Autumn has Arrived

Autumn has finally arrived on the Palouse and the weather has, thankfully, followed suit. We are definitely enjoying the cooler temperatures. It is perfect walking weather, so I've been throwing on the Ergo and strolling around campus whenever I get a chance. Lucy loves to feel the leaves and the pine needles and I love getting some fresh air.

Michael just returned from an last minute trip to Missouri, to attend a funeral. A group that Michael deployed with, 4th Platoon, suffered an unexpected and immensely sad loss last week. There is a widow with a sweet baby boy in Missouri right now who could use your thoughts and prayers.

Michael's first month of school has been so extremely busy. He has quite the course load and started working with a research team in August. Which is enough to fill his schedule, when you consider studying and family time, but he has even more on his plate right now. He recently was accepted into a nuclear reactor operator course on campus. It was very competitive and only a handful of students were accepted. While the course is a blessing, I'm a little sad that he'll be away from Lucy and I even more during the week. I know he is too. His Monday class for the course starts at the exact same time as swimming lessons end, so that should be interesting.

Lucy has been enjoying swimming lessons, but she is so skinny and the "heated" pool is so cold that she is always left shivering and a lovely shade a purple by the end of class. She loves the water, so we didn't want to remove her from the class  (although we've had to take her out of the pool a bit early a few times), we did the only logical thing and purchased a wetsuit for her. Okay, we're crazy about that baby girl and we made an impulsive purchase to keep her warmer in the water. Today will be her first class with her new getup.

Somehow, among all the busyness in our life right now, we were able to make it home to experience the Washington State Fair (or as I will always call it The Puyallup fair). We went the weekend before last, and I'm so sorry that we didn't really get to visit with anyone, it was a really short trip.

We're excited to continue this tradition of going to the fair with Lucy. Sort of an end of the summer and beginning of fall celebration.

She LOVED all the animals.

Llamas and cows and sheep, oh my!

All I wanted to see were the piglets and they were precious.

 

 Michael had some fun playing the games, trying to win prizes for his girls.