Random Photos/Video

Tribute to Tim

Parent Update

James and Daniel seem to be the protagonists of this blog, but I thought I'd give you an update on those of us running things behind the scenes.

Christian doing some home IT work
(this picture was just too great to not post)

Christian cut my hair. Just another one of his many talents.

I really trust him huh?!?!?!?

Those Sweet Moments

This morning, while everyone else was still asleep, I got to snuggle with little James while the warm morning sun streamed through our front windows and Mozart played in the background.


Saturday we cut down trees and chopped wood for the winter ahead. It was refreshing working as a family (well, James was napping for most of the time) and becoming more self-sufficient.

Friday evening was crisp and cool, but still sunny out. We walked down to the park to play a game of family kick ball that turned into chasing Daniel, somersaults, and rolling in the soft green grass. It felt so good to smell the grass because I was rolling around in it. After we walked to the grocery store to buy popcorn...and that is what we ate for dinner.

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Anna Quindlen, Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).

I think I'm getting it.

Daniel Turns 3

When I asked Daniel what he wanted for his birthday, he responded with:
"Camping!"
So for his birthday he got:
1. A sleeping bag for our family camp out tomorrow night
2. Money from grandparents/great-grandparents
(that goes directly into his college savings fund...he'll thank us later)
3. Astronaut/space play figurines
4. Awesome balloon rocket (from a friend)

Both boys loved the balloons for Daniel's birthday wishes.
I'm glad all the balloons survived an afternoon of dodging the ceiling fans and being batted around.

Almond crusted salmon with caramelized onions
Rice pilaf
Beet and mixed greens salad

Salmon was Daniel's request...such taste for a 3 year old...he gets that from his Dad!

Helping clean up the "whooped" cream

He blew out all the candles in just 2 slobbery puffs.
I separated the rest of the cupcakes from the candle cupcake for that very reason.
Daniel has been waiting a whole year to have "cake" and blow out candles.

Happy Birthday Daniel!
We love you and all the sunny, warm, magical moments you share with us!

Sky Diving Runs in the Family

Good sky diving arch huh dad?

Christian's Birthday

Christian's dinner choice: creamy, lemon scallops over couscous

A new Hahn birthday tradition. Each of us wrote our birthday wishes for Christian on a balloon and then we let them float away. I wish I could take credit for this idea because I love it, but I read about it here and thought it was such a fun thing to do, especially with little ones.

Daniel was sad the balloons were gone.

The bubbly toast to Christian.

Happy Birthday! We hope all our birthday wishes for you come true.

The Sandbox

We have this great mud room connecting our house to our garage. Last week Daniel and I dumped 250lbs of sand into our small swimming pool and now we have a sandbox. Two of my childhood dreams that I will have to live through my children are:

• A sandbox at home
• A tree house

We'll build a tree house later, but for now we have the sandbox. There has been a lot of construction going on out there. Watching Daniel play in the sandbox reminds me of my brother. He used to love playing in the sandbox...he probably still does.

I may regret having this sandbox just 5 ft from my house, but Daniel loves it, and that makes me happy. It doesn't bother him to have sand caked on his scalp.

Doesn't James look like a teddy bear in those pjs?

A Wonderful Monday Evening

Popsicles, Pool, and Water Balloons

Daniel, James, and I had an "End of Summer" party. The day turned out to be the most beautiful blue-sky day. Activities included: sprinklers, a water slide (Mom was the only slider), a pool with slide, side walk chalk, bubbles, water balloons, and trucks.

Four Little Boys

one brave, darling girl

And one lil' peanut

We love summer!

Labor Day Adventures in One Word: CHARMING

Fresh Seafood Lunch for $10

We topped the day off with a blackberry ice cream cone.

Around Cape Ann 25k

We just figured out our New England Labor Day tradition...run a 25k or 7k (whichever you feel up to that day), go to the beach, have lunch in Rockport, MA.

I ran the 25k yesterday morning. The coarse was so scenic. Every turn and hill was worthy as a post card picture.

My pre-race celebration. I'm glad I did the celebrating before the race because I didn't have the energy to celebrate after.

This is what Daniel did while I ran and ran and ran.

The end.

Daniel's Listening Skills

6:00 AM

This is what I get to wake up to every morning. I'm so lucky.

Woburn Library

This is a our very Harry Potterish looking library. The children's section is in the dungeon. Hmmmmmmmmm!