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!