Sister, sister!

These two, oh they melt my heart daily. From the moment Hannah was born, no before Hannah was even conceived Linnea loved her. 

When Linnea was around two she started praying for a sister named Hannah. At the time we weren't sure if we wanted another, we were happy, Linnea was so much fun and were enjoying every moment of her twoness. But Linnea kept praying for her sister named Hannah, and a few months later both Joe and I had a deep longing for one more child.

When we told L we were expecting another she gleefully jumped up and down, clapping her hands and declaring, "I knew Jesus would answer my prayer for Hannah." When we tried explaining to her that we did not know yet if it was going to be a girl, that it could be a brother, L (we do call her L) stubbornly put her hands on her hips and fiercely declared, "No, Jesus would not do that to me."

A few weeks latter when the ultrasound showed the baby was in fact another girl we could not of been anymore relieved. Not naming her Hannah never crossed our minds, she was Hannah, the sister named Hannah that L prayed so faithfully for.

Linnea never doubted that it was a girl, so upon telling her the good news she just looked strait at us and said, "I told you, Jesus keeps his promises." And that was that.

Linnea was part of nearly every aspect of preparing for Hannah's arrival. Joe and I spent months praying for their relationship to always be as strong as Linnea hopped for, for them to always be the best of friends.

Hannah arrived, after a very easy labor, and upon entering the room, Linnea joyfully cried, "Hannah, my Hannah, is really here!" (My sister recorded it on video and it gets me every time I watch."

Their relationship has never skipped a beat. They have been the best of friends from that moment on, and would rather be with each other than anyone else. When friends are over they include each other, their friends know that the sisters come in a package. 

They may bicker but they usually self-resolve within seconds, but when they don't our punishment  is loosing to playing with their sister--the worse punishment we could bestow upon either of them.

They have always had their own rooms, I think it helps their relationship by having their own space.

One thing that continuously surprises Joe and I, their personalities are so different, yet they get a long so well. I could write a book about how different they are. People who know them always comment on how glaring different their personalities are.

A couple years ago they started singing a song they made up about their differences, and how much they love each other. Linnea sings something like, "I am a tennis girl!" Hannah sings, "I am a baseball girl!" L sings, "I like ballet!"Hannah sings, "I like gymnastics!" then the chorus they sing together, "But we are sisters, we are best friends, we don't have to be the same to love each other!" It is about as cute as it gets--the song is much more detailed and longer, it changes as they change,

I write this because yesterday was an especially special sister day. It was a rare Saturday that had nothing scheduled after Linnea's morning ballet class. The weather was perfect, they declared it a "Secret Sister Day" and spent hours upon hours in our backyard playing, giggling and laughing. They barely came in for lunch and dinner, and played relentlessly and joyfully until we forced them into showers and bed. My prayer is still their relationship only grows stronger, for nothing to every change it.

Hannah Pictures

Oh Hannah, you have our hearts. 

Summer Slow Down

After such a busy spring we were ready to slow it down! Besides VBS, swim lessons for the girls, and their annual camping trip with my parents we scheduled nothing. It has been a glorious summer-baseball games, the beach, friends, and endless hours at home. I promise the endless hours at home have been some of the best moments this summer--the girls play legos, jump, swim, repeat. Our large backyard has been the greatest blessing, the girls spend 5+ hours a day, playing, playing, playing, while Joe and I do school work, catch up on all the back log, and read (for leisure!).  There is three weeks of summer left (a visit from Uncle Daniel, a trip to see Portland friends, and one more BBQ/Bonfire with friends), and we are relaxed and ready for another busy school year.

 Joe and Hannah heading out to the Padres v. A's game. Hannah LOVES baseball, and Joe 

LOVES finally having someone to share his most favorite sport. This kid watches an ENTIRE game, eyes glued, commentating about players and plays, Joe is in heaven.

Can't seem to get this picture upright.

 For father's day the girls planned a picnic at Balboa Park for Joe (his favorite place). We got him

the explorer pass so he and the girls (me too, occasionally) can visit all the museums any time they want (this summer it as been at least once a week). Here is a couple pictures of the girls playing in the NAT's new exhibit. 

