family on November 6, 2011!!

 Raegan was a great big sister and mama's helper from the moment Eliza arrived.  She continues to be.  Our experience with Eliza was wonderful...from her birth until now.  She is the happiest baby and so smiley!!  We had many visitors who came to spend time with us and Eliza, which was wonderful!

Hallye (Mauri's sister) & Raegan making cut out cookies!

It's amazing how the girls are growing so fast.  It's hard to believe Eliza isn't that little "baby" anymore.  She didn't lose any of her hair and it's so long that if it isn't pulled back by a barrette or ponytails, it hangs over her eyes. It also sticks up in the back...despite everything we try!  It's darling.

Raegan was in dance and swimming this year and had a great time.  Her dance recital was in early June and she did a great job (it was a tap number).

Our family rented a cabin on a lake in Northcentral WI and we are really enjoying time spent there! We are able to see a lot of family regularly which is great.  Raegan & Eliza can get to know and spend time with their grandparents, the way Andy & I did when we were young.

Raegan is daring and loves the water.  She jumps right in (with a life vest)! 

First time blogging

Well, here we are...in the age of technology, facebook, etc. and I find myself creating a blog for our family.  My hope is that this site will help keep our extended family in other areas of the US connected to what's going on here with us.

So what's been happening lately?  We've had some weekends at home which we love...though our summer weekend travelling schedule begins again this coming weekend. 

MAY:
We had a busy May, starting with the arrival of Raegan's new cousin Bennett at the end of April.  Raegan was so excited to meet him.  She said after we left the hospital, "I'm so glad that baby Bennett is out of aunt Steffi's tummy" and I told her I thought aunt Steffi was glad too.

The Brueggeman family went to a Twins game.  It was a very sunny day!!  We had a lot of fun.

Mauri graduated with her Master's in Education from the U of MN which was exciting.  Raegan was a trooper through the long ceremony & actually came down & sat with Mauri and all the other graduates for awhile.  Nana & Papa came for the ceremony which was wonderful.

Mother's Day weekend was very busy. Grandpa John turned 60 and we went down to visit for the big party.  Raegan's other aunt Stephanie came from AZ to visit and they had so much fun together.  Raegan danced at the party and then played dress up with daddy's cap & mama's vest before settling down for bed.

   On Mother's Day we drove to Wausau & visited with family including Raegan's cousins Caden & Natalie.  Raegan & Natalie love getting dressed up!

Raegan & her cousin Natalie

JUNE:

We've been hanging around at home enjoying our quiet time before travelling starts again.  Raegan LOVES to dress up including accessorizing.