tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225847522024-03-12T22:37:47.426-06:00hunts and lulusbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.comBlogger885125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-73660548794609843602013-03-05T11:31:00.000-06:002013-03-06T13:49:40.796-06:00I won't even pretend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know it's been almost a year. It's really a shame. And I'm sorry. But then again, I'm not. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So here are a few things I've been thinking about lately: some more significant than others, but not in a particular order.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1. Having 3 children has been a challenge for me. But I think it is mostly due to the fact that babies are my least favorite life-stage. I don't like it. Am I thankful I can carry my own babies? Absolutely. And I am sad for those who spend years trying and still have not conceived. I am very thankful for my offspring. I am just quite stretched and exhausted at this phase in my life. I do hope I can be an encouragement to young moms in the future who struggle with having children of this age.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2. In spite of my #1, I am reveling in these words from Mumford & Sons: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"So love the one you hold, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And I will be your gold, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To have and to hold."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
3. I think I often am seeking to find a reason to justify my significance in this world. I am just often seeking that in all the wrong places. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
4. I really love the age of 7. Huntleigh continues to surprise me daily. It makes me encouraged that all the time I have spent nurturing and shaping her is not for naught.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
5. The age of 5 is a bit harder for me. I sometimes wish I had a mute button for Lucy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
6. I will not express in truest form how I feel about the age of 1. Instead, I will pour myself a glass of wine. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
7. I just admitted last night that I feel as though I have cooked dinner if I bought a rotisserie chicken for my family on any given night and put some rolls in the oven. Don't judge.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
8. I went to a concert with Josh last week. We are really getting old. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
9. I think so much of living life well is about learning to mourn all of its losses. Losses come in myriad forms, from small to large. And fleshing out those losses with words: angry words, tragic words, desperate words, healing words. I want to push through our natural inclination to stuff our sorries in a sack. I want my kids to know they can live redemptively. This is a process, in which I do not profess to be an expert, but Josh and I certainly do try and try and try again. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
10. I have begun about 10 different blog posts since my last one, right before we went to Hong Kong in May of 2012. I have obviously posted none of them. There is no concise way to talk about that trip. We made it back safely and have begun another year of travel. Just two notes: Our kids were hardly even fazed by a 14+ hour flight. Lucy really wants to go back to try shark fin soup (pretty sure it's illegal in the States) because she wasn't brave enough when we were there. I told her it might be awhile. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e4miZqryKsuIQqylUVDDWp3kO-3xiWYcn588rWmHf3vcPZr2QjDHtNqf1H0tksKsiZO9twRXBrZh3dtf0j6nydNnDhoY_3dIyYF73Yduvu7Fd1SbXEKfMAhlC4sARp7Pg3nuBg/s1600/IMG_1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e4miZqryKsuIQqylUVDDWp3kO-3xiWYcn588rWmHf3vcPZr2QjDHtNqf1H0tksKsiZO9twRXBrZh3dtf0j6nydNnDhoY_3dIyYF73Yduvu7Fd1SbXEKfMAhlC4sARp7Pg3nuBg/s640/IMG_1050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just a little celebration craziness at my parents' 40th wedding anniversary party. I love this picture. I find it to be kind of a funny social experiment. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMnvL0OYJBWoGo6OvRwbQVBKrsk8frMZeAdvlbyyqTRCU_X8v3jafoZzBcuQjGW7kuGZu-Rg7sYB6_k4S6US1GQSFsexkgXz_8M6WEy3AGIgplFgiQcDYex5VNNhL05LFJblk2A/s1600/IMG_0970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMnvL0OYJBWoGo6OvRwbQVBKrsk8frMZeAdvlbyyqTRCU_X8v3jafoZzBcuQjGW7kuGZu-Rg7sYB6_k4S6US1GQSFsexkgXz_8M6WEy3AGIgplFgiQcDYex5VNNhL05LFJblk2A/s640/IMG_0970.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was the girls' school valentine card this year. Priceless. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRyE1rWUrI7f89WC1kgPSb6jgH95GaZ-zxh__n7WHqo4w1kYsL5cpeP03EGRb3GfF7AG0Iy9PpBD-ReszVNsnDjlDaDubApXW_hcjk8NbeMgfjTN39nJFtviuxZ-_KNcqVWgXqQ/s1600/IMG_0660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRyE1rWUrI7f89WC1kgPSb6jgH95GaZ-zxh__n7WHqo4w1kYsL5cpeP03EGRb3GfF7AG0Iy9PpBD-ReszVNsnDjlDaDubApXW_hcjk8NbeMgfjTN39nJFtviuxZ-_KNcqVWgXqQ/s640/IMG_0660.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And my baby's first birthday. She had a bit of a black eye under her left eye. But, I think, still beautiful as ever. She has been the most amazing addition to our family. </div>
<br />sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-57115419514573789572012-05-25T07:28:00.002-06:002012-05-25T07:33:14.982-06:00anchors away<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7267337586/" title="IMG_2468 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2468" height="422" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7267337586_811ca6b97e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
In just a few short hours, our family is embarking upon our biggest adventure to date. I am proud/excited/nervous/happy to say that we are adventuring back to Hong Kong! When we first began discussions about this trip, it was way back in January, so I feel like we have (in a way) been preparing since that time. Josh told me he had to do some extensive business travel in Asia and it would have meant him leaving us for over 2 weeks. Due to some other longer-term travel we'll be taking later this year, we toyed with the idea of me going to China with him and brining Huntleigh with us. But I didn't want to leave the baby for that long...so we said we'd take her. But could we leave Lucy behind? How could we leave Lucy?! Okay. Let's go as a family of 5. We're ready for it. This is what we value as a family: let's begin to put it into practice. Travel is <i>never</i> easy, but it is will change your life, if you allow it.</div>
<div align="center">The reason this trip is so meaningful to us is because Hong Kong was Josh's and my first place we built a home together after we got married. Josh did business there for 2 years and during that time God stretched and pulled us, He put us into a fire and sustained us, He sharpened and refined us, He built a solid foundation for us to be the team that we continue to strive to be. Our youthful sense of adventure could never have even processed how shaping and influential our time in Hong Kong would be for us and for our (at that time) future children. We lived there when we were ages 25-27 and here we are, 10 years later, living out the work God began in us while we were there.</div>
<div align="center">I am excited to take my children to Hong Kong today. I cannot wait to see so many of our friends who still live there and who were powerfully influential in our young lives! I am excited for our kids to meet those people...and their children. I am excited to do this flight with our kids: 16 hours from Chicago. We would covet your prayers. I am excited to connect Hong Kong to YOU, my readers, through the camera and through word, something I wish I had done <i>whilst</i> living there, but, oh well. Here's my second chance! I will try to faithfully blog while I'm there, since I'm assuming I'll be up in the middle of the night with children who are jetlagging! Thank you so much to everyone who so faithfully served me this week, both with physical presence or just checking in on me to let me know they were praying for me or calling me to see if they could bring me anything. I felt so loved this week! Mom, Tina, Janet, Karlee, Hannah, Leslie, JennyLark, Cary, Jd, Nin, Mollie, Emmie...thank you!</div>
<div align="center">Here we go!!</div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-90481936566783282652012-05-20T08:32:00.001-06:002012-05-20T08:32:42.441-06:00mother's day and more<div align="center">
We have a serious drooling problem around here.</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233480124/" title="droolers by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="droolers" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7233480124_a82e3afd81_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Mother's Day was really fun for me this year. This is probably the best picture of me and the three, which isn't really saying much, since Lucy and Polly are completely disinterested in the camera. Oh well. It's just a memory. And memories are always imperfect, at best. Even the best of memories. I love being a mom. It's exhausting, exhilarating, humbling, eye-opening.</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233458398/" title="mother's day 2012 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="mother's day 2012" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7233458398_9b57f6968d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
And I'm really thankful for my own mom who loves me well as an adult and humbles me with her unending willingness to serve me. She is such an example of Christ to me. I love you mom! You are such a faithful woman! I am so thankful my children have you in their lives.</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233555142/" title="i love my mom by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="i love my mom" height="445" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8002/7233555142_142a9ab9aa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">I went on Lucy's end of the year field trip to Tilles Park and we had a little girls' photo shoot afterward. They were working the camera. Lucy called all the shots. This was "be cute and smile":</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233487312/" title="3K girls by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5449/7233487312_9564b58274_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="3K girls"></a></div>
