Weekly Wrap Up

This is our Valentine's Dinner.  This is, left to right, Paul, Amy, Gunnar, Dave, Victoria, Hannah, Jose, Me & Emily.

We decided to go to a local pub where they serve all-you-can-eat crab legs.  By the time we ordered and waited, and waited, we found out the crab was gone.  So, we all received drinks on the house.  It was great to get together with my cousin Victoria and her husband, Dave.  And to have a dinner with a few of our kids, not to mention our all-star, Gunnar.



Dave and Victoria

We started to chat with the man behind Amy, on the right.  He is a Master Diver.  He and Amy got to chatting about diving. 

Hannah and Jose.  

Gunnar loves Dale.  He bonds with Dale over chips.

Dale and Vada stopped by last night and we had dinner and watche a movie.

And I had to show a picture of Gunnar's newest favorite toy. I found this at a great little hobby shop in Oregon.  It is a place that sells vintage hobby stuff.  We loved the Fisher Price toys for our kids when they were little and even new little ones love Fisher Price and the Little People.

That's All Folks!





Summer and Winter

Gunnar after a face plant.



Keoki was preparing to leave for training on a job.  The training was in Louisiana for several weeks. 



 

We spent a relaxing afternoon around our back deck

last summer when Stan and Gail came to visit.  Their visit is quite special and they spend time encouraging us and the kids.

Armando and Paul.

A relunctant Emily getting a hug from her daddy.

Gunnar's buddy Jered, also known as Cal's buddy.

A pair of quite close buddies.

Now we see yesterdays activities in the snow.  Gunnar and Paul played in the snow together.

Well, there you have it. 

We've had lots of rain today and snow is melting and turning to a slushy mess.

The Historic Scenic Highway Trail

Paul and were celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary and took a trip to Hood River, Oregon.  This isn't far from his childhood home in Corbet, Oregon.  We stumbled across this trail and he very excitedly told me he's always wanted to explore this old part of the original Hood River scenic highway   Part of which has been turned into a paved hike/bike trail 3.5 miles in length one way.  It's beautiful to walk along the trail and see the Columbia River below.

You'll see a tiny dot of an island in the very middle of the picture, barely visable.  This little island had captured Paul's imagination.  He wondered all about who built the home there.  Think of the privacy you'd have.

Nearly at the end of our destination is this old tunnel.  It is the original which has been refurbished and shored up.  It had been filled in during the period it was not in use.  It had to be emptied and before the work could be completed. 

 A close up of the dock of that island.  I had to zoom in very close.  My little point and shoot camera did a good job.  Although not visable, there is a home and a shed built behind the trees.  You can barely make out the little boat next to the dock.  Imagine being in the middle of the mighty Columbia.

Here is the same tunnel on the way back.

We had a very fun hike this day and loved spending time with my husband and exploring something he loved and has always dreamed of. 

Gunnar Driving

Gunnar practicing his NASCAR moves.

My Brother Seth

Sleepless in Seattle

Paul and I and a few of our friends took a weekend and sorta got away from it all.  Do you like our hotel?

We were on the 141st floor.  We couldn't see a thing because of the cloud cover.

Not really.  Here is where we stayed.  On the ninth floor.

 

It looks pretty nice from the inside.  We had a corner suite with a view of the ocean.

The view to the west.

The same view during the beautiful sunny morning we had.  Do you see the big waves on the ocean?

Had you going there, didn't I?

It is actually the calm Puget Sound.  I don't think I have ever seen a wave in my entire life on this body of water.

These 2 movie stars joined us.

Do you see my Mardi Gras beads.  I flashed to get them.

Do you believe me?

Really, I did.

I was so hungry after flashing I ate all this Blackened Chicken before I remembered to take a picture.

One of the movie stars showed me her yummy Shrimp Creole.  Again, I had to eat my food before I remembered to take a picture of her food.

Do you see her coffee?  Guess what kind it is?  A Starbucks Machiato.

Not!   

It is Chicory Coffee.

Everyone that visits Seattle comes to watch the throwing of the fish, so here is Pike's Place fish picture.

I think the fish monger is wondering what that lady is doing covering up her head.  Maybe she is afraid of being hit by a flying fish.

Then we went for a walk.

I had to wear my Daisy Dukes and bikini on top because the of scorching heat. 

A view from our walk.

A view from the window in the hall way on the ninth floor of our hotel.

I got a close up of the building outside our window. 

The Gargoyles kept us safe.

These walruses are on the Arctic Club.

The entry.

Just because I like old buildings and architecture.

Elvis slept here.

George Clooney drove his car here.

Here is one of the stars that came to visit me.

He says he likes the digs.

He thinks maybe Grandma moved to a cool new high rise condo in the city.