Bliss

This was the week of our annual family vacation

at my parents' cottage in Wisconsin.

Not everyone could make it,

but we feel especially blessed this year

to have two new family members

who were able to join us.

One is not pictured: our sweet foster-to-adopt baby

who joined the family in early January.

He is so entertaining at 8 months old

that his uncle observed, "He's like a campfire,"

when he noted all the family members 

sitting in a circle around TJ, 

oo-ing and ah-ing over his antics

as he played on a blanket on the floor.

He was already in bed for the night when we took the picture,

but since he is a foster child, 

his picture is not allowed to be shown on social media.

(We took another family picture the next night 

before he went to bed,

but I can't show you that one.)

The newest member is TJ's 3 week old little sister, 

born to TJ's foster-to-adopt parents

on the 4th of July.

Fireworks went on all over 

just hours after her birth.

The flowers pictured above right are from my garden

(former garden, that is - the sale was closed today!)

and were arranged for Norah -

the bee balm (Monarda) blooms remind me of fireworks.

It's been a wonderful week.

.