Rachel 

 

 

Lena arrived from Germany last Sunday to stay with us for three months. She will study English here, take in the sights, and hopefully teach us some German (since, um, we don't know anyone else who could do that for us). She has been such a lovely addition to our family, she is so very sweet and considerate and helpful and extremely perceptive, and it is really interesting to see the boys interact with her. She has also seen the transformation in Lilli in the last week (and maybe helped it along a bit, with all the love and petting she has given her). Lilli is seemingly back to her old self, we will have to see if the tests tomorrow agree. The four humans in our immediate family were all sick this week, so we weren't our brightest and best selves for Lena, but even so, she seemed to enjoy her time with us as much as we have enjoyed having her with us. It will be fun to see what we all learn from each other.

 

Shannon

This image is timeless and could have been taken and many different beaches and all different ages. These two have a bond that is theirs and theirs alone. And when the walls fall away and the outdoors draw them in they have stories and details that delight them for hours. 

Tabitha

Growing up and helping out.  Sometimes things that seem impossible
(crack open eggs) turn out to be very possible after all.

Helen

 

(and a part of me is always thrilled when we head out en masse with our tall boys swirling around and the still-hand-holding smaller girls right here. i watch the faces of those around us: counting heads, looking at our jumbled posse which includes the blue haired girl and the dainty japanese gal and feeling the movement that is us, making our way through our lives)

 

 

Kelly

 

We were the first ones at the local fair on Friday afternoon. For a while, we had the entire midway to ourselves. It was a warm night, there were no line ups, the mini donuts were warm, the carnies were generous, and for 7 hours these two spun round and round. First ones in, last ones out!