Our crew behind the waterfall....
Kristin & Jason at the top of the falls....Ryan is back there too...
We woke on Friday to SUNSHINE!! At least sun breaking through the clouds..."Thank You Lord", I said as I left for work! It will be nice to have a nice weekend! The kids & Bill did a great job getting us ready to go while I was at work. As I was stepping out the door after work, the rain started, and by the time I got home, it was a downpour! I guess the sunny weekend was not meant to be! Thankfully, everything was ready, I woke Bill (Who is still suffering a migraine, that has been at one level or another for 19 days now), and we headed out. We arrived at camp just a tad after dark, and were blessed with a nice easy spot to back into....I say blessed because I drove and did the backing! Jen & Brady had just arrived thirty minutes before us, and were almost finished setting up. Bill & Ryan were pretty wet when they came in from setting up. We finished our 'set up' and headed over to visit with Jen & Brady, while Ryan & Kristin fixed supper!! Yahoo for kids that cook! No campfire Friday night, as it was pouring, and we had not scoped out the firepit, and trees to run a tarp to. Rain doesn't usually stop us from having fires, we put up the famous Oregon Blue tarp, run it to an awning, and have a cozy fire. Saturday we woke to no rain! It had rained until around 6am, but then cleared off a bit. 
We had a nice fire, and enjoyed catching up with each other. It had been WAY too long since we've been camping together. It was July the last time we were camping together, and September since we'd been out as a family. It was long overdue. There is nothing like waking in the morning, hearing the quiet, and knowing the only thing you have to do is enjoy the day!
After campfire & breakfast--we headed over to the lodge, and waterfall area. Since it was not raining, we hiked down into the canyon behind the falls, and managed to get wet! The kids thought it was cool to walk behind the big falls! 
Jason found a cool little cave to crawl into, and we decided to hike back out instead of continuing because the path was so muddy.
Back to camp-and then into town for water, which we forgot....along with lunch items. Having not been out in so long, the usual things that were in the trailer, were not in the trailer! Oh well....we had fun bumming through Silverton. We headed back to camp and the guys put up the fire tarps, as the rain had started again. We enjoyed a great dinner of "stone soup"--gathering items we all had to enjoy together. Kristin played inside with the kids, giving the adults (and Ryan) some much needed visit time.
Sunday brought more rain--with a few breaks. We enjoyed a morning campfire, and decided to head home, as Jen & Brady were heading out. We had the day to stay if we wanted, but since it was raining, and there would be no hiking....not much playing outside, we packed up and headed home as well.
Nice relaxing, much needed, and well deserved weekend!
It was a great day at the Richards' last Tuesday--we had the pleasure of having Miss Audrie for the day....also known as "Auggie".
She arrived a little after 7 in her cute fuzzy pink jammies, all ready for snuggling. I love how much she loves on us when she is here! We visited by ourselves for awhile, having some time with Mr. O'Malley the cat....
Kristin woke, and it was all over for me! They played Fisher Price, dolls, 
dress up, 
fixed hair (can you get all 10 of Kristin's pretties in my hair?), and had a great day together. I only had to change 1 diaper...Kristin did the rest!
We then headed to friends to check into an incredible machine that opens doors for those who have difficulty seeing. It makes it possible to read the paper even if magnifying glasses don't help...it makes it possible to take out a splinter in your finger--to balance your checkbook. It was certainly something I'd love to invest in for my favorite Grandfather! Besides checking out the machine, we had a great time visiting. The kids got to see the horses, feed the chickens and get a ride through the 100 acres on the "Gator"...they had a blast, and we enjoyed our afternoon there so much.
After a fun day, we had to give Auggie back to her Mom & Dad...who we met for supper at one of our favorite restaurants in Lebanon--the new mexican place behind Shari's in the Lebanon Plaza.
After a full day of playing, we headed home to clean up the house that looked like a tornado had gone through....BUT, it was all worth a fun day with Audrie!
This week has been busy! Bill started back to school on Monday, carrying 14 credits this term. He has one LONG day, Monday's--he leaves at 6AM and gets home at 10PM, however, the rest of the week is downhill, with classes ending the rest of the week by 12:30. Shawnna & Kids started back to Monday home school group and now my days off are Monday/Tuesday from the Credit Union, making it easy to get some things done around here with the kids, with homeschool and work for the dentist. The kids are doing great with their new home school program, provided by Central Linn School district...and Odyssey Ware. They do all their lessons online, the computer scores them, and we go over together anything they did not understand or did not get at least 85% on. We just added two more classes for the kids, and they are loving it. Ryan is taking Vietnam War History and Kristin chose a Science class.
We finished up the 12 days of Christmas on Tuesday....and although the tree came down last weekend, it was today (Saturday) that some of the other decorations came down. I just was not ready to take them down!Today started around 8, with coffee, and getting ready for a memorial service. Kathy Nida's Mom, Anna, passed away on 12/23--and the memorial service was today. It was a nice service, and we got to see the whole family. It of course was not a long enough visit, but a visit none the less. We got a Brooklyn, Jason, Brandon & Olin fix...AND got to meet Zane. I am so glad a gal at work offered to trade Saturday's with me today...so that I could be there. As we were leaving the service, Charlie called, so we headed to Teen Challenge to pick him up.
