Summer Memories

Our boys

The boys and I at Shallow Bay on Sucia Island

Mom, Dad and kids

Drew and the boys took a plane ride on his 36th birthday with our neighbor on Orcas

Lachlan taking sailing lessons

Summer really just started weather-wise but the boys will be back in school next week. I'm excited for them because they are excited but honestly I'm going to miss the little buggers. We've seriously had a wonderful summer even though the weather was less than perfect.

We spend about 4 weeks (not consecutive) out on Orcas. Lachlan took sailing lessons twice, which he LOVED. While Lachlan was sailing Cohen and Mack and I hiked. I cannot believe how well Mack does. He's hiking about 4-6 miles now. It's so fun to do this with them! When Lachlan was done with sailing we would play on the beach all afternoon or swim in the neighbors pool. I just love being with my kids...what a blast. We also spent many days at the beach, taking bike rides and having beach days at home. We also spent a day with my highschool friend Trina and her kids at Lake Cavanaugh. We also camped in our trailer at our annual church convention which was the highlight of our summer! I'm sad to see the summer end but excited for a new school year.

Yesterday we spent a couple hours in the boys' classes. They will be at the same school this year and that will make things easier for me. The boys loved seeing their teachers and some of their friends. Mack will start preschool a couple afternoons a week too. He's excited about that!

Drew is working like a mad man as usual. Running two businesses is keeping him on his toes. We are now doing marine work at Countryside and we were able to get an Evinrude/Johnson boat service dealership! We were thrilled about that. Things are going well on the work front but we could be busier (in terms of business)...come on econemy!

All for now...I will write more in 3-6 months or maybe before!!

Home

Home is a wonderful place to be but I will miss Maui. We had such an absolute wonderful trip! Two beautiful weeks spent with my family can make a girl feel very spoiled! The weather was good and we spent a day in Kipahulu where my childhood girlfriend now lives. Wow...what an experience. They live simply and it is quite motivating to thing about slowing down and enjoying each moment.

These last months have held big changes for us so it was so good to have time away. In February we started our own business. Countryside Service, LLC started doing business on March 1st. The middle of March we purchased Blue Ribbon Steel Buildings. http://www.blueribbonbuildings.com/ We have been very busy. Drew is so excited to be overseeing these two businesses. Blue Ribbon literally fell in our laps, and I'm sure people will wonder why we bought a business like this in this econemy but they have stayed steady these last 4 years and have had a profit each year. It's a business with a good reputation and name and has been in the valley for over 30 years. So, if you need a residential pole building...call us :). Countryside Service is what Drew has been doing for the last 10 years so when my father offered to lease us the shop we couldn't pass it up. Everything was in place, so we created an LLC, got a license, bought some supplies and are good to go! So cross your fingers that these changes will be good ones for us. We did A LOT of long and hard thinking about all this, lots of sleepless nights and we are hopeful!

So we are rested from vacation and ready to roll!

I had tons of pictures I just loved but here are some of my favorites!

Snow...and lots of it!

They said we might get snow but I did not believe them and I told the boys not to get excited. But yesterday we woke up to about 5 inches! School was closed and the boys and I were out in it by 8 a.m. The snow kept coming down...by last night at 10 p.m. we had about 20" and it had stopped snowing! No school today and the boys have been out many times today playing on the wall of snow Drew build for them with the tractor. However, I am sick with the flu today so no fun for me-boohoo- especially when I was hoping to be playing right along with them. Oh well, the view is beautiful from here.


The table outside yesterday morning

The boys sledding

The table and view this morning!