Chloe

Recently I met Chloe and her mom up in Bowmansville for Chloe's 7 year old portraits. And they brought their new puppy!

Beautiful girl, adorable puppy! I almost took Manny home in my camera bag!

fall at Hopewell Furnace National Park

About 45 minutes from us is the historic Hopewell Furnace Village. I hadn't been there for years so as last Sunday was a beautiful afternoon, I took the kids out to explore.

The furnace operated from 1771-1883 making iron.

 My mother was into early American crafts when I was little and we had candle molds just like these that she did use to make candles.

 One of the houses was arranged with reproduction furniture and items that the kids were allowed to play with. They tried out some early American toys and games and decided the bed with the straw tick was quite uncomfortable!

We have been reading the Little House on the Prairie series to the girls so it was cool to show them an actual Conestoga Wagon

The kids got to play in some leaf piles!

Hannah's senior shoot

Of course Hannah had to have her senior photos with her best friend, Charlie! Charlie lives at Hollyhurst Farm with my daughter's horse Tucker (but I am not sure that they are friends!) Hannah plans to go to college in Philadelphia so as not to be too far from Charlie in the fall. Best of luck to both of you!

Hadley

 This little piggy went to market!

 Is that the most adorable face?? Three month old Hadley had her Halloween costume along in her wardrobe for her shoot at Hollyhurst Farm

sisters

and another brother+sister!

brother+sister

Hands entry for i heart faces

this week at i heart faces the theme is hands

hands are pretty important in our family... Natalie was born without a thumb on her left hand, as well as a short arm, a fused elbow and even a pinky finger that didn't work independently. When we adopted her we had no idea anything could be done to correct her hand. But then we met Dr. Kozin at Shriner's Hospital in Philadelphia. He performed the surgery on her hand last October 26 to create a thumb by moving her index finger.

The results have been amazing and she has become the poster child for thumb pollicization :)  In the last 10 months she had virtually complete function with her new thumb and we just have a few more weeks of occupational therapy to work on some strength. 

I took this photo just three days after her cast came off and she really noticed her new thumb for the first time.

Dr. Kozin has this hanging in his office

Handsome boys

 I photographed bug brother Ben last year before he became a big brother! Micah joined the family last fall and he has just celebrated his third birthday.

The kids always like Lititz Springs Park--there's a red caboose and ducks and water to play in. Fortunately no one fell in the brook!