Summer highlights and today gluten free, vegan donuts!

What have we been up to here? Summer of course, which is so wonderful in Corvallis.

In July we did the annual family time at Tahoe; one of the best times of the year with Evan, Chloe and Macie all running about.Chloe learned to ride with two wheels; Evan was happy to help out with a little demo for her. The kids explored the Upper Truckee Marsh that is one block from the house. The hot tub was great and the nearly naked painting was a hit. Special thanks to Grandma who brings all the art supplies!

This summer we got new neighbors two doors down, a family of four that are super! Their youngest child, Ike, is a very special friend of Evan's. We have lots of play dates with Ike here and Evan there.

One evening our friends Gregg and Stephanie stopped by for dinner and brought their car-top tent for Evan to see. Evan was in awe and wanted to stay in the tent all evening (poor Gregg)! Evan still asks when Gregg is coming back.

We made a trip to the beach and that is always popular with the guys around here! It was so nice that Evan did dune jumping in his underwear; well we had the entire beach. Evan is trying surfing with a water-logged board.

Aunt Suzanne came up and Evan still asks (quite often) when she is coming back. Her visit was a special time for us. Suzy is great on a mountain bike. Sorry I have no photos of this extra fun visit. Suzy is so wonderful with Evan; her students are so fortunate to have her as their teacher. What a super aunt she is and we love her.

Grandma Carole came up in September, so nice to have family with us and it allowed Mike and I to do some things as a couple. While Grandma and Evan had a bubble festival as well as adventure hikes in the neighborhood.

Then earlier this month we all went to New Orleans; Mike had a conference so we made it a family event. Evan was a super traveler and there was so much to do there with a kid. We did a swamp tour in a boat and saw alligators, went to the zoo (feeding parakeets!), aquarium, and insectarium (amazing!!!) and took a mule-drawn carriage ride through the French Quarter. We spent 45 minutes in the butterfly room at the insectarium and one landed on Evan (some hit me in the head). Evan loved the VW Beetle that had a movie playing inside it on the windshield about "love bugs" that mate in swarms along the highways in the south. We stayed in the Garden District before the conference and saw amazing mansions as well as walking through some of the above ground cemeteries (the city is 6 feet below sea level so it makes sense to bury the dead above water level). The conference hotel was on the Mississippi River so we got to watch large ships come and go. Evan was quite happy to take rides on the street cars which stopped at the hotel; this also made it easy and very fun to get around.

Today Evan and I made gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free baked donuts! We used the fancy mixer (thanks mom) and Evan wore the Nigerian apron the Grandma Carole and Grandpa Duane brought back Africa. He was very excited about having his first doughnut; but in Evan style he ate less than half of one. Halloween is coming and Evan wants to be Batman again (woo hoo mom lucks out). My wonderful office mate, Linda, sewed the cape and waist belt last year and provided advice as well (she is a life saver).

Well I am sure I have left something off but it is quiet time and the homegrown pumpkins still need carving! Please send this on as I know I do not have everyone on my list. Thank you.