How to make your daughter into a nerd

Anneke says she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. I told her that I wanted to be an astronaut too when I was a little boy. I hope she makes it through elementary school before reality sets in.

Baby Love

It's always ourselves we find at the sea

Just got back from a week at the Kroner house. The weather was beautiful. Honestly, it was a bit cool windy on our beach. But I'm including these shots so it will be clear I didn't have anything to complain about.

Oswald West State park, where, after almost twelve years here, I JUST discovered agate hunting!

Sea Lions in Astoria, just returned from California: obnoxious and fun to watch.

Sunset at the Kroner house.

Short hike to the beach.

Everyone loves a brown-eyed girl

Five months!

Well, I guess it's time for my monthly blog post/baby progress report. I'm coping better with the relentless schedule we're living with, but it's still relentless. One hobby that's completely on hold is photography. I know I'll get back into it, hopefully soon.

It's been a fine summer. Not optimal, but lovely in many ways. There are moments I sit on the porch at that time where the breeze starts to blow as the day changes to night when I feel like I'm in heaven. I took the kids to Arkansas and took very few photos (see above). But I had such a nice time with each and every family member I saw, and Anneke had an absolute blast with her cousins. She also went to Vacation Bible School and came home with all sorts of crazy questions about God. She'll be talking about one thing excitedly, and then come out with, "Mommy, how did God make the world?" The other day she started to ask if God was made in China--this after she asked Dave if God made her Mardi Gras beads, to which he replied they were probably made in China.

I'm savoring this ripe peach of a baby boy, that's for sure.

Big sister

And what of big sister? She's lovely as usual. She is inquisitive, imaginative, and oppositional--very, very three. Last week in Arkansas she had nary a time-out, and I have solved the behavior problem: I need to import her cousins and instruct them to run around with and entertain her. Everyone is so much happier come the end of the day.

Little Tiny Little Head, untouched: 4 months!

Ask Anneke what we call her little brother, and she will reply, "Little Tiny Little Head." And indeed, we do. I'm not sure how long he will let us get away with it. At four months, he continues to be sweet and easy even as he rolls over and grabs things. He's just a happy, mellow little guy.

These unedited photos are quite indicative of my skill level working a fancy camera, especially when photographing wiggly kids. They're just slightly, annoyingly out-of-focus. Some that I didn't include seem to depict a glowing pole sticking out of Ben's head because of the way the light hit said (flag) pole and my amateur composition skills. Someday I will learn photo shop, but, honestly, I have barely picked up the camera these past couple of months--too busy picking up the baby!

Also, we took these in a hurry the day before Dave had gall bladder surgery! Family life is busy with two under four!

I do think these capture how beautiful these two, are--don't you?

Don't go toward the light, Little Tiny Little Head!

Mom, please get this pole out of my head now.