Halloween!

Another Halloween come and gone. All the time spent deciding what to "be", whether to use fake blood or not (don't, it's messy...), and the joy of finding the houses that give out the full-size candy bars. We had a fun time this past halloween night and the kids filled their pails with plenty of sweet treats. And, no, they didn't get any full size candy bars...

A Beautiful Year

As most of us do, I enjoy beauty. Whether it takes the form of something tangible like a child's smile or a husband's reassuring touch, or something else, like a feeling of serenity or joy, the need for beautiful things everyday is real.

For me, I've found lately that flowers stir something within me and I have taken to photographing them. Above, the photo is of Jackie taking a moment to savor the fragrance from one of Grandma Hammer's daffodils early last spring. The following collage is of flowers from throughout the year. I think they are beautiful and I hope you enjoy them too!

Autumn Sunflowers

Red & Purple Salvia

Daylily after the rain

Tiger lily from above

Pink tea rose

Canna lily

Double Daylily

My Favorite Season!

Ah! You know the feeling you get when, not even realizing you were tense, you relax your shoulders and immediately feel better? That's the feeling I get when Autumn is here. The hot summer, with it's insistance that you dress in next to nothing, is gone. Cool days and getting to wear the sweaters and hoodies again and nice, crisp nights that make kids and husbands (maybe) want to cuddle just a little closer. The cat brings her soft fur close to my head at night when I am nestled on my pillow and I can hear her mesmerizing purr. These are the best times! The very best times, though, are the kiddos in the leaves! It's so fun to watch Gabe rake perfect piles, Jackie come along and spead them out again and Will just sits there, amazed at the umber leaves because this is his first autumn!

Enjoy your autumn--the holidays will invade soon enough!

Will in the leaves

All the kiddos together

Will getting doggy kisses from Abby

A Journey Through the Topeka Zoo

This is one of our newest addtions to the zoo, a little lion cub. I call this one "smiley lion" because that what it looks like!! They aren't on exhibit, but they should be by the fall.

Peka Sue is our lone hippo at the zoo. Her companion, Sub Marie, passed away last October. We hope to have a new hippo later this year.

Arctic foxes generally turn a blotchy brown color in the summer, but ours stay white all year round.

I feel very fortunate to work at the Topeka Zoo. What a great job! I get to work with some of the greatest people around not to mention teach about animals and plants. I can't think of a better way to spend the workday!

On The Road Again

Mike looking down from the top. His crewman, Wade, is below.





Mike is again on the road...this time though it's Arizona. He is working with BNSF railway to install new towers along their lines. He is well but wishing he were home. We all miss him, too, but we talk every night and the kids get to say hi to dad, too. He will be home for the 4th of July and we will be happy to celebrate!!









Mike on the top of the tower

Summer's Solstice

June 21, Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year of the year. When I was a kid, this day was the most depressing of the summer because I knew that from now until December 21 the days would slowly grow shorter. Summer was a time for excitement, adventure, freedom. August brought school and cooler days on the horizon. Since having kids, though, Summer Solstice was a joy. It meant soon shorter days would be on the horizon; this time, though, it meant the kids would go to bed earlier because it was finally dark!

This summer is different. I am again seeing June 21 as a day of reflection because summer is half-over. Gabe is nearly 7 years old and he is finally old enough to enjoy everything! I can look into his eyes and clearly remember being that age. Adventures around every corner, no matter the consequence. Fireflies to catch, mud to play in, fireworks to ignite. Running side-by-side with Gabe is like being a kid again! Soon summer will wind to an end and school will again be the daily ritual. For now, though, I will enjoy Gabe. Even though he can be as abrasive as nails on a chalkboard, he is the mirror to my childhood long ago. For that I may have to catch a firefly. :-)

The Face of an Angel

Three kids are a ton of work, but their very different personalities make all the running worth it! Here are some faces that will make you smile!! :-)

Will was very surpised to see the camera...

Gabe has a real talent for finding the frogs and toads that call Grandma & Grandpa's yard home. Seems that every time we go out there, he's bouncing in the house with amphibian in hand.

Jackie had just crawled out of bed on a Saturday morning and I think the photo says it all. She wasn't a bit happy with mom's camera being shoved in her face.

All three of the little ones are sweet and very different indeed!!

My Little Zoo

The time has come for me to finally admit that nearly everything I do is not of my own fantastic creativity. No, I am a thief! This idea for a blog has come from a friend who enlightened me when she said she has zero time for scrapbooking because of her little kids. Well, no doubt! So here I am, with a blog. I can post pictures of the kids since I have my nice new camera and everyone can see what they're up to.
Right now, I am working in the education department at the Topeka Zoo and I love it! It certainly keeps me busy, but so do the kiddos. Mike is working for Midwest Underground Technology, where he is a foreman for a crew that builds cell towers. He really does enjoy his trade, it's just the long days and weeks away from home that get old. Hopefully he will be home to stay soon.
As the school year rapidly draws to an end, Gabe is growing like a weed and anxiously awaiting a summer filled with mud and frogs. He's so big now, standing nearly to my shoulder (and I'm 5'11")!
Jackie is 2 1/2 and every bit of Daddy's Little Princess, and she knows it, too. She runs her little curly head around telling everyone who'll listen that she IS the princess, but now she also tells them that mommy is the QUEEN. Good girl. :-)
Will is 5 months old now and he is the smiliest baby I've ever met! He also has the brightest blue eyes, just like his Grandma Hammer. Soon I'll be posting pictures of all the little apes!
Hope you all are well!
~Stephanie