Tooth Fairy on the Brink

Joseph turns 9 tomorrow.  This morning before church he told me that he has discovered that “Mom used to collect teeth when she was a little girl.” 

“Oh really?  How do you know that?”

“Oh, I just found it out.”

Ah, the sweet innocence of children.  I’m sure it never crossed his mind that what he found while snooping around could be his own or his siblings’ teeth that we might have kept.

Poor Rebecca must have never had a visit from the tooth fairy if she collected all of her teeth as a little girl!

Girls at the Nutcracker

A few months ago Rebecca said she wanted to take her girls to the Nutcracker.  What a great idea!  We got 4 tickets and invited our awesome neighbor Patricia.

All of the princesses got dolled up and even wore lip gloss!  The two little girls wore their new Christmas dresses (thanks Grandma Boss!).

 

And of course we had to spin before we left.

 

 

Everyone loved it!  Eden and Miriam were entranced!

 

Awesome Musicians

Everyone seems to be enjoying their instruments.  Hannah got a new violin over the summer and started on private lessons.  Her teacher, Mrs. Boas (bows--ha! a violin teacher!) only charges $20 for an hour-long lesson.  Hannah has improved a TON.  She had a concert last week in her junior high school gym.  Since Christmas break started, she has been practicing a few hours every day, just because she wants to.  It is amazing.

 

Peter is playing the cello for the second year.  He also had a concert last week, held at the high school.  He commented how nice it was for us to go to "Peter's Concert," instead of "Hannah's Concert" or "Hannah and Peter's Concert."  He felt very important.  He is one of three cellists and is considering moving to the Bass next year.

 



Peter is 2nd to the right of the conductor

Joseph got a mini guitar last Christmas, started taking lessons from a teenager in our ward in May and got a new, full-size guitar in October.  The new guitar has had a remarkable effect on our family.  Joseph is practicing more.  Alan has also started to learn.  Hannah plinks at it.  And Miriam has gotten in on the action with the now available mini guitar.  (Sorry no pictures of Alan or Joseph)

 

Fall in Bothell includes...

...the Canyon Creek Walk-a-thon

...some serious leaf jumping

 ...naps after church

...fall colors in the backyard

...and three birthdays!

Part of growing up....

Hannah has dreamed of this day and is thrilled that it has finally come......

She got to choose the design of her new retainer that she has to wear ALL THE TIME except while eating and brushing her teeth!   Her bands are purple and gold to support the Huskies!!

There was no sugar coating on Alan's and my part.  We told her how much they would hurt and how much we didn't like them and it did nothing to discourage her!  She came out grinning from ear to ear. 

She will need to relearn how to talk with her mouth full. It's funny to listen and to watch her try to talk!  So fun, all part of growing up!  I wonder how long this honeymoon stage will last?

12 years ago.....

12 years ago my life changed forever.....never to go back to the way it was.  It was a day that my sweet baby girl came into my life.  She was adorable and perfect!  Alan and I had never experienced that depth of love until that day.

Hannah is smart, funny, happy, talented, kind, thoughtful, loving, helpful, beautiful and is blossoming into such a lovely women.  What a joy she has been to our lives! 

I love you Hannah!  You have given my life meaning and purpose....Thank you for sharing your light with me and everyone you meet!

First Day of School

Eden and Miriam wanted in on the action too!

 My school kids are growing up!  Joseph is in 2nd, Peter in 4th, Hannah in 6th!  And yes I cut Peter's hair....yes it is a mohawk....yes it will be cut before church on Sunday!

 Taking our secret gate!!  Thanks Alan for installing it....so much time has been saved by having it!

 This year Hannah is old enough to be a crossing guard and she couldn't be more thrilled!  She takes her job very seriously!

Home again....home again...jiggity jig!!

Mt Saint Helens

This was such a fun experience to be able to go to Mount St. Helens and see how it has changed.  I went when I was living in WA as a kid and it looks so different.  When I went before there were little trees that now have 20 years growth to them.  Over 8 million trees were planted after the eruption.  This is all Hannah wanted to do this summer so we made it our last summer fling!  Well worth the trip!

 This Picture has a really funny story associated with it that caused Rebecca a huge bruise and a funny limp because she forgot how gravity worked!!  We have Mt. Rainier in the background of this beautiful farm scape.

 The trees that you see were all wiped out when Mount St. Helens blew in 1980.  Crazy to think of the destruction that such a beautiful majestic place can have in a matter of minutes!

 You can see the path the landslide took.

 We are a happy family!  Look at Alan's hat....I LOVE it!  It looks fabulous on him, and fits his personality perfectly!

 Closer to the mountain you can still see where the trees were just blown over and still lay there in neat rows.

 Had to get this picture with the fallen tree and the mountain in the background!

The forest is kind of fake looking because everything is the same size and so uniform instead of the diversity of an old forest that once was here.