<div align="center">this was "pouty face/be a grouch" (or in Eden's case, "just growl"): In my opinion, Winnie wins best pouty face....</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233486362/" title="grouchy girls by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7233486362_0d869021b3_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="grouchy girls"></a></div>
<div align="center">and this was "go crazy/let's have a girl party": I think this photo is a somewhat actual foreshadowing of what slumber parties will probably look like in the near future....yikes.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233485774/" title="girl party by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/7233485774_58874faf96_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="girl party"></a></div>
<div align="center">Lucy with Mrs. Heinemann: her loving, tender, shepherding 3K teacher. We love Mrs. Heinemann! I can't wait for Polly to have Mrs. Heinemann in just a few short years! This was a super great year in 3K for Lucy!</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7233485034/" title="Lu and Mrs. Heinemann by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7233485034_abc024e165_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Lu and Mrs. Heinemann"></a></div>
sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-36086273734883045322012-05-15T22:23:00.000-06:002012-05-15T22:23:02.811-06:00in the not so distant past<div align="center">
Life has literally been <i>flying</i> by. I am sometimes overwhelmed, but truthfully, my heart is full and happy. I love that the Lord gave us Polly. She is such an amazing addition to our family. These are the pictorial memories from our life lately: This was her baptism at 6 weeks. It was important to me to keep in the tradition of baptizing Polly at 6 weeks, seeing as we did the same with both <a href="http://wingsforhuntleigh.blogspot.com/2005/12/huntleighs-baptism.html">Hunts</a> and <a href="http://wingsforhuntleigh.blogspot.com/2008/02/covenant-child.html">Lucy</a>. I love watching my children be baptized. Those are precious, precious memories to me.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207094260/" title="IMG_1905 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1905" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7207094260_abbcddd3f6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Pop and B took a little princess and a cowgirl to get some fun new cowboy boots. They came home with 4 new pairs. Such a fun day for all of them!</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207104876/" title="IMG_1931 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1931" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8008/7207104876_025c6b241e_z.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div align="center">We took a zoo trip with Poppa and Yia Yia. The penguin house was super stinky as always.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207107330/" title="IMG_1947 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1947" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7207107330_6fcdc0b4e4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">We celebrated Valentine's Day in Palm Desert, California. It was such a great family trip!</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207109976/" title="IMG_2010 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2010" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7207109976_cca0b25e5c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">While in California, we took a day trip to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm">Joshua Tree</a> National Park. I'm so glad we carved out time to experience the place. Just fascinating.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207112610/" title="IMG_2027 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2027" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7207112610_b2ae9e9f98_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">I am ashamed to admit that this is the very outfit Huntleigh wore into the Park. I guess I really didn't know what to expect, and I certainly did not expect it to be as cold of a day as it was. We made a quick detour to an odd little souvenir shop where I bought this ridiculous purple Yucca tree sweatshirt and hippie hat. The aviator sunglasses really pull the outfit together, though. I'm just going to blame these choices on sleep deprivation. I had a 2-month old baby.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207115074/" title="IMG_2033 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2033" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5198/7207115074_97e38d5642_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div align="center">I love these two. Lucy's outfit was equally as ridiculous, albeit slightly more subtle in its coloration.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207117598/" title="IMG_2048 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2048" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5080/7207117598_bf0a944c23_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Here's the littlest babe, back in Saint Louis, going on 3 1/2 months old. I purchased this flowery little sleeper at Target after her blowout poop while I was shopping there. I literally had to carry her around the store naked (in a diaper, of course) while searching for an outfit in which to put her. I just pretended like no one was watching me, even though I am <i>confident</i> I was receiving glares from strangers. I am an underprepared mom. So what?! At least I had one diaper left for her.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207121594/" title="IMG_2235 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2235" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7207121594_63b45c1f6d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">In March, we took an unexpected trip to Florida during the girls' spring break. It was so much fun. This picture was taken on the girls' first fishing trip in a flats boat. There is little my husband loves more than fishing in a Florida flats boat.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207127032/" title="IMG_2284 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2284" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7207127032_0b7db70217_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">By the end of our fishing day, Hunts had gotten brave enough to touch the bait fish with her bare hands. We caught a couple snook, a lizard fish, and some sea trout and ate some of our own fish for dinner. I love how rewarding that was for Huntleigh!</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207130208/" title="IMG_2290 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2290" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/7207130208_a695954e20_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Love this picture of Lu.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207133020/" title="IMG_2295 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2295" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7207133020_efcde26263_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">And our family pic, right before leaving the island to go home.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207136344/" title="IMG_2319 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2319" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/7207136344_27c4d1b23a_z.jpg" width="429" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Oh my gosh. I love this picture of Lucy and her special friend, Winnie. They are such sweet buddies from school. This was before their special date for Winnie's 4th birthday when she took Lucy with her to get a little manicure and pedicure. Too, too cute.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207139182/" title="IMG_2342 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2342" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7207139182_4beb245145_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Easter 2012. He is Risen!</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207142088/" title="IMG_2356_2 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2356_2" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7207142088_f41815ec3a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Scrumptrulescent Polly with Yia Yia and Poppa. I love this picture.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207145074/" title="IMG_2360 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2360" height="441" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7207145074_4128d704b4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">Hunts with her sweet friend, Ava Grace, at AG's 6th birthday party. These girls are two peas in a pod and get along just swimmingly.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207150092/" title="IMG_2398 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2398" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7207150092_cce5b64906_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">At 4 months, we like to go on a special trip with our baby. We did that with <a href="http://wingsforhuntleigh.blogspot.com/2006/03/mit-kinder-at-dome.html">Huntleigh</a> when we went to Cologne, Germany and with <a href="http://wingsforhuntleigh.blogspot.com/2008/05/finding-our-feet-in-dubai.html">Lucy</a> when we went to Dubai. With Polly, it wasn't as far of a trip, but we had our special time with her in Portland, Oregon. And I love that Polly found her feet in Portland, just like how Lucy found her feet while we were in Dubai.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207153118/" title="IMG_2405 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2405" height="414" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7207153118_b5e55d5a29_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">So we stayed at the super cool and hip Hotel Monaco. I have to admit that we did see COLDPLAY while we were in Portland, since I am <i>clearly</i> obsessed with them. It was an <i>incredible</i> concert. We found out right before the concert that Coldplay was also staying at Hotel Monaco. We never ran into them, which is probably for the best since I would have freaked out if I were standing within arm's reach of Chris Martin.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207166830/" title="IMG_2417 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2417" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7207166830_6954469a4a_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div align="center">First Daddy Daughter Dance at our school.</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207430824/" title="IMG_2424 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2424" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7207430824_f23e1cbc97_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div align="center">And first tooth loss for my first baby. These are the days!</div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7207171772/" title="IMG_2430 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7207171772_c2ddbd2110_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_2430"></a></div>
sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-43862708605904633652012-04-30T10:40:00.001-06:002012-04-30T10:49:11.316-06:00anastasis films<div align="center">
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34967625?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div>
<div align="center">I would highly encourage all of you to take a couple minutes to watch this video. Our friend, Matt, is a very talented filmmaker and his company, <a href="http://vimeo.com/anastasisfilms">Anastasis Films</a>. His perspective is creative, artistic, beautiful, pure. You'll also see Josh in this reel. He's the squash player wearing red!</div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-88549337806291376732012-04-09T21:53:00.005-06:002012-04-15T20:53:04.236-06:00officially 4<div align="center"><br />I know these pictures are completely old news, but as I was going through them I just had to post a few because they remind me of so many hilarious memories.<br /><br />So for Lucy's 4th birthday I finally threw her a "big girl party" and got a magician <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> a hippo cake. I had little to no idea what the magician would be like, but he seemed legit and I thought I had done enough research to justify hiring him and making him the central part of Lucy's birthday party. I had a 5-week old baby and I was proud of myself for just making her party happen at all. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/7063233221/" title="4! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7063233221_5f555302ab_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="4!"></a><br /><br />Here we are at the beginning of the magic show: curiosity is fresh, magician is "normal" complete with a purple blazer and all. He is part of <a href="http://www.magician.org/">The International Brotherhood of Magicians.</a>, no joke. He brought his own theme music. It wasn't "The Final Countdown," but it was something not too far from that. With each second of his show I felt like we were stepping further into an episode of Arrested Development with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GOBwithaJOB.JPG">Gob</a>. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6917152864/" title="magic show by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/6917152864_eb31154e6b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="magic show"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6917153680/" title="Gob by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/6917153680_a997ee84e0_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="Gob"></a><br /><br />At least this picture makes it look like people were having fun, thanks to Huntleigh. Seriously though, I think it <span style="font-style:italic;">was</span> fun, from what I remember. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6917153244/" title="IMG_1812 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/6917153244_cb92f6d2f3_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1812"></a><br />Here's the central player of the magic show, sweetly tossing the silks around. She (mostly) loved it, was sometimes a skeptic, and totally fell apart at the end when Gob put her on a "magic" carpet and loudly clanged 2 swords in front of her. Not joking. I will never forget her cries of sheer terror and my guilt of not having told her about this "special" moment in the performance. Insert: "The Final Countdown" loudly playing in the background. Good times.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6917153508/" title="beautiful lu by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5271/6917153508_db5de755d5_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="beautiful lu"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-28811195418262693752012-03-16T13:49:00.002-06:002012-03-16T14:14:54.064-06:00these days<div align="center"><br />These days life seems like it is just flying by. I hardly have time to sit down and breathe. Thank you for those of you who still faithfully check my blog. I am sorry I so often disappoint. I don't think going from 2 to 3 has been too difficult a transition...Polly is so easy. She sleeps, eats, poops and smiles. But what I <span style="font-style:italic;">do</span> find difficult is just the management of all things. Am I loving all my children well in the day? Am I forgetting anyone? Am I sure Polly is in the car when we leave the house? (That's how easy she is....) Am I loving my friends well? Am I talking with my husband enough? Is there clean laundry to wear? (Thank you so much, Mom! Because of you, my children have clean underwear and ironed dresses!) What are we eating for dinner tonight? Is there milk in the fridge for tomorrow morning? Have I snuggled enough with Lucy? Have I talked enough with Huntleigh about her day? Did I remember to write down that appointment? Dentist appointments, doctors' appointments, allergist appointments, tennis lessons, 6-year well visit, 4-year well visit, 4-month well visit....don't forget to fill the car up with gas, pack lunches, remember what everybody likes, dance party with the kids, sing with the kids, pray for my kids, clean up the kitchen, mix the bottles, clean up, clean up again...why even bother cleaning up this time?! Work out, lose that baby weight, who am I kidding?! That baby weight is gonna hang on for awhile. Wear it proudly. Enjoy your baby. She'll be 1 in the blink of an eye. <br /><br />When I sit down with a glass of wine at the end of the day I can't help but wonder if I've done anything well at all. My husband is patient and loving, picking up something for dinner on his way home as often as he needs to and he is quick to encourage me in this task of motherhood. I want to do everything perfect all the time, but it's just not possible anymore. It never was possible. It was just easier to maybe fake it. I'm so thankful for my three beautiful children. What I really want them to know at the end of each day is that I love them very much and I am proud of who they are all are. And this little kiddo: it seems like all I have of her are sleeping pictures. She <span style="font-style:italic;">does</span> do a lot of sleeping...if you click on her pic, there are just a handful of other pictures on flickr and I will try to take time to get one with her eyes open!! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6841885552/" title="snuggled up by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6841885552_e6d682ae8c_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="snuggled up"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-72029948302007977752012-01-27T15:05:00.010-06:002012-01-27T16:44:46.068-06:00our fall, in brief<div align="center"><br />Just a few notes about our fall and what we were up to:<br /><br />Since Lucy's hippo obsession had been continuing in a fierce kind of way, we took a special little tour of the hippos at the zoo. Little did I know (until that tour) that hippos are actually quite aggressive and not necessarily a nice animal. So glad my daughter prefers to cuddle with the stuffed variety. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772442397/" title="IMG_1424 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6772442397_dd2eaa8b70_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1424"></a><br /><br />The Cardinals proceeded into the postseason and opened up a can of whoop a**. They were amazing! I've never been so thankful for a season to be over with, though. It was super fun and super exhausting. My sweet little blondie scored a couple balls! I'm not complaining, but I was tired of going to games with...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772442953/" title="IMG_1469 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6772442953_40b1972800_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1469"></a><br /><br />...this big belly. I did enjoy <span style="font-style:italic;">many</span> a kosher dog with grilled onions. And I really enjoyed returning to my regularly scheduled program: an early bedtime. Surprisingly enough, I'm already ready for baseball season again. We'll see how it goes this year with our myriad changes. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772648367/" title="DSCN0433 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6772648367_9f8e859429_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSCN0433"></a><br /><br />Lucy went on her first official field trip. Here is her testosterone-packed 3K class. They are a bundle and a half. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772443673/" title="IMG_1473 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6772443673_fcac0a39ea_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1473"></a><br /><br />Lucy and Yia Yia on star day. I love to watch Lucy give clues for the mystery bag which always contains (what else, but) a hippo! She is always the super cutest star. