The Alpine Hat

Who wore it best?

 

The Day Elisabeth Turned Eight!

The annual birthday crown.

Cupcakes made with love by her big sisters.

A gift with an 'E'.

A bucket full of binkies.

 

Let the celebration begin!

 

Opening the gift.

(With a little assistance.)

And blowing out the candle.

(Once again, with a little assistance.) 

And that's how a Queen turns 8!

 

It's Elisabeth's Birthday!!!

A peek at 
the calendar, 

the 24th is 

the date.

Why yes, 
oh yes, 

Elisabeth 
is eight! 

  

Happy Birthday, Elisabeth

You are my miracle!

The Return of Aunt Jennifer

After two years away, Aunt Jennifer arrived back in Washington on Saturday night.

It was her first time meeting Elsa:

Everyone loves Aunt Jennifer!!!

And naturally, as soon as we got to the house, Jennifer went in and scooped Elisabeth up out of bed!

The next morning, they did some proper snuggling:

Then off to Badger Mountain for the FINAL prep hike before climbing Mt. St. Helens...

 

...tomorrow!!!

A Post About...

Scooters 

&

Smooches.

 

Let There Be Music!

I thrive on order.

Everything neat and tidy.

Everything in its place.

The music parlor, for the past week or so, has been anything but.

There have been...

Instruments laying around.

 

Piles of records.

 

Stacks of music books on the floor and shoved in a disorderly mess on the shelf.

 

Compositions laying about.

 

Xylophone keys and my hiking hat strewn onto the organ bench (and floor).

 

It is the kind of disorder that I hate. The kind of thing that drives me nuts.

Usually.

But for some crazy reason, when I went in to tidy it yesterday, I actually sort of liked it.

Not the disorder necessarily, but the evidence that this was a room that was used. Music is being made in here. My children come here and write songs, practice instruments, listen to records. In a world that is so focused on electronics, it is rather refreshing, I'd say.

 

Let there be music!

#keepongrowing

I've noticed a trend lately, people posting pictures of their children and using hashtags like,

#stopgrowing

#freezetime

#growingtoofast

And when I read those hashtags or other like-minded ones I think,  

'What? Why would you want that?" 

I love sitting in a moment - like the one pictured above - and soaking it right up, thinking, 'This is life right here and right now,' but I would never want to stay in it forever...the journey is too fun! Watching my children grow and discover who they are and what they are capable of is extremely rewarding. Indeed, it's the best part of parenting.

The childhood years are quickly slipping away. I thought I would mourn the loss, but on the contrary, I find myself simply grateful to witness it and ever so excited to see what the future holds.

So I say...

#keepongrowing

 

When Big Sister Gets Home From the Gym...

Monday's are long for Lorelai. She goes to school early and then to the gym after school until 8 pm. By the time she gets home she is exhausted, and rightfully so. But despite the exhaustion, I watched last night as she went straight in to see Elisabeth who was asleep in bed.

As she snuggled in close and whispered sweet things to her sister, Elisabeth stirred...

 

Then she turned towards Lorelai...

And gently lifted her hand and rested it on Lorelai's face.

And then my heart melted.

The First Day ~ 2015

Back-To-School

I present to you...

Elisabeth Elva

~2nd grade~

Elsa Lelise

~ 2nd Grade ~ 

 

Lorelai Leigh

~ 5th grade ~

 

 

Alexandra Louise

~ 7th grade ~

 

~ My four daughters ~ 

 

Study hard, girls. 

The world awaits you!