Ahhhh, Oregon

The Gines family took our bi-annual trip to the Oregon coast. (Travis and Nat weren't able to come because Trav has a new job a Primary Children's Hospital and didn't have enough vacation time.) Eleven days of bliss. I don't think we've ever had a vacation where everyone got along so well. Truly a memorable trip. This was Jeremy's first trip, so it was fun to share with him the places we love.

At Multunoma Falls we hiked to the bridge to ohhh and ahhhh.

Horseshoe Falls on the Columbia River Gorge.

We only took 2 cars for the 10 of us. We were going to rent a U-Haul trailer to haul all our gear. Well, the Saturday before, we brought up the idea of buying a truck and by that night we had a Dodge Truck. It really is a comfortable ride. I even like it. We so do things on the spur of the moment. It was the only one we even drove.

Portland was having a heat wave with temperatures of 107 degrees. So many people came to the beach to cool off, we couldn't believe it was Oregon, looked more like San Diego. We actually swam and played in the ocean. Now that's a change. This is the view out of our 8th story room. Fabulous views.

Gage hates getting sand on his feet, so he won't walk on the sand, but he loves to dig and play in it.

Kelli and Jeremy at the beach at Seaside in front of our condo.

I love this picture of Adam and Jessica. It really shows their cute personalities.

This is at the fish hatchery.

Katie's family at the Yaquina Bay lighthouse.

Jeremy and Gage at Indian beach.

MyKelle absolutely loves the water. She chased the waves with Poppy and dug in the mud.

Here she is at Cape Kwanda building a sand castle.

Yep, it was an amazing trip. When do we go again?

Happy 27th Jeremy

Jeremy's birthday is July 30th. We celebrated in Oregon, what a great gift. Jeremy is a great addition to our family. He fits right in. He is crazy, fun, athletic, helpful, kind, caring, artistic, hard-working, appreciative, and most of all, he cherishes my baby daughter.

He got his motorcycle license last year, and became part of the motorcycle gang in my family. He rode the "assaw" until he went on a Harley ride with his dad. The assaw was suddenly too small and now he has the biggest bike of all. Jealously is a common feeling from the other gang members now.

He knew Kelli was crazy and loud before he married her. He loves her in her noisy times, but has been able to subdue her just enough to retain your hearing. He loves her and supports her in everything she does. He treats her like a queen and is always giving her thoughtful surprises.

He is awesome with kids. He always has time and ENERGY to play and entertain his nieces and nephews. Here is is with Gage in Oregon. I think Gage was on his shoulders a good amount of time.
Jeremy shares a love of all things Utah with our family. That won him instant acceptance with my Utah Ute fans.

I don't think I have ever heard and unkind word or comment from him. He may have bad days or even get angry, but you would never know it. Jeremy has a perpetual smile on his face and makes those around him always feel better.
Jeremy has many interests. He love to bike, mountain and road. He loves his bikes so much, he use to sleep with one hanging over his bed and the other at the end of his bed. He loves camping, water skiing and hiking, all things outdoors. He attends plays with Kelli. He loves his Heavenly Father and takes his responsibilities in the church very serious. Until Jeremy had Kelli go to the adult meeting on Saturday of Stake Conference, she had no idea such a meeting existed.
We are grateful and so blessed to have him as our son-in-law.

Uinta Fun

Travis, Kelli, Jeremy and some of Travis' friends, spent the weekend camping out in the Uinta's. Keith and I are so totally done sleeping in the dirt, (can you say Marriott?) so we met them Saturday morning. It was a perfect day. There is still some snow, but not a lot. There were many deep puddles in the road that were fun to go through. Keith almost fell off his bike on a couple they were so big.
Keith still can get his Honda 500 started and running. We've had this thing for years. He got it from a bank for $50 after it had been repossessed. I was so mad at him at the time for buying it. We just didn't have an extra $50. Believe me, he's more than gotten his money out of this bike.
The thing he likes most is that his sons can't start it. It's really hard to start and so he has to start it for them.
Kelli and Jer on our 4 wheeler. We drove to Trial Lake. It was crowded there, so we went to Trident Lake and Jer taught Kelli how to cast a line to fish. She caught her first twig. I'm so proud.

Travis LOVES his jeep. He took the shell off of it. So, driving up Friday night, Kelli got wet sitting in the back as it rained. Travis had Eddie, the rat terrier, with him. He loves being off the leash and when he takes off, if he doesn't want to be caught, he won't be. Jer had a not so fun time chasing after him. DUMB dog.

It was a great day. Thanks kids for inviting us.

We're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

Travis and Natalie invited me to come to the zoo with them. I got MyKelle and Gage and away we all went, to the zoo, zoo, zoo. I sang the Peter, Paul and Mary song to MyKelle the whole way there. She wasn't impressed and wouldn't sing with me.

Addi looking fine. She doesn't love to be strapped into anything, Her favorite part of the zoo was the pretzels. She was also very fond of a noisy screeching green parrot. Sounded almost like her screams.

We are checking out the funny monkeys. Notice MyKelle with the map. She studied it the whole way and told us where to go next. Kinda like her JoJo.

MyKelle wanted to see the elephants and the giraffes.

Here's Ethan and MyKelle watching them eat.

Gage checking out the elephants.

MyKelle and Gage saying "Hi" to the giraffes.

Addi was DONE with sitting in any stroller. She pushed this stroller up and down hills and for a really long time. Travis loved to hike and walk. I think Addi must have gotten that gene.

The mandatory picture at the zoo. We couldn't see the gorilla or the lions, which is what Gage wanted to see. They must have been hiding in their "Natural Habitat."

