Blog Hiatus?

This blog will probably quiet down a bit now that I'm starting the nursing program.  Our schedules are pretty tight and there won't be a whole lot of time for family fun worth blogging about.  I will try not to go more than two weeks without posting something, but I can't make any promises.  It won't be a true hiatus, but the posts will be few and far between.

You will likely see even more of a reduction in my facebook activity as well (that has been depleting over this past year simply because I cannot stand the "new" format after it changed last September).   I am going to be super super busy for the next 11 weeks.  You can read a little more about that HERE.  I am scared, and anxious, and excited all at once.  I ask for prayer for our family over these next two years as I am going through the nursing program.  It's going to be challenging; but hopefully worth it at the end of it all!

Kids are loving school.  Homework has started to pick up and they are thriving in being in a routine again. Piano lessons are going great.  Peter is doing very well in his dispatcher training.  Fall is upon us and Portland is about to change colors (well, some of it) and I can't wait.  I will definitely post some photos of that.

So I leave you with some photos from the "Last Hurrah".  An impromptu day trip to the Coast.  :)

We went to Oswald West Park--Short Sands Beach (Smuggler's Cove)

Smuggler's Cove

Getting OLD together 

Kiddos

Half a clam shell

Clam shell

It's big with the surfers.

Hints of Fall

It's still been quite warm in Portland the past few weeks.  80s and 90s most days.  I've been restless for the crispness of fall and even for some rain after nearly 3 months without any.  But, I am seeing glimpses of my favorite season lately.  The sun is setting earlier (no more lightness until 10pm) and the temps have really cooled off at night and in the morning.  I actually needed a hoodie the past few mornings walking the kids to school.  Some trees are starting to change and leaves are starting to fall.  It makes me giddy with excitement.  I love Fall!

One Portland September tradition are the Vaux swifts (birds), who funnel into the chimney of a NW Portland elementary school each evening as the sun is setting.  We didn't have a chance to catch them last year, but we did this year.  What a sight!  One of the other great things about this location is the giant hill on the grounds, which kids (and adults) slide down with cardboard and toboggans.  I bet its a popular spot on our few snow days each winter!  The kids had a blast and we got to see a pretty amazing sunset while watching this odd phenomenon.

This was at the beginning of the evening; it got way more crowded!

Belly slide

He started "surfing" down, but had to sit.

Starting to gather; I got pooped on TWICE.

No editing; just the pretty Portland sunset sky.

Starting to funnel

Another Fall tradition is the start of the soccer season.  Peter decided to take the kids to a Timber-reserves (read: cheap tickets) game last weekend while I had a meeting for the Imago Dei kids ministry.  They had fun, but have both expressed that they want to see a "real" soccer game (meaning with the active Portland Timbers).  We'll see.  Those games sell out fast and are very expensive.

Everyone say "Fake smile!"

Those are better (natural) smiles.

And this is just the beginning of our Fall adventures!

First Day of School!

It's finally here.... The first day of school!  It felt like a really long summer, just like last summer.  But, we persevered!  And today, we have a 2nd grader and a 5th grader.  I can hardly believe that!  (And I can also hardly believe that if he were here, Ezra would be starting Kindergarten.)  They were up EARLY and ready to go.  We packed lunches and headed on the 6 minute walk to their school.  They were so happy to see some friends they hadn't seen all summer!

Jeremiah and his teacher

(This is the last year I will be able to take a photo of J with his teacher, since next year he is off to MIDDLE SCHOOL where he will have 6 teachers!  GAH!)

Alayna and her teacher

And so it begins!

Summer: Week 12 (FINAL WEEK!)

August 27 - Sept 4th

It was a long summer!  We've had a lot of fun times.  The final week and a half had some fun packed in as well, but for the majority of it we stayed close to home and tried to get back into a routine.  Highlights this week were: backyard camping, haircuts, a visit to Oaks Park, decluttering the house, and one last weekday trip to the zoo.  And of course, the usual activities of bike riding, parks, hiking, and playing with friends.  Alayna had her FIRST sleepover (without Mommy) at a friend's house.  She had so much fun.  Adios summer.  Hello 2012-2013 school year!

Blue Moon!

Our beautiful city at sunset, across the Willamette.

Haircuts!

5th and 2nd grade, here they come!