Happy Birthday

Happy 33rd Birthday Mike!

Birth Announcements

I am sending out birth announcements this week. If there is a chance I do not have your mailing address please email it to me. My email is lmhmarion@hotmail.com.

For Laura

Laura just sent a text telling us to post more pictures of Elsie Anne. Tonight Elsie turned six weeks. Here are some interesting number facts. Elsie is the 41st grandchild in the Marion family and 21st in the Hawkes family. Before Elsie's birth, there were 20 Marion grandsons and 20 Marion granddaughters. She also broke the tie of 10 Hawkes grandsons to 10 Hawkes granddaughters.

In these photos, Elsie is wearing her cute new hair bow from Aunt Diane and lying on her beautiful quilt from Grandma Hawkes. Elsie is smiling now on a more consistent basis. We really love her.

Sisters

First Day of School

The boys on their 75 yard walk to school.

"Who do you see in the coconut tree?" Lucas!!!

Lucas got this beautiful shiner while wrestling Isaac down the stairs yesterday.

Ariel was feeling a little left out this morning while the boys were packing their lunches into their backpacks. I had not even thought of making one for Ariel. Mistake. Isaac noticed and ran and grabbed Lucas' old backpack for her to wear to school. That meant a lot to her.

Ariel's friend Solenne on their way to the park. Solenne too lost a big brother/best friend to all day kindergarten today.

She just can't get enough

Ariel just cannot get enough of Elsie. Ariel wants to "hold it" or "hold that " all day. She calls her cute baby, little sister and Elsie. Whenever Ariel slips out of sight, I have to beeline to Elsie's bassinet or my bed and it is guaranteed that Ariel is there giving her kisses or something. Of course, this is always during Elsie's naps when I am trying to get other things done. Just to name a few incidents: Ariel was brushing Elsie's hair with a little sponge brush they gave us at the hospital. The sponge was soaking wet and at this point so was Elsie's hair and bedding. Ariel crushed tortilla chips and put them on the tray on the baby swing for Elsie to eat. She gave Elsie money - I found a quarter in the crease of Elsie's neck. I have to be a very quick and observant mother hen but Ariel still seems to find Elsie at unsupervised moments before I notice.

Back to School Night

My blog is acting up. These pictures are in random order and the underlining will not stop. Lucas is thrilled about kindergarten and very excited he and Lola from 4K will be in the same class again.

Isaac is now a cool 3rd grader and it shows.

Survivor Man

Isaac's very favorite show is Survivor Man. Lucas tolerates it. But when it comes to acting out Survivor Man challenges on the dirt mountain in their back yard, they both love it.
This mountain is steep and rugged enough to pose a real challenge, especially after a downpour.
Here, Isaac shouts to Lucas, far below, tips to help him make it up the scariest cliff.
Far below is a dried up stream bed.
Fortunately, Grandma & Ariel discovered an access road up the back side. While they wait for the boys to reach the summit, Ariel collects rocks in her plastic bottle...
And Grandma enjoys the Kodak moments.
Here Isaac sits on the edge of a steep ledge eyeing the situation.

Lucas has the eye of the tiger when it comes to survival.

Once up on the mesa, a celebration is in order.
The zoom lens makes the Clinic seem much closer than it really is.
As a rain storm moves in, we know we only have minutes to make it home.
The boys climb back down the hill to the field below.
And race us home.

Elsie's 1st outting

Elsie's 1st outting was a stroller walk to Culver's on Friday evening. The temp was 60 degrees when we started and had fallen to 53 degrees 1/2 an hour later as we walked home. Thank goodness Elsie has a Swedish heritage and a New Zealand sheepskin. Both girls loved the adventure.

Home Cooking

Lucas calls himself a chef and gets upset if Webkins has a cooking class without him. Baking is his favorite pasttime.
Today everyone helped make cupcakes from beginning to end.
Mike finished his dinner while the kids put the finishing touches on dessert.

Loved baby

Elsie cuddling with grandma and wearing cute little outfit from my cousin Sarah