End of the Oregon Trail

While Melanie, Karl and Lindsey took Lauren to BYU this week, Spencer and Mason stayed with us. On Friday we drove south to Oregon City, Oregon (just out of Portland) to visit the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretative Center. We saw lots of interesting artifacts and pretended we were pioneers in 1842 traveling from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City.

The outside of the building is pretty interesting; it resembles a covered wagon.

There were interesting artifacts and storytellers who gave us the history of the trail. The journey even made us lose a few pounds! (Don't you think we look thinner?)

Once our wagon arrived in Oregon City, Spencer couldn't resist opening the door of the pretend outhouse (note the moon on the door) only to find Mason inside. Surprise!!

Cash for Our Clunker

One day last week Paul said, I think the "cash for clunkers" program might be ending in a day or two (it was extended), maybe we should go buy a car and get rid of our 1998 Dodge minivan."

So...we drove north to Bremerton and came home with our new Honda Civic. The minivan didn't know what happened, suddenly being abandoned like that!

Scouts to the Rescue!

Our grandson Mason Fields needed to organize and carry off a service project for his Duty-to-God Award, so he got some Scouts (and his dad) to shovel a huge pile of bark from our driveway to some of the beds around our house. It just happened to be the same day as the area registered the highest temperature on record ever!!! It was 104 degrees and western Washingtonians were in agony!

They did a great job!

Zoo Trip With the Honeymooners

We caught up with the Mike and Naomi at the end of their honeymoon while they were staying in our house in Gig Harbor. We had a fun trip to the zoo in Tacoma at Point Defiance.

Naomi coaxed some budgies to get some food on a stick.

We had lunch at Anthony's on the water and also visited some beautiful gardens.

Fourth of July at Lincoln

We had a bang-up Fourth of July at Nate and Jane's.

(Above four photos of Mason and Spencer Fields by their sister Lindsey.)

Nate is a Fourth of July kind of guy! He always has food and fireworks ready....especially fireworks!

Jane's berry berry flag cake. Yummy!

Val assisted at the grill, while Mason watched over the ice-cream maker.

Some Fun GRANDchildren Photos

Lindsey Fields

 Lauren Fields and Christopher Merrill (oldest and youngest of our grandchildren)

( photos above and below by Monica Merrill)

Andrew, Timothy, Matthew and Peter Merrill

Mason and Spencer Fields

Christopher Merrill (photo by Lindsey Fields)

Timothy, Peter, and Andrew Merrill

Alex Merrill, with his dad, Nate.

John Merrill and Bear

7.

Angela Merrill did some modeling recently...new sunglasses trim, new earrings (bracelets over her ears), and new skirt Grandma Rae Ann made her. . .Pretty pretty!

So cute!

The Wedding of the Summer

Here are some of my favoites pictures from Mike and Naomi's June 27, 2009 wedding in the Sacramento Temple.

Everyone had fun in spite of the the 105 degree temperatures! There were a few quiet moments....but the reception was such a party! Some folks danced until they dropped!