Checking up on Grandpa

Ryan's Dad had back surgery a little while ago and has been recuperating at Randy and Alison's.  We were glad to spend a weekend with them all and very glad to see Dad doing so well and in such great spirits.

 "Anpa!  Up!"  Hmmm...sorry Logan, I think you might weigh a touch over a gallon of milk!

There have been numerous wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and the skies have been quite hazy.  There have been some spectacular sunrises and sunsets as a result.

 Despite the smokey haze, the temperature was perfect for playing outside and for burning off some energy. 

Apparently the kiddos weren't the only ones with some energy to spare!  They kept the little ones entertained and their wives wondering if they might be the next candidates for back surgery...

It's always special to get some time with Grandpa!

Celebrating a 'New Number'

This weekend, I turned, in Lane's words, a 'new number.'  He was puzzled about why I wasn't just bursting at the seams with excitement for getting to be a 'new number.'  I'm sure it's one of those things he'll understand in another 30 years or so. 

 

To mark the occasion, Ryan planned a fun day at a nearby indoor water park.  Since it's the off season, it felt like we had the place to ourselves. 

Which worked out well for the boys in the wave pool.  Like father, like son!

He was pretty pleased when he let go and found himself riding the wave!

The lazy river was more my speed!  Ryan and Lane convinced me to go down the family tube ride.  There's something about getting older (or maybe it's because I'm a mom since age didn't seem to slow Ryan down ...) but I'm quite happy to avoid curvy dropoffs in dark tunnels.  Morgan agreed with me, although at the bottom Logan demanded, "Do it 'gin!"  Yep, our boys are definitely their father's sons!

A Look Back

Summer has already come to an end, maybe not officially, but with school starting and cooler days, it feels like Fall is here.  Here are a few random pictures I liked:

This kiddo has grown - he's a busy kid and does his best to stay one step ahead of us!

One thing we quickly learned to appreciate on long road trips:

It didn't happen very often but we smiled the whole time they slept!  Three car seats packed in next to each other isn't the most peaceful way to travel...

The slip and slide at Bumpa and Grammy's provided an afternoon's entertainment.

I love this picture!  The timing was perfect for catching Morgan popping that bubble!

Swimming with Don and Darlene and boat rides with friends.

In a late development this summer, Morgan has learned to cast!  She is quite happy to practice and her brothers love to 'help'.

Lane the (crazy) Driver. 

A look back on the summer is not complete without a fish picture!(:  Lane's big perch, caught the day before school started.

Kindergarten - An Update

Lane is officially a Kindergartner! 

He was so excited his first morning - I've never seen him get ready so fast!(:  His siblings weren't near as excited.  School means early mornings for them too!

 

I know someday I'll look back on this picture and think how little he looks, but from today's perspective, he looks so BIG!

On Tuesday, we walked with him to his classroom and when it was time to say good-bye, he hardly took time to wave.  There was a little girl sobbing in her mother's arms and I was glad that he seemed ready to go.  When I arrived to pick him up, it was a whole 'nother story!  He wasn't with the wave of Kindergartners coming out of the school.  Somehow, during the transition from lunch to recess to lining up to go home, he got lost.  Thankfully, he found his way to the office.  When we found him, he was in tears and scared.  He got an award the next day for being a good problem solver and that helped.  I noticed today though that the nerves are buzzing around in that little tummy of his.  Lots of new things to learn and lots of kids too, especially out on the playground.

It melted my heart last night when he chose Llama Llama Misses Mama (a story about a little llama who misses his mama on his first day of school) and looked up at me and told me, "this is how I feel when I'm at school, Mom!"  I miss the kiddo too!  This transition isn't going to be without some ups and downs.  But we will make it through (that's what I keep telling myself, anyway).  I think we'll all be glad for the weekend to regroup and be ready to go again on Monday. 

Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes

Back in the 70's, a railroad company went defunct and in recent years, some enterprising people have spearheaded an effort to turn the rail bed into a bike trail.  The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a stretch of the route that has two things that make it especially popular:  it's paved and it's (basically) flat.  Oh, and it's surrounded by beautiful scenery. 

Here was our highest elevation gain the whole bike ride.  Our first trip up and over was less then a mile into the ride.  The return trip was after we'd put 38 miles behind us.  Our rears were relieved to see it and our legs were thankful it allowed us to to coast into the parking lot.(:

Don and Darlene came with us and Don insisted on trading bikes so I wouldn't have to pull Lane on the tag-a-long.  Since his bike was a cruiser, I think I had the better deal!

The lily pads along the river were in full bloom.  I was surprised at how pretty they were.

On the way back, we stopped at an ice cream shop that boasted the biggest single scoop in the state of Idaho.  They weren't kidding.  This is after Logan and I had already eaten it down a bit.  The funny thing was, Don was looking at his cone (which was about the same size as my cone above) and wondering how he was going to eat it all, when the owner snatched it out of his hand.  With an indignant voice she hollered to her help, "This is too small, our customers need to get their money's worth," then proceeded to pile on at least two more scoops worth.  I actually told the boy scooping mine to stop and Logan and I still couldn't finish it!  Oh boy - it was good ice cream!

We took more breaks on the way back then on the way out and somehow Lane still had energy to climb rocks!  Morgan and Logan just wanted out.  Thankfully there was a playground at the trail head and they got to play a bit too.

The trestle from the other direction - a welcome sight!

 

Stopping at the top to watch a big boat pass underneath. 

It was a fun day and a great way to spend part of the Labor Day weekend.  The trail is paved for over 70 miles, so we'll have to try a different stretch next time!

Ready or Not...

For the first time in 4 years, our summer has a definite end point.  Lane is super excited about the whole idea of school starting up.  His mama is having mixed emotions.  I've experienced school from two different perspectives:  student and teacher.  I enjoyed both.  What I have not experienced is the parenting side of things.  From everything I've heard, it's a whole new experience!  

On the one hand, I'm a little nervous.  This is a piece of my heart that's heading out into the wide world of Kindergarten.  This little guy was awaited with much excitement and a fair amount of anxiety (we had lost his older brother Connor, who was born 18 weeks prematurely, just the year before) and I was sure that once he arrived the worry would cease.  Wrong.

But despite the worry, he was such a fun little guy ...

who happily welcomed his little sister ...

 

and then his little brother.  He's a great big brother who dotes on Logan and bosses his sister around until she decides she's had enough.  Amazingly, they still love to play together and I know I won't be the only one who will miss him around here!

On the other hand, it's hard not to be excited for him to start on his new adventure.  His own excitement when he learns a new skill or reads a new word is contagious.  I expect that excitement to grow as he gets a taste of what school is all about. 

Delivering his school supplies and seeing his name on his very own cubbie and table has made it more real.  We got to meet his teacher, Ms. P. and the excitement is building.  Tuesday can't get here fast enough! 

Despite the worry (that's my boy - treat him with care!), the excitement is definitely prevailling.  And, as Ryan keeps reminding me, it's only 3 1/2 hours a day.  So, with no ability to slow down time, we're all headed into a new phase.  And to be honest, I'm looking forward to running errards while only herding 2 children!