2010 - Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Blessings to each of you, as you begin this new year. We are doing well with Brock, Mikaela and Mac living nearby in Corvallis. What an absolute TREAT to claim Monday nights as family time! Mom joins us, too, to eat either leftovers from Sunday college dinner/study, or yummy American Dream "Mary's Peak" whole wheat pizza.

Below are photos from November-January; enjoy!

Thanksgiving with relatives, oldest first:

Kimo, Allie, Keoki, Rhandie, Keo, Kelli; Keo, Kimo; Kari, Monica, Brock, Mac

Monica, Brock, Mikaela, Austin, Grama

Keoki, Allie, Kimo, Keo, Rhandie, Austin

Kari, Brock, Christy, Bryce, Kendall, Mikaela, Mac

ending with the oldest: Duane, Mindy, Ray

Du's birthday: Mom, Du, Mac, Mikaela, Mom, Anna (Mac's sister), Mac, Mikaela

Keo & Rhandie's baby announcement to Grama:

Las Vegas Bowl:

Dan H, Tim & Randy Hjort; Tim & Michaela Rohrer; Stephen W, Jenna, Jill, Jordan & Jessica Hicks

Laura, Nathan, Josh & Mark Worden

Christmas Eve at the Wolfes' in Troutdale:
Maya, Amy & Nathan; Grandma Linda & Maya; sis' Malia & Elena

Cousins Brock, Elena & Malia

Aunty Linda & Brock; Dad & Bea

Christmas:

Visit from Keo & Rhandie; Mikaela & Mac; Brock Alan; Duke & Brock

my gift to Du (trainer); dinner guests: Ching-chung, Ching-chia, Emily & family

Stephen & Jenna Williams' wedding:
Jill, Mary, Lisa, Laura, Mindy; Jenna & Stephen; Jill & Jessica

Jordan, Dan & Jill; Mindy & Duane; Brock w/us

Sarah, Mary, Jaime, Randy & David Law; Mark & Laura W; Lynnie & Tony Vandermeer

Michaela A, Christina L, Isaac A, Jordan H, Spencer A, David L; Jill & Dan, Randy & Mary, Lynnie & Tony, Annalise, Bethany, Lisa & Kelly Howard

Jeff & Jan Steiner before they headed back to the east coast

End of September = Start of School = Too busy to Blog

September began with all of us going to the first OSU football game of the season. My brother and mom now sit near us, and we are surrounded by long-term season ticket holders; it is much like one big, happy family, especially when the Beavers win!

We then took our first ever family backpack trip to Yoran Lake in the Diamond Peak Wilderness. The forecast of heavy rain kept the Labor Day weekend crowd away, which gave us unlimited camping space and firewood. We had such an enjoyable time together; it is, thus far, our best family vacation!

We woke up to beautiful weather and scenery. After breakfast, we took a day hike to the base of an un-named peak next to Yoran Peak. Du called it "Wewalk" Peak. The four hiked to the summit after lunch, while I watched and stayed close to the base. You see, I have a TERRIBLE sense of direction, and it was safer for me to stay put than to try and hike to the next lake on my own.

Mac was the only one brave enough to jump in the lake. Crazy guy!

When we reached the truck, we drove across the road to eat lunch at O'Dell Lake, where a bunch of fowl hovered for scraps.

We then drove 90 miles south to Crater Lake, where none of us had gone before. Oh, how absolutely magnificent was the blueness of the water!

The next photos are of wonderful friends who came over to watch OSU football with us. Oh, the fun! The Hjort, Laws, Vandermeers, Wordens, and Mom made the "Oooo-Ssss-Uuuu" sign; Josiah and Jaime pose with identical shoes; Carl & Brock sit in front of their dads; roommates Ashley & Christy are also the Ovenells' neighbors; Duane & Mac have much in common, including throwing left-handed, being 6' 1/2", and treating their wives extremely well!

August, WONDERFUL August...

What a glorious month! We attended a wedding, got to tag along with Mac & Mikaela as they searched for a rental, I finished teaching a GREAT class of sand volleyball, found out workman's comp approved my shoulder surgery (from badminton), ripped out the carpet in the family room and had Brock paint the room before new carpet was installed, and drove up to Spokane to drive and empty M&M's moving truck to their cute rental in Corvallis, as they traveled to Western WA to see family and friends. Below are some fun photos; enjoy!

Most of my students:


My mom sat on Brock's scooter just before she let me ride her home on mine ~ A first!