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772444283/" title="IMG_1498 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6772444283_8a0010cabd_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1498"></a><br /><br />Halloween brought with it a seriously super cute cheerleader from the University of Lucy (I really hope this is not a picture of our future--I want to see grass stains on my daughters' soccer uniforms)...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772445453/" title="IMG_1505 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6772445453_4d54178160_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1505"></a><br /><br />and a butterfly. I was completely suckered in to overnighting this costume to my house because of my indecisive child. I'm not sure why I gave in. I think it was the pregnancy hormones. But she made for one beautiful butterfly. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772445725/" title="IMG_1508 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6772445725_516db66eb4_z.jpg" width="434" height="640" alt="IMG_1508"></a><br /><br />Here's my sweet Lu, remnants of her breakfast bar all around her mouth and gorgeous as can be. I love this little spark.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772446177/" title="IMG_1510 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6772446177_473147ba49_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_1510"></a><br /><br />And my big birthday girl, who turned 6!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772446611/" title="IMG_1514 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6772446611_75ea174e5f_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1514"></a><br /><br />Hunts "performed" in a Kindergarten Thanksgiving historical play. She was the opener for the entire thing and did her line all by herself. The microphone wasn't on, so she had to do her line again and it didn't even make her skip a beat. I was so proud...and crying, of course. She was awesome. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772447071/" title="IMG_1589 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7156/6772447071_a466d5fb47_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="IMG_1589"></a><br /><br />And here's our newest little pup, struggling to enjoy the bilibed. I mean, I would have the same face, too, if I had to wear that little space suit and lay on a light bed all day. She was my only babe who had jaundice, so it was a bit disconcerting for me, but everything ended up being just fine. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772447561/" title="IMG_1640 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6772447561_67da30e76e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1640"></a><br /><br />Here we are, just about to leave the hospital to bring her home. I promise to post new pictures of this baby soon, since she's changed so much already!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6772947911/" title="IMG_1654 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6772947911_fc67f564ef_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_1654"></a><br /><br /></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-77822737694244624092012-01-10T16:51:00.004-06:002012-01-12T13:25:31.823-06:00from 4 to 5<div align="center">Well, it certainly is a new year. And with this new year has come many new and wonderful changes. We had a super busy and exciting end to 2011 and we received our most favorite Christmas present, Polly, on Thursday, December 8, at 9:49 in the morning. I will never forget the sound of her cry as she entered this world. A perfectly loud and clear announcement to her parents that she was most definitely here. She is beautiful and healthy and <i>calm</i>. A perfect addition to our family. Sometimes I feel like it was a piece of cake (pregnancy, that is) and then I think back to the first time I took the test, saw the 2 pink lines, <i>texted</i> Josh while he was in China, and poured myself a huge glass of wine. From that moment, it seems as though I had been pregnant for about 2 years....as you can see here in this first photo. I was tremendously preggers here with my two kiddos. This was our last night before we became a family of five. And so we went from this...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6675576225/" title="39 weeks by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6675576225_09762b49a5_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="39 weeks" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center">...to this, with my <i>six year old</i>, holding our newborn child. I only wish my memory of this moment was as clear as the brightness of my daughters' eyes. But at least I have this picture. I love them all so much. I love them so much, my heart could explode. I am so proud that I was able to grow them and nurture them, even though I have several severe memories of barfing into various and sundry sinks & toilets throughout the city of Saint Louis (and one very vivid memory of a mermaid sink in Mexico while pregnant with Lucy). I love that I was able to feel them kick me for the first time and share my body space with them and endure the pain of carrying each of them to then bring them into this very wild world in which we live. I am thankful that I no longer have to share my body with them, but that I can share life <i>outside</i> the womb with them. They have ripped my heart wide open and they have filled my cup to the point of eternally running over. They are my greatest responsibility and challenge as well as my greatest joy and have changed my life for forever....and I wouldn't change any bit of it. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6675576535/" title="12.08.11 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6675576535_3c8a8bc129_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="12.08.11" /></a><br /><br />And so here we are, on the day we were discharged from the hospital, holding Polly between us and shamelessly taking our self-portrait to commemorate the special moment as the "three of us" before we went to bring her home to our other two babes. I love this picture not for its aesthetic beauty, but for the moment it represents. I love that Josh's eyes are cut off, but I can still see the happiness creases around his left eye. I love the "P" on her shirt, reminding us that she is our brand new baby with a brand new name and a brand new personality for us to discover and learn and love. I love the tiredness in my face: a well-deserved tiredness which was the result of bringing forth a new member into our family. But most of all, I love that Polly is touching both of our faces with her sweet baby hands, connecting us three. I am so thankful for my sweet new child and our family of five.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6675576823/" title="the 3 of us by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6675576823_eedba38a34_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="the 3 of us" /></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-40246473723097868952011-10-13T09:11:00.008-06:002011-10-13T09:51:00.429-06:00Colorado<div align="center"><br />Josh and I had a little "babymoon," I guess you could say, in Colorado last week. It <span style="font-style:italic;">did</span> include killing large animals [which I wouldn't exactly put in the category of <span style="font-style:italic;">romantic</span> babymoons] and I was super sick with some horrible sinus infection type sickness Josh so lovingly passed on to me [which also stripped <span style="font-style:italic;">all</span> romanticism out of the trip] but it was, nonetheless, incredible to have some time away from our sweet babes before our newest babe arrives in 8 weeks. I was so happy for Josh to have ample time hiking and hunting on those incredible Colorado mountains. I spent a lot of time lying in my bed blogging, which I was very happy to do. Here are a few snapshots of what our time was like. <br /><br />This is Josh with his biggest elk yet. I missed going on the elk hunt this year because there is such beauty in the hunt. These huge bulls have these almost prehistoric bugles that echo among the mountains...it's beautiful and eerie and compelling all at the same time. You can tell by Josh's smile just what a tremendous feat this was to get this huge elk. I am so proud of him!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6215493852/" title="big elk by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6222/6215493852_2c3df84aee_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="big elk"></a><br /><br />And his guide, Scott, was so pumped about Josh's elk! It is <span style="font-style:italic;">huge</span>. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6214980353/" title="josh & scott (his guide) by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6214980353_abe7cff113_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="josh & scott (his guide)"></a><br /><br />This pretty much sums up my happy husband, with a cigar in one hand and a double macchiato in the other, about to embark upon a short fishing trip. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6215499324/" title="macchiato man by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6215499324_297380acb2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="macchiato man"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6215502832/" title="virga by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/6215502832_8c1bd7ec1a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="virga"></a><br /><br />My belly at 30 weeks. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6214988897/" title="30 weeks! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6214988897_887ca47113_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="30 weeks!"></a><br /><br />Josh's mule deer, one of his favorite hunts to date. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6215507138/" title="mule deer by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6215507138_fd90776a58_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="mule deer "></a><br /><br />My 23-inch trout with my guide, Duncan. That was about the extent of my physical labor for the week: wrestling this trout in. I caught about 4 others, but this was my biggest. I took a nice nap afterwards. