Birthday season is soon upon us... in the meantime

I have been very neglectful of my blog.
I have also not taken near as many pictures as I usually do.
But I do have a few from the past couple of weeks to share.

Joylynn's kids have been coming over to our house a couple of days a week when she is working. Wyatt is notorious for bringing some sort of toy or treasure along with him.
Last week it was a back pocket full of crayons.
He was "Rainbow Man".
I am always amazed at what is going on in his head.

Last Sunday we got to go to celebrate the birthday of one of Cam's buddies.
Levi Markham turned 13.

Here are a couple of cool guys. Levi (13) and (Cam almost 11).


The "kids" got here earlier than usual yesterday so we were able to take them to the free movie at the mall.
We spent a couple extra hours there afterwards to avoid the extreme heat of the day.

Genevieve enjoying her pretzel.

Danika enjoying her pop.

We took them to the children's section of Barnes and Noble.

Wyatt quickly found a book about one of his favorite shows "Yo Gabba Gabba"

Genevieve still enjoys Dora.

Hayden showed Danika a book that had different textures featured on each page.


After the mall we came home and got into swimming suits and headed for the "Water Park", at least that is what Wyatt and Genevieve call it.
It's our local park and there is a water play area... thus waterpark.

Last but not least...
It's back to school time. Hayden's curriculum came in the day before yesterday and Cam is scheduled to get his tomorrow.
Too bad we can't use some of this stuck in the house avoiding 106 degree temperatures to get a head start on the year.
Alas we cannot.

There is one subject per carton.

I think this is going to be a favorite.

I'm sure we will appreciate it when it comes to insuring this young driver a year from now.

Stay cool. Stay in school. & Swim in a pool.
or something....

Thirty years of marriage... or Har & Tam's Big Adventure!

Thirty years ago today we started on a journey together. We are still having fun, thank God! Our anniversary was spent exploring an area of town we rarely get to so it was like going away on a bit of a vacation.

We went out for breakfast and then spent a some time at Clackamas Town Center. I used to really dislike that mall and Har really liked it so I decided it would be a good thing to go there together today. Marriage is like that sometimes. We do things together even if one of the people isn't super enthusiastic.

We walked the mall and went to a movie in their theater and spent some money (notice the new pearls around my neck?). It was surprisingly nice there today. We didn't have crowds to fight and their new addition is really well done. It was like being in a totally new place.

We did some more exploring and had van related adventures. Fun stuff.
Dinner at the Olive Garden was lovely as was coffee and dessert at the Reinlander.

Here are a few pictures we took today.

Beautiful landscaping...

Stopping on the road to Caver.

I love this picture.

Produce purchase.

We have been to Rocky Butte many times to sit in the van and eat lunch together...
but this is the first time we walked up to the park at the top.
It was a beautiful day even though it was a bit hazy.

I took dozens of pics of vegetation...

Bougainvillea climbing a fence.

We had daisies at our wedding.

Our day couldn't have been nicer. We are now home and will kick back and watch a bit of television and "hatch and plan" for the next decade.

Fourth of July weekend

We got to spend a 6 day holiday week with Lyssa and Logan and Rowan in Lacey, Washington.

Of course when in Lacey you must go to Norma's for a burger.

It is one of the most patriotic restaurants I've been to.

They support our troops all the way.

Hayden orders the "John Wayne 'Duke' Burger"

Yes that is a slab of ham on there.

What would the 4th be without watermelon...

We picked a good sweet one.

The rest of the week was filled with good food and fun times. Here is a peek at some of it...

They have the coolest wading pool. It is great for kids and adults.

The water was chilly. Straight from the cold hose faucet.

Rowan still had to do chores even when company was there. Here he is washing Dad's car.

He is such a great helper.

The guys getting the tribal fire going.

The girls sun and shade batheing.

Logan and Alyssa have set up a place to practice archery. It is very cool and right up Harlan's alley. Wish we had a big yard for him to be able to shoot his bow.

He used to shoot quite a bit when Rylan was a little guy and we had a huge yard in Aloha.

Nice grouping...

He's not all that rusty after 27 years.

Our vehicles have been giving us nothing but problems.
The car intermittently refuses to start. It happened a week before we drove up and happened again while we were there.

Logan trying to persuade it to start.

We ended up leaving it up there and driving Logan's rig down. They got the car started yesterday and brought it back to us. It is a real puzzle.
We have to get it out of it's temperamental mood. We have a baby arriving in the next few weeks that we want to go and see.

Adventures and more adventures to come.

Project and adventures

I have managed to cross-stitch a birth announcement of sorts on a thermal recieving blanket for each of our grandchildren so far.

Here is the one I wanted to send with Courtney to Cherise for her baby shower in La Grande but it wasn't finished for her to take. It is as finished as I can get it at this point. I have to put the date of his birth and his birthweight on it yet.

So will be doing a bit of cross-stitching in a few weeks. :-)

Park Trip

Warm temperatures warranted a trip to the local park.

I have seen this water feature only in the winter when we have been playing in the snow.

It has various objects that spray as well as spots along the perimeter that spray out of the ground. I have a feeling this isn't going to be our last trip to this fountain for the summer.
When we left home to go out for a lunch time treat we weren't thinking of getting wet. It doesn't appear that the children are bothered by getting their clothes wet.
Even Hayden and Cam got a bit wet. They walked home to keep from getting the van soaked.

Danika spent about half of the time we were there swinging.

She loves it.

So does Cam.

Keeping track of all of the kids is quite a workout for Hayden. He got into the path of the water to cool off.

Krystle kept a safe distance away.

Heading back home!

Their Momma came and picked them up after our grand adventure. I owed them popsicles for their dessert so sent them off to get sticky on their drive home.


Welcome back, Courts!

Joylynn had hardly left the driveway and we got a text message saying that the Greyhound bus was heading west on Interstate 84 in Portland. Courtney was on her way home from her La Grande trip. Hurray! Everybody is briefly just where they are supposed to be.

Tomorrow is a new day and ripe with new adventures to be had....

Logan, Lyssa and Rowan.....Lacey here we come!!!!

People and their pastimes

The grandkids love books.

The older ones are now wanting to read themselves. Here Genevieve is sharing a book with her Aunties and a lap full of toddlers.

The boys have pastimes too. Logan spending time on one of his passions. Bikes. He is helping Hayden learn to ride a trials bike. I'm fine as long as he isn't trying to get Harlan out on one of those.

Speaking of Hayden....

He and I had a little coffee date the other morning. He was up uncharacteristically early so I took advantage of it for some Mom and kid time.



We got to go to the zoo!

Lys and Logan stopped to get a bit of breakfast for us to start out with.

There are some great stops along the trail. Here G'vieve is trying to spot birds in the forest.


I got to see some "new residents" at the farm.

This little family group was in the field of the zebra area. She was having an easier time keeping track of her "kids" than we were at times.

Case in point. We let everyone run on the concert lawn for a bit. These two youngsters were a bit reluctant to get back with the group. Uncle Cam managed to herd them toward us though.

The Group

We got there around 8:30 in the morning. By the time we left 3 hours later the parking lot was totally full and there were huge lines to get in.
I guess that is the way it is in the Summer with so many people on stay-cations around P-town.