Visit from the Sweet Ones

Wow, did we have fun last weekend. The Devericks Family came down because Eric's sister Tonya had her little girl. What a sweet thing she is. We had great fun with the kids. Sully, Amara and I played baseball for a while, we had lunch, and they jumped on the tramp and had a ball. When they wanted to jump on the tramp. we said they could and out the door they went and before we could clean the darn thing, well you will see the results. Finn was a real trooper too, and jumped on the tramp and had a fresh picked tamato from my tomato plants. Thanks for the great time kids. The next day we were invited to Dennis and Betty Mason's for a bar-b-que and had another wonderful day with wonderful people.

Finn, Amara and Sully getting cleaned up after Tramp experience.

Look at those big blue eyes.

Sully and Amara love the bubbles in the tub.

Sully and Finn playing the piano together Ha Ha. Caught them in a good moment.

Amara, Sully and Finn on the tramp. Note the knees of Amara's pants.
Oh grandma this is yummy, thanks.
Sully falling backwards on tramp.
Again, look at that beautiful smile.

Be careful Finn, its a long way to the ground.
Amara trying to wash the tramp. She is a hard worker and a great helper.
Finn trying his wings.
Amara doing a trick, Wow she is something, this one.

Yearly Hedge Trimming

One of the beautiful things about this place was the beautiful hedges that ran down both sides of

the house and around the back yard. The only down side to them is that they need to be trimmed each year. It is a big job and takes about 20 to 25 hours of hard work. We have always worked on them as a family and it has been great fun, especially when the girls were home to help. Now it seems that we are blessed with a wonderful home teacher, Jeff Tietjen, who helps us and we are very thankful for him and all those who help. Here are some pictures we took on the day we started the project. We have a couple more days of work to get them all done, but we will get them done soon.

Jeff Tietjen, with muffs, Tyler Thackeray and Me

Tyler and Me picking up limbs.

Having a bit of lunch, Jeff, Tyler and Me

Once again Mama looking out for me.

Ben Thackeray on swing, Jeff and Tyler and my tummy.

Labor Day activities

Dad, Mom, Lisa and Annie spent the day together having a really good time.
However, we did miss all of you.
First, after getting ready for the day, we watched the Mariners redeem themselves by breaking a nine game losing streak and beat N.Y. Yankees. Ichiro hit a homer on his 200th hit. That was cool. Hernandez pitched 7 innings with Green and Sherrill for the eighth and Putts closing. We "really love Mariners baseball, especially when they win.
We decided to be a little traditional today and go to the Oregon State fair.
Arrived there around two o clock and left at eight-thirty.
The weather was amazing.
We first went to the animal barn, anticipating their beginning to pack it all in for 2007. Love the goats, Llamas, Sow and Piglets, milking cows and some horses.
Went into the horse show and watched the "sled" pulling by the draft horses.
Had our usual "Brick" of curly fries and cold bottle of water.
Had fun reminising through the "rod" show. Boy if we still had the 40 Ford, the 55 Ford, 46 chev and 53 Chevy Pickup.
Oh, well.
Walked through the Jackman-Long building enjoying Woodworking, Quilts, Cakes, Place Settings etc.,etc.
Headed to the the demonstration building where there was the usual array of Waterless Cookware, Jewelry, Touch of Mink, Sewing Machines, floor mops, Steam Irons, Therapeutic Magnets, t-shirts, Croc-like shoes, temporary Tattoos, you get the drift!
Of coarse, walked the mid-way through the Picture booths, more Jewelery, and Where the games and rides collide with an amazing array of scantily clothed people. Many of which were covered with Tattoos.
I'm quite impressed however with the
majority of the Hispanic population. They and their children are clean and dressed very nicely. I also notice that they speak kindly to one another and aren't shouting at their children. I like that. Seems to me that alot of our caucasion families just put on their dirtiest and grubbiest outfits to hang at the fair. That is sad to me.
Went through the Garden area and it was really beautiful this year, with so many hanging flower baskets and beautiful Gardens. Strolled through the Artisan Village and loved the logs carved with a chain saw. Cute Bears, and Moose as well as beautiful Eagle carvings. Also watched a glass Blower.
Then we scouted out Kettle Corn for Annie, Funnell Cake for Lisa and Mom and Dad as well as Cotton Candy for Lisa.
Caught a couple of acts that we really enjoyed. A vocalist that sang country and an equadorian musical group, playing Flutes of various kinds as well as string instruments that looked like minature Guitars and a Violin. Saw a bit of a Guitarist just before exiting.
Stopped in Salem and had Kentucky Fried Chicken (I know, I know, Chrissta) but we love it.
The weather was so beautiful all day and the evening breeze so refreshing, it was hard to come in.
And Yay! One more year at the fair that daddy didn't have to use the scooters. He was a trooper!
Don't we have so much to be grateful for? We had the freedom to do exactly what we wanted to do, and the means by which to do it. We sure didn't have a fortune to spend, but enough.
There are so many things in this world that we may take for granted. Smiles are awesome, kind words are easy to give, babies and children are beautiful, in all colors and sizes and people are generally good and nice.
We love you all and are grateful for true principles, that help us to be more Christ-Like, so that we can truly be an Eternal Family.
We hope you all had fun Labor day activities.
Love Mom