Finn's photo shoot

Finn borrowed my camera phone the other night and this is his first installation in 'A Natural Gallery of This Boy's Life'

My favorite one is the last one, of Poppie. She wouldn't smile for me, but Finn walks up and tells her to say 'cheese' and she happily complies.

Nick & Casi, married September 7th, 2013

Nick & Casi's wedding was absolutely stunning. In the setting, in its beautiful simplicity and mostly in the abundance of love between these two and the love that we all feel for them. Their union is one clearly destined by the universe and held aloft by the truest, most magical love. They are both old souls, and it is clear that this is not their first match with one another. Celebrating their wedding with them felt like a privilege. 

We're off to Fort Collins!

Tomorrow we are traveling to Fort Collins, CO to celebrate Nick and Casi's wedding weekend. The second of three weddings in our family. Outsiders gasp at the magnitude of celebrations happening within such a short time, but I have to say that I am fully enjoying the back-to-back festivities. We are all in wedding mode, and who doesn't love celebrating love? Besides celebrating babies (which will also happen this month), I don't think there is anything better.

Finn has an odd obsession with rabbits and trapping rabbits (too much Beatrix Potter, perhaps?) and has been told that Casi's parent's backyard opens into a fields of rabbit dens. He has eagerly collected all the materials he needs (bungee cords, a digger, a few sticks, by the looks of it) to build some rabbit traps and has graciously offered to give the many future trapped rabbits to Casi's parents for a feast, if they wish.

Poppie is unaware of the adventure, but follows Finn around collecting like items to bring as well. She is oddly confused by the whole rabbit thing and brings Finn her stuffed bunny that she sleeps with when he starts talking about a cooked-rabbit feast. He dramatically tells her no, Poppie... in an exasperated voice and refuses to explain further because he is the older brother and little sisters just will never understand certain things like trapped-rabbit feasts.

I am over 38 weeks at this point and have been graciously allowed to fly by my midwife, but only because of my history of late babies and strong sacks (Poppie was almost born in the caul). I guess the barometric pressure of take-off and landing can burst one's waters and cause labor, but with any hope, not mine. We are flying armed with medical records in the unlikely case I go into labor, and although I am not planning on any such thing happening, we have a back-up midwife there (who delivered Casi and her siblings).

Nick is swirling around in another universe, one of work and photo shoots and films and scripts and new companies. He jumps into ours frequently and I am amazed at how quickly he comes down to earth and can give the children his full attention. I can't even transition that fast from doing something mundane, like laundry. Go super Dad.

We will update from Colorado!

Our (maybe) new house

Our deal isn't signed and sealed, so I probably shouldn't put these pictures up, but we are really hoping to finalize the purchase of this little gem on Bainbridge Island. Nick and I have been looking at houses in both Seattle and on Bainbridge for about two years. We have made several offers, a couple in both places, and have vacillated between wanting to stay in the city and wanted more space for the children and move to Bainbridge. 

In the end, we decided to leave it up to fate. If the perfect house came up in the city, next to an open space where our kids could run and play, we would stay in the city. If the perfect house came up on Bainbridge, well, that was a sign we needed to move there. 

Leaving Seattle feels terrifying and exciting at the same time. Nick and I both grew up with lots of open space to roam and cherish our wild childhood memories. But, we have also lived in some of the most amazing metropolitan cities in the world (San Francisco, New York, London, Seattle) and absolutely love the urban energy of the city.

We would be leaving behind a huge tribe of family and friends here in Seattle, and although Bainbridge is not that far away, we realize that more effort will be needed to see each other. Maybe one day we can convince some of our nearest and dearests to join us in this idillic place...

 The house was built in the early 1900's, which is super old for Northwest standards. It has been well maintained and remodeled over the years, but retains the charm of an older house. It is not big, but the usable living spaces are all quite grand, or at least perfectly grand enough for us. We spend so little time in bedrooms, it doesn't matter to us if they are small.

 The house has a huge family room that opens up onto a huge deck. This will be the room we spend the most time in, I would guess. We would like to put the kids' playroom, a studio/art space and some comfy seating in here. Inca can have a little spot by the wood stove to curl up on a rainy day.

 There are flower boxes in every window, even on the little garden shed in the back yard. It adds immensely to the charm of the place, although I realize that in a few short weeks we will be staring a brown dirt until spring.

 The house sits on the front end of an acre. There is a gently sloping hill to a huge area of grass and woods. In the winter and spring, a small shallow frog pond fills up in the neighbor's yard. We have two large garden beds, some old fruit trees, and a covered shop area at the bottom, which you can just see in this photo. There are deer and I saw a coyote cross the yard the other day. My best friend from childhood grew up in the property behind ours and I have played in this very yard when I was Finn's age. Daniel and his best friend, her brother, used to catch the frogs in the pond. Her parents still live there and said their door is always open and the cookie jar always filled.

