Satisfying Saturday

Our days are full when we are in Oregon. We had a plan in CA - everyone knew where we were and those who wanted to see us would let us know, and we'd find a time. That plan worked well and is working in spades in OR, as well.  Sherri, my sister-in-law, suggested we meet for coffee at 0730 in Creswell. We enjoyed an hour and a half of hot drinks and visiting. She stopped in at The Caboose and picked Stacia up at 0900 and then went on to pick up Harmony (her granddaughter, Stacia's "cousin") at 0930. Harmony didn't know Stacia was spending the day with them, and it sounds like it was a very pleasant surprise.  Stacia enjoys playing with Harmony - the younger sister she doesn't have. I didn't take any pictures of cousin time.

Michael and I got a few things done at The Caboose, and then we went over to Will and Sherri's and visited for an hour before coming home with Stacia.

Cory, Arielle's guy, stopped by and we spent a couple of hours getting to know each other better. While four of us visited, these two played, "The Game."

We headed over to the parks along the river when Arielle got off work. BreZaak decided to join us - I wondered if a nice walk in nature along the river would encourage Bella to come investigate the wider world. Meanwhile, Krista was at a rousing party and got a great core workout in too. ::wink::

F - Cory, Arielle, Stacia
B - Alex, Michael, Nolan, Bre, Bella, Izaak

39 weeks, 5 days and counting....

We used to play on this whale when I was a kid back in the 1960's. There are photos of the kids on the whale here from 2014. 

left to right - Alex, Nolan, Stacia, Arielle, Cory 

BreZaak and Bella

Me....

Arielle and Cory 

Another full day.  Getting closer to Bella's birthday every day.

#WYFF Mount Pisgah

Our Friday began with a bang. We enjoyed breakfast with Krista and Ms. Kutz at Ye Olde Pancake house. Ms Kutz is the best English teacher I've ever had. She "retired" last year; we are thankful for all the hours she's invested in us and in our daughters. 

Ms. Kutz with 3 former students - Michael, Krista, me

 Michael and I headed back to the Caboose. The kids and I finished a solid week of school. THEN it was time to get out and PLAY.  Our RV park is very manicured and the spaces are fairly close together - but we noted signs to a recreation area and to Mount Pisgah. Krista and mom joined us to explore!

Nolan, Krista, Stacia, Alex and Michael in the back 

Yuuki was thrilled to find the dog hydration center

 This is  a beautiful area and we have more exploring to do. The trees and wildflowers are a treat. We also saw tadpoles, turtles, water lilies and even a Redwood or two...and a bit of poison oak.

Maps can be helpful 

Wild Iris

Dandelionus

 I love this picture. I've gone on many hikes trailing far behind Michael. One of the joys in the midst of the "boo" is that I can keep up with him these days. Some are sure to ask how Michael is able to hike....well....we stop when he needs to. He has arthritis in his back, hips, knees and ankles. We've found that a mile - mile and a half is about max. He pushes for hikes - and rests for a few days afterwards.

A man and his camera

Camas

 

Our hiking team  - lots of great benches to rest on 

Nolan, Krista, Stacia, My Mom, Alex, Me

Water Lilies

 Note Alex's walking stick - a win from the Big Game Dinner at Calvary Open Bible

Me, Stacia, Krista, Nolan, Alex - think Stacia is passing up Krista

Don't judge me for texting in a mountain meadow - I was taking photos and texting them to Mom G!

 

My feet

Back side of the barn 

Poison Oak

Michael, Mom and went about 1/2 way up the mountain and then headed back.....we found a nice place to wait while Krista, Nolan, Alex and Stacia climbed the rest of the mountain.  

Michael's walking stick was a win from the Big Game Dinner too

At the top! 

Feet at the top of Mount Pisgah

A Full Week

We have had a full week - and we're ready for Friday!  The kids and I are trying to finish all of our Tapestry Core by the end of next week. We've also had lots of time to play this week. 

Monday - I went for lunch with Bre and her mentor, who happens to have been my 5th grade Sunday school teacher.  Nolan went to New Hope to see what college would be like. Here's a selfie with Nolan, Arielle, myself and Cory - Arielle's guy.  This was to prove I scored Mama points - I met Cory in person before Michael.  ::snort:: And they take lots of selfies so I figured they wouldn't mind taking one with ME. LOL 

Nolan - back right - investigates college

Tuesday, Michael dropped Stacia and I off at the mall in the afternoon. BreAnne joined us. Our  mission was to find a dress for JaRissa's wedding. I did. We also made a stop at the Bath and Body Works.  No, I'm not going to share a photo of the dress at this time.  Michael and the boys spent the afternoon at Krista's working on school, reading and doing laundry.  BreZaak had us over for a BBQ in the evening. 

Bre is 39 weeks. 

Wednesday, I made scones in the a.m. and then Stacia and I went to BreZaaks. Bre had prepared a tea for one of the professors at New Hope, Stacia, me, and her. Stacia and I stopped at Winco and bought groceries before heading back to the trailer.

Thursday - today! We are right on schedule for the week of school. We'll need to be MOTIVATED in the morning, but I think we can get it done.  When school was over today, we headed for Mom and Dad's. We got there as they drove up with two new recliners. Michael and the boys unloaded and set them up.  Stacia and Grandma made blondies, and the boys mowed the back yard. Michael and Dad went to Jerry's - a fix-it store around here.  He wanted to extend a black water tank wand.

Stacia and Grandma

Nolan

Alex

Look what Michael found on the front porch! They're inside a fake greenery arrangement. 

Lorri (my cousin) and Mom taught us Farkle

We ended the visit with a BBQ in their back yard. 

We Beat Bella!!!!!

Refreshed with a leisurely night in the hot tub, we rose to tackle the day. TODAY we WOULD make it all the way to Eugene. We only had 90 miles to go - certainly we could drive 90 miles without an adventure.  The first thing we discovered is the RV'ers equivalent to the saying, "They put their pants on the same way you do."  Regardless of the swankiness of the RV resort you stay in or the fancy-ness of your RV - you have the same stinky slinky to deal with before you travel.

However, a swanky RV Resort will send you down the road with hot drinks! 

We knew Arielle had to work today, Krista is buried in homework for her graduate work, Arielle is swamped with New Hope homework, Bre was preparing for tomorrow's Kids Rock, Izaak was helping with a Big Game dinner and Mom and Dad had company. We settled in to our new home for the month of April. We found a really nice RV park just south of town....really glad we didn't settle for Franklin Blvd. 

Krista said to come over - so we did. We had planned to arrive on 29 March - it is 2 April. Four EXTRA days to go without laundry is a long time when you live with a scaled down wardrobe. Our plan was to start laundry and then go find something to do. Krista said she'd rather visit for a bit and work on homework tonight.  Worked for us. 

Michael and I needed to run to Walmart for a new drinking water hose....the kids opted to ride to the library and a park. Krista ordered the book Nolan hadn't been able to finish reading in CA. He has a month to "get er done."

We left to meet up with Mom, Dad and BreZaak at Calvary Open Bible for a "Big Game Dinner." This is a fund raiser the church does annually for one of their mission outreaches. Krista stayed to knock out homework.  The meal was yummy - and we won two really cool walking sticks and an amazingly bright flashlight. 

We headed back to the girls' home. Arielle had said she wanted to meet up with us before starting homework - Mount Neverrest. Michael proof-read a paper for Krista, Arielle got home, BreZaak stopped over, and we visited far longer than we should have. We kept the girls from homework. We'll do better the rest of the month. 

  We love spending time with adult Gherkins.  

We beat Bella to Eugene!