chris.reese.girls1.2.3.4

Brynn started preschool this fall. I wasn't quite ready for Brynn to start school, since she is so content at home with me and I really didn't see it as a necessity. But when I got connected with a group of moms in our neighboring church ward, I thought the opportunity was perfect: six total kids, meeting once a week for two hours, at one of the kids' house where mom is the teacher. The group focuses on one letter and it is mostly activity based.We rotate houses every 3 weeks (we host in January). As we've participated the last three weeks, I have realized what a blessing it has been. I couldn't have foreseen the difficult transition Brynn has had with Paige gone ALL day. This preschool has been just right for her and she is getting to know the other kids and feeling special about it all.  At home with her alligator after first day of school.  Good thing this girl doesn't go to real school until 2014. I just don't think I can let her go...

Our annual Labor Day trip to Yakima/Ellensburg - centering around the Extreme Bulls event Saturday night - was another success! It was also special that my parents were able to join us this year. They were returning home from our camping trip and I was able to convince them to stick around to join us. Friday afternoon after leaving Seattle we drove to Karl and Jana's and were greeted by Karl's beautiful display of classic cars. We quickly parked my parent's trailer, made the tough decisions on what to drive/who with/etc., and headed out for a cruise.  Aren't my parents cute!! (Look closely for Fin in the backseat)  Grandma Apken and Brynn  Paige and I in the Judge  Can you say wow!! Uncle Karl is so kind (and brave!) to let these out with very inexperienced classic car people!  We drove to Miner's for dinner then back around town. We got a good look at this wildfire that started earlier that night. I couldn't believe how close it was to to...

It happened. I have surrendered my child to the public school system for more hours each day than she is at home. It's a weird transition on so many levels...for Paige, for me and for her sisters. But how can you not be excited for this little girl that LOVES school!!  Chris was out of town until late the night before school started, and Paige was thrilled waking up in the morning to waffles from dad! And of course she enjoys them plain! (I know...no whipped cream!)  We had gone something like 37 days without rain, and it started misting while we were taking pics on the porch. But then the real rain started to come down while at the bus stop. Bummer.  Hello grey skies...and clouds covering our beautiful mountain! This girl was still super excited! She insisted on taking the bus, but I insisted on meeting the bus at school and making sure she got her bag at the right door and made her way to the playground safely. I also brought a change of under-skirt c...

Our final hurrah of summer vacation went up until the day before Paige started school. We literally partied until the last possible day of summer. We enjoyed an extended weekend camping trip at Deception Pass with my parents, my sister, Rochelle's, family, and my brother's family (My parents picked up Bryce and Becca's kids on their way up and Becca joined us on Sunday after Hood to Coast. We missed you, Bryce!). Our little family took a day trip up here last summer ( see post here ). We were thrilled to go back and spend some extended time. We arrived first and set up camp, enjoyed dinner and marshies. The girls were anxious for their cousins to arrive! Besides sitting and enjoying camp, we had a few fun activities in store... Ferry trip to Friday Harbor. We walked on the ferry, which is WAY cheaper than driving (some of the fam biked). It was gorgeous. We lucked out on the sunshine. You just never know... Grandpa!  We visited the Whale Museum in Frida...