Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Fall Family Potpourri

As Becca alluded to earlier, we love company here at the farm. We were so honored to have Nathan and Barbara and their beautiful girls visit last weekend. Here for your enjoyment are just a few of the shenanigans - as you can see, Sanne more than holds her own with the boys, and Ivy is quite possibly the sweetest, most laid back baby ever. (Although I do wonder what she's thinking in the shot with me. She looks skeptical.)












Good Fortune

It does not escape me that we are fortunate. For many, many reasons. But today, I feel the good fortune of having the opportunity and the freedom to go away to cabins and getaways just hours from home. Perhaps our communal lifestyle demands more time away on my part - to be together as an individual family or couple. But regardless of our situation, we are deeply fortunate for many trips over the past months and years to Golden Lake, Lake Superior, Big Pine Lake, friends' homes, family gatherings, and family vacations.

And on the other end of the spectrum, we have the good fortune of sharing our farm home with friends and family throughout the year, every season. Our guest bedroom is one of the most well-used rooms in our home. I love that the kids have woken up to (and awakened) one friend or another, one grandparent or aunt or uncle or another, opening that guestroom door. And this is their normal. I love this.

Let me share some photos of the joy brought to us from these gatherings and these going aways over the past few weeks.

On the trampoline at Dan's cabin on Lake Superior

Family hike at Tettegouche State Park on Lake Superior

Climbing the rock shore on Superior

Happy to be trampoline-ing!

Great Grandma holds Ivy on baby's first visit to the farm

Flock of grandchildren!

Barbara & Ivy at Lostview

With GrandMary & Nana for a day at Minnehaha Falls

Listening to music at the park with GrandMary

Loving Phelan

Monday, September 13, 2010

Birthday Season

It's hard to believe I'm posting photos from another Ellis-Owain birthday party! This past weekend we celebrated our 4 and 5 year olds with Gaga and Boompa, which included, of course, another amazing birthday cake - Sand Castle! - by my amazing mother.


While Owain patiently waited for his big gift to be assembled (a kid's kitchenette from IKEA, photos to come!), Ellis adorned his new bicycle with bells & balls, even flashing pedals...

This one speaks for itself.
Boompa puts in some time at the wood splitter.
Gaga, best storyteller ever.
...and Phelan at the Ridgeland fair (if the cheese curds sign wasn't a dead giveaway).

Happy birthday, boys! We love you!!

Oranges & Reds

The colors of the coming season...
Monogrammed