Week 3 - Oregon City - January 13- January 19, 2025

Sunday of this week marks the one month anniversary of our Highlander!!!

Holland did not what she was served for dinner

Paul's actual birthday.  Bev made a tray of brownies!

On Friday I went on a hike with Bev, Jessica Whitney and Jen Isom.  We went to Wahclella Falls which  40 miles east of Portland on I 84.  It was a nice hike - not hard but nice and scenic.  I figure we did about 2.5 miles altogether.

For lunch we went to Cascade Locks, intending to eat at the East Wind cafe but the lobby was closed.....so we went down the road to Thunder mountain Brewing.  The menu was interesting...really different from what you'd expect.  I ordered Cambodian Curry which turned out to be delicious.

Friday evening we went to Corvallis to another gymnastics meet - this time with San Jose State Univ.  OUS soundly defeated them - taking all three places in all events.  Jade did really won...as usual.  She is so much better than anyone else.

Evan came over on Saturday and used the blower to remove the leaves from the roof of the barn.  I was really thankful for his help.

I finally finished painting the polyurethane coating on the window frames ;upstairs in the western Room.  I only have the nail holes to finish....and, of course, I have the three windows in the Mr Hood Room and the Mt St Helen room.  

Zelensky likes to come upstairs to help me.  He was inspecting the roof while I finished painting.

It was a cold week.  Next week is supposed to be colder with a high of only 47 and a low low of 27.  I really don't like cold weather anymore.  I think Kazakhstan ruined winter for me.

Tomorrow Trump will become president.  How awful.  I dread listening to him for the next four years.  He was such a prick before and will bre wore this time around

 

Week 2 - Oregon City - January 6-January 12, 2025On Monday we redeemed Ruby and Jane's Christmas present by taking them geocaching.  It was a perfect day - sunny and relatively warm.  We'd carefully chosen locations that were close and found recently.  Had good luck at Mountain View Cemetery.

This is why the name is "Mountain View"

This one was right at the ate to the cemetery.

Wednesday night at Activity Day we had a Lego Extravaganza.  It was Ruby's first in the older group.   She made a pond with flowers around the outside.

Mike Corbin came to finish installing insulation in the exterior wall of the Mt St Helen room.  As had happened in the Mt Hood room, he found tht some insulation had been stuffed up from below into the space.  We asked Travis if he recognized the work,...and he confessed.  This was probably done about 19192 when Travis was twelve.

On Thursday the CCC Guitar Ensemble began Winter Term.  It was really great as I had diligently practiced and could play most of the pieces pretty well.  We have our concert on March 10 at :30, and we'll be collaborating with  the PSU  Guitar Orchestra.  We'll have a performance at each venue

Also on Thursday I started private lessons with David Tutmark.  That was a good change to make.

Saturday we went to Corvallis for the first gymnastics meet of the season.  And....we drove the new Toyota Grand Highlander which was great because we all fit into the car!!

OSU won the meet handily over BYU.  The main reason is that we have Jade Carey - two time Olympic gold medalist.  She has been at OSU for four years now and has turned the program around.  At this meet she had two 9.90  and 9.95 scores....a couple of them should have been 10.00 - - -but it was the first meet of the season.

We celebrated three birthdays Sunday night.  Paul's, Warren's, and Tyler's.

 Week 1 - Oregon City - January 1 - January 5, 2025

Ivan, Renee, Bjorn, and Magnus left early on the morning of January 1.  It was really fun to have them here for a week.

On Thursday I took Abby to Clackamas Town Center to redeem her Christmas present.  She loves going to the mall and especially loves the store Forever 21.  See the lovely head band on her head?

She likes the earrings.

Pink sweatrr

Pink sweater

Red dress

Some sort of Japanese cookie/donut......hmmmmmmmmm

The favorite was the lunch in the food court.  Jamba Juice, Orange Chicken, Cinnabun!

Thursday January 2 was Copeland's 5th birthday.  We celebrated it with a big donut.

For their Christmas present Jude and Eric wanted to go the a water park in McMinnville.....I said it was too expensive and too far away.  Instead we took them to the North Clackamas Water Park - mush closer and affordable.  Dad took them because I was down under with a nasty cold.  The boys did have fun.

Afterwards Dad took them the Dairy Queen to get the Seven dollar chicken strip meal!

Sunday January 5th was Jamie's birthday!!