Scorching September is Here!

Summer here always goes out with a bang. Today should be about 100. Lovely. Though, despite my complaining, this has been an uncharacteristically mild summer of which we've enjoyed many a park day, evenings spent sitting outside on the deck watching the kids play while I read and Jason smokes a cigar, some swimming, and ice cream.

James is busy being a rambunctious boy; perpetually hungry and only to be satisfied with an endless supply of yogurt, bananas, and apple sauce. In steady ten minute intervals he shouts at us, "OWEEE!" We couldn't figure out why he kept saying that for a while until one day he pointed to the pantry and we learned that OWEE = hungry. He's shoveling yogurt into his mouth right now as I type. You can imagine the mess he leaves smeared on the table.

Hannah has been continuing her ice skating lessons, and I must say, I am impressed with the progress she has made. She's getting much more comfortable on the ice and skates unassisted forwards, backwards, and can go in a circle. So, my three year old has surpassed me in her skating skills.

We've also been doing lots of reading, library trips, coloring, drawing, and learning to write. I had tried to teach her to write the alphabet once before and that ended badly. It involved the letter B and a temper tantrum that didn't come from Hannah but ME! ACK! So I told myself to chill and back off, and then when I read THIS book, and it didn't recommend teaching writing until after reading, I felt much better and less of a hopeless failure. But then one day she was playing with her magnadoodle and busted out a bunch of letters all nonchalant. "Look Mom, I can draw a J!" So we're going with flow and having fun writing with chalk on the driveway and stuff like that.

Hannah had the special honor of being a flower girl for our dear friend Matt's (who is James' Godfather) wedding to his beautiful new bride Teri. As I curled her hair and got her ready, and then watched her walk down the aisle, I couldn't help but feel like a stage mom. We bribed her with a toy and Jason told her, "Just remember this: Walk down the aisle. Throw the flowers. Get a toy." We all said it out loud together ten times. She did succeed with the much appreciated help of her Godmother walking down with her - Thanks again Maria!

The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and the reception was where Jason and I got married and had our reception. It was so fun to see old friends and visit and gab and then dance like monkeys. Hannah, who was adamantly opposed to any dancing warmed up rather quickly and had to be dragged from the dance floor when it was time to go home. To his many admirer's disappointment, my sweet parents picked up James at the reception so I could eat my meal in peace and not get potatoes au gratin all over my dress, and so I would not have to spend the entire evening guarding the exits. So sorry people, mama needs a break sometimes!

So here is us being fancy in the gorgeous church.

OH! And three announcements for those of you who don't know already:

1. We are expecting our third little one come the end of February.

2. We are minivan shopping. I'm all about stow and go seating.

3. We get to stay in our house! (We had one of those rotten ARM loans that was bout to go berserk on us, and we were able to get a loan modification - Thank you Lord and thank you Mr. Attorney at Law.