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Showing posts from 2019

Retreating Women

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In an odd twist of fate, my parents now go to church with my Matron of Honor from our wedding 18 years ago! So when Mom's church had their annual women's retreat in Spokane, and somebody invited me to come, it was a perfect opportunity to kill two or three birds with one stone. For the small price of a 12 hour drive (round trip) to Spokane I got to see many old faces from my teens (now *much* older), my dear friend, Mystie, my mom, and my sister, Katy, (who lives in Spokane) all in one weekend! Extra bonus: Mom and I got to go wedding dress shopping with my little sister, who is getting married in May 2020! The Bozarth Mansion where the retreat was held - gracious old place! Wedding dress shopping - she didn't end up with this one, even though it was gorgeous, so it's not a spoiler! The dorms where most of the women stayed! Getting cozy for one of the sessions! 

Monica - Our Water Dog

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Of all of our children, Monica is the one who loves swimming the most! She enjoyed her swimming lessons, though she had a bad experience in the summer with a teacher who rather rudely told her she should be two levels below where she was, which kind of crushed her enthusiasm for a little while. However, she does love to be in the water, so I signed her up for swimming lessons in the fall in Canby and she thoroughly enjoyed them! Unfortunately, she is quite nearsighted so at one point she didn't even realize that she had a substitute teacher one day! I finally ordered her prescription goggles - thrilling!  Monica in SunRiver, OR, in August, 2019 Since Monica has difficult feet - high arches, pronated, planter fasciitis - swimming might be her best option for life-long exercise. *sigh* Not the easiest one to do from home! (though Monica would be entirely pleased if we dug up our backyard and put in a pool!!)

Couple's Getaway to Silverton

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Even though we didn't take a lot of photos, Michael and I definitely enjoyed our short trip "away" to Silverton, OR. We took the kids up to Michael's parents' house on Saturday morning and retrieved them on Sunday evening. In between we got lunch at the Oregon City Farmer's Market, stopped for a wine tasting at Vitus Ridge on our way to downtown Silverton. We walked around downtown Silverton, walked around the Frank Lloyd Wright house, (unfortunately we couldn't take the tour) and enjoyed our dinner and stay at The Oregon Garden Resort. I particularly enjoyed our walks around the Oregon Garden, even though in October there's not a lot still blooming. But there are a lot of fruit trees and bushes of interest and I love reading all the little signs and seeing the demonstration garden type things (composting can be so interesting, right?!) On Sunday we attended a local evangelical church service then spent several hours hiking around Silver Falls. Then b

Ezra turns 14!

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We celebrated Ezra's 14 birthday, as we often celebrate his birthday: with a huge joint family birthday party for Ezra and Cousin Hugh. Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan joined us this year, hailing from their new beach cabin on the Oregon Coast! Ezra, wearing his "hospital gown" shirt from Aunt Abigail, opening a card. Cousin Hugh opening his presents Monica observing! Ezra's color-blindness shirt from Grandma Valerie Fun to have additional relatives! Uncle Dan and Aunt Dot (Grandma Valerie's sister)

Elena turns 7!

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Opening presents at family birthday party for Elena and Elinor.  Ezra and Grandpa Howard goofing off Gratuitous and unrelated picture of Elena and Cousin Verity!

Rocky Mountain High!

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In August, we went to visit my Grandpa Lew in Colorado! We flew into Denver on August 23rd, spent a night in Denver, drove to his cabin near Kremmling, CO the next day, and spent 4 nights there. Our last day in CO we drove to the Wild Animal Sanctuary and walked the boardwalk in 90 degree heat - twice - before flying home late Thursday night, August 28th.  My dad's picture of us at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg Bears get hot, too. p/c Mike Casbon p/c Mike Casbon At the top of the chairlift in Steamboat Springs Monica and cousin Valor at the Resort in Steamboat Springs Grandpa Lew and Ezra before the yellow-jacket incident Best toy ever! Ezra and Phinehas Grilling like real men Fun with Grandpa Lew Valor takes the wheel Elena learns to shoot!  My dad came on our adventure, too! He mostly takes the pictures and isn't in them, but this is of him and my nephew Valor when we picnicked one hot afternoon. Ju

Family Camp 2019

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Some things never change - our family's enjoyment of RCC's Annual Family Camp appears to be one of them! Michael's brother Zane stayed with us this year, as he has in the past and joined us on our Free Day excursion. I don't have many pictures of Phinehas - he was moving too fast!  We added Talent to the annual Variety Show/Talent night this year, with Judah and Simon performing a section from  A Midsummer Night's Dream, previously performed at their school play. The necklace Michael gave me for my birthday at Camp. He gave me a present a day to make it a "birthday week!" Monica and cousin Elinor Judah is stylin' in the bucket hat I got him at Costco. Looks kinda like Grandpa Mike. Rail Riders! Our family outing on Free Day included this odd excursion along an unused portion of railroad track near Manzanita. All ready to set out! Ezra participated at Camp in several ways, one of them being playing the gui