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6215510114/" title="23 inch rainbow trout by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/6215510114_7879c64e40_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="23 inch rainbow trout"></a><br /><br />This was our whole crew this year: guides and everybody. It's a fun time of camaraderie and relaxation. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6240464185/" title="2011 Three Forks by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/6240464185_b71e6c0299_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="2011 Three Forks"></a><br /><br />And with our guide, Scott Hatch. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6240464687/" title="Josh, me & his guide, Scott by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6240464687_b73dcc8f13_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Josh, me & his guide, Scott"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-24999813122597119552011-10-08T18:22:00.000-06:002011-10-08T18:22:00.534-06:00good challenge<div align="center">I came across this today on <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> and really, really like it. It's good stuff to think about. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6209556686/" title="il_570xN.275540260 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6209556686_1995dc8a89_z.jpg" width="570" height="570" alt="il_570xN.275540260"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-40388714619294250852011-10-05T20:59:00.000-06:002011-10-05T20:59:00.269-06:00Lucy's first Star Day<div align="center">Last week was Lucy's first Star Day in 3K. The star gets to bring a surprise in the mystery bag and give the class three clues to guess what's inside. It gives each child exposure to some "public speaking," if you will. Lucy had a brief moment where she told me she wanted me to be the one to give the clues, but I told her she would do great and she did! Her teacher, Mrs. Heinemann, is such a loving and nurturing woman who really gives Lucy tender encouragement. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212935716/" title="Lucy's first Star Day!! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6212935716_beae969cd9_z.jpg" width="640" height="442" alt="Lucy's first Star Day!! "></a><br /><br />Here Lucy is revealing her surprise: what other than a <span style="font-style:italic;">hippo</span>. Of course. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212422313/" title="showing hippo by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6212422313_2891829b71_z.jpg" width="640" height="433" alt="showing hippo"></a><br /><br />Then the star goes around the circle giving each student a chance to see the item up close. This little girl is Winnie, one of Lucy's favorite friends in school this year. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212424663/" title="Lucy & Winnie by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6212424663_fd9e45ff40_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Lucy & Winnie"></a><br /><br />Super serious Lucy. I treasure these moments that I get to peek into what her world is like in 3K. It's been a great place for her to develop. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212426887/" title="IMG_1314 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6212426887_0709c06b54_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1314"></a><br /><br />Daddy, with his star daughter. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212944538/" title="that's our star by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6212944538_ee9e918b2e_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="that's our star"></a><br /><br />And eating her special cookie for her special star day. Great job, Lucy! You are always our little star. We love you! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212431157/" title="special treat for star day by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/6212431157_4e6f8eec03_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="special treat for star day"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-53795349255071556012011-10-05T08:00:00.001-06:002011-10-05T08:00:05.890-06:00Huntleigh's tile<div align="center">Remember that <a href="http://wingsforhuntleigh.blogspot.com/2011/03/artist.html">tile</a> Hunts had painted back in the spring? Well, the Nordstrom finally opened and there was a fun time set apart for the kids to go and find their tiles. We ran into the Lindmans while we were searching for Hunts' tile and I snapped some pics of our girls together. I love this one of Hunts and Manna. They have a sweet friendship for which I am really thankful. Teachers often mistake them for the other because of their blonde hair and blue eyes. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212576204/" title="hunts and manna by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6212576204_4fc0112e77_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="hunts and manna"></a><br />Here they are in all their toothy glory at the end of JK last year. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212064797/" title="end of JK by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6212064797_6019ee9b57_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="end of JK"></a><br />Hunts posing with her finished tile at Nordstrom. I still think it's so cool and fun that her art is at the store for everyone to see! (And I'm really glad they chose the giraffe and not the whale, by the way!)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212580036/" title="Huntleigh's tile by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6212580036_3467565450_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="Huntleigh's tile"></a><br />Giraffe face painting to celebrate the giraffe tile. I love Huntleigh's beautiful little profile. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212584304/" title="IMG_1290 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6212584304_3f3c166e96_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1290"></a><br />These are the little sisters, Lucy and Eden, who are also in class together. They were too young to paint the tiles, but they were certainly able to take part in the festivities of the morning. Here they are modeling their painted hippos, an idea driven by Lucy. Have I mentioned my child's <span style="font-style:italic;">obsession</span> with hippos? And when I say obsession, I'm really not sure I can express the full impact of that word. She is seriously in love with hippos. I actually think it's kind of a fun obsession to have because it seems to me to be a bit unusual. I'm already all prepared for her birthday and we are going to have a special tour of the hippos at the zoo next week, so I suppose I'm entering into the obsession, too. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212586454/" title="lucy and eden by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6212586454_a32427c42f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="lucy and eden"></a><br />And just a little close up of the hippo, so Lucy can enjoy the hippo now that it is long gone. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6212588726/" title="hippo obsession by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6212588726_002ef63633_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="hippo obsession"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-21741276876011008082011-10-04T19:28:00.001-06:002011-10-04T19:28:00.715-06:00soccer season<div align="center">Soccer has been another first for us this year. We tried it when Hunts was just a bit younger and it wasn't the right time. But the swim team really helped prepare Huntleigh for soccer in so many ways, and it has been a success this fall! Josh is one of Hunts' coaches and she is playing on a team with all her friends from school, so those have also helped to conquer her potential fears of the sport. So far this season our team is undefeated and Huntleigh has this uncanny ability to remember the scores of each game and she keeps very close track of how many goals are being scored during a game. It's really cute. Here she is on the day of her first game. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6210066580/" title="Hunts the striker by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6210066580_c1ae15ae4a_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Hunts the striker"></a><br />Coach daddy doing his coaching thing. I love watching him interact with the kids. I love his understanding of the sport and how he applies it to all these 5 & 6 year olds. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6210071386/" title="Coach daddy by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6210071386_8078c6d947_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Coach daddy"></a><br />These next three pics capture the making of Huntleigh's first goal! Proud momma here! For her future games I bought her some hot pink shoelaces and told her that they were going to help her score some more goals this season. We have been out of town this past week, but she told us that she scored another goal at her game on Saturday. Victory! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6210076166/" title="IMG_1131 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6210076166_d5c1d2b8eb_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1131"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6209564691/" title="IMG_1132 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6209564691_c31dcc13a1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1132"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6209570427/" title="first goal!! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6209570427_a50a2f2c86_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="first goal!!"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-12255198827905321942011-10-03T16:01:00.002-06:002011-10-03T16:37:09.089-06:00Lucy's room<div align="center">Since my children went back to school, I have had some time to focus on finishing touches and final details for certain rooms in our house. So, I am finally posting pictures of Lucy's bedroom at least. I know it's been a year, so maybe no one even cares anymore, but I do intend to post more pictures of our house before this baby comes! <br /><br />Lucy's room is one of my favorites. I had originally intended for the bird theme to be incorporated into Huntleigh's room, but the birds decided to land in Lucy's room. And I think the shade of teal I chose goes really well with who Lucy is. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6208668455/" title="Lucy's room by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/6208668455_ee75cb5131_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Lucy's room"></a><br />I modified the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBuzFPcc33tg_KHWmcsQS5uiiJtX_jsSc1IBSG9nrva4JvlQvgbjf4rI5LWWSf5nyJWFTnwzhtmyS6BjYiyt_nYyGXqQZXSDIJSfqW1NU8lijC8bMfDT3lTGoI0KkM62ZEmpR/s1600-r/IMG_2235.JPG">alphabet</a> from Huntleigh's bedroom at our old house and wove in the green teal color with some golden tones, too. I painted the "A" and the "r" myself and was so proud afterwards. I love creating something like this for my children and I love it even more when I hear Lucy singing the alphabet aloud when she is getting ready to go to sleep. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6209187230/" title="alphabet wall by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/6209187230_e5d74f541d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="alphabet wall"></a><br />I wasn't willing to commit to painting the kids' rooms a big, bold color yet, so I went with a neutral palette and worked the color in around it. I think it even took me about 7 tries just to finally settle on the neutral that I did. But I did add that splash of teal to the arch ceiling in the entry to Lucy's room and love it. The "every child is an artist" sign came from <a href="http://oldbarnrescue.com/">this</a> artist. She/they are Saint Louis-based, but ship their products anywhere. And if there's any other items you're interested in knowing about, I'm happy to share my sources. Just let me know! I'm also happy to help decorate your child's room to make it a space of beauty in which for him or her to dwell. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6209191596/" title="entry way by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/6209191596_bdf958cb0b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="entry way"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-5215157317884727822011-10-03T15:39:00.003-06:002011-10-03T15:51:33.909-06:00firsts<div align="center">We now have a Kindergartener and a 3K-er. Summer seemed to end so quickly, but the entry into the school year has been quite smooth. The girls both love school and Huntleigh begs us to put her in full day kindergarten, so at least we know she loves her teacher and loves learning! Here are the girls in their first days of school: Huntleigh started on a Thursday and Lucy started the next day, which also happened to be my 34th birthday, so that was fun! Neither of these pictures are my favorite of my children, but they are the memory capturing them on their first days and I'm thankful for that. It's hard to get major photographic cooperation at 8:15 in the morning from my kiddos. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6208561933/" title="heh first day of Kindergarten by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6208561933_c9ebc19054_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="heh first day of Kindergarten"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6209083142/" title="llh first day of 3K by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/6209083142_6a983df8d3_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="llh first day of 3K"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-25369550676154825702011-10-03T11:02:00.004-06:002011-10-03T14:21:48.789-06:00heading west<div align="center">Upon returning from Chicago, Hunts and Lu were in their 5th and 2nd weddings (respectively) as flower girls. It was the very meaningful wedding of our special babysitter, Katie Tipton. KT was our first babysitter to come on vacation with us when Hunts was one and I was about 12 weeks pregnant with Lucy. Katie got sick while we were in <a href="http://wingsforhuntleigh.blogspot.com/2007/07/zihuatanejo.html">Mexico</a> and we could not have fallen more in love with her. Spend a couple days in a hospital in a foreign country with someone and you will get to know them a whole lot better than you knew them before! And she's seen our family in a number of different situations, so she knows how quirky and weird we are and she still loves us! Look at what a beautiful bride she was. We love you, Mrs. Katie Spencer! You'll always be our number one!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6205594283/" title="flower girls by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6205594283_d26e7c8eb8_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="flower girls"></a><br /><br />And a day after the wedding, we hopped on a plane to head to the beautiful pacific northwest to see our good friends, the <a href="http://lucyandwill.blogspot.com/">Walkers</a>. We spent a gorgeous five days in Bellingham, WA where they have planted an amazing church: <a href="http://www.christchurchbellingham.org/">Christ Church Bellingham</a>. The Lord is doing great things there and it was so refreshing to be with Nate and Shannon and our (combined) 8 children...well, one still in utero. The kids did really well all together and it was fun to reconnect and to spend time reflecting on the past year and how the Lord has been working in and through their church plant. And we were able to go to <a href="http://www.bbaybrewery.com/">Boundary Bay</a>....twice! And <a href="http://www.toppotdoughnuts.com/">Top Pot Doughnuts</a> twice, as well, on our way in and out of Seattle!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6205600357/" title="bellingham, wa by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/6205600357_c6824fd688_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="bellingham, wa"></a><br />Will and Hunts sharing a moment of reflection over this little crab. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6205607675/" title="hunts, will & a crab by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6205607675_066779970b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="hunts, will & a crab"></a><br />Big Lucy, Hunts, Will and Ada. There was no attempt to get a picture of all the kiddos together at one time. Just a little tricky. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6206125780/" title="we love the walkers by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6206125780_e27895699c_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="we love the walkers"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-66904662279832096752011-10-03T10:00:00.000-06:002011-10-03T10:00:02.419-06:00hot town, summer in the city<div align="center"> Our good friends, Drew and Jessi, came into town for about 36 hours and we were able to steal one evening of their time in Saint Louis. It was just perfect. I usually get to see Jessi now about once a year (with all our kids) and Josh gets to see Drew once a year, but it has been 5 1/2 years since we've had some adult time, just the four of us. We had an excellent dinner at Franco with a few hours of uninterrupted conversation. True bliss. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200396333/" title="drew & jessi by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/6200396333_3cec3db1c4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="drew & jessi "></a><br />And as Drew and Jessi pulled out of Saint Louis, we pulled out on our way up to Chicago for a mini-trip. We were able to have some great time with my mom's side of the family. We spent a beautiful evening together on my Aunt Carrie and Uncle Chris' deck. Here's Lucy with my cousin Lauren. Sweet pic. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200911448/" title="lauren & lucy by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6200911448_d7b75a77f3_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="lauren & lucy"></a><br />My momma with her siblings, from left to right: her sister Carrie and her husband Chris, her brother John and his wife Lisa, my dad and my mom. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200915732/" title="siblings & spouses by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6200915732_3cff08f358_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="siblings & spouses"></a><br />And the whole gang: me, Lauren, my mom, Josh with Lucy (who is holding a fake snake!), my Uncle Chris, my dad, Tommy, my Uncle John, Aunt Lisa, Celia, and in front: Aunt Carrie with Hunts, my cousin Camille and her son Carter. We were missing Scott, Kevin & Cassie, Jackson and Jason...I think we need a wedding to get us all together again! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200923970/" title="the Elloitt clan by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/6200923970_a7edbc6cfa_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="the Elloitt clan"></a><br />Silly girl in the city. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200926598/" title="silly lucy in chicago by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/6200926598_140a479825_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="silly lucy in chicago"></a><br />We stayed with some old/new friends for the night and our kids had a great time playing together: Rachel, Michael and Gabe were great hosts to Hunts and Lucy. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200421253/" title="new friends by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6200421253_82c5ea2351_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="new friends"></a><br />And no trip to Chicago is complete without a trek to American Girl Place. The girls love it, and I was able to get my Christmas shopping done! But seriously, it's gonna be awhile before we go back there. The girls need to experience the amazing culture of Chicago next time. No more of this Michigan Avenue retail therapy! