Happy day to Hannah Banana, aka Hanoula Flannigan!!

Today is Hannah's birthday!!  How well I remember her birth - for starters, she was two days early!  All the way to the hospital, I kept saying, "They are going to send us home - we're early!"  (The other Terrill babies had come 11, 11, 11, and 13 days late!  Why would I be expecting early to be real??) 

Her birth was easier than the others too - mainly because I was prepared!!  I'd taken a pregnancy exercise class that really worked!!  I felt like a champ!  (Didn't hurt that I had a great midwife too!) 

Hannah was a great little kid - she was spunky and liked to climb - we'd never had a climber!

 

And Hannah was - and is - a wonderful "Auntanna!!"

 

Even though Bonny got married when Hannah was pretty young, she stayed close to "the little kids!" That's been a blessing to all of us!

 

And now, you can't even think of Hannah without thinking of Robbie - and Rhoda - the future beckons - who knows what we'll be reporting for her 32nd birthday!!??

Have a great day - and a wonderful year ahead!!

Hannah turns 30 today - and she's off with Robbie and Rhoda on a wonderful European jaunt!!  I can't think of a better way to spend your 30th birthday!  (Can't even remember how I spent mine - I just know it wasn't a European jaunt!!)

It was a happy day when Hannah joined us! She came 2 days early - a real treat for a woman who'd had kids 11 and 13 days late!  And she was a sweet, easy-going little girl.  Although she was my first climber!!

She was independent and hard-working.  Rather than wait for me to take her to Michaels for her Science Fair Project supplies, she said, "Can I use anything I can find in the garage?"  She continues to be a can-do kind of gal and impresses me continually with her ability to tackle projects, take on new skills, and make it all look pretty easy!

Hannah is a wonderful wife and mother.  She's a great student - always learning and growing. She is kind and thoughtful to others.  She is a wonderful member of our family - and I am happy remembering the day of her birth and the joy she has brought into our lives!

Fun in Philly!

After a week in VA, Eliza, Ida, and I took a "road trip" to Philly to see Hannah, Robbie, and Rhoda.  Philly is a great city - at least the parts we saw!  Lots of parks and statues and the weather was not too hot and not too humid - we were grateful.  Eliza and Ida stayed the weekend, and Harry flew in from LA - and then drove back to VA with Eliza and Ida to spend a few days before coming back to Philly.  It sounds convoluted, but it worked!

City dwellers may not have yards, but that doesn't stop them from landscaping beautifully!!  I loved walking along the streets and seeing all the beautiful plants and flowers and trees.

We didn't go into Independence Hall, but we take our photo in front of it - that counts doesn't it??  And we saw the Liberty Bell through the window.  We will be back - and Hannah and Robbie will be there for 2 years, so we have time to see all the sights!

Sunday morning at the South Philly Branch - the church is so great everywhere you go - they share a building with an income tax place - the church sign says "visitors welcome" and the tax sign said "walk-ins welcome!!"

Here's a shot of Philadelphia City Hall - with Ben Franklin's statue on the top - pretty impressive sight.

If I lived in Philly, I'm pretty sure I'd get way more than the recommended 10,000 steps daily - here we are at the Philadelphia Museum of Art - featured in "Rocky."  Lots of tourists running up the stairs!! To get here, we'd walked along a river - one that George Washington had crossed with his men during the Revolutionary War - I can tell we have lots of sights to see on future visits!

Here's the Philadelphia Temple - under construction - a beautiful building in a beautiful location!  It will be dedicated the year Robbie will finish at Wharton.

The "Rocky" statue that everyone flocks too as they emerge from the tour busses!

Rhoda was her usual fun self to hang out with!! After spending a whole summer with her, we miss her daily presence!!

Grandpa built a gate for her - so she won't be tempted to go down the stairs by herself!!

The visit was brief - Hannah and I discovered "Fabric Row" and some other delights - like I've said, we need more visits and more time - I may see America yet!

Happy day to Miss Hannoula Flannigan!!

These are totally random shots that I pulled out of my files - mostly because they "jumped" out at me for one reason or another.  I wanted to be sure and wish the Birthday Girl a happy day!

 

Hannah was 2 days early - in the Terrill family, that was a first - and seemed almost amazing to me.  All the way to the hospital I kept saying, "They are going to send me home."

 

Sue Cornwall had called and said that they were leaving on vacation and she wanted to be sure I hadn't had the baby already.  I told her I'd still be pregnant when she got back!  (Wrong!)

 

I was 40 years old, but it was the fastest, easiest delivery of all - no meds, no stitches - and she weighed 9 lbs. 3 oz.!

 

Hannah was the middle child of "the little kids" and maybe sometimes she thought she got overlooked.  But she was pretty good about making herself - and her needs - known.  She was always my most resourceful child.

 

 There is more of Hannah in Rhoda that most people realize - take this photo for instance!!  And she's a great mom and wife!!

When we had two girls together, I thought, "oh great - I can pass clothes down!"  Didn't happen - by 2, Hannah was taller than Eliza!

 

But she was my one child who would let me choose her clothes - for a lot longer than any of the other girls!!  She didn't mind "matching" either!

 

Always creative!!

 

 "Elizahannahnoah" - at St. George.

"What if your face freezes that way Hannah??"

 

"Anntanna" to the grandkids!!

 

The Hamill family unit - I'm sure they are celebrating her in fine style today - sure hope so anyway!!  (Maybe Robbie has class though!1)

Happy day to you - and all year through!!

Looking forward to some news!!

Hannah was the only one of our children who arrived early!!  She was two days early.  Because my previous 4 pregnancies had ended with 10-days-late-plus deliveries,  I told everyone a date that was about 2 weeks past my due date. (The due date was August 22nd, so I told everyone first of September!)

Didn't I look like I didn't know how to count??

Hannah's not going to be two days early this time around - but hey, it hasn't been 13 days yet - my record for being late - and it's just adding to the excitement!!

We'll let you know!!

Happy Day Hannoola Flanagan!!

I don't keep track, but I'm sure I post the same photos over and over again.  Especially the ones that are my faves.  This is one.  A guy came around with a pony taking pics.  Noah went out and flagged him down, so we had to do it.  But I'm not sorry - in fact,  I kind of love those pony photos!

 

There's something about the way we all used to sit on the gray couch!!

 

I've always loved this shot of Harry holding Hannah on her blessing day.

 

Hannah - lover of Cosmo!!  Looks like he enjoyed her company too!

 

Another fave shot with Grandpa Terrill.

 

Always a smile!!

 

Of course, now we can't say Hannah without saying Robbie!!  So glad of that!!

Have a great day Hannah - and we know the year ahead will be a great one too!