A day at the zoo

We have returned from Gold Beach. Football camp was fun, hanging out with everyone and getting to watch lots of football. I wish I could share that with you, but 'someone' dumped all the pictures...and it wasn't Mark....I'm bummed. But we did have a great time, and be sure if you ever have to sleep in the school gym that the folks sleeping next to you don't have any fruit available for throwing at other people sleeping in the gym. Long story.

But I can share some pictures from our day today. We met Jennifer and the tribe at the zoo. Beautiful weather, the zoo wasn't too crowded, and we enjoyed seeing all the changes the zoo has put into place. Wow.

I think if you were to ask him, Luke would agree we had a good time. Looks pretty happy to me! Blue is his color, don't you think?

Kate may not be so sure about the good time...notice the 'look' I'm getting? She SO cracked me up! I love her glasses.

It's always fun to hang out with Caleb. He's funny, smart, and witty. I sometimes think he's older than he is. If they lived closer to us he would be at our house a lot. We like him. A lot.

Here is Jennifer with the kids. She never gets to be in the picture. Hey Jennifer, it's a good pic of you as well: that's even better! Wild hat Kate.

Mark and a penguin. Too good to pass up. Wonder what the penguin is telling him?

Yes, me and the penguin as well. He's not talking to me though. Must be something I said.

Luke and Mark hit it off. Mark loved hanging out with him. Luke explained things to Mark as they walked along.

A good time was had by all!!!!

And then Mark and I went out to lunch at Claim Jumper (soup in a bread bowl...so darn good). AND then we went to the movies and saw the new Indiana Jones movie. It was okay, but I think my favorite one is still the first. I used certificates from Intel for both lunch and the movie: thanks to Intel for a fun day!!

Relay Rocks!

This weekend was Relay weekend-AMAZING!!!! We had 102 teams and we had a great time!

We honored 140 survivors. Carol and her family did a wonderful job.

Cute girls were there.

Big drums were there.

Cute Karla, our ASC rep, who cut off several inches of hair for "locks for love" was there. Cute!

Cute Costco gals were there.

Taggers were there (that's our team tag on the poster for Team Gavin).

Cute boys were there.

And as we all know, when the firemen start emptying the pool, Relay is over for this year. We raised over 116 thousand dollars, and we will continue to raise money until August 31st! WOW!!!!

Happy Father's Day ya all

Hope you all had a great Father's Day: we did. Started out driving out and picking up Cari, bringing her back to the ole homestead, and cooking up some breakfast. Bacon and eggs, hard to go wrong there. Then Mark, Cari and I went to Al's Garden and had fun looking at all the amazing plants. Lots of ideas happening there. We picked up some plants (got myself a lilac plant-yes!) and just enjoyed the sunshine.

Packing up the plants. My lilac plant! Yes!

Then that night we got together with Erik and his mom and went out for dinner: what a kick! We liked her a lot (she has some really interesting stories about folks she's dealt with during her nursing career. wow, very interesting) and I hope she enjoyed hanging out with us as much as we did hanging out with her. She can come over to our house for bacon and eggs anytime (we don't just have them for Father's day you know!).

After dinner we went to the little place next door for coffee and desert. The coffee was good and they kept it coming (nice!), and the deserts were chocolate and marvelous. And I do mean marvelous! I have to say, even though they won't admit it, that Steven and Doug had a good time as well. Okay, so a bit of chocolate doesn't hurt at a time like this......

The only thing that would have made this day better is if we could have spent time with our dads. We love them so much, and we do know how lucky we are to have them. And our moms are adorable as well. We are so very lucky.


AND I went to a work off site event on Friday at the Jackson Bottom Reserve in Hillsboro. Good food, lots of hiking, and lots of interesting information about birds and their habitat.

They have an eagles nest there that you HAVE to see. Trust me on this. Go. Now.

While there I noticed some hats for sale in their gift shop (I was on my way to the restroom and they caught my eye. man, I even shop while on my way to the restroom. I need help) and one of them was a beaver. It is now mine. Think about it: what a perfect way to promote Caps for Cancer at the Beaver's game! It's a crocheted cap: it's a beaver. Fate. It was fate people.

To infinity and beyond!

Mark and I went to the Evergreen Space Museum today: it just opened on Friday and it's pretty amazing. And it's even more amazing that we thought that since there's plenty of room in there for more items. What they do have is choice.

Lots to look at and read up on. Mark, my little space nut, was in Heaven.

And I reminded myself why I would NEVER have gone into space in the 'olden' days. Wow. Not enough room in there for nothing.

Okay, I admit I would like one of those moon buggys. That would be cool.

Or one of these! Is this not cute?

Cool.

There are several planes and tanks outside. We wandered on over to check them out.

And yes, it's cute, but I don't want a tank, thank you very much.

A man and his kitty-cat

Lire has a morning routine. I get up first, so she follows me around and if I don't sit down as soon as she wants me to she starts to 'cry'. Once I do sit down, with my cup of coffee of course, she plops down in my lap, happy as a clam (whatever that means). And then when Mark comes into being, she goes over and spends her morning quality time with him. And the other morning I was cracking up at her stance. Look at her! She's so relaxed and happy.

She was loving every minute of her time with Mark, purring away.


And of course, anytime Mark puts on his coat, she has to snuggle up in there and won't take no for an answer. She's quite the kitty-cat.

FOOTBALL and baseball

Yesterday Mark and I went on down to Lincoln High School for passing leauge. Mark thought Tigard got there at 8, but they didn't get there until 10. Gads. But it got us out of the house nice and early, and coffee was involved, so that was a good thing. Go Tigard!

Lincoln HS isn't a fancy school, but it has a nice view of the hills, all nice and green. I don't think the boys even noticed. They were too busy thinking FOOTBALL.

Mark and Andy and Jerry. All thinking about FOOTBALL.

Mark. FOOTBALL.

But we did throw some baseball into the mix. Tigard was playing for the state championship against Clackamas HS. It was a great game, but Tigard lost 3 to 1. But we all wore our "I Believe" shirts proudly, because some of the best young men in the world are from Tigard.

Go Tigard!!