Our New Home
We have been living at this "resort" one year now. We like all the room, the view, the hot tub, and Rob likes the bike ride to school. Come use our guest room!
Quail
The birds like living here too.
Pheasant
This fellow found the all the seed under the bird feeder.
A Couple of Good Friends
Araya and William were watching Mama come up the hill when she took their picture.
Two Hikers
William and Daddy take a rest on the trail up the North Fork of the Umatilla River.
Poppy Gardeners
When we moved into our home last December, we didn't know what flowers would be growing in our large flower area. We were happy to discover that after the iris bloomed, the day lilies took over, and after that we had the largest poppy garden I've ever seen. We had so many we had to "weed" them out of certain areas. Araya and William had fun as Mama's assistants with the wheel barrow.
Our Big Girl
Araya has been doing a lot of growing in many ways. She has become a fun and pretty girl. We are so happy she is part of our family.
Mother's Day Robins
For Mother's Day the kids got Barbara a lovely Fushia. What they didn't know was they were also getting her some baby Robin's too. Within a couple days of hanging the plant in front of our picture window Robinson and Suzi Robin were busy building a nest, right in the middle of the fushia. You can be sure that I didn't stop them. What had a wonderful time watching them set on eggs and hatch out four baby robins.
Endless Job
Robinson and Suzi were so busy feeding those hungry babies. The little ones were never satisfied.
Growing Babies
The babies grew so fast we could see growth every day.
Ready to Fledge
In only two weeks the little robins were ready to leave the nest. We were sad to see them go, but we enjoyed them tremendously when they were here.
Coyote Ridge
Up by Tollgate in the Blue Mountains there is a lovely place called Coyote Ridge. It is covered with all kinds of wild flowers. Barbara had a delightful time finding several she had never seen before.
Barbara on the Bridge
Anniversary Falls
We can't remember then name of this falls, but Rob and Barbara got to hike here on their 8th anniverary. Mima and Papa Spencer took care of the kids and we got a night away by ourselves.
Anniversary photo
The rock held our camera and took a self timed photo for us at the falls.
A Visit to the Kenney's Ranch
Our kids were thrilled to visit Grandma and Grandpa Kenney in June and take a ride on Sassy and Rebel.
Away they go!
This year Araya was big enough to sit on a horse by herself, and William rode a little way too.
Aquilegia Formosa
While we were at the Kenney's the kids and Grandpa went for a walk. While they were out they came across a new neighbor who happened to be a famous world class ecologist from Swizerland. You should have seen his mouth drop open when William went over and found a pretty orange flower and excitedly proclaimed it's scientific name, Aquilegia Formosa, also know as Columbine. It's fun when your kids remember what you taught them.
Rob's Favorite Summer Project
This summer we didn't go overseas, but Rob did get the idea to make a sailboat out of a rubber raft. We made a sail and all the fittings in a rushed two days, in order to take it up to Priest Lake, Idaho for it's maiden voyage. Here it is in Upper Priest Lake on our second trip of the summer.
Sail Kids
Araya and William quickly got their "sea legs" and loved going out when ever they were allowed.
Here is the Whole Family
You will notice that there are no ripples on the water. Ripples are essential for sailing, because it means there is some wind. Thankfully, on this trip we came with some friends, who had a matching raft, and a little trolling motor. They pushed us to the upper end of the lake, tug boat style.
It really works!
After several modifications, Rob did end up with a working product. This fun little boat even fits in the family mini van. Just hope you aren't becalmed when you are way out there. It is a long way to row back.
Skip the Rocks
After our second trip to Priest Lake we worked our way on up to British Columbia for a little vacation. At one camping spot, called Mill Pond, there was a lovely little pond with lots of smooth flat rocks, perfect for skipping. Barbara has never successfully skipped rocks, and would prefer to skip skipping rocks. But because of Araya's persistance, and Rob's teaching skill, Barbara did skip rocks this summer, in spite of her lack of confidence.
All Aboard!
We visited Fort Steele, near Cranbrook, British Columbia. This was the best part of our Canadian vacation. (The rest of the vacation was veiled in smoke from over 800 forest fires.) At Fort Steele we rode a steam engine, rode in a horse drawn wagon, watched a blacksmith, a tin worker, and a leather worker, ate pasteries baked in a stone oven and saw a bit of what life was like on the frontier in the late 1800's.
Cow Pokes
This old fashioned horse resided on one of Fort Steele's old homes.
East Main Street
This is the view of the east on Main street. You can see a bit of the Catholic church on the left. The board walk goes along the edge.
West Main Street
Here Araya shows the view of west main street. Can you imagine the days when hundreds of horses trotted down these streets, and there was no sanitation crew to clean up after them? And all the ladies wore long skirts that drug on the ground?
CP Rail
Does CP rail go through College Place?
Missing Teeth
This was the year of the toothless grin for Araya. She was thrilled to loose a few teeth and have them grow back. And she was quick to show them off to anyone who would notice. She turned seven this November.
Happy Boy
William turned four this November and is growing to be a fun, happy boy.
Papa and the Grandkids
Whenever we can make it to Washougal, the kids love to see their Papa. In October he took them for a walk, just the three of them. The funny thing was that their walk, met up with ours - so we got a picture.
What a View
The view from our deck is ever changing. Memories of pictures like this keep us going even when the winter fog settles in, and we can't see much farther then the deck railing.
Our New Piano
Barbara was thrilled to add a piano to our home this fall. This is the first time she has had one in her home since she was a kid. Now Araya can take piano lessons and play to her heart's content too.
Happy New Year
The Monday after Christmas 2003 we got snow in Walla Walla, and we still have it, two weeks latter. This is not going to be a boring winter. The whole family posed by our spruce tree on New Year's Day.
Happy Winter
Last year we had only one dusting of snow. This year we have a foot - enough to make a friendly New Year's Snow man.