Amazing sunrise colors out front of the house this morning in late October.
We love to decorate the front of the house for fall. New house this year but following our similar harvest format.
We were able to get away for a couple days for our 15th anniversary this October to Sisters Oregon. We had amazing fall weather. We stayed at the five pines resort with a cabin that backed up to the forest. At some great meals at a couple of places we have not been before that were excellent: The cottonwood cafe and the open door where we were able sit outside on a beauty fall day. Both places highly recommended!
We're pretty proud of these two! Hunter and Preston got the Initiative award at chapel this morning.
This morning like most mornings we were scrambling to get out the door in time for school. This morning for some reason we did it with a few minutes to spare. On our way down the driveway we ran into this beauty.
This boy makes our heart so happy! ❤
Our middle schooler was over the moon to get his x country sweat shirt today. I think this might have made his week.... maybe even month.
We 💘 our runner!
We just got back from our annual fall boys camping trip for 2017.
Previous years:
A little later than average this year - Sept 30/Oct 1 and the weather was a little more cool and unsettled but still a great time. This year we were joined by PJ for the first time! Kelly was a little nervous about this but decided to ok it. The trip this year was via canoe upon request from Noah. The plan was to travel along an ~8 mile stretch of the Deschutes river from Tenino boat launch just below Wickiup reservoir to Wyeth boat launch just above Pringle falls. This stretch has no rapids and is a nice easy down-river float. Here is a map of the route and our selected primitive camp spot (blue dot) along the river.
We dropped one car at Wyeth and had Kelly drive us to the put in point at Tenino. Here we are at the put in and just starting down river.
We selected this camp spot about 2/3 down river to our exit as it was relatively remote. Had a great little eddy to pull the canoe into to unload.
I had a few new recipes I wanted to try on this trip. The first was pizza over a camp stove. I originally learned this with NOLS many years ago but haven't tried it recently. Chose to top it with peppercorn feta, kalamata olives, and arugula on half (for Noah and I). First pic is Hunter helping me by cutting up olives. Of course the trip wouldn't be complete without hot-dogs over a fire which we did later when the wind died down. I also cooked a peach cobbler for desert.
Here is a video of the kids throwing pin cones in the river on a walk for entertainment.
After a cool night we rose Sunday morning with a little rain to start but clearing to partly cloudy with a cool wind but not bad for October. For breakfast I made Fresh sourdough french toast with raspberries and pumpkin spice maple syrup along with a side bacon. It was tasty!
On Fridays the middle school students get to choose an elective to participate in. Hunter chose mountain biking this fall quarter. Here is a short video clip of him biking.
Hunter had his second race yesterday and did very well. It was in the 80's and hot for a fall day. Hunter finished the race and said, " Mom, I just love to run." We are so glad he has found something he enjoys so much. We are very proud of him.
His teacher from last year who is at a new school this year came out to cheer him on. She is a special lady.
The high pressure system continued in Alaska through the remainder of the week, and while we didn't get off the ship much due to work, their were still some good photo ops from the ship and in and around the port areas.
Sitka (Wed Sept 20)
It looked like a nice area to do some kayaking or fishing!
Ketchikan (Thurs Sept 21)
This was our original target debarkation port, however due to a US customers and border patrol rule called the Jones Act we were not able to debark. I took a couple hour break and walked around town, getting some items for the kids.
Hunter loves airplanes and their were a ton of float planes going in and out so made numerous attempts to get a video of one coming in passing by the ship.
Victoria BC (Friday Sept 22)
Friday was mostly a day at sea but the ship did hit Victoria BC around 6 pm where it stayed until 11 pm before making its last short leg to Seattle for Saturday morning. We had been working all day so I decided to get off for a walk around town to stretch my legs. Took this first shot just by the beach near the port. The second shot is of the BC capital building as dusk descends.
