One Last Hurrah

The boys and I made one last summer hurrah and traveled to Sunriver to visit with Mame, Mike & Toni and their family.  Even though we just returned from seeing them in July, it is always good to see family.

Mame enjoying some down time with the girls.

Mame and some of her grand kids.  Kellen doesn't look too excited, but Kaia looks like a lounge lizard!

Kellen & Morgan had a tough time saying goodbyes!

We returned on Thursday and bright and early Friday morning my contractors made an appearance.  They proceeded to make a big mess, which I have been told is a sign of progress.  They took out one large window, framed it in for the new cabinetry; framed in a wall for my new laundry room and tore out what was remaining of my old laundry closet. 

Window all framed in.

Current/old kitchen will become my new laundry room.

The one glitch that was giving me concern was the possibility of my old laundry closet being a load bearing wall.  From all appearances, it didn't look like one, but I just had a gut feeling so I never completely removed it.  Well, it turns out that my guts were right.  I wasn't here when they tore out the remaining posts and ceiling, but I was here to see the mess and clean up blown in insulation.  It is bearing, so we will have to make some modifications in the attic.  But I am assured that it is no big deal and they will be here Monday to keep at it. 

Morgan has also decided to run cross country for KUHS this year.  It should be interesting as he hasn't ran XC since his diagnosis 3 years ago.  It is also that time again when I must sit down with teachers and coaches and get his 504 plan and diabetes plan in place.  Where did the summer go?

John Day

8 months. Almost as long as a pregnancy. That is how long Pat has been looking forward to our summer trip. He scheduled it back in October 2007 when we were on our fishing trip.

1 of 2 supply rafts & the boys

already in the water

What an amazing trip it was. The John Day River canyon reminds me of a miniature version of the Grand Canyon, only with a lot less people. We set off on Sunday to head up to Madras, OR. We met our guides and 4 other fishing companions the next morning at 7:30am. We then proceeded to drive for another 4 hours back into the farm lands of Eastern Oregon. We drove down the canyon, saw wild horses and put (or rather watched the guides put) the boats into the river. We put in at Thirtymile Creek. After lunch, we were on our way.

Jim, our guide, and his wife Janelle.

The boys & their guide Travis

Travis was awesome with the boys. I think the boys spent more time in the river than they did in the boat, especially that first day.

First night at camp with our

traveling companions. They were up and ready to go

by 5:30 every morning

A friendly game of horseshoes with Kenny, another guide.

We caught TONS of small mouth bass, literally!

We saw several herds of Mountain Sheep

or maybe it was the same herd we saw several times?

These guys are professionals, gas powered blender

for campsite margaritas!

Bass for the fish-fry

Which was absolutely delicious!

One highlight of the trip...2 rattlesnakes in camp on the last night!

A little unnerving, but the boys enjoyed it! Morgan was surprised by the amount of 'heat' that was packed by everyone.

Before we met Jimmy Monday morning, Lucas called him to see if he was bringing smore's. Jimmy said no, that there were no camp fires allowed on the river after June 1st. But Jimmy surprised Lucas with the makings of smore's, they were just grilled over the camp stove!

Pat, Jimmy's dad, helping Lucas with his smore's!

This was a fabulous trip. The food was delicious, the fishing was amazing, the company...we could not have asked for better. We had spectacular lightning shows one night and a couple of torrential down-pours that cooled us off. The boys had a great time swimming in the river and told us that next year, we need to bring inner tubes so that they can float down the river. Needless to say, we booked our summer 2009 vacation!

Bye, Bye Summer Vacation

It is amazing how fast summer has zipped by. School started yesterday for Lucas and today for Morgan. I am trying to get meetings in with the nurse & teachers regarding Morgan's diabetes, hair cuts, clothes shopping, laundry...the list is always endless and in the meantime we are tearing out our deck and putting a larger one with patio doors out of the master bedroom and our family room. Crazy...I know... but Pat thinks we can have it finished before the first snow...hopefully that will be later in the season.Our mess 'during' construction.

Here is proof that Pat actually CAN work in the yard!

Morgan is also playing football this year. He is shocked at how exhausted he is in the evenings and how hard it is go get up in the morning. On a side note...I wrote this post last week and then promptly forgot about it. Well, on the 4th day of practice Morgan, ever the injury prone kid, dislocated his shoulder. He is fine and his shoulder should be fine, but for now, his football career is over!

I am also trying to get my scrapbook of China finished and a power point presentation done before September 9th, that is when I get to give a presentation to one of our Sunday school classes at church, 1.5 hours. I feel truly honored, some other people in our group only get 5 minutes. If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by. United Evangelical Free Church-9am on September 9.

I am also seriously looking into becoming a Family Resource Mentor for the American Diabetes Assoc. A mentor is someone who will come along side newly diagnosed families or even families in the area who have lived with diabetes for a while.

A few pictures of Morgan at Cascade Sports Camp. He had a great time and I even think he may have learned a thing or 2!

Hit the Ground Running

That is what it has felt like since I got back from China. After spending the first 2 days doing nothing but sleeping to recover from jet lag, among other ailments, it has been non-stop going. That first week back Morgan did a CAD camp at Kingsley Field and had a blast. He did have to be there by 9am which was pretty hard on my recuperating system. He made a space-ship flashlight that is really cool. Hopefully, he will keep his mind open to future CAD opportunities.

The next Sunday I took Lucas up to Oregon State for Baseball camp! What a great time. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to stay as a camper, so I stayed in Corvallis until Thursday, taking him back and forth to camp. It was tiring, but worth it.




We got back on Thursday and Pat took the boys on Friday and headed to Lucas' "annual Birthday-fishing-fest"! They fished the Umpqua River for bass and had a great time fishing, watching bald eagles, and osprey...getting home on Saturday.
Bald Eagle.
An Osprey, fishing with the guys!
Got it!
Lucas LOVES fishing!


We then turned around on Sunday (today) and drove Morgan and a couple of friends up to Salem for basketball camp. Whew....11 hours of driving in 1 day....and we get to do it again when we pick him up on Thursday.

I think we will be done traveling for the rest of the summer....I am beginning to feel a little edgy about getting in the car...almost like I did when I thought about getting on another airplane.

After I downloaded the camera's I found some pictures that were taken when the cousins were over. Pat said he almost lost an eye on the drum-set.



Rough looking crew first thing in the morning.