The Hawleys Descend from the Great North!

This is a bit overdue, but we had a wonderful visit from my parents and Uncle Doug a couple of weeks ago. We kept it low key overall, but did make a trip to Wilson's Orchard for some fantastic apple picking! As you might imagine, we love anything autumn since we've been without changing seasons for five years!

Boy in a basket

Grandma Hawley giving Leif his Koala that Kaj "built" for him before he was born, complete with a recorded "I wove baby bruh-va" when you squeeze the paw - Yes, it's a favorite!

Kaj and Cousin Jericho at the apple orchard

Uncle Sam found a snake

The crew checking out Uncle Sam's discovery

The Snowy Day with its very own Peter doll - Thanks Doug and Germaine!

A future in show business?

Frosting Halloween cookies - this one is a greenish bat

Someone's intrigued by the camera...

Whoa, buddy! (the next shot is of a nostril, I think)

Eight months and on the move!

Our eight-month-old Leif is a mover! His backward shimmy has developed into a skillful, quick forward crawl. Today at bath time, he made it the entire length of the house. Grandma Larsen predicts he will be walking by Christmas - I wasn't so sure before, but his eagerness to travel has changed my mind!

Just another day at the Larsen's - two boys moving in opposite directions and a confused dog

"Mommy, I'm a nutcracker!"

Leif: Hey, what's that, big brother? (This is my interpretation of his facial expression)

Kaj: It's a PEZ - Mommy got it for me at Target as a special treat. (a weaker moment, I might add)

Leif: Can I try? (notice extended arms - this is practically ASL, folks)

Kaj: No way! You're too little - this is a chokin' hazard!
Tomorrow evening Grandma and Grandpa Hawley are coming down from Minneapolis - yay! When I asked Kaj what we should make for dinner, he suggested we wait until they arrive to prepare the food because "Grandpa Hawley is the best food maker." Uh...what? Thanks for playing, buddy. Uncle Doug plans to fly in to Cedar Rapids on Friday so they can all drive back together on Sunday. We're thinking it's time to head to the apple orchard, take the family to Java House for a Pumpkin Pie Latte (a personal favorite), paint a room or two and hopefully get a hand in raking the beginning of what will be an enormous dump in the coming weeks. Did I mention we have several large oaks? Ah, the joys of home ownership.

A few shots of the new place - more soon!

Of course these loaded in reverse order, but I'm too lazy to rearrange... Top, the "play room" end of the family room. Below, the family room - yes, we realize most people have computer screens that are larger than our TV!

Dining Room

from the stairs

the Living Room

A new beginning...

Emily and Ella Kahnert - a happy mom an daughter!

Annie Strom and Kaj playing a duet at Casa de Reck in Iowa City

Leif is ready for Halloween in his PJs from Aunt Sara, Uncle Chris, Annika and Kristen

Creating a masterpiece with his new watercolors and apron - the perfect combo

A Happy Birthday Apple Pie!

We're finally getting things in order in our new home in Iowa City. Here are a few photos to keep your interest going until we do our big photo shoot of the new house! We love our backyard - can you tell?

Leif - a happy swinger at 7 1/2 months

"What's an underdog, Dad?'

Thankfully, the previous owners had twin girls. What would we have done with only one place to swing?

I love my boys!!! They make me so happy. (Thanks Uncle Sam and Aunt Mary for the cool shirts!)

My sweet baby boy who scoots around the room like a pro!