awwwhhhh...

We had supper at the gazebo tonight. After we ate, we played one of our favorite family games, "The 3 Game." One person picks a theme or a topic and each person has to name 3 things related to that theme without repeating what anyone else has said. I think we love it because you can play it anywhere and it never requires any dice or marbles or pieces that will get stolen and ripped up by the little people at our house! Anyway, we had fun with this for awhile and then I changed things up. Spinning off of my biblestudy icebreaker today, I asked.... "What is the best gift you've ever received?" Without missing a beat, Claire said, "I know! I'll go! My mom and Jesus." Awwwhhhh.... Then it was Ella's turn. Her answer? "My brothers." Double awwwhhhh.... How blessed I am to be the mom of these two sweet girls.

they're back!

We went to the lake last night to check for swans, armed with frozen bread crusts just in case...but they weren't there. The kids threw all the bread in the water to entice them in case they had flown away. Well, they may have found the bread as Connie, my neighbor, called during naptime to tell me the swans were at the lake! I grabbed my camera, switched out lens' and hiked to the lake for a swan photoshoot. I was looking for the classic shot with swans swimming, fall colors behind, & possibly reflections.... Not to be today, folks! These things were FEARLESS! There were 2 adults and 3 cygnets and they were looking to be fed. They came within one foot of me and I could have pet them, but that was a bit out of my comfort zone. I hiked back to the house and came back with bread & popcorn to feed my new friends. When the girls got home & the boys woke up, we fed them some more. Maybe we are why they are fearless!


Who knew swan feet were this huge?

BIG fun

The kids have been having BIG fun outside lately. What do you think of the giant photos?!! Thanks Molly!

another sign

Another sign that fall is here is the arrival of a box of crab apples from my mom & dad's tree on the farm. This box came last week and the kids and I have been gobbling them up. One bite brings back so many memories! They're not your usual crab apples....so tasty! Thanks for sending these every year, Mom:)

fall

Fall is here indeed...The girls always seem to find interesting creatures at the turn of each season. Here's a cute little frog that they are CERTAIN will hibernate in our aquarium on the porch. They've had him for 3 weeks and counting...who knows?!! Ella allowed froggy to help her with spelling here. Another sign of fall...homework!
I've learned that the fall mushrooms of Alaska are fairy-tale like. Huge & colorful!
My least favorite thing about fall is the return of SOCKS. Oh, how I dislike folding these things! I put it off as long as I can and a laundry basket full of socks is a common sight around here. 83 pairs of socks on this job. Phew. How much longer until it's flip-flop weather again?

And the fair.

Fireweed gone to cotton. Yep, summer's over.