Family Photos

Dear Ellen,

I LOVE the photos! Of the sample you sent, I couldn't decide which ones to put up first so I think I put almost all of them up. You do wonders with the camera...even without your magic lens...plus, you are the funnest photographer we've ever had. Thank you for capturing the moments.

love,

The Hahns

A Summer Fling

It was 770 today. I did what any rational person would do and scratched every commitment we had on our calendar and headed to the beach for one more summer fling. Some of the days note worthy happenings are:

1. While driving to the beach I got honked at for about 10 seconds straight and then had the bird flipped at me for about 4 seconds as the upset driver passed me. All that for driving on the dotted white line. Try explaining that to your inquiring kids. Such kind and refined folk in these parts.

2. James tripped running away from a wave. The wave caught up to him. It was cold.

3. As soon as I opened the plastic grocery bag containing our lunch about 30 seagulls flew over, and that is no exaggeration. They got no lunch from us. Daniel valiantly fended for our little piece of beach. James tried to chase the birds off too, but he is not fast enough to get them to fly away.

4. Both James and I were facing the ocean, seated on the sand. James was sitting about two feet in front of me. I was feeding Anna. With no fore thought for his actions, James took a fist full of sand in each hand and threw it behind him...where we were. Now Anna has a 25 inch frame that carries almost 15lbs on it which is quite conducive to folds and crevices. Getting sand out from under about 3 chins and little ears is no easy task. Poor girl. She was a sport. She didn't complain one bit. I complained for the two of us. I still don't think James realizes he was the one responsible for that.

I love those kiddos. I love those 770 days. Farewell beach. We will miss you but will be back to play on your shores as soon as 770 comes again. Hopefully sooner than later.

Seasons

(the view from my bedroom window this morning)

New England has the most stunning season changes I've ever experienced (and I've lived in 10 unique places). It kind of makes you reflect on the seasons of life. Today a little nephew was born into our family. Also today, my neighbors father passed away.

I feel like I'm in the summer of my life. I think it is early summer...you know, when the sweet strawberries are being eaten, but there is a lot of growing to be done before the harvest. I hope the fall of my life is as golden as it is in my backyard.

(the view out the back)

Let's Go Fly A Kite

It was a blustery day on Friday. A little too gusty and blustery to fly a kite, but I'll be darned if we didn't try our darnd'st to get it up.

In Love

It is gorgeous out here these days. Things have cooled off. My kids come in from playing outside and they smell like "chill". I love that smell on kids...the smell of good 'ol fashion outdoor play.

I can't decide which season I like the most. Every time I welcome a new season in I'm convinced I am in love with it the most. I love the gathering of Fall, the enjoyment of the fruits of Summers' labors, bringing all the memories home.

Welcome Fall!

James

James gave Anna a wet willy during church.

He woke up in the wee hours of the morning crying because he wanted to put on his monkey suit.

Lucky for him, he is too cute to be upset at.

All Black and Blue

James is three for three this week. I wonder what will happen tomorrow. Maybe I'll wrap him up in foam tonight before bed so he is padded from the get go tomorrow.

Two Little Monkeys...

Chicken Little

We went to a park canopied by evergreens. Anna was wrapped on to me, peacefully slumbering when an acorn pelted her on the head. She woke up screaming...maybe baby yelling...maybe even baby cursing. I felt so bad. It broke the skin on her once unblemished noggin.

An Apple A Day

I took the kiddos apple picking.
We had already picked 18 lbs of them 2 weeks ago.
But it is just so fun and fallish.

Fireflies

I usually take the boys shoe shopping solo mio. I have purposefully avoided tennis shoes with characters and/or lights on them. The boys never knew they were deprived. Since our last shoe shopping trip, with Christian, things have changed.

Christian tkok them straight to the light-up shoes and sold the boys hard on them (not that light-up shoes need any selling to a two and five year old). While I'm watching the scene of my kids running up and down the store aisle giggling at the sight of blinking lights on their feet unfold, I'm thinking,

"How could Christian do that? How could he introduce them into this new world of tennis shoes? Now, we will never be able to go back to the normal ones."

But they love them so.

Impromptu Indoor Camping

Bear hunt backpack.

Ready for bed

What happened when I sent them to make their beds.

General Conference Weekend

It was General Conference weekend. I love General Conference weekend! Let me explain why.

It starts with a sparkling house.
I always deep clean my house right before conference.
I'm talking like rolled up sleeves, hands and knees, several hours clean.
I'm not messin' around.
This time was no different.
And then I buy fresh flowers...just for the added sparkle.

I also decorated for fall and planned some good meals for the weekend.



Yum!

Here is our basket of treats, crafts, and other church related activities.
Eight hours of talks is no walk in the park with young kids.
We even made sure the kids worked and ran around beforehand.

I loved President Uchtdorf's talk on simple living.
I also loved Elder Christofferson's talk on living a consecrated life.
I think I really liked Elder Scott's talk,

but, everyone started to get a little restless and loud around here.
So Christian mummified them.

I'm just glad all the talks are available to read again later.

And Anna got a new hair accessory.

What a great weekend.