First day of school 2012

1st day in the 1st grade...

 New 4th grader

At the bus stop (we love to throw the football around while we wait for the bus and now Christian gets to join!)

  It was a pretty smooth start to the school year.  Christian was super excited the first day and was way ahead of the schedule/time table we set up for getting ready and out the door in the morning.  He didn't want me to take him to school.  He wanted to ride the bus and have Austin take him to his class.  Very sweet.  Austin seems to like his class and his teacher but the thought of all that school work ahead gets him down a little.  I think this year will be a challenge for Ezra.  We will have to plan some more fun activities.  He is a little lost without his brothers, especially now that Christian is in full day school.  We are looking into preschools again.  I had tried to get him in the one Christian went to 2 years ago but they have changed their program to  5 days a week so I am now belatedly looking into a backup plan.  In the meantime, we are doing some Spanish lessons at home and some other preschool type activities that have been fun.  He loves games too.  Its all an adjustment, as I went back to work this week too.  The 2nd day of school we all came home tired and grumpy.  I look forward to the days when the adjustment period is behind us.  I am also looking forward to being able to volunteer at school a little and to get to know the teachers and other students better and watching these boys grow and learn this year!

Austin's 10th birthday trip

3 years ago as we were driving around our area we started seeing this cool Amtrak train drive by every so often.  It was called the "Cascades Amtrak" and the kids asked if they could ride it. I told them I would take them on the train when they turned 10.  Austin just hit that milestone so we decided to go for it!  We rode the train from our area to Portland.  Super fun adventure!  What a blessing to get to go with just Austin and I.  We had a great time together.

After arriving in Portland, we found the light rail station and only had to ride for 10 minutes to the stop for our hotel.  Everything was downtown and close together.  One of Austin's favorite things to do on vacation is swim so we did a lot of that.  He was trying to dive the way the Olympic divers did with no splash.

 This first picture is not his best entry...

 This next one is much better...

There was a Red Robin right across the street so we had dinner there.  What a great find that was.  I had no plan for dinner so it was nice to not have to search for a good place.

The next day we went back by light rail to the zoo.  It was surprisingly easy to use the public transportation and fun.  Portland's system is very well laid out and easy to figure out.

This was the first time I was able to see ALL the animals in one trip to the zoo.  It was so easy and quick to get around with no stroller and just one kid!  Our feet were tired from all the walking though so we rode the zoo train...

We had never been to this zoo and it was amazing.  Definately worth visiting.  This is a pic from the lorikeet exhibit where you can buy a cup of nectar and the birds will come and sit on you to drink it.  Austin also really enjoyed the fact that we bought food at the zoo (we usually never do that) and bought snacks/dinner on the Amtrak on the way home.  It was fun to splurge a little!

Beautiful train station in Portland.  This trip was such a blessing.  A wonderful opportunity to celebrate and spend time with this special boy. 

August Fun

It was a wonderful, fun, packed month for us.  Quite different than the last 3 years when we have spend August in Michigan.  We got to see what Seattle is like in August finally.  We had 2 birthdays and a visit from my parents. Tim took Austin to a Sounders game and I got to take Christian to one on his birthday.  I also took Austin on a little trip for his birthday (will post pics soon).   Lots of play time with friends, playgrounds, parks, and time to read and relax this month.  I'm sorry to see it end. 

 

 

We took a trip on the ferry to Bainbridge Island with my parents. 

 

It got hot for a week or so.  Very therapeutic for me.  I could not get enough of it.  It was a bit hot at night for sleeping but I am not complaining!  We spent a lot of time at the lake in our neighborhood.  One day as I was pulling out what I thought was a floatie in our garage I discovered this pool!  We must have hung on to it from when we lived in Michigan!  We made good use of it in the front yard.   

 

Walking on a trail near our house