Things I'm Going to Miss in Portland

As I am typing this, the movers are here packing everything up to be put in storage in Phoenix. Dennis and I have been very busy trying to get all the last minute things done here before we move. One of my favorite things to do here, has been to go down to the Saturday Market in downtown Portland. We usually walk down from the Lloyd Center Mall across the river and then take the MAX back. Here is some of the pictures of our last trip.

This is the steel bridge that we walk over to get to the market. The MAX and cars and the train also all go over this bridge. It raises in the center when the large ships go out to the Columbia river and to the ocean. The second picture is off part of the Saturday Market, it is usually packed with people, fun items for sale, food, and some interesting entertainment.

This is me with my favorite find at the market, I love these baskets! They are made in Africa and a native sells them here at the market and sends the money back to the people there (so he says) They are the best baskets and so strong and beautiful colors. Dennis has to wait everytime while I decide which one I want.
No meaningful experience of Portland is complete until you ride the MAX trains. They are always packed with people (at least I think some of them are people). Very, very interesting!

I also wanted to post a picture of the view of MT. Hood from the area, but it has been cloudy for the last week or so, so you can't see it. On a clear day you can see Mt. Hood towering above the skyline with a touch of snow on the top. It is so beautiful! Sometimes you can even see Mt. Adams in Washington and Mt. St. Helens in Washington. I will really miss that view! I will just have to get out and see Phoenix area when we get settled there. Goodbye rain and hello sunshine!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, DYLAN!!!!

My oldest Grandchild, Dylan, turned 6 on Saturday, November 8th. He shares his birthday with his Mom, Lisa. Dylan has started kindergarten and is really enjoying school. He is so smart and has a memory that is great! He had a rocky start when he was born and spent many days in the hospital. He has had 4 different operations before he was even 2 years old. He is strong and healthy now and you would never know what a hard time he had when he came to this earth.


Dylan is a great big brother and watches over his brothers Brock and Kaden. He loves to play and read and has many friends. He has the most tender heart, and can get his feelings hurt very easily. He loves to go to the football games with his mom and dad, even though, I think he is more for the Utes instead of the Cougars.


He had a great birthday in Salt Lake; going to the BYU game, going to Chuck E. Cheeses, going bowling and loosing his very first tooth! I feel so bad that we missed all of this fun, but Beth posted on her blog, pictures of all the fun things that they did.

Next year we will live close enough to celebrate with him and I can't wait.

This picture is one Beth took of the three boys a year and a half ago. Aren't they the cutest!

Happy Birthday, Dylan!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY LISA!!!!

Last Saturday, November 8th, was Erik's wife Lisa's 26th Birthday. We were out of town so this is a little late, but better late than never. We have known Lisa most all her life, since they lived right next door to us in Draper. I was with Lisa all through Young Womans', many camps, and get togethers. She was there when Erik left on his mission to Bolivia and came over to the house as a friend and neighbor to say goodbye. At the time, Dennis' Dad was there and he really liked Lisa and told us that Erik should marry her when he got back. Little did we know then, but Dad knew what he was talking about and Erik and Lisa started dating and were married after he came home from his mission. Sadly enough, though, Dennis's Dad passed away just before Erik came home and never got to see them married. Although, we know he was with us when they were married. Lisa is a fun person to be

around and gives the best hugs ever. She is the mom of 3 great boys and keeps plenty busy with that. She is a great addition to our family and we love her tons! I hope you had a great birthday Lisa and had some fun!

BIG CHANGES ONCE AGAIN!!!!

After a year here in Oregon, we have absolutely loved it, but another change is in the works. The end of November we will be packing up the house again and moving to sun, palm trees, and did I say sun; We are moving to Phoenix, Arizona. Dennis has an incredible opportunity to go to work for a solar company in Arizona. He will be the Director of Development and will have an office in Tempe, Arizona. He starts his job there on December 1st, so we are moving everything out of Oregon before Thanksgiving and then driving to Salt Lake and then he will fly out of Salt Lake to Arizona on the 1st and I will hang out in Utah for a while. We will spend December and January, back and forth between Arizona and Utah. Our furniture from here will go to Phoenix and be put in storage until we find a house down there. We will really miss the Northwest and all the fun things to do here and all the trees, ocean, and water. After 13 days of rain here though, the sun it looking better and better. My blogging may go by the wayside for awhile, while we get settled into the new job and new area, but I will try to keep up. We are looking forward to being closer to our family, and hopefully they will come and visit us now ( they will have to if they want to go boating, as the boat is coming with us this time). See you all soon!

Time to Vote!!!! or (Yes, it's almost over!)

My friend, Kim, sent me this and I thought it was so cute, just had to post it and give you a laugh on this election day. I know some may be sad, or mad tonight when the winner is announced, but remember, at least we got to vote for who we wanted to lead our Country. I for one will be glad when this is all over and settled. I am a little fearful for our country under one of the candidates, but hopefully, he will do the best he can for all people and not just an elect few. Whoever it is I hope that they will turn to God for guidance and help in leading this great country of ours. You can't go wrong if you have his help! Happy Voting Day!

Do You Remember?

For years, every summer,we would pack the kids in the suburban and head to the Oregon Coast for some camping and fun. This was our favorite spot to go. This is Charleston. It is outside of Coos Bay, OR. The kids loved to go crabbing on these docks behind me. The day we went there, there were lots of people crabbing along the docks, and sea lions in the water looking for some free fish.

This is the little gift store, Kinnie's, that the kids would go to whenever we were there. It is right next to the laundromat that I would spend time in. I can't believe it, but the same lady that was there all those years ago is still there at Kinnie's. The picture on the right is of Sunset Beach. We spent a lot of time here, playing in the water, and on low tide, climbing these rocks around the point to find starfish left in the tidepools. The kids tried to take some home one year, boy did that stink up the trailer! We were there at high tide, so we could not walk around the point, but we did hike up the hill from the picnic area and walked out to the top of the point.

The waves hitting the rocks out in the ocean were wicked! The spray from them would even come and spray us up on the point. It was beautiful! This is the picture of the lighthouse, Cape Arago, across the bay. It was a beautiful day, about 69 degrees out and sunny. We loved it!!

After sunset bay, we went up the coast to head back to Portland and home. We stopped at this view point and saw (and heard) all these sea lions on the shore and rocks trying to stay away from the pounding surf. They were so loud!

I felt bad for the ones that would get swept back into the water and have to try to get to shore

again.

We had a great weekend and really enjoyed visiting places that we went to as a family years ago. We would love to have all the kids come up here next year and go to all the places we used to go to. We have a great time remembering our time with the kids up here. Even tried to get Kevin another of his favorite hoodie from the Basin Bait and Tackle store, but they have changed them now and I knew Kevin would not wear one with a big smiling crab on it! Erik, Kevin, Beth and Tyler do you remember this?