Kitchen work progresses

We are going Mediterenean. After having taken down the cabinet doors and drawers, cleaning, filling, sanding, priming and painting, it was time to paint the walls. The walls were stripped of the old green and white latticed wallpaper, washed, filled, sanded and painted. The first color looked great as a swatch against the wall, but as I started the edge work Dawn was picking up Lauren from a birthday party. I thought, boy this is bright, the more I looked at it, the more it resembled the dividing line on highways, sure enough, Dawn said no. We decided on another color and I took off to the paint store to have it mixed. Well, in short, I love it, Dawn is still deciding.

Me and my million dollar window

Self-portrait at the shop. Behind is my favorite window. It overlooks the stream and grounds of Mission Mill. In eighteen years I have never been bored as I stared out this four season view.I have seen my children taking their first steps, ducks with ducklings, angry opposums, floodwaters to my floorboards, sheep, llamas, too many politicians, six directors (Mission Mill), my in-laws and ex-in-laws, hundreds of weddings, Rotary on Wednesdays and in general my life has passed by this window. If I am to become a ghost, I know where I will haunt.

Lauren's first day of first grade

Here, our scholar is leaving to attend the first day of school. She's toting about 15 pounds of school supplies in her new pink backpack.




After meeting her teacher, Lauren finds her spot in class. Her room is of good size and is a first/second grade blend. As many as five of her last year classmates are here, too. Mom and Dad have readjusted their schedules to the new school year.

Lauren's top tooth missing!

While playing at Amanda's, Lauren pulled a top off and it snagged a very loose tooth. She had been eating apples and wiggling this thing for some time. Surely the Tooth Fairy will show up tonight and give her a reward.

Oreo

Oreo is a litle over a year old. She has been a great cat. We all love her and she does her slinky, lazy, loving, stealthy, cuddlely catness very well. This summer she has gotten very comfortable with the great out of doors. She even caught a bird. She eats bugs, grass and cat food. She's not too fond of the rain. When it was hot, she would lay on the flagstone floor. (smart kitty) Her clinkey id necklace sometimes gives away her hunting sorries. Over winter, she had become heavy, now as summer closes she is as sleak as a jaguar.

Lauren's Swim Lessons

Lauren has worked very hard for several weeks to earn her Level 4 status. We have gone to the Olinger Pool for 6 weeks each day of the week. It really has paid. She has given close attention to the instructors and can easily swim the pool side to side. Often she would compete with the 3 other kids (boys twice her weight and length) and beaten them every time but once. And boy did she let them know, too.



Today was the final swim and the kids got to just have fun in the pool. Lauren most enjoyed the swing rope and waterslide. We will have her take additional lessons in spring with the hope she will make Level 8 (Where they continuously lap the pool with crawl, backstroke and breast stroke). Go Lauren, we are so proud of you!

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.