The main events

Good things happen to us so routinely that sometimes I forget just how good life has been to us.

If Kathleen and Savannah were in this photo, it would be hanging on my wall - and I'm not a hanging photos on the wall kind of girl.

Peet's formal get up - he might be even bigger now.

Tom's graduation - it was a last minute rush to get him there hence the scruffy jeans look.

First day of high school for Max - it was the first day so he had no idea what was coming - hence the happy face.

Savannah at Eidsvold where Tom had a six month stint teaching.

Ivy's birth day - same day as Max's birthday - what a present!

Still in the hopsital - if you think Alec looks tired you should have seen Sam!

One of my favourite Sunday morning rituals.

Savannah - Gladstone this time.

Ivy - looking at and looking like her father.

Overnight hike and camp.

Sweet, sweet William's arrrival.

Thanks heavens for technology that let us get regular iphone photo updates - it just about killed me being so far away when he was born. 

Savannah was thrilled when Max showed up for William's blessing weekend - the rest of us weren't quite as appealing. 

Jesse - totally in love - and how could you not.

The thing about William is that he has captivating eyes.

And then Thomas moved his family home for a few months - so lucky.

William

Not everyone gets to take their grandchildren to the beach on a hot day - but I did - Roger had to work.   This is  classic Ivy - always curious.

And we've had our share of worries too - sometimes overwhelming and sometimes niggling - but always outweighed by the good, even when I struggled to see that.

So much that is good - so many happy moments - so many people and events that shape us for the better.

Jesse wrote this:

Stepping into Light

It's how I feel about this blog too - I'm going to try to add some more too.

Thomas ..

.. has finished his last prac teaching block - and was given glowing reviews.  Which strikes me as remarkable since as far as I can tell he thinks of nothing all day but Kathleen and Savannah!

(At Alec & Sam's wedding)

Crawling Girl

That's Savannah - she is crazy cute - like a wind up toy - and she's getting faster everyday.

She also likes Alec's swag.  It was left on the back pavers for weeks so Alec could sleep out as often as possible pre-wedding - Samantha's a swag camping kind of girl but I suspect she will draw the line at sleeping in our back yard on a regular basis.

Jesse's chapter

War and Peace in our Times: A Mormon Perspective was released officially in the US on September 11 so Jesse, Louisa and I celebrated at Monty's.  Jesse's chapter is titled 'Non-violent responses and Mormon Attitudes: Reasons and Realities'.

Click here to go to a review of the book that mentions Jesse!

Peet the Poffertjes Boy

Peet is working for Lee on Saturday mornings selling poffertjes at the Yandina Farmers markets.   And spending his money on concerts, clothes and chocolates!

Farmer Max

Max has taken to all things farming and food gathering.  His birthday dreams were all about a compound bow and cammo clothes - he didn't dare to imagine they would come true since that is way outside our usual birthday budget.  But come true they did -  and he was a happy and surprised twelve year old.

And this is why Max cried when Alec told us he was about to propose.

As keen as he is to go hunting and raise some meat chickens, Max is also keen on the gathering side. 

He collected a couple of kilos of mulberries and we made mulberry sauce, mulberry tarts and mulberry clafoutis.  I believe there are more mulberries coming this afternoon.

And toady, before it got too hot, Max cleaned out the fireplace and put the ash on the fruit trees.  It was a big job but a fire and s'mores for dessert kept his enthusiasm high.