Cascade High School Class of '97 - 20 Year Reunion

You never think it is going to happen to you - until it happens to you. We celebrated our 20-year high school reunion this weekend at McMennamins in Bothell. It was actually pretty great to see this fine group of people and get reacquainted with a number of them. Definitely way more fun than the 10-year and I think I'll actually look forward to the next one with excitement and not trepidation.

 So great to see Clare again!

 So glad Kim was there and we could talk each other into going!

 Rocking the 90s style.

Over the Ridge - Exploring Entiat Valley

We spent a beautiful fall Saturday driving around the back country last weekend. We drove up and over the ridge between the valley where Plain lies and Entiat valley to the northeast of us. It was about 20 miles of dirt road to get there. Entiat River is beautiful has some really cool waterfalls and bridges. We went on a little hike around Silver Falls which was really neat and very well maintained. We had hoped to go an additional ridge over, to Lake Chelan, but didn't have time on this trip. So - another day!

 Entiat River has a sturdy bridge over it at this trailhead and this was our lunch spot for the day.

 This is Box Canyon a little upriver - the Entiat River has carved this canyon out of the granite over thousands of years.

 This is Silver Falls that feeds into the Entiat River. There is a great loop hike that goes around and up and over the falls.

 On our way back we drove to Sugarloaf Look Out at the crest of the ridge. They still have volunteers who live and sleep in there as fire look outs each summer.

 From the look out you can see all the way to Lake Wenatchee to the northwest and great views in all directions. It was a little eerie to be surrounded by a ghost forest.

 

Reed's Gymnastics Birthday Party!

Reed had his four-year birthday party at a local gymnastics facility. It was a great spot for all the kids to try to new things and have fun. We are so fortunate to have great friends to celebrate birthdays with us!

 That night we had friends over for a BBQ and campfire and Reed got to play with some of his new presents, like this cool parachute!

 

And Reed got to play at another gym for his friend Evan's party the next day!

First Week of School, Camp Friends, Reed and Granddaddy

The first day of school for the 2017-18 year. Edison is 9 and starting 3rd grade with Ms. Gravett. Charlotte is 7 and now in 2nd grade with Ms. Ramfar. And Reed is in preschool with Ms. Kate at LFP Montessori again. They are in the know and ready to go!

 Reed was so excited for a special birthday card and present from his Granddaddy Herbert.

 The gardening kit was a perfect fit!

 

We started our year at Shorecrest with Houston Kraft as a guest speaker. We had worked together at Mt. Adams. I was thrilled he came over for a dinner with camp and leadership advisor friends: Evan, Paul, Houston, Meg, Jaime, Brett, and Mikayla.

Labor Day River Float with the Sparks and Jetty with the Adams

Eric and Olivia came out for Labor Day weekend! We got all the tubes ready and headed out on the Wenatchee with all the kiddos. It was simply a beautiful, relaxing afternoon with them and it couldn't have been any better.

 

We squeezed the last bit of summer out of the Labor Day weekend by spending Monday afternoon on Jetty Island with Meg, Chris and their boys. What a fitting end to the weekend and the summer.