Sunday, March 1, 2015

Korma Fest and Thanksgiving in Illinois


Back in November, we hosted Korma Fest 2014. 




This was a wonderful celebration of warm, fulfilling food, children's sweet giggles, vibrant music and lovely conversation. 




Zac shopped, chopped, mixed, blended, simmered and fried all day.




And it was deliciousness!






Then, there was music.





For Thanksgiving this year, we travelled to Illinois, where my grandma lives.




The chair that Orion is in warms my heart. This chair has been around a very long time. 




Jeanette showed Orion how to make paper hand puppets. :)




She also graced us with piano.




I really like the next one. It shows exactly what I think of when I think of this family. Lots of layers of people.




All having small and large conversations full of laughter, love...and teasing.








This was Maebelle's birthday evening. Nine years old.




Grandma and her lasagna,




salad and "turkey" cake,




glasses of water for everyone.




And there it is:




Above was the meat-ish kind. There was another for Z and me, but this one was so much more photogenic.




What better side is there to lasagna than mac and cheese?




Again, Maebelle takes one of me...




...and I take one of her. :)

Pumpkins!





This year...






...the kids carved the pumpkins...






...all by themselves. :)






Which meant I didn't have to get my hands all gooey and gross. YAY!




The pumpkin is eating Orion's arm!!!!!!!!




Maebelle loves to set up my camera on the stand and use the remote to take pictures of herself and, as it turns out, whatever else is happening around the house in those particular moments.




I really like this one of her in the black cowboy hat.




Oh how I love our fireplace. I could sit in front of it forever.






Observing our home.






Treasures from my grandma. I love them. I love her.

New Home and Other Misc Hamlin Happenings


Music at Anderson's:






While music is being played, kids are outside. This was last July.




I know it's ridiculous that I am eight months behind. Just love these all so much that I had to share them before I moved on to current pictures.






Summer: I can't wait to see you again...

...although I am still loving the snow that fell all day yesterday.




And next is the first day of school. Maebelle is now in third grade. Can you believe it?




Orion is in second grade this year. 




Look at his hair! It obviously grows so fast.




Waiting for first day of class to begin.






Cousin tea party.






Highland had such great light. 




Sometimes, Orion "doesn't feel well". Therefore he cannot go to school. On this day (when I wasn't completely sure I believed he didn't fell well) I made him work for his sick day.






Jon sent the kids these jelly marbles a few years ago. We have used them several times throughout the years. The observations have become more and more complex each time. I love it!






I take one of Maebelle...




...and she takes one of me. :)




Enter Owen's Lane.












The first opportunity Orion really had to explore the house, or even on the property was the day we closed. We picked the kids up early from school so that we had a bit of time in the house with them before my mom and dad took them to their house. That allowed Zac and me to work, work, work.




Orion loved trying to pry the stones out of this step. I think he finally learned that there really aren't any that will come out.






We went to Water's Edge that day to pick up a house warming gift for ourselves - a big, deep wind chime. :) Which, incidentally, I have yet to take a picture of.




While we were at Water's Edge, Orion found this crazy alien thing.






I like to think Orion is shooting a laser out of his right eye at that creature in the picture above.




He loved it so much that he squeezed an eye right off of it not long after these pictures were taken. Yes, on the first day he owned it. That's Orion.




And this last one is all me. Man, do I love grass!

(Which I am sure you already knew, if you'd ever looked at this blog before. :)