Heidi's visit

Heidi came to visit after the family reunion. She drove up with Emma and I. It was long but fun. On the way through the gorge area we stopped at the Bonneville fish hatchery, we fed the fish and looked at some huge sturgeon they have on display. It was a nice break and I think a pretty little location, who knew fish hatcheries could have something interesting to see and do?

While Heidi was here the number one thing on our agenda was to go to the ocean. So Jackie had the day off so we went. It was supposed to be cool so we didn't really plan on swimming hence the shorts and clothes instead of swimwear :) We played and had a good time anyway. I told the kids we would come back on another day since the forecast was better for later in the week.









While we were at Seaside we went to the Aquarium that is right on the beach. It's small but has some interesting stuff. We fed the sea lions and looked around then did some hands on pools.


Rode the carousel at the Seaside mall. Well the kids did :)





I wish I could remember the name of this store, it is full of hats and we always have a good time trying on crazy hats.
The forecast said it was going to be sunny and nice at the beach, so off we went. It was sunny for sure but I thought we were all going to freeze to death. Brrrrrr we didn't stay long, just long enough to get super cold and want to leave :)
My Parents drove up to visit while Heidi was here, we went and picked blueberries and then on Saturday we decided to go to the Saturday market in Portland. I've been told to go for years but we also heard there are a lot of freaky people there and since I'm really not a fan of freaky people I just haven't bothered......well I mentioned it to Heidi and she must be a fan because she said let's do it :)


Saw tons of crafty stuff, lots of people but really on the whole I give it two thumbs up. Not to freaky :)




I loved this art, it was very interesting to me, as you can tell it was made with numbers. Ha ha paint by numbers :)


Of course we had to eat, there was food everywhere. We actually got separated for a while because we all wanted different food, then the musicians were so loud non of us could hear our phones ringing or chiming and so it made things a little interesting getting us all back together but we made it. Oh one funny thing about the market day, I thought it might be smart to ride the max into Portland so we wouldn't have to find parking. Well it would have cost way way to much for all of us for one day so we drove. Josie had her heart set on riding the "train" so at the market we were in an area that is called fare less square, since it is free we hopped on rode the train two blocks and got off, I thought it was funny but it made her happy.


We all had a good time, it was a busy week but lots of fun!

North Carolina

We flew to North Carolina last week to spend some quality time with our sweetheart Hope. We wanted to be there with her when she got home, and help her get some things done that needed to be done, and let her show us around Jacksonville and Camp Lejune. After spending some time with Chief Robinson, the rest of the time was ours. One of the first things we did was to go see some of Camp Lejune, sorry no pics. While on base we went to the beach to get our feet wet. Wow the east coast sure is different than the west coast. The water is warm and nice, and the sand is mostly made of crushed sea shells.
Hope and her dad at Onslow beach on base.

The sand is kind of rocky and full of shells. If you scooped some up in your hands it was mostly shells with about an inch or less of sand on the top.

Helicopters flew over quite regularly doing some training maneuvers or something.

Driving around on base there were lots of these signs. Didn't see any tanks though.

Hope told us about this place that serves the best bbq so we had to try it. It was pretty dang good. Thig's stands for This Hog is Good Son.

Yum Yum North Carolina BBQ.

We also decided to go on a tour of the USS North Carolina. It was amazing. The tour is self guided so you can spend as much time as you want. I could spend all day there. And we almost did.

The big guns are enormous. They have a 16" bore and are 60' long, and there are nine of them!



Hope looking for something to shoot at.

The artillery shells are almost as tall as Hope.

Another thing we wanted to do is see the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. We have seen it set in the Pacific Ocean several times. Pretty much the same only backwards, and just as beautiful. This is Onslow beach again.

Chief Robinson told us that you could find shark teeth on the beach if you were there early. So we started our search.

We found several, but none of them were very big. We talked to some older ladies that were looking also. They told us that they don't pick up the small ones any more, they only want the big ones.

