End of Summer, August and September part I

Just 3 days out until Dan goes on the week long hike with his brother.  We've been watching the weather and he's in for rain.  There is a storm coming from the Pacific ocean.  If they had gone this week, there would be nothing but sunshine and warmth.  This week has been in the 80's around Issaquah and around 70's near Rainier.  He made sure he got the top of the line items to bring.  Thousands of dollars spent in the name of comfort so hopefully he will be comfortable out there.  We are excited to have Lon stay with us for a couple of days.  The kids are very excited Uncle Lon is coming for a visit!  They kept asking us "how many days 'til Uncle Lon comes?"  Now we could say, "he's coming tomorrow!!!"

 In August I had the opportunity to shine.  My food website got some attention and I was featured in our local newspaper.  In order to show the writer the food, I invited her and her family over for the food demonstration as well as another family.  They all helped made the food and made it more fun for me.

Here is the article in the newspaper.  3rd time on the news, so Dan quoted Snape from Harry Potter "Our own personal celebrity"  So funny

 This month is also our month to shine.  Dan and I celebrated 12 years of marriage, 13 years of knowing each other.  He is good, still good, and I love him more each day.I especially love his love letters to me.  

This is for my record.  I never want to lose this and for my posterity anyway.  Don't read it if it's too much for you.  I'm not one who worries too much about privacy, but you all are families anyway

 

 We didn't do much for our Anniversary this year, except for the usual, at least not yet.  We have plans to visit Niagra Falls in October when we fly out to my brother's mission farewell, which is another news for the month.  Michael finished submitting his papers and got his call 2 weeks later to the Atlanta, Georgia mission. 

These girls started school!!  They had their meet the teacher on August 31st and officially started September 1st.  All summer long it was playing, crafting, shopping, stylin' with these girls and I was nervous they would miss summer as much as I did. But they came home today all SMILES! I missed them while they're at school and their brother tells me all the time that his "sissies at school" so I know he misses them. How blessed I feel to have had these wonderful helpers over the Summer. ‪#‎ilovemygirls‬ ‪#‎blessedtobetheirmom‬

We set off to camp at Mt. Rainier to give Dan an idea how it would be when he's out there.  Of course we had a whole lot more room to pack in stuff for comfort that he won't get to have, like the butane stove and big pot to cook things in

 Guess who started that fire?  Me!  With papers and cardboard and left over firewood from other campers

 Oatmeal, hot chocolate, cup of noodles, and s'mores for breakfast

 We went 1000ft higher this time.  6400 ft elevation and we got to play in the snow! On Labor day weekend!!!

We had so much fun camping and making food in the wild.  We even ended it with hot chocolate in the car after playing in the snow.  That's us. 

 And just to throw in some cute pics, these girls had their picture day at school today and mommy didn't forget this year like she did last year.  Scored!