MyKelle and Gage playing with the ball that OC Tanner donated.

(Ignore the date on all these. Dumb camera flips the date every time you take out the memory card.)

Checking out the tortoise.

My beautiful Grandbabies.

We had a fabulous day and the weather was perfect.

Thanks for inviting me Trav and Nat.

HAPPY 23rd KELLI

It's Boomer's birthday today.  What a fabulous woman she has become.  She is a blessing to our family and is a light to all who know her.

Kelli is crazy, out of control, always planning a a fun time (like her party yesterday), dramatic, kind, caring, LOUD, beautiful, spiritual, loving, thoughtful, and my joy. She is afraid of lighting and thunder, but NOT afraid to ask total strangers personal questions. We were coming back from Victoria on a ferry when we saw someone was needing medical attention.  Of course, we all wondered what was going on.  Kelli walked right up, put her head in the room and asked, "What's going on in here?" They told her. 

She is a fun aunt and will be a wonderful mother.  She chose a wonderful man to be her eternal companion.  Jeremy is such a great part of our family.  He even hugs me more that my own sons.  He cherishes Kelli like she is a Queen.  We are so blessed to have him in our family.  

Kelli is braver than I. With her employment, she has been able to travel to places I have never been.  She loves to travel, loves Broadway, loves to sing at the top of her lungs. She scrapbooks, sews, and she's creative (she even makes purses out of Capri Sun).  Speaking of purses, Kelli likes to be in style.  On one of our cruises, she brought an entire suitcase just for purses.  Now tell me, where do you need a purse on a cruise ship?  But she had to have one to match each outfit.
Kelli was a perfect baby - that is until she was 3 months old.  Then, well, let's just say she was a difficult toddler.  She was not allowed to go to Sac. Mtg.  To get her to take a nap, we had to put a door lock on the outside of her room, so we could lock her in.  She would fall asleep kicking the bedroom door.  She cried so hard and so loud, that we all would give her anything she wanted just to shut her up. (We wondered what kind of teenager we were raising). Kelli always had to have a glass of milk to "settle her down."  Once driving from Yosemite to Tahoe, she screamed the entire way for milk.  Mountains = no store =no milk = really long ride. We use to call her little sh--.  I was sure when someone asked her her name she would say "little sh--." 

 

We have had season basketball tickets to the U for years.  When the kids were younger, Keith and I would take turns taking the kids.  Now, we didn't have much money and extras didn't happen very often.  I took Kelli and she was loving watching the cheerleaders, when she noticed some people a couple of rows back eating Nachos.  She looked at me with sad eyes and said, "Too much, huh?"  That broke my heart and we immediately bought some Nachos.

But, alas, she grew out of the stage to become one of the most excellent teenagers the world has ever seen.  She was our friend and was obedient, kind and fun to be around.  She even called me one day to ask if she could sluff seminary.  Kelli was involved with the drama department at WX and had a great group of friends that she hung out with.  Kelli was Lucy in "Your a Good Man, Charlie Brown."  She was fabulous.  When Papa went to see the play, he leaned over to me and said, "That's not acting, that's Kelli."  Boomer is sure of her place in this world.   Keith gave her the nickname of Boomer when she was young. It stuck.  When Anni was 4 or 5, I was at their house and told her Kelli was coming.  "Kelli? Who Kelli?" she wanted to know.  
Kelli is the star of our family.  A trip is far more fun when she is with you.  Kelli loves her family and they love her.  She can brighten your day.  She entertains us with songs and stories.  Get Kelli and Adam together and there are no dull moments.
Katie always told Kelli that she was her daddy's little princess.  Kelli has always claimed to be a princess, Cinderella in fact.  Which totally doesn't make sense because the older kids did tons more work that she did.  Kelli still hates yard work and somehow always manages to get out of it.  However, she even fights with MyKelle about who is really the princess. 

We love you Kelli.  Have a terrific Happy to You.

Families Can Be Together Forever

Memorial weekend has always been marked with the pilgrimage to the cemetaries. We met at Uncle Stan's grave. Quite a good group this year.



Then it was Mom's grave. We OLD and Wise ones posed for a picture. Mostly this is for Marilee.

Cute Papa with my beautiful daughters and grandkiddos.

I told MyKelle that my mommy's body was buried here, but her spirit was was with Heavenly Father and that I really missed her. MyKelle said, "Don't worry JoJo. You will see her again." I had tears to begin with, but then that really brought them out. "My Mommy taught me that. "

Love this cute man. However, he did ask Kelli if she was excited to graduate. Yeah, that was so 5 years ago. Beautiful weather and wonderful to see everyone.

Busy Weekend

We had a nice weekend. Jeremy went on a Harley Bike ride with his dad and brother for a few days. When he came to pick up Kelli, Keith got to take a quick ride. He has serious Harley envy. Good thing he got a chance to ride one, because it's the closest he's ever going to get to one. Frankly, I don't get it.

Saturday was the Brain Injury race. Suz, Meghan, and Jared are involved with the planning and running of the show. There were many improvements in the running of the race. Good job.
We all ran on Charlie Cooper's team. (Keith was helping Katie get her kids out of the car when this picture was taken.)

It was a beautiful day for a walk (since I'm not allowed to run, and let's be honest, do I really want to?)
Cute Jess and her mom made Super Cooper capes. Adam was a hit in his. Char enjoyed sporting his as well.

Our blessing boy.Saturday evening Rob and Angel had a birthday party for Charlie Cooper. Great food and good company. The human rubber band was a hit. It's fun to see grown men fly through the air. I don't think there were any serious injuries either. Thanks Rob and Ang for a fun evening.