Our new Front yard and Back yard

After all the work that has been done, our yard is starting to shape up. We had a new drainage system and rockery in front put in as well as a new sprinkler system. In the process we had loads and loads of dump trucks that took away top soil and new top soil brought in, then it was hydro seeded. If we do it again, we will not hydro seed when it is 100 degrees out and will be for the next two weeks. We were watering it constantly! Thank goodness for the sprinkler system! We still have plants to plant....

Matt and Katherine's Moving Day

Matt and Katherine bought a beautiful new home just 6 miles away from us in Portland. After living with us for 14 months it was difficult to see them go. Don't get us wrong, we are very happy for them, but sad too because all of us had such a great time together. We will miss the nights of watching movies together, and doing other things together. Katherine did all the shopping and Matt and Katherine both shared in 1/2 the cooking and cleaning.







A month before the baby is born and she worked so hard along side Matt to have things ready.


















Katherine learning about her new washer and dryer.

















Matt and James taking down the Hawthorne tree that is swallowing Matt and Katherine's backyard.

Refinishing a Piano

James bought a piano for Katherine from a family who were moving to Australia for $20...and then we bought materials to refinish it for $250. Katherine and Matt checked it out before we bought it and Katherine loved the sound of it. The piano was in really bad shape and Katherine and I decided to tackle the project one day...and another and another... Don't ask why we decided to work on it the week it was 100 degrees out! This piano will take many more days of work...








It was used to teach students and they would wash their hands with the alcohol cleanser before playing and the wash would run down the piano.




On going project....

Baby Shower for Ella

Sue Martin and Joelle Carter hosted a baby shower for Katherine and Little Ella at Jill Dorrough's house. It was a beautiful evening and everyone had a nice time visiting and enjoying the view from Jill's backyard. Here are (L-R) Rosemary, (Katherine's mom), Sue Martin,
Shannon Waddell, Celia Gruwell, and Katherine.











Here are Jody Woodward, Dulsanna Eliason and Joelle Carter making a baby quilt for Ella.













Jill's house looks out from a cliff over the Sandy River.

Scrumptious Goodies

Grandpa's 87th Birthday

Grandpa's birthday was on July 10th, but because of camp we celebrated on the 11th. Aaron and Lauren had to drive up from Orem, Utah to unload a container for Aaron's work and so they were here to celebrate as was Brian and Erica Webber. We had Rib Eye steak since Grandpa loves steak and we bought a DQ ice cream cake.

























The cake was wonderful but so hard to cut. James brought out the saw.

Aaron, James, Grandpa and Matt

Lauren and Aaron

Katherine and Matt

Girls Camp-Camp Angelos, Springdale Oregon 2009

I think this is my 9th or 10th year of Girls Camp, and probably my 8th year of being the nurse. Being the nurse at Girls camp is always very busy 24/7. Some years are busier than others. This year was a lot of fun because James was there with me. It was our first year at Camp Angelos which is actually only about 5 miles from our home. We spent 6 days experiencing what life would have been like had we had daughters.

James was rafting 100 miles down the Deschutes River last week with the Scouts and this week he was with 70 teen age girls. He was amazed at the drama and all the emotion.






Camp Angelos-The weather was nice, chilly in the morning, but warming up in the afternoon. We didn't have any rain.
























This was the most posh nurses quarters I have ever had! We had our own building. When you came into the entryway, you could turn to the right and enter the hospital which had three beds, or you could turn to the left and enter the nurses quarters. Both had an entrance into a large bathroom. It was really very nice...and quiet--when you weren't getting woken up with a problem. The nights were always late because the girls would come and need something. There were a couple of nights where we were awakened in the middle of the night for something. During the day we treated a lot of skinned toes, the girls ran barefoot despite my pleas to wear shoes. There were a lot of muscle sprains, headaches and some bee stings. We sent one girl down to have a CT scan of her appendix, which (fortunately) was fine, she came back that night. Of course there was the teen drama stuff too! Thursday night, between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM I saw 10% of the camp. I was really grateful to James for his excellent triage skills!







There was some quiet time for James. Here he and DeWin decided to have a chat and they both fell asleep talking to each other. Obviously they are very boring.











Some of the girls singing at flag.