Camping over Labor Day.

We spent Labor Day camping with the Waldon side of the family at Cascade Lake in a campground called Huckleberry Campground.  It was super rainy for the first 24 hours, so we were a little cooped up!  However, by the end of the weekend, it was beautiful and cool, just as fall camping should be!

The adults even had their own bartender for the weekend!

After this trip, we only needed to repair two beds in our camp trailer!  Not bad for having ALL of us stuffed inside it for a good portion of the weekend!

4-year-old preschool.

In early September Clara started her second year of preschool.  She was super excited to go back and see her friends, and she was especially excited to see her friends.  She was a little surprised that there were some different friends in her class, but she was thrilled at the same time!

Here she is, excited to go to her first day!

(Don't mind her upside down sign...I blame my pregnant brain (no, I'm no longer pregnant - but I was then and my hormones were obviously ruining my ability to think)).

Here is lovely Miss Diane, Clara's teacher!  We all just love this woman!!!  Clara is so fortunate to be in such a loving learning environment!  I can't believe this is her last year of preschool!

A new home.

We said good-bye to our house of 5 years on Ice Bear Way, and moved to south Boise.  We love our new place.  It is closer to my work (Kurtis has to drive a little farther now...), and has made my daily commute a lot better!  Here are the littles on moving day enjoying popsicles on the back deck.

Our new yard is paradise, for the birds and for us!

Plus, it came with a hot tub which we all love!

There are a few quirks about this house that I don't love (ex. these black sinks and black soaker tub with black and white tiles in the master bath) but we're really pleased with this place!

Kurtis says he's never moving again, so I guess it's a good thing we like it!

Gwen.

I bought Gwen as a graduation present to myself for $25... and I think I had to borrow like 4 bucks from my mom in order to have the full amount of cash. Gwen lived with us for 11 happy years. She was my running buddy, Clara's pal, and goosed everyone that entered our home. Her spunky personality matched her wild fur. She could've won jumping competitions into the swimming pool off the diving board! In fact, I'm pretty sure she chose Kurtis for me, because when he'd come over to visit, she'd jump up on him and hug him and wouldn't get down. She adored him from the very beginning. On August 12 we lost Gwen the wonder dog. Our hearts are broken. I miss hearing her running in her sleep next to my bed, the smell of her ears, and her constant smile. But I'm comforted in knowing that she's able to run again in doggy heaven with back legs that work once again. Gwen and I were together for 1/3 of my life, and even months later I still think of her multiple times a day and cry over her loss often.  I love you Gwen, I miss you terribly, and I'll always remember you as my first love.

Here are some pics of our dear girl in her last days.

Sob.