Once home, we took down the village, the snowglobes (Tilley the Frog was so glad to be back on her shelf!), and the nativity scenes--and yes, the snowmen are still everywhere! My feeling is that snowmen are "WINTER" decorations...not CHRISTMAS decorations...so I do not feel bad about my big snowman on the porch, nor the two in the yard--or of course the three billion in the house! It's still WINTER!
Kristin & Charlie decided to be productive in the kitchen. Kristin made her gingerbread house, and Charlie made brownies.
Lindsay came over to see Robert, and she came home from work yesterday with a fever, and we could tell she was still not feeling well. We pray she feels better soon!
We also pray that the rest of us do not get what she has!
We enjoyed a nice dinner of beef stroganoff--don't cook for seven too often....three of which are really big guys that eat a lot!! That's a lot of beef & a lot of "soupy" stuff for stroganoff!! Football was also a big thing here today, as was Wii Band Hero, and then a movie before everyone headed to bed.
Tomorrow is another full day...Church, homework, and then supper with Nate, Katie & Audrie, as we have not celebrated Christmas with them yet!
Hoping to head out camping this weekend...yahoo!!
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the new year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way. Minnie Haskins
Happy New Year! Wow...2010--can you believe it's been 10 years since we all feared that the Y2K scare??!! What a wild trip the last 10 years has been! What a wild trip the last 10 months have been! 2010 will be a new year for us for sure! We pray that it will bring blessings not only to our family and help us to grow in the Lord, but blessings to our friends and family. God is good....he does provide!
We had the pleasure of sharing New Years Eve with Robert, Lindsay, her parents, Willa & Larry, and what a great time we had. We enjoyed supper together, (thanks for helping provide Larry & Willa) and we ate munchies until we had no more room!The kids headed off to Youth Group overnighter at the new church property. It was good for them to have someplace to go. They had some good clean fun...and silly string eventually does melt away! Thanks to Chad, Claudia, Dillon, Allie & Charles for seeing to our kids safety--for letting them be kids in a good Christian environment, and for giving them the word!
We enjoyed a quiet (well, sort of!) evening in the living room, 
with Robert playing for us...
then Larry, 
and then the Wii Band Hero came out--and what a great workout Robert & Larry got! It was fun to watch them!
Backing up a bit....the rest of yesterday:
Bill & Robert got back to work on the basement bathroom that has been on hold for many, many, many months now! 
Robert got the toilet set...no test on the "upflush" toilet yet as we need a new feed line. 
Bill worked on drywall, finishing the storage closet, and spiffying up the garage! Wahoo!
Kristin's good friend McKenzie is here from Washington to visit neighbors Grandma Sharon & Grandpa Rex....they enjoy their visits so much.
This time she had her friend "Daisy" with her. She did great with our dogs & cats! Ryan & Shawnna had a day of catching up as well....phew!
All in all, a great day...complete with a 40 minute nap!
Today....the only goal--get up, blog, nap....
Everyone it seems...enjoyed the nap part!
We pray you have a great 2010....Happy New Year!
Our crew behind the waterfall....
Kristin & Jason at the top of the falls....Ryan is back there too...
We woke on Friday to SUNSHINE!! At least sun breaking through the clouds..."Thank You Lord", I said as I left for work! It will be nice to have a nice weekend! The kids & Bill did a great job getting us ready to go while I was at work. As I was stepping out the door after work, the rain started, and by the time I got home, it was a downpour! I guess the sunny weekend was not meant to be! Thankfully, everything was ready, I woke Bill (Who is still suffering a migraine, that has been at one level or another for 19 days now), and we headed out. We arrived at camp just a tad after dark, and were blessed with a nice easy spot to back into....I say blessed because I drove and did the backing! Jen & Brady had just arrived thirty minutes before us, and were almost finished setting up. Bill & Ryan were pretty wet when they came in from setting up. We finished our 'set up' and headed over to visit with Jen & Brady, while Ryan & Kristin fixed supper!! Yahoo for kids that cook! No campfire Friday night, as it was pouring, and we had not scoped out the firepit, and trees to run a tarp to. Rain doesn't usually stop us from having fires, we put up the famous Oregon Blue tarp, run it to an awning, and have a cozy fire. Saturday we woke to no rain! It had rained until around 6am, but then cleared off a bit. 
We had a nice fire, and enjoyed catching up with each other. It had been WAY too long since we've been camping together. It was July the last time we were camping together, and September since we'd been out as a family. It was long overdue. There is nothing like waking in the morning, hearing the quiet, and knowing the only thing you have to do is enjoy the day!
After campfire & breakfast--we headed over to the lodge, and waterfall area. Since it was not raining, we hiked down into the canyon behind the falls, and managed to get wet! The kids thought it was cool to walk behind the big falls! 
Jason found a cool little cave to crawl into, and we decided to hike back out instead of continuing because the path was so muddy.
Back to camp-and then into town for water, which we forgot....along with lunch items. Having not been out in so long, the usual things that were in the trailer, were not in the trailer! Oh well....we had fun bumming through Silverton. We headed back to camp and the guys put up the fire tarps, as the rain had started again. We enjoyed a great dinner of "stone soup"--gathering items we all had to enjoy together. Kristin played inside with the kids, giving the adults (and Ryan) some much needed visit time.
