Brad and me; Aaron and Lindsey; Jon and Robyn(Sorry, Bekah! I wanted you to be in this photo,
but you had already left -- don't worry, as you can see,
it didn't turn out so well anyway...)
This 4th of July trip my brother Aaron and my sister-in-law Lindsey and their two children Lilly & Grant flew up from Laredo, Texas where Aaron is "stationed" as an FBI agent. We only get to see them about once a year and this year their second child, Grant, was born just two weeks before Lincoln, so this was our first time meeting him. Atticus and Lilly get along so very well -- have so much fun together and genuinely like each other.
Brad playing "Monster Chase/Attack" with the kids...
Atticus asked Lilly to read him a book...
More "peas in a pod" playing with Atticus & Lilly...
Sweet Lilly!
Atticus' wonderful grin
And our new nephew Grant -- so gentle...
My brother Aaron reading to his son...
My sister-in-law Robyn holding her new nephew Grant
Lindsey!!!
Dietrich & Lilly got along great too
Pushing around a chair (?) -- would have been so much easier with wheels. Why don't I buy this boy a cart of some sort -- seriously his favorite toy.
The kid likes ketchup
It was a little too much for all of us at some time or another...
Unbelievably cute Clark, our first Ackland-side nephew...
Robyn & Clark 
Bekah brought some friends from Minneapolis with her -- They camped in the back yard. Here is Bekah with Hannah, Lynette, and Sharon.
And Sharla on the left...
Lynette & Matt (He came too (-:)
The following four shots show my parents as soporific cooks...
My mom & Lincoln
My dad & Lincoln
My dad's church...
A picture of the beautiful area my parents live in.
Sunday afternoon/evening we traveled down to outside Cedar Rapids to visit our friends the Snodgrasses who are home from the mission field to have their third child. Cordelia was born 5 days before our evening together. Nathan & Shelley lived with us for a short time before they moved overseas. At the time, they only had Nora and we only had Atticus. Shelley and I found out we were pregnant with our second children on the same day. They are staying at the "missionary house" next to the house where Nathan grew up with his FIVE brothers. 
Nora
Lincoln and Alexander
Grilling...
Newborn Cordelia
Solar panels that heat their water
Solar Panels for electricity -- partially hooked up
A ride on the tractor -- they have a few vintage tractors -- This one, a Minneapolis-Moline.
Atticus was a little unsure of the tractor when it first started up, but after being offered a ride and bravely accepting, he loved it.
Nathan's brother Ethan giving the tour
A baby turkey
