Tim is 9!

Tim's birthday was on Friday and he was up, not too early, to open some presents.  We had told him we weren't buying any Harry Potter movies until they were ALL out on DVD, so he was surprised to get some of them for his birthday.


The picture on the left are cupcakes with gummy worms on them.

On Saturday we had a bunch of family over, including Holly's cousin Laura and her fiance Brock who are in the area visiting.  It was pretty warm, but not too bad.  He had a lot of fun, got some great books, a nerf dart gun, clone wars helmet, and a pocket watch.  He loves telling people the time now.

Back from 3 Vacations

Tim went to a camp at Cove (outside of Le Grande), Joe went to Trout Creek Bible Camp (close to Corbett), and Holly and I did a tour of the Gorge.  We're all back now and getting caught up on sleep.

Going up the Gorge Holly and I went to The Dalles, Dufur, Baker City and Pendleton.  The trip turned into a Tour of Odd Attractions, always a good thing.  There is the Balch Hotel in Dufur (a great place to stay but still rather an odd find in Dufur), the Maryhill Museum, Stonehenge, and The Underground Tour in Pendleton.  

This was Tim's second year at Cove, so he liked seeing counselors and campers that he knew.  Both years he's gone with his friend from school, Elias.  Joe went to camp with his buddy Isaac, the first time for both of them at Trout Creek.  Joe had so much fun he said he wants to work as a crew member when he turns fifteen.

Joe's DC Trip

Joe has been back a couple weeks now, but we're finally getting some pictures posted from his trip.  He went to Washington D.C. with a classmate (Elsie) for a week with People to People's World Leadership Forum.  Luckily there was pizza to eat so he had a great time.

He learned about American History through touring the capitol building (as documented to the left), Gettysburg, a bunch of monuments (FDR's was his favorite), stood where MLK gave his I Have a Dream speech, explored several museums including the Spy Museum and the Holocaust museum, and had dinner at the Saudi Arabian embassy. He also got to share a hotel room with 2 other boys (and 3 other friends in an adjoining room) and the adults were down the hall!!  There were people on his trip from South Africa, India, all over the US and parts of Canada.

As an extra bonus he visited our friends the Hall's before the People to People program started.  We owe them a BIG thanks as well as our friend Tom Charles (Elsie's dad) who flew there and back.

Happy B-day Joe!

Joe is twelve years old now.  He got to have some friends over on his birthday (July 1) and we took them out for pizza and back home for some cupcakes.  He also had his friend Stefan spend the night as an extra birthday treat.

His friend Elsie and her dad got Joe a pizza for his birthday.  Elsie went to DC with Joe on the People to People trip, and her dad flew out with them.  For every meal they ate, Joe had pizza.  EVERY meal.  They were concerned he hadn't had enough since he got home.


On Saturday all the family came over.  We had a great time and the weather stayed nice (enough).  Tomorrow we're off to try out Joe's new remote control boat at the local park's casting pond.  That may be followed by a water gun fight with his new super soaker.