 Poppie is checking out the huge porch. One gate on the stairs and this porch will be a huge playpen to shoo the children out onto. Bikes can go out here, we would put a little swing on the arbor and a table for doing messy projects. It really is an extension of the family room and couldn't be better placed.

 Looking up onto the porch. Roses grow up almost every wall and corner of the house, further giving it that English country charm. The studio that Nick would work in is to the right of this image.

And finally, if the house weren't wonderful enough, the surrounding community is absolutely charming. We are a five minute walk from this wonderful beach (with great views of Seattle and Mt Rainier), and five minutes in the other direction gets you to a farm store, bakery, mini-store and restaurant. The house is about 3 miles from my parent's house and also about 3 miles to the ferry and town. It is perfect and we feel so lucky to have found it. Fingers-crossed our deal goes through!

Welcome September!

Happy September!

Although the weather is still beautiful and perfectly warm, the light is changing and there is a new crispness to the evening air that wasn't there a few weeks ago. Fall is approaching. This summer has been wonderful and I have so many happy memories with the children. Swimming at the lake, mornings spent at our local park laying under the oak tree on a blanket, long lazy playdates with friends and watching these two little bugs grow. This is the summer Finn learned how to climb a tree, ride a pedal bike and almost swim on his own. This is the summer that Poppie learned how to talk in full sentences, and became her own little person, albeit one who is relentlessly following the lead of her brother.

Speaking of brothers, my three brothers are all getting married within a month. The weddings are every other week starting with Ben & Molly, who married on August 24th and ending with Daniel & Bridgette who will marry on the 21st of September. Nick and Casi are up next, they marry in a week in Fort Collins, CO on the lovely property of Casi's childhood home. The whole Hall clan is in the wedding, and at over 38 weeks hugely pregnant, I could very well be the most rotund bridesmaid to ever fit in a dress. I will share pictures next weekend to prove my point.

Somewhere in between all these festivities, we are having a baby. Hopefully not in Colorado and hopefully not on one of the wedding days. But other than that, game on, baby Hall. Life has been so full and active that I would not be one bit surprised if baby decided to come a little early this time (early being relative considering Finn was induced at 42 weeks and Poppie was a natural labor at almost 43). And I used to think that my babies were firm followers of Murphy's Law, being that Poppie was almost a September 11th baby (the only day in September I though would be a challenging birthday) and Finn was born on Halloween (sharing your birthday with such a major holiday could be anti-climatic when you are young and your friends are preoccupied with copious amounts of candy already, but we are embracing it).

However for baby Hall's birth, there is really not a day in September when we are not celebrating a wedding (showers, luncheons, rehearsal dinners, after-brunches), a birthday (Popps turns 2! and there are two 30th birthdays in the family this month), packing (we might be moving!), moving (we might be buying a house!), fixing our old house, fixing up the new house, having friends visit (from our days at Oxford!), preschool orientation, preschool family days, preschool starting (yay Finn!). So, Murphy's Law all month. Go, baby, go!

We will keep updating regularly and will leave a little note here when labor starts, so stay tuned!

Ben and Molly

Ben married Molly on Saturday in a beautiful, simple ceremony in the park across the street from their house. The bride was gorgeous and the groom beaming. They are a match made in heaven. 

 Nick was a groomsman for Ben, I was a bridesmaid for Molly and the children were both in the wedding as ring bearer and flower girl. But at the last minute, Finn wanted to be the one to throw flower petals from the cute basket and Poppie wanted to hold the pillow with the rings, so they switched. Finn was the best flower boy ever and Poppie did great with the rings. Then, they ran off down the end of the park to play with the huge balloons that Molly had set up.

 Daniel and Bridgette are marrying at the end of September. They are a gorgeous couple. 

 And these two marry in just over a week at Casi's parent's house in Fort Collins, CO. They are also a gorgeous couple and we have been waiting for this day for a long time with these two. 

 The day started early with a trip to the salon to get makeup and hair done with the girls. Molly is naturally loving and incredibly vivacious and half of the world thinks she is their best friend. I am blessed to call her a sister.

 The boys all got ready at Molly's sister and brother-in-law's house. Peter and Schuyler met at the same time as Ben and Molly (Peter is one of Ben's best friends from high school and he set them up). Schuyler and Peter married in June. Sisters married best friends. 

 The bride in a quiet moment of solitude. 

 Darling Nick trying to cool me down by blowing on my face. It was a warm day and I am shocked that the groomsmen held up so well in their suits. 

 Uncle Daniel "practicing". The Uncles have all gotten really involved in the children's lives as they get closer to their wedding days. The kids love them.

 Papa making Poppie a paper airplane. 

 Mama and Poppie.

 Hugely pregnant.

 Poppie and her beloved Nana. 

 A sweet Finn moment.

We are back!

Hi everyone!

We have been busy eating and drinking and playing and growing around here, but we are back! Stay tuned for regular posts and updates on life in the Hall family. Our break from blogging has been great, but we are excited to share our changing life with you!

xx

The Hall's