 On this special Father's Day visit the girls finally rode the historic Balboa Park Merry-Go-Round.  

 It went surprisingly fast, Hannah likes arms up.

Not boxes, but spaceships.  

Last year we quit using the Bob on outings, this year we graduated to the kids packing their 

own snacks, extra clothes and drinks. They love it, be it Disneyland, Legoland, a hike, or the Zoo 

they carry all their own stuff.  

 We love living so close to the bay and on the evenings I am not jogging we do family "walks." 

L was off riding her bike with Joe jogging behind. 

 A hipster on a skateboard thought Hannah zipping along with her unicorn helmet was the coolest thing, I caught him taking a photo of her. He sheepishly asked if it was alright, and exclaimed she was one cool kid. 

 We had an excellent fourth of July, it started with going to Old Town San Diego for their old time celebration--highly recommend. Then in the evening we had a marshmallow roasting, firework watching party at our house (yeah, for being able to see the fireworks from our street) with 5 other families--so much fun.

 They were both very touched by the flag.

 Trying to decide what old fashion candy to get. 

 Joe decided to be a balloon making expert.

 Another fun thing about this age--going to the movies with friends! We saw Inside Out (very good), and the Minions (only good if you are under the age of nine.)

 Much to Hannah's extreme joy she finally got to start ballet this summer. She LOVES it as much as L- I cannot believe I am a dance mom, did not see that happening, but after four years I am accepting it.

 Lucky L got to go to San Diego Comic Con with her best friend Zoey's family.

 Being Leia has some perks, including be asked to sit on this thing when no one else was allowed to even touch it. 

 Best friends since preschool, L's first good friend after we moved here. 

 Zoey and L--the tallest and the shortest. Zoey's nine year old sister Zarah in the middle. 

We drove the girls up to my parents house in the Sierras, or as the kids call it "Marmar's Tree House",  so they can go on their annual week long grandparent camping trip. I will need to get pictures from my mom, but from what I heard it was AWESOME, L even learned how to paddle board!

 The girls LOVE "the tree house deck" they tell us constantly that we need a house in the trees too.

 Before Joe and I left we joined everyone on a nearby hike. Can't tell from the pictures but we barely missed a thunder and lighting storm. 

 L took finding the perfect hiking stick very seriously. 

 Hannah believes running is the best mode of transportation. 

 L forged her first stream via fallen tree stump--sort of a parenting fail that this is her first. 

 Joe and I decided to come home going over Sonora Pass and visit Mono Lake and Mt. Whitney. 

 I love the beach life, but gosh I miss the mountains. 

 Thunder clouds rolled in by the time we hit Mono lake, and by the time we got to Mt. Whitney the clouds completely covered the mountain--we had to pretend we were looking at it. 

 We did a quick kid free stop at Disneyland too. Tower of Terror in the front row is absolutely terrifying--couldn't open my eyes (we are far left). 

 We have had a weekly beach day with some of our favorite friends, at our "secret" beach spot. 

And because the 4th was so much fun we did another BBQ night at our house--this time 7 families! Our friend Shiloh's birthday party was rained out when the remnants of hurricane Dolores hit San Diego so her parents brought her giant piñata. The dads thought holding it over the trampoline would be brilliant, they were right. 

 A portion of the kids waiting their turn to bat at the thing.

 Pandemonium, the candy is out!!

But most days have been gloriously relaxing, the kids jump.

 And jump...

 A Hannah favorite, fall, catch yourself, and land on your feet. 

 Then they swim in our little 3ft x 10ft Intext pool.

 Four hours on end. 

 A day doesn't go by where Joe and I don't feel blessed by these two sisters' relationship.

They are truly the best of friends, they rarely squabble and if they do it is short lived. Their love for each other is deep, and their selflessness towards each other is heart warming. My prayer is their relationship only grows stronger, and for nothing to ever shake it. 

Many, many days this summer have ended like this.