Memory keeper

Look at what Hannah wrote at school today.


"I wonder how Sylvester died. It is sad. I love Sylvester. I miss Sylvester."

Yeah, that was when she was barely 3.

Hannah starts First Grade (delayed)

Hannah started school on August 30th -- that is 11 school days ago. However, on that day it was slightly crazy, so we were not able to take any good pictures. Right before she went in the classroom I snapped these pictures on my phone, but they left me wanting more, especially after Abby's super cute photo shoot.

So, we decided to restage the first day of school.

We dressed in the same outfit and acted like it was the first day of school. I figure when she is 40, she won't care if it is day 1 or day 9 of 1st grade. Right? Or should I just now stop mentioning the fact that this happened after the fact?

I am quite pleased with the results. But a little baffled by this girl. I mean, I have a little girl named Hannah. I remember when she was born. I remember when she toddled about. I remember writing down every word she said. But this? This is not a little girl. This is a lovely young lady who thoughtfully helps out the special needs kids in her class, who likes to be her teacher's helper, who wrote just recently that "now that I am a big girl, I help out my baby sister. I read to my sister." This young lady dreams of tackling chapter books (her sights are set on Junie B. Jones) and was the fastest girl in her class when they did a running test. This young lady resembles my little girl, but definitely is not a little girl anymore. I must admit, I can't wait to see who she grows to be. We are in for a wild ride.

Bountiful harvest

Our garden had a rather sluggish start (thanks a lot June! couldn't you have been just a tad nicer?!) but has picked up speed. I find it quite unfair that my gardening intensive time is either a) planting in the midst of school ending or b)harvesting in the midst of school starting. I'd much prefer my time spent in c) enjoying summer break. Oh well...


Um, what do I do with all of this?? (besides bless other people with it?)


Siamese twin yellow squash? who knew?



Raspberry crisp made entirely out of our garden raspberries. Well, two days of harvest of our raspberries. In another two days I should be able to make a new one. Our raspberries are crazy!

Upcoming--what do you do with 10 butternut squashes?

Abby Starts Preschool! (again)

After having to wait a week patiently (so sad that preschool starts a week after the elementary school), Miss Abby got to start preschool last week!

I think it is safe to say she was happy. This year Abby gets to be in a class with many of friends (or to put it more accurately, kids of our family's friends who she would see outside of the classroom and who she'll actually start school with). We, and Abby, are so excited! We had to take the opportunity to take some good sisters pictures. We love the backpacks! Two years old and going strong. I think I figured out that next year they'll each need to move up a size, but I'm pretty impressed with these. I just love this picture! I don't often think that Abby looks particularly like either of us. Unlike Hannah, I've always seen Abby as completely uniquely Abby. But this picture below made me think of a picture that I had of myself at, what I'm guessing, about the same age.

I'm surprised by the similarities.