Bowling... down memory lane.

So, Daddy has an old fashion camera... one that takes film and it finally got developed a few days ago. The following picture was captured in Sept/2007 during the first OWLY (youth group) event for the 2007-2008 school year.

Daddy giving Hannah her first bowling lesson.

Lazy Morning at the Beach

Daddy had the day off and walked with Hannah to the nearby beach. Hannah had fun with all the rocks and chasing daddy.

Hannah also took time to sit and watch the waves roll onto the beach.

Lopez Island

Hannah helped Mommy this week with a youth trip to Lopez Island. We spent several days on the island helping with some yard work and upkeep at a house and also a church. The kids loved having Hannah along, and she thought it was great to have so many people making a fuss over her :) Matt was able to join us on our last day there for some sightseeing before we loaded back up on the ferry and sailed for the mainland. Overall it was a great trip!

Hannah helped the kids with the yard work by taking sticks OUT of the bag. . . . .
Vroom vroom - - she's ready to ride!
Getting a taste of the salty air at Agate Beach.

Feeling the wind in her hair on the ferry.

18 Months

I can't believe Hannah is already 1 1/2 years old!! I've been trying to get a good 18 month picture, but I'll have to keep trying and post it later :) She's just too busy exploring the world and having adventures to bother sitting still for the camera!
Hannah's love of baby dolls has only grown, and she manages to find them- and collect them- wherever we go. She's come as close to mastering a spoon and fork as I think any toddler really can, and loves feeding herself a variety of foods - her favorites are still pasta and mashed potatoes (who can blame her) although peanut butter sandwiches are right up there. Running is always better than walking, but we've finally convinced her that holding our hands in parking lots is acceptable (and the rule). Hannah has taken after her Aunt Manda - she is a bag lady!! She's crazy for purses, backpacks, gift bags, any kind of bag. . . . . I should have known that the shoe fetish would naturally lead to handbags :)
Hannah has officially moved into her "big girl room" - the pretty purple room painted by Grandpa Gehry and Daddy. Her crib is in there along with the mattresses for what will be her bunkbeds (they will be here in a few more weeks) and her polk-a-dot bean bag chairs (the highlight of the room if you ask Hannah). Our plan is to keep her in her crib for the remainder of the year, but we're hoping she's ready to make the switch to her bed in time for the new baby to move out of the bassinette :)
This past week we had VBS, and Hannah spent her days in the nursery while I worked with the preschoolers. The girls watching Hannah were delighted with how easy-going and independent she is, and she charmed everyone she met! She loved leading the girls on wild tours of the church, and had so much fun singing and dancing during the opening and closing worship times each day.
Tomorrow afternoon Hannah and I will be leaving for a short service project trip with the youth group. We'll be heading to Lopez Island for a few days and are looking forward working hard and having fun!
I will continue to try to take a decent 18 month picture of Hannah for everyone - and I will make sure to post some new pictures when we get back from our trip :)

The Berry Farm

We spent a couple of days this last week at McPhail's Berry Farm. We all went berry picking on Matt's day off this week, and then Hannah and I went back for the annual Waffle Feed on the 4th.

We gave Hannah her own bucket and set her loose in the strawberry patch - I certainly didn't expect her to fill the bucket, but I also didn't think she'd catch on to eatting the berries so quickly! She watched me pick one berry and toss it into the bucket, and wasted no time finding her own yummy fruit and tossing it into her mouth :) She did figure out that she could store berries in her bucket, but they never stayed there for very long!



We met some friends at the Waffle Feed and enjoyed eatting breakfast with them. Hannah LOVED the waffles, and ate every bite! Then she and Grace headed over to the kiddie train for a ride around the berry patch.

Hannah was excited about the train ride, but Grace wasn't so sure. . . .
She finally got in, but wanted right out and ended up not going with Hannah for a ride.
Hannah, however, loved the train so much that she went around twice!

Sunny Weather!

Summer is finally here!! The warm weather is a welcome change, and we have had so much fun playing outside and finding ways to stay cool :) Hannah loves to help take care of the flowers - she "waters" them - or at least waters near them - on a daily basis. She has also learned to bring me her sunscreen when she wans to play outside - smart baby!

One thing we've learned that Hannah doesn't like is the sprinkler . . . .

. . . . . however the kiddie pool is nothing but fun! :)


We met some friends at Cornwall Park to play in the water.

Remember what I said about the sprinklers. . . . .
. . . . it applies here too! She was ok until it sprayed up in her face, and then she wasn't so sure she wanted to play anymore.

Summer Visitors

I know it's been too long since we've put up new pictures, especially since we have so many to post - Sorry! What can I say, the warm weather has gone straight to our heads and we've been too busy enjoying the sunshine to sit in front of the computer :)

We had visitors at the end of June - Grandma and Grandpa Sower came to play with Hannah, and we convinced Grandpa to help with some house projects while they were here :) Hannah had a lot of fun with our guests, and showed them all of her favorite hangouts.

We spent an afternoon with the farm animals at Hovander park, where Hannah enjoyed feeding the sheep some carrots.
After visiting the animals we took a stroll to the fragrance gardens at Tenant Lake - Hannah loved the pretty flowers.

Hannah "taught" Grandma Sower how to blow bubbles - - she (Hannah) knows to purse her lips in front of the wand, but hasn't quite figured out to blow. . . . . .

Hanging out on the porch after church.
Hannah "walking" the dog with Daddy.
We took a day trip down to the Woodland Park Zoo, and Hannah loved running around and looking at all the animals!

We were so glad Matt's parents were able to come out and play for the week! Everyone had a great time :)