The college group in our backyard (Can you find Duane?)

Our very good friends, Scott & Nikie Rohrer, with 3/4 of their clan:

Brock & Duane took an ~12 mile hike to scout Mt. Jefferson Wilderness for a family backpack trip we hope to take during Labor Day weekend (after OSU football, of course). We may meet another couple, so Duane had Brock mark the direction for them to go to Santiam Lake.


Mac is sitting on top of a play structure next to the house they will rent in Corvallis.

We got home to my mother cooking dinner for us. I had just bought a used Harley helmet for passengers, and thought to try it on Mom, while she was cooking. She was SUCH a trooper! I then had to put the rest of my gear on her, including my boots, and she said, "You never would play 'dress up' growing up, but NOW you decide to!" Ha! She then let me take her home again! Twice in one month; very cool. :)

July ~ Heat Wave! ~

We had 100+ degrees temperatures a couple of days at the end of July. Because of this, I cancelled my afternoon sand volleyball class, yet 20 students still came to play! So, we did. Wow. I looked around the park, and, of course, we were the only ones outside. Crazy.

The month began with good friends, Jeff, Jan & Tim Steiner coming over from the east coast for a wonderful visit. Tim is beginning his fourth year at the Naval Academy.


I got to visit with my very good friend, Connie Kinder, at Bridgeport, before her husband, Maridus and she flew back to Tennessee. We met 27 years ago in Gresham and have been close friends since.


Duser completed his creation in the backyard, which gives more seating to the college group when they come over each week.


The last of the WEASels got married on the 11th. In case you don't know, the first letter of their maiden names spell "weas". The others were part of the court. It was a beautiful wedding held at Central Park in Corvallis.
This group of guys go way back to college days and NW Hills Church. (left to right: Duane, Jack G, Mike H, Randy L, Tinker M)

The rest of the photos are from my trip to Nevada. I got to see a lot of Phoenix, Dante & Alaina's son. I guess that makes him my great-nephew. And, he truly is! I flew over to see my nephew, Derik, as he was on a short leave from Iraq, his third tour. He's doing very well. His wife, Valerie flew from Hawaii to see him, but I missed seeing her by one day.


We all met at the photo studio to watch Phoenix get his 8 month old pictures. Tony came, too.


Derik drove me to his dad's so that I could see Tony's, Marcie's and his Harleys. Real fun! If I had brought the right gear, I would have gotten to ride Derik's...


Dante had to work a few 12-hour shifts while I was there. He was, understandably, a bit tired in the evenings.


My mom bought a little pool for Phoenix, and we got to watch him have a grand time on the front porch.


The video is a short clip of the way Phoenix moves. Mom gave him a goal to reach. :)

The last photo is how Tony & Marcie travel with her grandkids.

Mom and I took Derik to the airport at 5 a.m., then drove to Corvallis. It was the end of Mom's six weeks of travelling, and a good way to beat most of the heat that day.

June Post...

LOTS of photos! I will keep the stories brief.

The first picture is the last day of class with Sports Conditioning. Wonderful group and great results! The next photo is of three of my former students who played basketball with Du on a regular basis at the rec center on campus. Duane enjoyed them so much he invited them over for steak dinner before they moved from Corvallis... The next photo is a common scene every night between Duane & Deuce.

Brock's graduation was wonderful! I LOVE graduations. It was supposed to be three hours long, and ended in two. OSU is one of the few universities who give the actual diploma to the students during commencement.

Before the march from the MU Quad to Reser Stadium, I found Brock in line and draped him with the lei I made. Great to see him beaming.

Mac & Mikaela drove all evening from Spokane to see Brock graduate. Sandra drove up from Santa Rosa and got a ride from Mom in Bend to be with us.

The most touching event was witnessing all ROTC grads being sworn in as commissioned officers. They received a standing ovation from the whole crowd.

Brock was #19 to receive his diploma. They were instructed to leave the stadium with their families once they got it. Woo-hoo!

We had a bbq dinner, and ~35 friends & family joined us for ono kau chi, which hadn't been made since Brock graduated from high school! We had other goods, too, but the fried won tons stood out big time!

Mac tried out Brock's Ruckus and funky helmet. Mary had to see if she could reach the ground; she's still looking for a scooter small enough to ride. Ha!

There is something about this photo that I really like.

The Laws have been in our lives a very long time...

College friends: Ashley & Jen. Childhood buds: Carl, Brandon & Jonny.

