avablog

Em’s cuteness was on full display over the weekend in Decorah, where we’d traveled for the Klevars’ annual apple cider event. The boy seemed to have a good time, but he’s just so generally happy that it doesn’t really matter where he is. Last night, before we fell asleep, I looked over at Leah and [...]

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I can’t resist. I got some pictures over the weekend that I really like a lot, but none so much — I think — as this one: To say any more about the photo or its subjects would just come across as bragging, but beauty aside, I do like the detail on R’s jacket.

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Last weekend we made the annual trek to Decorah for apple cider making. The weather was a bit sketchy, but we managed to dodge the showers long enough to gather, clean, and press a whole load of apples. As you might expect, I got all sorts of pictures and video from the event, most of [...]

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My dearest Big Girl: A few days ago, you came downstairs in jeans and a fancy shirt, carrying a small bag of your “play-pretend” make-up. You said, “I want to look like you, Mommy. I’m a grown-up.” My breath caught in my chest at the sight of my baby turned into a little girl, wanting [...]

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Truth be told, I spend all this time taking pictures of the kids so that someday Leah will relent in her insistence that we have “professional” shots done. It’s not that I don’t believe in professional photography. I just don’t see a pro getting anything much better than, say, this:

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I love you. Forever and ever.

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A friend of Leah’s let us borrow this nifty little seat for Emmett. He seems to get a kick out of it, though he does start to tip over after sitting in it for a while.

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I have an inkling that it would be a lot easier to explain the birds and the bees to Ava right now than to do it when she’s 11. Or 13. I’m guessing that when she’s older, there’ll be the danger that she can get up from our talk, walk out the door, and put [...]

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You may be surprised to learn that Emmett is growing. It’s true. And he’s doing all sorts of cute and cool stuff these days, like laughing at his sister’s antics and rolling over from his back to his tummy; that’s his most recent favorite. I haven’t caught any video of the actual roll yet (heck, [...]

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First, an aside. Why can’t squirrels be more like farm chickens? I mean, you can’t run over a farm chicken if you try, but squirrels just seem to freeze up when a car comes upon them. Anyway, I squished one on the way home from dropping off Ava at school this morning, and it’s not [...]

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Neither Mark nor I has had time to post on this blog much lately. This summer, I suddenly realized that we both were spending more hours online than with our children or each other. I decided that moments spent in real time were better than moments spent documenting them–or trying to keep up on social [...]

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I’d be hard put to come up with an image from the last couple months that better describes Ava’s summer. Pigtails, corn dogs, and carnival rides. Oh, and those boots. Always with the boots. This is a shot Gramary took at the Regina Fall Fun Festival over the weekend. Poor kid has a couple inches [...]

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And you know it’s major cuteness if the boy’s looks can make up for my presence in the photo. Picture by Leah at our impromptu anniversary dinner this past weekend:

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Another shot taken with camera gear I could never hope to afford. But it sure is fun to use!

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Ava’s in a major Western wear phase at the moment. I can’t tell if Leah’s happy about it or not, but Ava sure does have a blast getting dolled up in her boots, hat, and bandana. In fairness, I should probably note that the kid still keeps in touch with her princess roots, too. This [...]

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