We’re celebrating a family milestone this week – it’s the first time in eight years (and only the second time in his career) that J has been unemployed.  Of course, we wouldn’t be celebrating if he wasn’t “unemployed” by way of starting a new and exciting job next week!  We’re taking a long weekend in Bend, playing and relaxing before the busy-ness of the rest of September.

Grandma and Grampa joined us for the weekend, and we went up to a lake to celebrate the beautiful last-of-summer day.  J, Grandpa and Clare took the canoe out on the lake.  Clare loved it, but made sure that Daddy and Grandpa didn’t “go to fast!”  

 

 After Grandma and Grampa left, we settled into some quiet family time.  We took the kids swimming on Monday to the Bend kiddie pool. The big event at the pool was Clare putting her face in the water for the first time!  We’ve been swimming a lot this summer and have talked a lot about putting our faces in the water, but Clare has been firm that she won’t put her face in the water.  But yesterday she closed her eyes, held her nose, blew bubbles, and put her face into the water several times in a row.  We were so proud of her for conquering her fear!

 Today we went out for a little family hike by the river.  It ended up being 3 miles, but we broke it up with rest stops for short legs.  J ended up getting his workout in by carrying both kids for a portion of the hike but he claimed it wasn’t that bad.  

 We’re headed home tomorrow, and I’m back to work on Thursday, but this has been some nice relaxed family time for us to reconnect.