Aunty Christy.. A rare candid shot captured.

Later in the evening, we watched Brock open gifts from Uncle Ray, Aunty Terry, Aunty Sandy.

Hugs to Mikaela & Mac.

Friend Justin returned after working to join us.

The college ministry started for the summer on Mikaela's birthday, 6/23, which kept me from being able to surprise her with another visit at her door in Spokane... The photos are of an ice-breaker "drill" in our backyard, and of some students serving my next door neighbor by washing her car.

In order to make more seating room for the college group, Duane and Brock built a small deck. The next task is building the benches. It amazes me how Gumby-like Du is.

The last weekend of June was spent at Eagle Crest with some long-forever friends; we go way back to college days at OSU. This was our first reunion, and hope to continue meeting annually.

The group photo was the last thing we did before saying goodbye... Mary & Randy make a great worship team... Lisa H, Randy (I call him "The Hjort"), Victoria & Laura W.

Al H came by for a visit, as he lives in Bend. He was once my bible study leader in college. Duane and I have had the privilege of knowing Al & Claudia's daughter in our Sunday dinner/study... Tony V moved to Redmond with the family as an Assistant Principal... Victoria drove from ID; Dan & Jill H came up from S. Cal, and Tim R joined us with his wife Michaela.

Randy runs everywhere. Mary shows off her drama, and the guys get ready for fishin'. It's Lance P, Dan H, Kelly H, Du & Tim R.

There were two rented houses and one condo in two different places. We gathered for meals, then dispersed to our choice of activity. We ladies walked, talked, sat by the pool, shopped (not me!), read books (totally me!), wogged (walk/jog), biked, & napped. The photo has (back L-R) Laura W, Jill H, Lisa P, Lynnie V, (front) Lisa H, me & Victoria, who cared for Brock & Mikaela full time just before I came home from teaching in 1990. She is a gem! The other photos are of Dan & Duane, and Randy H, in his bathtub.

Lance lives in CO, and has hosted the guys' fishin' trip the past three summers. He and Tony built houses next to each other in Corvallis way back, and they are still friends... Tim made pocket-size fishin' kits for all the guys. Too cool... Lynnie & Duane check out the gift.

One last photo of former next door neighbors (Lynnie & Lisa) and my co-workers at OSU (Mary & Laura)... Lastly, if you want a taste of how much fun we can have together, check out the following link that shows the comedy duo of Dan & Jill. Hilarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q3h0l1lr8E

Happy Father's Day...

Like father, like son. What a great laugh each time I look at this photo. Enjoy!

May flowers & summer weather...

We have had a drastic shock to our rainy weather. It seems the extreme heat (80s) suddenly came upon us. Wonderful to have!

This month began with a quick visit from Mac and Mikaela; they drove down from Spokane to see their friends graduate from George Fox. Mac got to play basketball with Duane at OSU Dixon Rec Center, and seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the time.

The next day, the second of our close college friends' offspring got married (Mikaela was the first.). It was wonderful seeing all of the Rohrers and their look-alike kids together.
Tim & Haley, then Haley & Blake

Josh, Scott & John, then Anna & Nikie

Sara & her youngest

We saw (on Facebook) that a third "child" got engaged, and we had the couple over for dinner to celebrate. It is a great treat to visit with the young adults who were baby buddies with our kids.
Jenna & Stephen

This year's Mother's Day was an absolute joy. It started with a wonderful call from Mikaela, who sent a card and book to me the day before. I read a bit, then took a leisurely walk with my coffee and Deuce around my neighborhood. Next was riding my bicycle to meet my mom and brother for brunch. We had an enjoyable visit along with a stroll around the block. Later came a motorcycle ride with my neighbors. Obviously, the weather was great for all of this outdoor activity. The evening brought a great steak barbeque from Duane and very nice visit with Brock. It was music to my ears to hear Brock say, "This was fun, Mom. Thanks!" And for me, this year's Mom's Day was like a birthday; it was filled with the things I love doing, and people that I love being around.

Work-wise, most of the month has been a nice reprieve. My job as Coordinator of the HHS program has been very full, quite consuming, out of my comfort zone. The end is near.. just two weeks left in this term.

The last photo is of two good friends, Lisa and Joy. Duane and I haven't seen Joy since our wedding day 27+ years ago. Lisa and she came over for lunch and a looong and deep visit. Golly! It's awesome to have friendships that last throughout the years of separation.