Jessie in action

Click on the picture to view the video.
CONTENT WARNING: This video will be boring to anyone except doting parents, grandparents, or other family members. Watch at your own risk.

Bedtime story

Thus far he had been able to visualize every incident of the Neverending Story. Some of them, it couldn't be denied, were very strange, but they could somehow be explained. He had formed a clear picture of Atreyu riding on the luckdragon, of the Labyrinth and the Ivory Tower.
These pictures, however, existed only in his imagination. But when he came to the Magnolia Pavilion, he saw the face of the Childlike Empress -- if only for a fraction of a second, for the space of a lightning flash. And not only in his thoughts, but with his eyes! It wasn't his imagination, of that Bastion was sure. He had even seen details that were not mentioned in the description.
It never occurred to him that he was getting into the most unusual and perhaps the most dangerous of adventures. But even if he had known this, he wouldn't have dreamed of shutting the book.
With a trembling forefinger he found his place and went on reading.
The clock in the belfry struck ten.

Saturday activities

Jordan discovered he could jump clear off the ground with both wheels on his scooter.


Claudia did a lot of yard work, including mowing the lawn and pruning the trees at our driveway entrance.


We all enjoyed popcorn popped over a campfire on our deck to end the evening, and Jordan had to be carried half asleep up to bed before 9pm.

I didn't get any photos of myself -- I guess I was always on the wrong side of the camera. I was a bit under the weather today so I didn't do any big activities, but enjoyed reading on the couch -- Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman to myself, and The Neverending Story by Michael Ende to Jordan -- keeping Jessie happy while Claudia was out, and getting the fire going in the evening. It was a nice, slow Saturday, just the way I like it. How was yours?

Jordan photography

Jessie on the kitchen counter (in her bouncy), from Jordan's point of view.

Wordless Wednesday

More camping photos

Jordan and I at a peak we hiked to, with the valley and campground behind us. The hike was about 3 miles long, with an 1100 foot elevation change. Jordan did great, I had a tough time keeping up with him!


A snake we passed under as we were tubing.


Hanging up to dry...

Endearing Jessie

The blog's been pretty quiet of late, because the Hekman house has not! Jessie's fifth and sixth week have taken more of our time and attention than the first month, now that all our live-in-help has gone! But we've been able to enjoy our one-on-one time with our new little bundle of joy, of tears, and of funny expressions. We'll show you the joy and funny expressions here, but keep the crying to your imagination.


Jessie practicing her contagious smile


Jessie making faces while being burped -- Jordan's favorite baby activity (he took the photo)!

More faces

And a few friendly K9 faces too...

Faces

Jordan art

Camping photos

Jordan and I just got back from five heavenly days at Big Ben(d) campground -- a yearly family tradition this year shared just by the two of us. Big Bend is so far away from anything they haven't discovered bad weather or mosquitoes yet there.




My reading list!


A baptism and church service Saturday evening on the water

Heading out

Heading out camping this weekend...

Jordan's computer art

Jordan made these using MS Paint, the basic paint tool that comes with windows.


Shipy (shipwreck)


amazeing flags


horsey


duck hunting (find a duck in this maze!)

Rodeo

Thursday and Saturday we joined most of Loudoun County and West Virginia in attending a local rodeo. We missed seeing our very own Reuben Geleynse who has retired from professional bull riding, but had a great show nonetheless. Jessie I hate to say was unimpressed, which bodes ill for our plans to make a cowgirl out of her like her Mom.

Eva

Our friend Eva has been staying with us and helping out tremendously -- here she is multi-tasking as she vacuums and puts Jessie to sleep all at the same time.