end of summer and new school year

well we wrapped up summer. generally good. seemed really short and really busy. we didn't get camping as much as we'd like. the weather didn't act like summer until july....so maybe that's why it seemed so short. but we did get some good play days in and truthfully by the end of summer we are all ready for a little more consistent routine.

anyway we ended summer with a visit from todd's dad and step-mom. its their new tradition to come out every labor weekend which i whole heartedly support. we had a super visit. did some hiking. took a ride on the sternwheeler on the columbia river. and just hung out all together.

then it was the first day of school for the kiddos. they both wanted chocolate chips pancakes for first day breakfast.

riley is now a second grader!! (look at him sporting my alma mater on the first day....go jumbos!)

lucy is in her last year of preschool. she continues at little feet preschool MWF mornings.

so even though the weather still feels like summer and is finally gifting us those 90 degree days....the calendar says its nearly fall and we are back in the swing of school life!

yes day

well last week we had our first 'yes day'. the premise being that we as parents frequently say no to our children's requests and so on one day of the year the answer is always yes. we got this idea from a book one of the kids brought home from school and they loved the idea of having a yes day. so we did it the last week of summer and i gotta admit it was really really fun.

we did set a few ground rules such as they had to agree on meals and activities.....and no outrageous requests like 'can i have a pony?' and no unkind requests like 'can i hit my sister?'

anyway this is how our day unfolded.....

can we go out to breakfast and have hot chocolate with whipped cream on top?....yes

can we have a mud fight?.....yes

can we have a water fight?....yes

can i skip my nap today (lucy)?....yes

can we go up to the alpine slides?....yes

can we go on the go carts and the pony rides and the bungee and, and, and the everything?....yes

can we have pizza for dinner and watch a movie and have an ice cream sundae for dessert?...yes

can we stay up late?....yes

(and as was the last page in the book) does yes day have to end?.....yes

we had a great day and now have a new end of summer tradition. lucy said it was her favorite day of the year...maybe even better than christmas.

....coming next blog the end of summer and the start of the new school year!