Change

I love Fall. I love the cool weather (I'm sure ANY day it will come here.) I love the leaves. I love the decorations. I love wearing jeans and sweaters. I love the fact that change is in the air.

Some change is fun. I haven't chopped my hair this short since who knows when. I realized it was ALWAYS in a ponytail and I was ready for something different.

Some change is hard. Our Walnut tree in the back caught a fungus this last year and died. It was our climbing tree. It was our only shade in the back. It shaded our house. It will only take 20 years to replace...

Some change sneaks up on you. One morning McKenna came out and while giving her a hug (now remember this is a daily occurrence) she didn't fit under my chin anymore. WHAT?

I think I must be shrinking.

A few picts to show what we've been doing...

There has been lots of activities happening with the beginning of school. Both girls have started soccer again, piano lessons for the older two and all the extras that comes with school. However, we have had some time to squeeze in some fun.

I met Heather in Sacramento for "Time Out for Women" which is an awesome conference if you ever get the chance to go. Heather was actually working, but I got to spend some time with her. It was a great conference and I left feeling spiritually uplifted and rejuvenated. I did forget to bring my clothes and luckily Kristi (who was on a cruise at the time) let me borrow some of hers. Thanks (and surprise!) Kristi!

We got a new van after our last one became more work than we had time for. I. Love. My. New. Van. In fact I haven't loved a car this much since my little Honda I had before we were married. I know I shouldn't love material things this much and I try not to, but I reaaaaalllyyyy enjoy this van. No name yet, still waiting for the plates but I'm thinking Calypso.

Yes, ouch. Go ahead, say it again. O-U-C-H! He fell head first onto the tile while dangling off the end of the couch. He didn't break his fall with his hands because he was trying to hang on. Luckily no lasting damage but one sad boy. Looks like something off of a cartoon, doesn't it? That's why I had to take a picture. You understand.

And the most exciting news (only because it is SOOOOO exciting to her) is Ellie can now do the monkey bars! She fell a couple of times while trying to show me then stomped her foot and said, "I am NOT going to give up!" and BAM! She did it! So proud of her!

First Day of School

School started again. Summer flew by! Here are the first day of school pictures.

My big 6th grader. When did that happen?! She and Ellie picked out matching outfits by choice. They love to dress the same even now.

Ellie is in 1st grade this year. We got the teachers we wanted too. It's going to be a good year.

Poor Tyler started the first day of 4th grade with the flu. This picture is actually the second day because he had to stay home. Not happy, I'll tell you. However, it was a quick bug and he went the next day.

One last hurrah! Santa Cruz Camping

To send off our super fun summer we did one last camping trip. We had planned on going to Crater Lake Oregon, but realized we wouldn't be able to actually play in the water so we went to Santa Cruz instead. Big Basin Redwood National Park is there and is a beautiful place to camp if you ever get the chance.

The first collage is some of the Redwoods. INCREDIBLE! They have an easy hike at the beginning of the park that gives you a little information on the redwoods. The picture we are stretched around the tree is called the "Mother of the Forest" and is 13 feet around.

The next set of pictures is the downers of the trip. It wasn't all fun and games unfortunately. The mosquitoes LOVED Carter no matter how much bug spray we put on that poor kid. (See shot of forehead.) He also fell A LOT, which makes for my favorite picture (mean, I know, but seriously funny.) We had car problems that ended up costing us our Boardwalk fun money and then some, Tyler puked on the way there two times and our campsite was at the top of a huge hill (pict of Diantha and Carter) which the kids named "Hater's Hill".
BUT there were more goods that out-weighed the bads. Food was awesome (isn't camping food always awesome?); weather was perfect (70's in the day, 60's at night); LOVED the unplugged family time and of course the beach. We were going to play on the Boardwalk but after the car fiasco just played in the sand instead. We still had a great time and loved our one last vacation before school started.

And the last thing is my crazy husband pulling a "Calvin and Hobbes moment" while riding our wagon down Hater's Hill. No wreck on this video, but it did happen. Nothing broken, though. Farewell Summer!

York Reunion

Over the 4th of July we went to Mt. Baker Washington for a "York Reunion". It was a much anticipated event since it has been four years since the last one, which was way too long to see some of my favorite people.

• Participants included (by picture):
  Top: Marybeth, Tyler, McKenna and Ellie (climbing up tree)
  Right Top: John, Rose (mom), Denise, Uncle Paul
• Right Bottom: Mykal, Sara, McKenna
  
• Top Left: Jason, Larry (dad), Dee, Breaker (dog), Pete (dog)
• Bottom Left: Breaker (dog) and Aunt Funi (or Diana I found out in my 30's!)
• Right: Tyler, Diantha, Dee, McKenna, Carter, Ellie & Pete (dog)

It was beautiful in Mt. Baker. Nice and cool! The houses we stayed in were awesome and the area was fantastic. We hiked, napped, ate, napped, hot tubbed, ate some more, played games, and just enjoyed being together. It wasn't long enough but it was great to spend time with family and enjoy vacation.

Carter also had his 2nd birthday - which I am going to blog about later.

On our LONG drive home we jaunted over to Astoria for some beach play. The sun was actually out and it was beautiful there, too.

Coming home was, as usual, bitter-sweet. Watching the thermometer go from 62 to 103 was physically painful as was the laundry that appears after vacation.

It was such a great time, but not nearly long enough. The goal is to make it all happen again, sooner than four years and have those missing join us.

Happy Father's Day

It's times like this I fall in love all over again.

Coast Fun

**Trying a new collage attempt. We'll have to see how it turns out. Lots of pictures, we'll give it a try. **

Back in April for Easter Break we made a trip to the coast. On the way there we actually had to put chains on to get over the pass. (This is why we didn't go camping!) Ellie at the rest-stop with a friendly neighborhood snowman.

We got there safe and sound and spent the evening in the hotel pool.The next day we went hiking in the redwoods. We wanted to go to Fern Canyon (one of the most BEAUTIFUL places I've ever been) but it was too flooded for just tennis shoes. Instead we thought it would be more fun to be chased by a herd of elk. (Truly, they apparently had never seen a yellow lab before and came WAY too close for my liking. They've always seemed big but when they are close enough to trample your children they really look HUGE!) We made it back to the beach where we spent the rest of the day. The sun came out enough to keep us happy and we just played in the sand all day. Carter LOVED smashing sandcastles most of all.

We had so much fun - just not being home!

I am amazed at how much we bring the beach back with us. It makes me happy thinking of it, also unrolling those pants-cuffs to do the laundry is always interesting too!