Erik leaves for Tulane University

We got up at 3:30 to get Erik on a plane for New Orleans. Lauren was not too pleased or chipper this time of the morning.

Later he called to let us know he had gotten there, checked into his room and was on his way to the French Quarter to have dinner with a new buddy (fellow student) and his family. They ate a "Irene's", a really great restuarant in the Quarter. Tomorrow he starts his orientation.

We are really sad he's left, but very excited at his prospects.
We love you Erik!!

Spencer and Allie

We couldn't leave out Allie, she was over visiting Spence. These guys are way too cool.

Kid's Portrait

Dawn insisted on a group shot of the kids before Erik departs for school. They were cutting up the whole time. Hopefully, Christmas will give us another opportunity for portraits.

Linda's going away/birthday party

Robert was a gracious host to Linda's cookout ... going away ... and surprise early Birthday party. I made a traditional Lindholm Pineapple Upsidedown Cake. But in this case it is really a Rightsideup Pineapple Cake! Robert and Erik made deck furniture and then grilled the steaks. Yum, yum.



Linda and Erik group for a shot of the departing, Erik's leaving on the 21st for Tulane. Linda's starting a new job in the tri-state of Idaho, Utah and Nevada. Good luck, we are missing you already.



Thanks for the family shot, Robert. Here we all are, just before we watch Linda open her gifts.

A tearful farewell

Here we are at Willamette University, under the Eagle Fountain, getting some last pictures while the buses arrive.These kids have had some great experiences they will carry forever. Eriko says she had noticed how much more open and spontaneous they all had become.



And now the tears,the girls openly and me a bit misty eyed. Eriko is a sweet,intelligent and considerate person who has done much to enrichen our lives in only a few days. I wish we could have spoiled her more! Eriko, we miss you and hope you stay in touch.



ALL ABOARD!! Eriko departs on the bus to Seattle where she will see a Mariner's baseball game before flying out tomorrow. I know her family will be so happy to see her safely home. Sayonara, Eriko.

Eriko's Sayonara Party

Eriko and her school mates threw a great party with lots of dancing, singing and celebration. Here Eriko announces her group's song. Those kids really sing well. We enjoyed every minute and were very proud of her contributions.



Eriko with three of her musical friends entertained the audience with the "Sound of Music." It was lovely, they really gave the crowd some great music.

All things considered the event showed how much the girls had done over the two weeks. The video shown at the end encapsulated in a colorful montage of each day and the many, many activities they participated in together. When they get home I hope they will have many wonder memories of Oregon.

Erik's last day at Fred Meyer's

Had to get a shot of Erik with his Fred Meyer name tag and shirt. He has worked there since last September, almost a year! It was fun going into Freddies and seeing him stocking the aisles. Now we can go to Winco and save some money.

Linda, Eriko and Dawn

We stopped off briefly to see my sister Linda's garage sale. It was busy, but I got the girls to sit quickly for this shot. Later we went to Lancaster Mall and Salem Center, where the girls shopped for gifts and school clothes.

Eriko, our daughter from Japan

Dawn and Eriko pose for the photographer on the deck outside my shop. Eriko is staying with us for about two weeks. We have enjoyed her company and will miss her when she goes home. She and her class mates are visting Salem on a Homestay. Lauren absolutely adores Eriko!

My summertime companion

This little girl, with such great concentration, has managed to go to Daddy's shop a lot this summer. She gets real busy with her drawings and making small books. She is always great company!

Erik's high school graduation

Here is the graduate, a hard working student.



Caps in the air, go Oly's Class of 2006!



Dane Wilson and Erik, two buddies ready for the world.

Lauren's end of school celebration

Katie Nelson, Lauren's kindergarten teacher, and Lauren pose for an end of school picture. Mrs. Nelson is a wonderful teacher who combines her love of music with her school lessons.



Mrs. Nelson and the kids gave a really great performance in which they sang many songs for over a half hour ... that's a lot of singing .... and the kids knew ALL the words!

Spencer's usual computer repose

Here is Spencer's usual comfort zone while surfing (winter or summer).

Erik's asleep at the mouse

This not the first time this has happened, Erik probably had stayed up late the night before, went to Lacrosse practice and came home only to pass out at the computer.

Lauren celebrates her 6th birthday

Chuckie Ceese dropped everything he was doing and rushed over to Lauren to help give her birthday a great send-off. All Lauren's friends showed up to play games, eat pizza and have cake. This kid is soo spoiled!

Spencer's 15th Birthday

Here's Spencer's 15th birthday. I can't believe it. He's got his Pink Floyd t-shirt on and growing by the foot. I think he's taller than me (dad).

Lauren loses her first tooth.

From the kitchen comes a scream of "Mom!!!!", I jump up and nearly run into Lauren as she bursts through the doorway to show us her bottom right front tooth. Well were we all pleased, I mean the tooth didn't know when to fall out. It had been weeks just being loose and more loose and yet more loose... And true to form this morning the Tooth Fairy deposited a hefty sum and took her tooth away!

Kim Huong

Before Erik was born, Dawn and I started eating pho soup at this joint. When we walk in they just ask if we'll be having the "usual". And we do. Their tea is good, and we get salad rolls and spring rolls for appetizers. We get a family style bowl of beef pho and a family style of chicken pho, too. To this we add ... sprouts, jalapeno, fresh basil, plum sauce and ground chili pepper with garlic. There's always more than we can eat and the tabs less than twenty! Rachel Ray, You missed this one!

New Years 2006

A new year tradition for good luck is my Southern Dinner with Hoppin' John. Linda and Robert showed up to help us eat the chicken, hoppin' john (black eyed peas with rice), collards, corn bread, fried green beans, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato pie and black tea. I had an early and hectic day getting this all out. (Dawn made the sweet potato pie) (photo credit to Robert)

Bubbliciously green

This kid's been working on this so hard. She's getting better than us all lately.