I want a Boat

This was at the end of our night....but it summed up our boat trip on the Willamette nicely.
We went with some friends to downtown Portland and had dinner on the water.

Me flashing gang signs or something?

Yes, we even swam. I think I was the only one who needed a life jacket. :) I'm such a sucky swimmer. And I needed to be pretty agile to look for sharks anyway.

I will talk Brian into getting another boat someday. Mark my words!

38

Guess who turned 38??? Old I tell you.

For his Birthday, B's parents watched the kids overnight and we headed to the Coast. Truly our favorite place to be.
We started out the trip with a new hike for both of us. Cascade Trail just South of Neskowin. Us almost at the Summit. I think it was almost 1300 feet in elevation.

I wanted to run the whole thing....but Bri declined. Just kidding. There were seriously some steep spots that had us stopping to catch our breath.

Lincoln City is to the South.

The Salmon River and Cascade Range.

After the hike we rolled into Oceanside to be greeted with this sunset! I feel so often like this place was created for us.

Waking up in the morning at 10.... Yes, I said 10 am. Reading my "People" magazine taking in this view.

Happy Birthday B!!!

A Random Tuesday Night

We went to see Mindy Gledhill last night, Brian, I and about 250 other girls. Brian can be such a trooper! In all seriousness, we both really enjoyed it. It's hard to screw up live music for us. I had seen her new video on line a few weeks ago and saw that she was touring up in Oregon. I thought to myself how that would be so cool to go see her perform.... and then thought wait, why don't I go see her perform. The concert was at the Venetian in Hillsboro, an intimate theatre with great seats for all. I could have had some great pictures.... had I brought my camera. The below are taken from Brian's blackberry For her last song she had all the kids in the audience come up on stage to help her perform....so cute. Most of the girls were just beaming. Had it not been on a school night, I would have loved to have brought Avery

A close up, signing autographs.

Not bad for a Tuesday night, better than watching bad television!

Valentine

Who else could meet me on a blind date and be together (happily might I add) over fifteen years later! As Kesha says, "I like your beard"....

Happy Valentines, Valentine.

Christmas Date

This years Christmas Date: The play "Annie" and Italian food in Downtown Portland.

This is something Avery, and Brian for that matter, look forward to all year. It truly is priceless.

It is the only time of year Avery actually asks me to 'do' her hair. I am usually in heaven! How I love those curls.

Ahhhh this red wool coat. How I wish I fit into it!

Date Night

It was not quite as exciting as the one with Steve Carrel and Tina Fey.... but only because Mark Walberg wasn't there..... The rest of it was awesome.

This was the view from the roof top of McMinnemins in McMinnville....that's a lot of M's and n's.

We ate here. It was incredible. And I looked good too....although no pictures to prove it. I wore my new boots and a military jacket.

Afterward we listened to a folk rock live band downstairs. 'Boulder Acoustic Society'. We bought their CD and talked to them afterward. One of the band members said they were on Itunes.... I told him that I thought they had "made it " than! He said, "tell that to my wife". I thought that was funny.

Amazing.

13 Years

September 17, 1997
I'll spare you all the gushy, emotional talk today. All I will say is that I'm so thankful you married me. I know it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love you for so many reasons.

143

Sold!

Brian sold this:
And now is talking about getting this:

Well not exactly this one....but a mustang.

Avery was terribly sad about the sale of the boat. Brian told her we hadn't used it in a year and assured her we would get something else for the family to have fun with. Avery responded, "I don't want a better boat, I want our old boat, the one that smelled like sunflower seeds." I tore at Brian's heart. I wanted to tell her to get a grip... good thing she has a more sympathetic father. He held her for a while and then she cried herself to sleep .... :(

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's day to one of the best little league pitchers and blow dryer of little girls hair I know.

143

Coasties

Brian enlisted in the Coast Guard after high school. He served on a Cutter (living on the boat, imagine!?!?!?) from 1993-1995. And then was stationed at Grays Harbor from 1995-1997. He was in the Coast Guard when we were set up on a Blind Date by another Coastie Derrick Jackson.

He made some great friends during his service. Friends he still keeps in contact with, friends that still care about our family, friends that we still care about.


Brian on the CGC Resolute.

Brian became a 44 Motor Life Boat Driver.

One of those friends is Mike Fratusco. He's known Brian as long as I have. He has always been such a positive friend. Both He and his wife are in Law Enforcement now too. They live in Idaho, but make it up to Oregon to see friends a couple of times a year. I swear, their kids must be the best car travelers. Our kids have a hard time driving to their Grandparents an hour a way....

This last Saturday we met Mike and his family in Seaside. Despite having a gaggle of children to keep track of.....we had a great time.

Mike and Brian

The Gaggle of children: Jake (7), Avery (6), Peyton (9), Grace (2), Reagan (5), and Reese (2)

Is it me, or am I just always amazed how quickly children can make friends? This picture is about 5 minutes after meeting one another! What would it be like if adults could act like this?

A cloudy day on the Coast, but only a little drizzle.

The kids at the round-about in Seaside with Lewis and Clark.

Waiting outside the fudge shop. For some reason, the Coast really does have the best Fudge and Salt Water Taffy. We ate soooo much junk.

At the Aquarium the kids got to feed the seals DEAD fish.

Real Seals. They would flap their fins and splash the kids. Bet that water was sanitary!

I just liked this picture of Jake, because it shows his kind side.

And it was all topped off with a Carousel Ride.

Jake and Peyton

Fast Friends.