September in Seattle

I love it! The kids and I spent the weekend in Seattle with Robyn, Kim, Erin, Melissa and my parents. My dad has an appointment tomorrow in Seattle to figure out a plan of attack to rid his body of those darn cancer cells that keep appearing so he and my mom were heading west anyway. When I found out that Erin was also going to be in town I figured I shouldn't be left out of the party so I invited myself along!

The weather was gorgeous, as it can be in the fall, and our days were filled, as they are when we travel. We spent yesterday Pike Street Market and at the new sculpture garden downtown. Then we took our lunch, purchased from the market, to Discovery Park where we hiked (and I mean hiked!) down to the beach to eat. It was quite a walk to the beach - I think I figured out it was a little over a mile and all downhill - but we were able to refresh before hiking back up. Dylan played in the seaweed and collected shells while Lyndsi cowered from the bees.

Robyn and Erin had a party to go to so I spent the evening with my parents and the kids. We shopped at Whole Foods downtown, which I had been wanting to do for a while, and then had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory, one of our old haunts from our younger years. Back at the hotel the kids swam while I watched and then we all hit the hay. Everyone was asleep within several minutes of their heads hitting their pillows!

This morning we got to spend some time at IKEA - I know, the market AND IKEA all in one trip!! That doesn't happen for me very often! After lunch , the kids and I started our trek home while everyone else went back to Robyn's to spend the rest of the day.

The drive was long but the trip was fun and very worth the effort. Once school starts for the year, we don't do the quick weekend trips as often as we'd like so I'm glad I jumped on this opportunity.

Lyndsi went to cheer camp for a couple of days after school last week. She looked darn cute in her little Cougar cheer outfit while she rallied with the other cheerleader wannabes! She missed the performance Friday night due to our trip but she enjoyed the experience anyway.

Speaking of Lyndsi, my little girl is about to be toothless! Her front bottom teeth are so ready to fall out that one of them is turned almost backwards! The little smarty pants won't let us near her mouth to help the little buggers out!

Dylan is in full soccer swing. The season is actually about half over all ready. He missed two games this weekend and had one last weekend. I think we have 2 games this week but don't quote me on that! He still has his long soccer locks and pretty much looks the part!

I don't have my pictures uploaded yet but I'll get a few on to share, hopefully tonight.

Fatigue and Fall

They've both set in! Thank heavens for 3 day weekends, or in my case and in my opinion even better, 3 day work weeks! School has been in session for 2 weeks now and my summer slumbers are a distant memory. I'm exhausted! We only had 3 days of school this week because when you live in a rural community, the County Fair is a big deal so you get to take a day off from school. I always did enjoy the fair and now I've found another reason to promote it!

Let's go back to the middle of the week (after Labor Day but before Fair Day) when Lyndsi started back at Montessori. You might remember that Lyndsi started kindergarten this year, but because it is only half day kindergarten, she needed somewhere to go for the other half of the day. We opted to put her back in Montessori where she is familiar with the teachers and the program, rather than daycare. Her Montessori school has a kindergarten program as well as preschool so she will be getting a double dose of A,B,C's every day. Anyway, all I really wanted to say was that Lyndsi is back at school full time and all is well!

Again, not the outfit I wanted her to wear, but isn't she adorable!

Yesterday, the kids and I set out with about 30 other staff members and their families for an adventure on Omak Lake. Steve had a soccer jamboree so was unable to come - the team did very well, by the way. Our district was awarded a grant from a parks and rec. program to purchase 2 15-passenger canoes complete with paddles, life jackets and a trailer. Everyone was invited to take the canoes out on their maiden voyage so we accepted. How fun! It was a beautiful day and the atmosphere was light. We canoed for a little over an hour to a remote beach, where we stopped for lunch and play. The kids climbed on a rock outcropping that was reached via a submerged sandbar. A few adults even braved the cold waters. I did a little wading but that was the extent of my bravery! On the way back to the cars, one canoe load paddled along the opposite shore and were lucky enough to see a bear. We all pulled our weight with paddling and I think we even learned a bit. I'm feeling a bit sore this morning but nothing major.

Setting off from the boat launch at "Beer Can Beach" - yep, that's the name of the beach!

Max and Dylan in the front of the canoe.

Playing in the water

Lyndsi kept the rhythm with her paddle.

Man overboard!

Dylan went for a dunk in the lake.

Today is a "work outside and get something done" day. Steve has been painting the entry way, which is done, and staining the deck, which is not, so now I need to accomplish something. Laundry and yard work are on the agenda.

Oh, but before I go, guess what I found the other night? I opened the front door to let Ruth out for her nightly potty ritual and there, ready to greet me, was a little scorpion! I couldn't believe it! I looked at it for a couple of seconds, trying to figure out WHAT I was looking at, and then it curled it's little tail at me - I yelled for Steve and we tried to catch the little guy but he escaped. Hopefully I won't find him in the house some day! I'd heard we had scorpions in the area, transplanted from the south on the vehicles that come with the harvest season, but I'd never actually seen one. Pretty cool!

Have a great week!