The End of Summer

The end of summer has come. School resumes on Monday for me, and on Tuesday for the kids. I have had roughly six weeks off from school, but it has been busy.

Long before summer classes were over, we were preparing for our move into our new place. The official move date was 1 week after my classes were completed. It is a sweet place with great neighbors. Jean's mom flew in for 11 days to help us settle and to help Jean with preparing meals that were then frozen to help for the busyness of September.

We made a second trip to Denny Creek––the natural water slide. Refreshing!

The hottest week of the summer came while we were getting settled. Just one week at our new place we had the neighborhood kids over to watch "Polar Express" in our front yard. I hooked up my computer and large monitor, along with speakers to help cool us all off.

I got to mountain bike with Sam.

We scored two free tickets, and I took Alina to her first Mariners game. They treated her well. They gave her a baseball card, a certificate showing the date of her first game with Dad, and a pennant to color.

We took a family backpacking trip to Hyas Lake. It was a great trip!

Several manufactured home inspections!

And, I got to take Sam to his first NFL game. Our neighbor has season tickets to the Seahawks. After he found out Sam's favorite team is the Broncos, Jeff gave us his pre-season tickets for the Seahawks/Broncos game.

We also hosted a couple from Michigan for a week while they looked for a place to live. They moved out so that she could attend MHGS in the fall. It was cool to have them around. To have good conversation, and to encourage them in the journey into the unknown as a newlywed couple newly enveloped into the unfamiliarity of Seattle, and of Grad School. Wow. We felt like veterans.

And now . . . School begins again. But, the FUN isn't over. Jean and I will both have Fridays off together, and the kids will be in school. While the weather holds we will be taking some mountain biking trips, along with other excursions. And, on Saturdays, EdVenture Saturdays will continue.

Looking forward to a great term at school, and growing in relationship with Jean, Sam, Alina, with friends and with new neighbors.