We also went to TopSail Island to swim. It was a lot of fun. The water was perfect.

We had a wonderful visit with Hope, and it ended way to soon. It broke our hearts to leave, but we had to because the day after we got home Lora loaded up the girls and headed to BYU Idaho to drop Jacqueline off at school.

Tribute

I wish I was a writer and could say the things that are in my heart.
August 11th 2011, Ryley gave his life serving our country. The funeral was beautiful and touching. Support from family, friends and the community was and is outstanding. I feel humbled. Thank you to all doesn't seem adequate. We are so blessed, and look forward to getting the opportunity to meet and know Ryley when we see him again.

Cabin Fever

For me Cabin Fever has a different meaning than most. I love to go to our family cabin and when I know I am going to get a chance to go I start getting stir crazy. I love the smells the peace the quiet. I will be sad if at some time in my life I won't be able to go here. I have very fond memories at the cabin, and I think all my children do also.


This is Emma going off the big swing :) My Dad climbed a tree that is probably 60 feet tall to fix this swing so we could all play and have a great time. It was a long horrible day for him, he is always going the extra mile for all of us and for so many others. I love you Dad!
My sisters kids wanted to go off the top on the big swing. Heidi said that the year before was her last time on the swing, she is done with it. I'm a sucker for a cute little face asking me if I will take them off, so here I am taking Josie off the top. My goodness I think it just gets scarier and scarier every year. Maybe this will be my last time going off. I actually have a video, I'll see if I can find it.
I was in charge of the family reunion this year. Water is always a hit so we all packed up and went to Gooseberry Reservoir, it is a pretty little place. Lots of fish, but we went swimming instead. I enjoyed being out on the water and I think all the kids had a fun time.

Ooops this one is out of place, we always go for a hike or two at the cabin. Who's king of the mountain?


The little swing can be fun too, it probably helps to be just the right age for it though :)
I have always wanted to Geocache, so since I was in charge I wrangled my Brother-in-law into helping me.
Ooops out of place again, Emma had a good time. She was my only child that went with me this year. Wow one child is so much easier than four, especially when they can take care of themselves.
We or Brian created a Geocache for our family reunion. I thought it was very cool.
We had an evening of Minute to win it games, I thought it was super fun. Melinda and Julie stacking dice and Jeri and Jenni separating m&m into the right color cups. The m&m game was the hardest I think.

Saturday the 24th of July we went down to Fairview for the parade and to visit with extended family. Here is our whole gang in front of my Aunt Hazels house. I think we make a pretty good looking bunch!
Kate my Nephews sweet daughter. Too cute!
After the parade and before we headed out, some of us traveled out west to the old homestead. I hadn't been there since I was a really little girl, so it was good. My Mom's family has fixed it up and made it nice. This is where my Grandparents spent the first few years of their married life together. Makes me thankful for what I have.
Chance and Cody, protecting the girls from any rattlers!!
Emma loving the heat in her jeans :)
Mom, Doug, Lora, Jeri, and Russ in front of the homestead.

Baby Blanket

I made a goal this year to learn how to crochet around a burp cloth. While I was in Utah for Women's conference, my Mom and I worked on this and finally after many times of unpicking and even sticking a crochet hook in my finger, we figured it out. I gave this to a lady in my ward who is expecting. I think it turned out really cute and now I need to get busy making some more to have on hand.

I sewed my material right sides together, trimmed really close to seam, turned then zig zag stitch with wing needle. I crocheted with a #10 hook.

The Pattern:
Round 1: Single crochet around. Make sure your single crochets are fairly close together to prevent the fabric from puckering.

Round 2: Chain 1, sc in first stitch; *skip next stitch, sc in next stitch, (3 dc, ch2, 3 dc) in next stitch, sc in next stitch; repeat from * around.

I didn't count any of the stitches, it just seems to work out all the way around. I am not a perfectionist but if you are, you can start adjusting your stitches before you get to the end.