Long overdue update

R

It has been a tough but great year thus far. Working full time and going to college with 12-15 credit hours a term is enlightening but exhausting. Trevor and Miles became Elders. Miles got married and Trevor found his true love in Ali Knudsen and are to be married on August 6th in Salt Lake. I am very excited about this.

I also bought a new car, and I mean a brand new car. My other car could not make the trip between here and anywhere over 10 miles away, safely, so I bought a KIA Soul. It is so nice, and very reasonably priced for a brand new car. I can travel now!!

I finished spring term, was accepted to EOU Teaching program, and just finished my first summer class. I start MATH 213 on Monday, and will be preparing for an Open House for Trevor and Ali.

Speaking of weddings, Kesley and Miles had a beautiful reception at the Westover house and the weather was windy but sunny. Erin(Schumacher) and Andrew were married on June 3rd. Tomorrow is Nick(cousin) and Sarahs wedding at Dallas, Oregon. Next Saturday is Amy Hansen and Andrews wedding. Wow!!! Lots of happy events this summer.

I do not have a picture, but celebrated the end of finals with a fantastic adventure at Tree to Tree ropes course in Gaston, Oregon. Look it up. I can't wait to get back.

Trevor and Ali started this summers celebrations with a bridal shower given by Rachelle Sivertson. I cannot wait for the whole family to be together this summer. I will spend a LOT of time snuggling grandchildren, especially our little princesses Brooklyn and Mia. (Still a great snuggle size)

Here are a few pics. Enjoy!

Bowling with Bo and Music Instructor

Bo and I had our Friday adventure, bowling(we did terribly)and Dairy Queen. I got a smile when he became curious about the new feature on my camara.

It has been a crazy month. The class that I thought would be easy, a Music Fundamentals class, which is music theory, almost turned out to be the fall of my grade point average to below honor roll status. I thought it would be the easier of the two classes, this and Cultural Anthropology, but not so. First it was a five week course, so excelerated, and instead of basics, it was more like a math class, and you know by now that I am not a mathmatician. I ended up with a B, which was very generous on the part of Mr. Dave Barduhn. This is our famous Jazz director at Mt. Hood, whose program is one of the top in the nation. He probably went crazy teaching us beginners, not even musicians, but teachers, at an accelerated pace. I learned about intervals, circle of fifths, formulas for chords, etc. Math disguised as music. lol

Waterfalls and Uncle Mikes

from the picnic table

fun water playground for a three year old

and a fabulous......

the base of WahKeena across the street in the park...

swirling waters

WahKeena Falls and Verlene in contemplation

WahKeena(love that name)

La Tourelle Falls

Koda goes down the marble stairs

Koda and mom enjoying the view at Crown Point

Koda goes up the marble stairs

Inside Vista House

Vista House and Koda on the way to the Crown

Women's Forum

Koda and the view

Nick the EMT and Fireman and Rochelle, Brandons wife

Uncle Mike and Dawna

Ariel Beaver Fan and Sophmore at OSU

Tiff and Xavier and Hubby

Lucy lu

Tired Ironman and Verlene

Ironman(Koda)

Verlene, Koda and I had a great weekend. On Saturday we went to Art Walk in down town Gresham and Koda got his face painted as Ironman. The pics shows how tired he was.

Then on Saturday Night, I spent 2 1/2 hours on the freeway trying to get to Uncle Mikes house. The ice cream I brought was virtually soup by the time I got there. I had a great time seeing the nieces and nephews(and great niece and great nephew lol) It took me only 20 minutes to get home. We had a great smoked turkey Mike made. Brandon couldnt make it cuz of the traffic, and Sam?

For our Sunday summer expedition, Verlene, Koda and I did the waterfalls in the gorge and picniced at WahKeeNa Falls. Perfect weather.

Koda and Bo's Trip to the Gorge July/2010

Mary Ann, Bo, Myself, Koda and his mom Verlene took a Sunday drive to the Columbia Gorge. This brought back memories of doing the same with my kids. Nothing much has changed, but it was so green and beautiful.

We took a picnic and started at the Fish Hatchery. Years ago some teen agers killed the 100 year old sturgeons that lived there. Now there are a couple that are 10 feet long. We fed the trout.

We then took the tour at Bonneville Dam. Koda loved it.

We also drove down to Cascade locks and bought some fresh salmon from the natives. The Sternwheeler is broken this summer. They had the Portland Spirit there, not the same so we didnt go on it.

Chicago, Chicago

Erin and Roy at hotdog shop
Chicago, a beautiful mix of old and new
View of Tribune Building one of my favs
Dave Roy and I on the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
Dave in his favorite lecture hall, the Lincoln Hall
Dave and I enjoy a Chicago Hotdog with the works.
Dave Erin and Roy Boy at the top of the Sears(Willis)Tower
Yes, me sitting in the window of the 103rd story of the Sears Tower now known as the Willis. Whew, you can see I am a little nervous trying hard to smile.

So what can I tell ya. A great trip and adventure. We covered a lot of ground. We saw Shedd Aquarium, which incidently has more Pacific Northwest displays and sealife in it then anything.
It has a new (cheesy as Erin puts it) show with Belugas, dolphins, seals, etc showing off along with fantasy characters in it. I liked it. I loved the beluga whales. Erin and I went to the Art Institute which I loved, they have an amazing collection. Dave and I went on the Architecture boat tour, and sat front row center at the Broadway Show 'Jersey Boys'. We were more under the stage in the front row, but saw a great show at a great price. I love love love the buildings, especially the old ones. We all enjoyed the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, and Dave and I were there for the fantastic fireworks on Wednesday night. I really had fun roaming the city, taking pics and listening to live music at Millenium Park.

I have a hundred great pictures, and Dave says he will send more on a disc. So maybe I will embellish a new blog with them.