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6200929616/" title="water tower place/john hancock by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6173/6200929616_f9d577b4cf_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="water tower place/john hancock"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-73504772943913716812011-10-01T07:40:00.005-06:002011-10-01T10:49:44.269-06:00overcoming our fears<div align="center">Huntleigh participated on the swim team this summer and surprised us all. Josh and I decided to sign her up for swim team because we know her incredible potential as an athlete, plus we think it's part of being a well-rounded person. Last summer, after initially overcoming her fear of having her head underwater, she taught herself to swim and she practically became a <span style="font-style:italic;">fish</span>, so this summer we knew it was time for her to be more challenged in the sport. She did fine at practices until they had "time trials" and then she freaked out. There was no getting her to do time trials because, as my extrovert child told me, "I don't want all those people looking at me, mom." This presented a <span style="font-style:italic;">tiny</span> little hurdle to jump over, seeing as time trials were just an informal introduction to what a swim <span style="font-style:italic;">meet</span> was actually going to be like. So for days, she would go to practice, but would skip out on time trials at the end, which drove Josh and me crazy, but we pretended like it was no big deal. <br /><br />Side note: since Josh and I are both firstborns, we really struggle to not have these high expectations of <span style="font-style:italic;">our</span> firstborn. We sincerely just don't want her to turn out like us, in the sense that it took us both a long time in our lives to bloom and to overcome our fears of so many things. We want <span style="font-style:italic;">freedom from fear</span> for Hunts while seeing her potential but yet not forcing her into commitments beyond her emotional capabilities. <br />It's a tricky balance, but we pray for wisdom to know how to manage our expectations and her (sometimes unwarranted) fears.<br /><br />So, we didn't attend the first meet, because we didn't want to overwhelm her. Nor the second one, which was at a different club. Somehow, Hunts was finally ready by the time we had our third meet. She did one race and I had my camera ready and everything, but realized my battery was not <span style="font-style:italic;">in</span> my camera, so there are no pictures of this major accomplishment. Oh well. I'll remember how <span style="font-style:italic;">I</span> was crying because I was so proud of her for overcoming her fear, and how <span style="font-style:italic;">she</span> was crying at the end because water filled up in her goggles the whole time, but how she won 4th place out of 6 swimmers and got her first ribbon at the end. After she got over the fact that she had water in her goggles the whole time, she couldn't stop thinking/talking about swimming in the next meet....at which she had swimmer's ear. <span style="font-style:italic;">Of course</span>. So she couldn't swim in that meet and then the next meet was cancelled and her final meet we were all ready for....until we waited for 30 minutes for an imminent torrential downpour to begin (at which time it finally did) and our final meet was cancelled as we stood looking at an empty pool. <br /><br />All this to say, Huntleigh swam in <span style="font-style:italic;">one</span> meet this summer before our conference meet, which was so much bigger than I could have prepared her for. She was excited as we got there, but upon seeing a couple hundred people was <span style="font-style:italic;">again</span> overwhelmed and so we had to patiently wait out her fear. This is where the team was really good for her. Her coaches encouraged her without pressure and her sweet 6th grade friends on the team encouraged her and finally, <span style="font-style:italic;">finally</span> she participated in a backstroke heat, in which she won first place in her category. And then she went on to do a breaststroke relay in the 6-year olds category. This was complete victory to me and Josh. I love having that kind of pride and emotion for my child. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199825434/" title="little barracuda by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/6199825434_e3038db82d_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="little barracuda"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199314855/" title="back stroke by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6199314855_9e2f814aeb_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="back stroke"></a><br /><br />At the end of the summer, just after school had begun, we attended a sports banquet for the summer sports participants. Huntleigh got her trophy for participating on the 2011 swim team and a plaque for participating in the conference meet but her third trophy is what took us by surprise. She won the best girl newcomer of the year award for "always making people smile and having a positive attitude at practice and with her team." I could not have been more proud. Talk about tears. I'm crying again even as I type this. <span style="font-style:italic;">That</span> is success to me. I don't care if she never gets a blue ribbon again. Huntleigh is so proud of her trophies. She slept with them in her bed that night and they are now proudly displayed upon the shelves in her bedroom. <br /><br />Josh and I always talk about how exercising courage does not mean we go and do something without fear. It really means that <span style="font-style:italic;">in spite of our fear</span> we choose to do something anyway, which is especially difficult. But God often blesses the result. Here's to overcoming our fears. Great job, Huntleigh. We love you! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199316711/" title="first trophy by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6199316711_1e54cafb89_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="first trophy"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199318633/" title="one proud momma by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6179/6199318633_e0ec2d676e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="one proud momma"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-18793157128994836332011-09-30T21:22:00.005-06:002011-09-30T21:37:54.374-06:00may/june<div align="center">Our May dinner club took us to Scottsdale for a few days. Despite feeling sick most of the time from my early pregnancy, it was a blast. I'm so glad we were able to snap this great picture of the 12 of us! Hagers, Finneys, Browns, Amoses, Kaufmanns & Reisners: here's to fun times ahead!!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199739454/" title="Scottsdale! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6161/6199739454_97f96e4b0a_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="Scottsdale!"></a><br /><br />I love this picture of our babes. Glad I captured a quick moment in time: all pink and cute in their cheongsams from our friend Sharon in Hong Kong. At least I took one picture of my children in June. I spent most of my time trying not to throw up, so I remember feeling not so creative with the camera....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199227115/" title="sweet babes by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/6199227115_c59d7871ce_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="sweet babes"></a><br /><br />And our 9th anniversary was spent at Annie Gunn's with our friends, the Finneys, who were married on the same date and almost exactly the same time as us! June 29, 2002 at 2 pm!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199229587/" title="9th anniversary by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6199229587_10c68ecdff_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="9th anniversary"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-56743344075365749812011-09-30T20:53:00.002-06:002011-09-30T21:09:33.394-06:00all covered in Lilly<div align="center">My mother-in-law is a big fan of Lilly Pulitzer and each year she helps manage this huge sale at her boutique in Boca Grande. The fun part is that she first gets to shop for before all the other customers come in. Needless to say, my girls are dressed to the nines in their Lilly dresses from B! Here they are covered in all their new Lilly dresses with Pop and B right before summer began. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199166373/" title="covered in lilly by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6199166373_848d3f71e2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="covered in lilly"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-74526644743992846332011-09-30T16:49:00.007-06:002011-09-30T16:59:49.371-06:00more florida<div align="center">So I am going to be doing a bit of retro blogging this week. Just hang in there. At least there will be new things to look at! I couldn't resist these sweet photos of my beach babes, sandy bottoms and all. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6198727565/" title="IMG_0672 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/6198727565_69600abf5e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0672"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199247672/" title="IMG_0681 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6199247672_17298ac37a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0681"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199249674/" title="IMG_0686 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6199249674_e9044a88a4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0686"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6198734649/" title="IMG_0694 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6159/6198734649_bf2b1966ed_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0694"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6198736575/" title="IMG_0709 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6198736575_f884fb6bd8_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_0709"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6198738341/" title="IMG_0743 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6198738341_59460549ef_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0743"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6199257644/" title="IMG_0747 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/6199257644_5df42d2000_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0747"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-2222214768166045762011-09-11T21:46:00.005-06:002011-09-11T22:05:42.170-06:00a little bit of this, little bit of that.