Dave

I love to go see and do things! I don't want to miss anything! A few years ago when I took a train with Jamie to Utah I was shocked that she could put her nose in a book and read while beautiful scenery was speeding by. I couldn't stand the thought of missing something. I hated knowing I was missing beautiful vistas at night!

While I'm out taking beautiful pictures here is Dave! With a book!

Dave celebrated his 68th birthday last week so I took a picture to show you how he likes to have fun. He loves reading and doing geneology. Here he is reading about Abraham Lincoln. It is his 4th or 5th book on the subject. (and he has 4 or 5 more waiting to read and then plans to go on to George Washington after that.) It reminds me of how his dad was when he was Dave's age. Dave's mom would watch some TV but his dad would spend his time reading. His dad was always wanting the light brighter so he could see better to read and Dave is the same way. He uses a reading light on his head or a light next to him on the book. His Dad was also always concerned about his geneology and getting all the information he could. Dave has spent so many hours on the computer doing family history. This week he sent out names to our kids to take to the temple. I have been thinking... we have 4 sons, will they take after their dad and grandad? How about the girls? I guess time will tell but I look at their personalities and I think there is a very good possibility.
Dave and I have been called as church service missionaries at the Mt. Vernon cannery. We started 2 years ago, soon after we came here to Washington. We were called for a year but we were asked that our call to be extended a year last November. The end of October they came in and changed around the whole dry pack system. They built a new office and got us a fancy computer register and even debit/credit system and asked that we stay another year to get it all changed and going good. We are delighted and really enjoy being service missionaries!
So this is how Dave spent his birthday! He would read between customers and then after we closed up I took him to Outback for a steak dinner! He is a good guy and this was a nice 68th birthday. We are planning to go visit Tera in Germany for Christmas and Dave is lining up books to read while I am getting my camera ready!

Where did the summer go?

This is a bit crazy but someone stole my summer! Really I can't believe that we are in August already. Jamie was talking to me on the phone and mentioned that Lacey is starting school soon and I wondered why she was having summer classes starting now.
Do I have any pictures to show for my fun times? Not very many! In July my wonderful sweet sister Doris and her husband Knude came to visit for a few days and I took a couple pictures then.
We went out to Deception Pass and had a picnic on the beach. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed it. But the day they left Jack and Delores came and I didn't ever pull out my camera! Now I feel really sorry that I forgot.
Mom is still having fun with her 90th birthday. We had a visit from her brother Frank (and Georgia) and they brought her a beautiful wooden butterfly that he had hand made. When he saw how she wanted to use it he made and sent 2 more. That, the pictures of our Lake Palmer trip, and the flag pole is all I have to show for this short summer. On Saturday however is mom and pops 70th anniversary and I promise to take a few pictures at the parties. Yes I said parties. We are having a party just for the family on Friday. A pot luck dinner and we wish everyone could come! Then on Saturday we are having an open house on our patio for all the friends and ward members. Sat there will be an article in the church news. Then on Monday is our 43rd anniversary and we are going out to dinner so I'll do a picture of that too. So until then happy end of summer everyone!

Lake Palmer

Dave and I joined Lee and Tricia and their family, Randy and Lisa, Joel and Sheri and their families at Palmer Lake for a wonderful restful week.

The kids know how to have fun! From a midnight swim......

To boating and wake boarding.

Dave enjoyed soaking up some sun and reading and eating!

Everyone enjoyed good food, good company and fun games.

Just resting and relaxing... everyone enjoyed it!

Andrew and Dallin just hanging out after swimming all day.

It was fun being pulled behind the boat.

We had so much fun on the water trampoline.

This is a picture of the house we stayed in thanks to our friends the Grimmers.

Happy 4th of July!

With 2 of our kids families in the military Dave and I decided we need to be more openly PATRIOTIC. "My country tis of thee".... anyway today Dave put up a telescoping flag pole. We bought it before we came to Washington but never decided on a good place to put it. It is easy to put up and take down.

Don't you just love it? Now that we have planted and fixed up this area it seemed like the perfect place for it.

Grandma and Grandpa really like it but it is especially special to Dave and I. Happy 4th of July everyone and thanks so much Thad and Erick for all you are doing to protect our freedom. We love you! XOXO

If you haven't read yesterdays blog keep on reading.

Kite, bluegrass and more!

On Saturday I went to some garage sales with Sherilyn and found this cool kite for a whole dollar! It hadn't ever been used. The package was dusty but the kite was in brand new condition. We decided to go find a windy spot today and see if it would fly. It is like a bi-plane and has a wing span of 5 feet.
We drove out to Camano Island and looked all over by the beach but couldn't find the type spot we wanted. Finally we found an empty spot up on a windy hill. Perfect!

It really took off and looked like a plane in the sky. It was so much fun to watch.

We were like a bunch of kids with a really fun toy!

We let out all of the string and wished we had some more. Makes you want to sing "Let's go fly a kite up thru the atmosphere...."

Bluegrass

A few weeks ago the Sherrills (who live in Darrington) told us that they, the Morgans, and some others wanted to come sometime and sing for Mom and Pops. They sing with a bluegrass group in Darrington and are really good!
We invited them to come for a barbeque and then they entertained us afterwards.

We had a ball! Shirley Sherrill is here by Meledie and Mom.

Pops and Dave helped make a pretty good audience

Jared and Mary also came to enjoy it with us. It was a wonderful evening. I had pictures of the whole group singing but they won't download so they will just have to come and do it again! We are talking about them singing for Mom and Pops 70th anniversary. Fun!

Fathers Day Bench

I told you before about the bench mom and I got for Pops and Dave for Fathers Day.... Mom loves it!!! Can you tell?
We finally got around to painting the shed to match the house. It only took me a year to get to it. Having bluegrass singers come puts me in the mood really quick to finish things up before they come!

DONE!

Jenny's and another project

For Memorial Day we went down to Dupont next to Fort Lewis where Jenny and Bryant built their new home. Bryant is deployed to Iraq for 6 months so we enjoyed Jenny and the kids and talked to Bryant thanks to Skype. I forgot to take out my camera until we were about ready to leave and the kids were off to other activities. We went down on Sunday afternoon and stayed all day Monday. We had a wonderful time!
I was so impressed with Jenny's dishes and took these next pictures for Tera. While Jenny and her family were in Korea there was a factory that made dishes and Jenny said whenever someone came to visit or someone new was transfered that is where she would take them. She started buying these dishes and would add to her set every time she went back.
They had so many types and sizes of dishes and she just added and added.
These are only part of the types she has. There are also serving dishes, butter dishes and probably pitchers. Anyway now that they are in their new home these are what they use and she loves them! Anyway Tera I thought that might give you a good idea with that beautiful German pottery! I would do it in a second if I had the chance!!

Now on to another subject! Grandma and I did another little project!

This rusty table was given to mom by Wendy (her grandaughter) when they moved to Nevada. She had gotten it from her grandma Jones years before that. We decided to use it and make a fun place for our summer dinners.

So we primed it then painted it black....

Isn't it cute? We also found the chairs and the cute umbrella to match it at Costco. The rocking bench next to it is the guys Fathers Day present from mom and I. We found it and stained and varnished it.... but wait... it isn't Fathers Day yet so don't notice it yet! So who is going to come and enjoy the patio with us? Jenny says she and her kids will, Doris and Graham will in July, Jack and Delores will in July... any one else?