Relay Summit 2009

Yesterday I went to the Relay Summit. Relayers from all over the area attended: over 400! It was so great to see many friends from other Relays, and get the chance to learn how to make Relay bigger and better.

Relayers are crazy! Did you know that?? I did. I'm one and I'm crazy.

This is Dana, one of my ACS folks. She spoke about her experience with cancer, and on being a Survivor. Great job Dana.

The gal on the left is Karla, my other ACS gal. They're both so nice to work with.

ACS. Nuff said.

Kathy took lots and lots of pictures (she has this picture on her facebook page, with me taking HER picture!).

One group is creating a chain, with each link containing the name of a Survivor. The chain is so very, very long. That makes me so very, very happy!

The folks from the Beaverton Relay sang a song for the crowd: 'The Twelve Days of Relay'. It was a hit! Good job Beaverton!!!!

There was a giant Birthday cake, and paper candles for Relayers to write a wish on and attatch to the cake. My wish? For my Dad to be happy.

The crowd gathers to learn how to make Relay bigger and better.

Our goal? To give everyone the chance to have many, many birthdays.

Not much to add here. Hope is what it's all about.

Meeting Master Owen

Cari and I drove up to Washington to meet Master Owen. We were so glad to get to hang out with Jessica and Gavyn as well.

Cari took off for a bit on Saturday, to get some 'outdoor time' and this morning she took me on a short walk to see what she came up with.

She'd taken several branches and created a hide-a-way. It was very cool.

I've hardly ever been to this part of the property, and I enjoyed seeing something different. And I liked what she'd come up with.

Mary Jo seems to rather adore this young man. Oh yes, she does.

Cari and Owen. Hanging out.

Megan and Owen. Hanging out.

Mommy and Owen. Hanging out.

Bampa decided that the sweet potatoes should not be set in front of him

"Bampa, put down the sweet potato or go to your room right now young man!"

Much better. You can now stay and have some of the amazing dinner Mary Jo created. And it was amazing!

Cari drove home. The traffice was light, and the scenery was wonderful.

Yesterday Mary Jo and I went to a Christmas Bazzar and we both bought cat beds. Lire and Deacon check her's out.

She did go inside, but so far she seems to perfer sleeping on it.

RMH

Today was a good day at the RMH. Okay, so I didn't take any cookies that show above. Someone gave the volunteers cookie cutters that look like a house and a heart, and of course I had to play around with them. I think I'll make some haunted house cookies here soon. It was fun playing around with different ideas.

Scary monster cookies. Right. And pumpkins. And candy corn. The cupcakes were really good!

I too some pictures of the murals. Hey, someone is missing!

Oh Grumby, get over it!

I love this mural. It's so colorful and the colors are amazing.

None of the rooms have a TV, so if the families want to watch TV they have to hang out in one of the TV rooms. This one is right off of the dining area.

A six year old boy decided to ask his friends and family to bring toys for him to bring to the RMH for the kids. These dresses are some of the gifts folks brought. How nice is that? He was pretty excited to bring everything and check out the house.

There are murals and paintings on all the walls.

Hey Bambi, tell your mom to stay OUT Of the meadow. Trust me in this one!

Oh my, someone is peeking in the window.

He's so cute!

This is another of the TV rooms and it's painted to look like a log cabin. Even the fireplace is painted: it's a warm and cozy room to hang out in. I think it's one of my favorite rooms in the house.

Time for the Pumpkin Patch

Do these kids look like they're having a good time? OH YES! Thank goodness my friends have wonderful kids that they're willing to share with us. I love hanging out with the three little rusts and Sunday was a perfect day to go to a pumpkin patch. And Cari came along, so a good time was in the works.

We decided to go to the same patch we went to as last year. Small, but basic.

Cate and the boys were playing in the hay maze when we got there. Go Cate Go!

Luke wanted to show me the monster in the barn. Cool monster my young friend!

Then it was time to catch a ride on down to the pumpkin patch.

Cate was checking everything out.

What a great view. Even the porta potty was colorful.

Cate found herself a pretty darn good pumpkin. That one, and she found many others. There were so many nice pumpkins!

I wanted to take Cari and Mark's picture. Maybe not.

Oh, there you go! What a wonderful picture.

Oh man, they're back at it. Give it up Mary, it will never end.

Caleb found some very amazing pumpkins, and this was one of our favorites.

Mark became the holder of the pumpkins. Knew we brought him along for something....

Luke was having a great time finding a pumpkin. He was running around, testing them out, and I had a great time myself just watching him.

Then Mark and I took Cari out for lunch at Fanno Creek Pub. Like I said, a great way to spend a Sunday!