Annual Evans Family Camping Trip!

This year's camping trip to Aeneas Valley, Wa. was great fun, as usual! We packed up the Finkbeiner family, with the addition of one very special Erin Garner, and headed West. The first stop, was Coulee City for the night. The next day we made the two and a half hour drive into about a three and a quarter hour drive due to a few stops but finally made it. Mom and Dad, our family, Kenneth and Adriane, Virginia, Paul, Michael, and friend Chance, and Harold and Shyla all made the trek this year. We carved pumpkins, solved the worlds problems around the fire, took a few hikes, and of course had the annual boat race. Aunt Virginia, the reigning camp, was quite confident. But alas, she was dethroned by Kenneth and his styrofoam boat. Lucy and Izzy wore each other out running around camp, and Holly enjoyed all the fresh air and attention. The temperature was a little chilly both mornings, being 23 and 22 degrees consecutively, but the wall tent and the stove, "Old Brute", kept us plenty warm! We had tons of fun and can't wait to go again next year!



Aeneas Valley bound!

The Finkbeiner family + Erin Garner are officially headed camping this weekend! We are in Coulee City tonight, then headed to Aeneas Valley tomorrow, the site of our official Evans family camping trip for the past however many years! I think I've only missed one in my lifetime! Anyway...the special camping site is on the road between Tonasket and Republic, for those of you that know northern Washington at all. Today we packed up the old air mattress, dusted off the sleeping bags, threw the two kids and the dog in the car and away we went. By Sunday, all of us should be completely exhausted after being in the fresh mountain air, but hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures up in the near future. :)

Whew!

Man, do you ever have one of those weeks where you feel like you don't take even a second to relax? This was one of those weeks for me! Monday night- marriage class at the church, Tuesday night- had to work late, Wednesday- worked until 5:30, Thursday night- hosted BUNCO for 12 ladies at my house, Friday night- Kieth announced the Homecoming football game for the radio,  and today- hosted a baby shower for a member of our CARE group at the church. Like I said, WHEW! Emotional and physically tired right now. Today was especially difficult I think. Baby things are not necessarily easy for me, but PRAISE GOD for our beautiful pastor's wife, Christy. Just to have someone acknowledge the emotional struggle I was going through today made me feel better! What a beautiful person, inside and out. Now to just sit for a while and relax before a wild game of Ticket To Ride tonight with some of Kieth's former students: two incredible Christian girls who will keep us laughing all night!

My friend Andrea, Holly, and I went to Greenbluff this weekend, which is north of Spokane. I'd been wanting to go up there, seeing as I'd never been before. It's blackberry season right now so I figured what better time than now?? We had an AWESOME time! Holly probably ate at least a pound of black berries and probably had several ounces on her face, alone. We had lunch at one of the little cafes up there, bought some fresh produce, and Holly got a great nap on the way home!

Pumpkin Bread!

Holly and I decided to bake one afternoon. Earlier that day I had purchased some pie pumpkins at Walmart, so we cooked those up, saved the seeds, and made pumpkin bread. It was scrumptious!

Holly's at Grandma's!

So my mom called earlier this week and suggested she take Holly for the weekend. I quickly jumped on board! What a wonderful grandma for offering to do that! God blessed me IMMENSELY with the parents that I have. The original plan was to pick Holly up tomorrow in Spokane, but Kieth suggested tonight that he could pick her up in Spokane on Monday after school. My mom agreed, so now Kieth and I have one more night alone together. Thanks again to my wonderful parents. We love you!