Last Images from Summer

I have my hands full.

Happy 70th Grandpa Denning. Here are cousins Corey and Max with Grandpa, Ethan, Natalie and Grandpa at Shore Acres.

Three very active boys.

Natalie and her cousin Kaitlyn.

Natalie's Blueberry Pie.

Fun at Fort Stevens.

Lesson learned: Never trust a two year old.

WW II board game.

10 months apart.

We went camping twice this summer. Todd said he'd take responsibity for dinner...and so we went out to Dairy Queen. Natalie told me this week that she wants to marry someone who doesn't like to camp or who at least respects her enough not to make her go camping...and then she added "someone like Dad." Todd was a good sport.

Can you guess what the boys are climbing on? I think there are pictures of me as a kid on this.

Last night before the school year begins...

I have a new strategy for school this year.

Usually, I over-plan, I over-buy (curriculum, crayons, those markers on sale at Target...etc.) I go 0ver-board with my grandiose visions of all we are going to accomplish during the year.

After 9 years of that style of teaching... I am changing my tune.

We are taking one day...at a time.

My goal tomorrow is to have everyone at the table for a hot breakfast, afterwhich I will read aloud to them from the Bible and a book called "Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church." If that goes well, we will open our math books and begin with Lesson One.

I remember as a first year public school teacher the encouragement that if you can make it to Christmas Break, you can make it as a teacher. Tomorrow, I think that if we can make it to nap time, we will be able to make it to the end of the week.

Countdown

9 days until school starts.

The best laid plans...

Last night I had the van packed so we would be ready this morning to go for a four hour drive to the campground where we were to meet my parents, my sisters, brother-in-law, and cousins.

Natalie came into my room in the middle of the night and said "Ethan wants you. He's been throwing up." Poor Ethan. He threw up every 15 minutes throughout the night. He looks awful. So we are home waiting to see how swift his recovery is before we head to the coast.

Natalie and Levi are horribly disappointed. I spent the morning cleaning out my refrigerator.

Summer is winding down

Chocolate covered Twinkies at Seaside.

The fruit of our garden.
Peaches from Sauvie Island.
Marcos: age-18 months. The latest addition to our family...at least for the next few months.

Great Steam Up

Grandpa took us to the Great Steam Up in Brooks. It is an event that included hundreds of vintage tractors, trucks, and engine. A steam powered sawmill operated there as well.
The machines were not the only things steamed up. We were all pretty warm.


Vintage gas station.

Fun at Grandpa and Grandma's

Sprinkler fun.
Ethan took numerous photos of Grandpa working on the hot water heater.
Aunt Susan bought the kids water toys.
Enjoying a nice dinner outside.

July Trip to the Beach

Boys up the Astoria Column (in orange).

Ethan's Birthday

Happy Birthday Ethan

Ethan turned 13 today. He is a great kid. We are blessed to have him in our family.