End of Summer update

Well, Summer has come to an end. We've had beautiful weather this summer. Even though I've been here for 11 years, I still marvel at the beautiful summers here compared to the gray, foggy, windy and cold winters on the coast in Oregon! Crazy to think that at this time last year, I was going back to work after 4 month maternity leave.

Just like last year, this school year is starting with a new day care situation. Our new daycare is an in-home lady named Karen. So far, we love her and Ben is very comfortable there. He seems to have adapted just fine. It literally took him about 5 seconds to feel comfortable in her house. He acts like he owns the place now! Although, there's a little girl his age (Abby) who is a little rough with him, so they're working on that. I'm just glad he's not the rough one!

School started for Joel last week, so things suddenly got much busier. Even though according to the calendar summer is around for a few more weeks, I thought now was a good time to look back and remember a few of the fun things we did this summer. I wish we had even more weekends of the summer to go to Yakima more often and spend more time with friends and family.

I didn't write much this Summer, but here are a few highlights:

• Celebrated Chauncy graduating with a second bachelor's degree from OSU. I guess she needed another degree from OSU to make up for my traitor-ness ;)
  
  
  
  

• Trip to Yakima where we spent lots of time in the pool.

 

• Alicia's Baby shower (she gave birth to twin boys, Milo and Wyatt, this August)

• I grew an awesome garden. We've had spinach, peas, TOMATOES, zuchinni and a few different kinds of squash. We've had some heavy rains that keep threatening to ruin my tomato plants
• Bill helped us install blinds in our upper windows in the living room and I surprised Joel by painting five rooms and two bathrooms while he was out of town!
  
  
  
  
• Emma got out and spent the night away from home. We were SO worried!
• Camping trip (see other blog post)
• Visit from the Fabela's for a few nights while Ethan did some construction on their house.
• Visit from Grammy
  
• Visit from Nana and Papa (And a cancer free report for Papa!)
  
• Swimming lessons all summer at the YMCA
• My sisters and I (minus Erika, who is in Guatemala) went to Portland to celebrate Dad's 60th birthday. We had a really fun time and I saw my first real, live marijuana plant, which was growing quite healthily in the neighbor's backyard!
  
• Joel took Ben to the Fabela's for a night away. It was my first night away from Ben! Joel left Ben with them while he went fishing out in the sound with Mark for the day. He ended up coming home with a couple of Silvers, which go nicely with grilled veggies from our garden! I love eating fresh food! 
• Today we went to the Train museum with the Smith's and went on a little train ride. Logan loved being on the train and the view from the top of Snoqualmie Falls was incredible! I don't know how they manage to build tracks there! It seemed like we were barely balancing on the cliff!
  
  
  
  
• Ben and Joel spent loooots of time outside! I'd say his favorite things to do this summer were: Play with the hose, play with balls and read books.