Labor Day weekend, First day of School and Tylers visit.

We had an awesome labor day weekend of playing in the woods, hitting up Todd Lake with friends and swimming at two different resorts as guests from friends.  

Going into the weekend with nothing planned, I felt pretty good about all the fun we squeezed in to this last weekend before school started.  

The Todd Lake excursion started out with a few of our crew of friends that we have been getting together as a playgroup basically every Friday since Piper was a baby.  Now the big kids are all starting Kindergarten...all at different schools, so the Friday fun will now dwindle with all the kids in school 5 days a week.  =-(  

Sweet boys and their flowers for Mommy.

Piper is a born nurturer!

The frog catching at Todd Lake is amazing, so many frog = hours of entertainment.  We brought a lunch and hung out in the meadow.  It turned into social hour too because not only did we hike in with a crew of friends, but we were meeting more friends out there...then we even ran into Nola and Danny, friends from Seattle that we knew were in town, but didn't know would be out at Todd Lake.  Even crazier is that a few months before (the only other time I was at this lake this summer), I ran into Nola's brother, Graham, also from Seattle and just passing though!  I love it when stuff like that happens!

We love hanging in the woods!  Especially with the promise of homemade cake from Katie the Cake lady back at the car to help motivate tired legs to keep on moving!  

Sunriver and Pronghorn resorts treating us well!  We love swimming!

Yes I stole this idea off Facebook, but how cute to look back on what their ideas are the first day of school.  I love that the ideas are always changing, but this morning, this is what I got! Actually, Piper had been saying that she wanted to own a drink shop that sold kombucha so she could drink it every day!  Wonder where she got that idea?  But today...the answer was BabySitter, which is awesome too.  The life guard idea Calvin has mentioned in the past as well.  He seems to think he has already had practice saving Piper in the pool.  Jett randomly said a flower, but after I wrote that down, throughout the day he kept saying "Actually mommy, I want to be a....when I grow up."  His answers ranged from "A REAL super hero" to "A baseballer".

This picture says it all!  Jett and Calvin...ready to rule the school!

Big sis was excited to drop off the boys for their first day too!  I LOVE this picture of these three.  MY MONKEYS!!!

We feel lucky that Piper knows a few kids already in her class.  A few from her pre school and Nina, who we have known since she was born.  The daughter of Becky and John, two of our very first friends we made when we moved to Bend.  



The first day of Kindergarten.   What a momentous occasion.  Piper was so ready and so proud to start Kindergarten.  I felt proud of her confidence and excitement.  She did great, we all did actually.  No tears, definitely some heart fluttering emotions, mostly just pride though.  It feels weird to think about how she is starting her educational journey...at this point I am not so concerned with what she is learning...just that I want her to be happy and love being there.  I have a bit of protective mama bear thoughts and worry about this big world she is entering...a world of other kids and classmates and influences...again, I just want her to be happy.  So far so good.  I am so lucky to have this smart, intuitive, sweet kid.  She is gonna do great!

Piper first day of Kindergarten     

What lucky boys to have such a great big sister.  She loves these guys so much and the feeling is mutual.

Aw...the super heros in my life.  There were not many days this summer that the boys did not have these swimming suits on.  It didn't matter if were weren't even planning on swimming or even being near water.  They were always prepared to get wet...it did come in handy, come to think of it!  But really these outfits rarely came off even when it was time for bed.  I guess I am thankful for the lightened loads of laundry.  I love the cowboy hats...another great pass down from cousin Garret!

How did I by pass this round of pictures?  Oh I know, we started a business, left on vacation and my baby girl started kindergarten!  =-)  Anyway, not to be overshadowed, but...The Tyler clan came for a fun filled visit the beginning of August.  It had been 4 years since their last appearance, we are so grateful they made the trek to town from Seattle.  Shannon and Kyle have created an amazingly amazing group of kids. Ella, Luke, Nolan and Alice.  They were all so fun to be around and I continue to be impressed with how they roll as a family.  So nice and funny and warm...such a joy to watch the interactions or our two families together.  We were certainly a crew when we rode our bikes together, but we got in lots of rides all over town.  We stormed the streets of downtown to get to munch-n-music, did loops in the old mill and even made tracks at Phils trail and the pump track.