<div align="center"><br />So I'm just doing a bit of retro-blogging. It's actually been great to see that we have done a bunch of fun things in spite of an "un-fun" 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some days felt like they were never going to end and yet the weeks have seemingly gone by quite quickly. Anyway, we took an early summer vacation to Florida in May. In spite of feeling sick most of the time, it was such a perfect family time. We had an excellent low key trip. And we love being silly as a family. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138678221/" title="Florida family vacay by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6138678221_2b9de37069_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Florida family vacay"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6139229866/" title="IMG_0766 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6139229866_27b44dd2da_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0766"></a><br />Lucy fighting off the crab. She won. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138679281/" title="IMG_0772 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/6138679281_edc11efc28_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0772"></a><br /><br />We came back to a few busy weeks at the end of school. Huntleigh's JK class did this incredible art unit and had an art "gala" at the end of all their studies. We went out for a fancy dinner beforehand and then she presented her art to us as the docent in their "art museum." Such a fun evening. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6139230988/" title="JK art gala by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6139230988_c5d7ec4d07_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="JK art gala"></a><br /><br />Pop and B came to join her at her art display. Here they are in front of the Monet display. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138680467/" title="IMG_0800 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/6138680467_bcf46667e1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0800"></a><br /><br />And Huntleigh with her loving and nurturing JK teachers, Mrs. Burzinski on the right and Mrs. Harvey on the left. We love <a href="http://ccsstl.com">our school</a>! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138681175/" title="Mrs. Burzinski & Mrs. Harvey by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6138681175_e69752f2a8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Mrs. Burzinski & Mrs. Harvey"></a><br /><br />Lucy had an end of year gymnastic presentation which was AWESOME! I was just crying all over the place. She could not have been cuter or more proud of herself and I just love watching Lucy do something that is a special thing just for her. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138681585/" title="gymnastics presentation by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6138681585_533e786209_z.jpg" width="421" height="640" alt="gymnastics presentation"></a><br /> Just look at her sweet face! I love it! Here she is presenting at the end of her jump. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138681935/" title="presenting! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6138681935_fa82f0c0a5_z.jpg" width="410" height="640" alt="presenting!"></a><br />And balance-beaming it. She rocked the balance beam and then had a little melt down after this presentation. She got a little trophy and was so proud of it, she slept with it in her bed for a few nights. Too cute. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6138682309/" title="IMG_0836 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6138682309_1df12a773d_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_0836"></a><br />She got a little slurpee reward after all was said and done. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/6139234276/" title="slurpee celebration by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6139234276_6d3d08560b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="slurpee celebration"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-49589055647338092992011-08-01T11:08:00.002-06:002011-08-01T11:17:46.309-06:00seriously<div align="center"><br />Blogging has obviously become a very remote and sidelined past time for me. But since I am <span style="font-style:italic;">very</span> exceptional at procrastinating and I really should be packing for our plane trip in just a few minutes, I thought I'd hop on my blog and do a quick update. <br /><br />So just to sum-up:<br /><br />This is my precious 3 1/2 year old from this past Saturday. She and Hunts were in Katie Tipton's wedding and they were stellar. I mean, Hunts is an old pro. It was her 5th wedding. No kidding. It was Lucy's 2nd. I am happy to hire them out for a small fee to be flower children. They will be a hit. <br /><br />In other news: we have had a crazy July full of lots of fun activities and we just returned from Chicago and will be on our way to Seattle in about an hour. <br /><br />We are also 21 weeks pregnant with our third child. We are having our third GIRL and are super excited. Josh is <span style="font-style:italic;">completely</span> out numbered, seeing as we also have a girl dog. If we count our dog, Kate, that's 5 to 1. Our baby is due to arrive December 8th. <br /><br />Since my husband is making fun of me for blogging and I should probably be packing my children's clothing, I think I will leave you for now. Happy August!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5998824396/" title="katie tipton's wedding by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5998824396_3a7d2573eb_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="katie tipton's wedding"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584752.post-8297919018812727352011-06-09T14:42:00.006-06:002011-06-10T07:05:36.345-06:00the northeast<div align="center"><br />Back at the end of March, my dad and I took a trip up to Vermont to see my brother in his new state of residence. We had a quick few days together just hanging in local eateries and enjoying the beauty of the state, but one of our highlights was taking a tour of <a href="http://www.beautiesltd.com/">Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont</a>. For those of you who know and love my dad, you will understand why we went quite a bit out of our way to tour this little company who makes a big impact. They were ever-so-gracious hosts to us, and the women who work in the sewing room really love what they do. It's a fascinating process, and they'll even turn your favorite neck tie into a bow tie for you! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5816347406/" title="Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/5816347406_71bb2b8cab_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont!"></a><br />Here's my dad with Mr. Bill Kenerson, the founder and owner of Beau Ties Ltd. The only thing missing from this picture is a bow tie around my dad's neck!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5815780349/" title="Dad with Mr. Bill Kenerson by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5815780349_91516ac3bf_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Dad with Mr. Bill Kenerson"></a><br />And just a few more family pics of our time in Vermont. My brother was a great host and it was great to be in his environment.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5816348438/" title="IMG_0544 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/5816348438_c66b085852_z.jpg" width="640" height="429" alt="IMG_0544"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5816348888/" title="IMG_0553 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/5816348888_23a52e7751_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_0553"></a><br />A partial view from the tower at Hubbard Park. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5815781799/" title="Hubbard Park by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/5815781799_d9866a10cf_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hubbard Park"></a><br />After my time with Scott, I drove down to meet Josh in Boston who was there for business and squash. I haven't been to Boston since I was 16 and I really had very few memories of what Boston was like. Boston is incredible. I would move there in a heartbeat. Great city, great culture, great seafood, good enough baseball, great shopping...I could go on and on. We spent time with our friends Preston and Mayo and had a blast. It was an incredible trip, not to mention incredibly cold, too. Boston is calling my name. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5815782299/" title="Boston! by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/5815782299_4123ba2a24_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Boston!"></a><br />Here's my boy squashin' it up. I think I'm his bad luck charm, because he always seems to lose the matches I watch, but he did manage to be a 3.0 Division Finalist! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5818174068/" title="IMG_0579 by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/5818174068_e25989e525_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="IMG_0579"></a><br />And we had to take the standard tourist photo of the ducks from Robert McCloskey's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ducklings-Viking-Kestrel-picture-books/dp/0670451495">Make Way for Ducklings</a></span> for the kiddos. We love Robert McCloskey in our house. He is definitely one of our favorite children's authors. <span style="font-style:italic;">Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, Time of Wonder</span>....they are all beautiful books. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35398969@N03/5816350968/" title="Make Way for Ducklings by hunts&lulu, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2351/5816350968_b6f0553338_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Make Way for Ducklings"></a></div>sbhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16087030328549692261noreply@blogger.com2