The weather was a bit iffy on some of the days, but we squeezed in a lake day for a picnic and paddleboard session.

It was a great trip, thanks for visiting Tylers.  Crazy to think that we have 7 kids between the two of us Shannon.  So fun to get them all together and have the chance so hang with one of my oldest friends.  Feels good to have had you here to help during the last few clutch days before The Lot opened.  We will always think of Kyle when we appreciate the beautiful ADA pavers out front of the carts. =-)

Lake Chelan

Life, lake front, is not too shabby!  The annual Droullard beach trip got switched up this year and we headed to Lake Chelan.  My parents rented a house right on the lake and even scored a speed boat to go with it.  The trip was perfect...the weather, the water temp, the food, the cousin fun, the fact that we basically never left the house the whole week, it was great!  The only bummer was that David had to stay home and work.  We missed his backflips off the dock, skills on the grill, hands on deck for the boat, smile, love and overall energy.  But being that The Lot had opened just 4 days before we left, it was acceptable and understandable why he was needed in Bend.   Not quite the hands free business we hope to some day make it!

Our daily ride in the boat was a highlight for everyone.  The kids couldn't wait for the next "motor boat" ride!  They loved to go fast and feel the wind in their hair.  The boys decided that wearing goggles were a necessary part of the experience while driving fast in the boat.

We cruised the shoreline, admired the houses and just relaxed out on the water.  There were a few bumpy moments when the water got rough.  The kids loved it...I made sure to have one hand or foot on each, so no one bumped overboard.

I am so glad I packed our floating island for the trip.  It was the best part of playing in the water off the dock.  The kids loved jumping off the dock into the mesh floor over and over and over again.    

The neighbors also had a floating trampoline that they were kind enough to let us play on.  The kids loved it of course...I couldn't believe how hard it was to jump on this thing.  A few jumps and I was out of breath and had jelly legs.  

Grandma time was in full force.  Lots of swimming breaks to warm up in Grandma's arms...she is so great at snuggling!

We didn't have any hooks, but fishing off the dock was a favorite way to pass the time at the lake.  Lots of casting practice!  We did in fact catch a duck at one point...thank goodness she spit back out the plastic bait before trying to swallow the bright yellow fish on the end of the line!

I love this picture of Auntie and Piper.  So great to have time together. 

Garret loves DOGS!!!  He and Mango were swimming buddies!  

These boys crack me up.  They can get wild and crazy, but their personalities make my heart full.  They are so different and so lovable...they love super heroes and telling jokes.  Calvin couldn't get enough of cannon balls off the side of the dock.  Jett loved to be in control of the island from shore.  

Even Mango the puppy pants loved the lake.  He only fell in once, but he loved chasing the ducks away and fetching sticks.  Though he wouldn't jump off the dock...our cautious puppy liked to use the stairs.

Uncle Kevin brought his famous bubble solution for backyard fun.  These gigantic bubbles just couldn't help but be chased and popped. On the rare occasion we could keep tiny fingers away, watching them float was pretty amazing.

Playing with Garret was the highlight of the trip for Piper.  He is so great with all the kids, fun to be with, a master at helping control the craziness, and overall just a great example to my kids.  Thank you Garret for all your love and fun you soaked Piper, Calvin and Jett in for the week.

Such tired boys.  A week with no naps, non-stop swimming in the lake and hot tub...fun, fun and more fun.  Looking good in their new matchy-poo outfits from Grandma.

Lisa and Kevin, floating in style...seems like they should have had a margarita in hand for this picture.

Group shot!

Mini Golf and ice cream with Grandpa.  I don't know who had more fun, the kids or Grandpa!

Officially LAKE Kids!!!

Piper, Calvin and Jett are still talking about when we get to go back to Grandma and Grandpa's lake house, they all want to throw each other off the dock.  It really was a wonderful trip. Thank you mom and dad for your generosity and love to put this trip together.  This annual trip means so much to all of us, can't think of a better way to spend time with family.