Big Trip East 3

After the June 13th Wedding, we headed to Roly & Candy's place in Corsicana, Texas. Dan's, Jana's, Lori's and us landed there for nearly a week of relaxation and fishing. There was family sleeping everywhere! Tyler & Adam managed to catch the biggest fish and Lori & the kids lived in the water. Payton jumped from there to Houston and then to Costa Rica for a week living with a local family & then enjoying the sights down Mexico way. We all enjoyed the wonderful fish caught and lots of the great Alaskan catch. Many thanks to Roly & Candy for all their tender loving care!!!

College Bound

Amanda left early this morning as Lori & Bob headed for Monterrey Bay, California for Amanda's first semester and leaving the security of home for the first time. Tyler, left Texas last week as Roly & Candy did the same move to University of Colorado in Boulder. Tyler is now experienced at leaving home and begins his 2nd year in Colorado. Both sets of parents pulled a U-Haul trailer helping their kids with furniture. This year, Tyler qualifies for apartment living off campus that cuts the cost of on campus housing considerably. Amanda, as a freshman, will have to live on campus and has a softball scholarship to help with expenses. When I look back on college years and then working with our kids to get a college education, I wonder how so many kids today can afford the high cost of education. Grand kids, give a BIG thanks to your folks!!!!

Brady the Boarder

Guess what, Esther and I have had a whirlwind time with Jana & Pauls 3 kids, Derrick, Brady and Payton. After a tiring long week-end with dune climbing, beach walking, and shopping, we were ready for a long rest. . .except. . .Brady came home with us this week. I have had the privilege of taking Brady to the Ashland Skateboard Park every morning about 9 before all the regulars get up, giving us the entire park to ourselves for about 1 hour! Brady loves the place and has improved greatly since Tuesday! I'm sure I would have been there had boards been invented when I was a kid! It was just a few years ago that Tyler, another grandson spent several summers with us and he too lived on the Ashland Skateboard arena and decided that our Ashland park was the best he had tried. Now it's Brady's turn!

Big Trip East 2

From Phoenix, we headed for Texas and the big wedding in Austin. The week end in Austin just happened to be the National Harley Davidson Convention!!! Had we not made reservations long before, we would have had to stay in San Antonio! The wedding and reception was a grand event with most of our kids and their kids in attendance. We were glad to represent our side of the family as Ashley and Zack became the "Steele's." They are now moved into their own home after a weeks honeymoon in Cancun. Congratulations to Ashley and Zack! Now 2 months today!

Tim & Reba Tuckey joined with Dan and Sheila awaiting the wedding. . .while Esther & Candy waited in the Narthax. Jana and Paul just arrived in time! to be continued. . . .

Big Trip East

We decided to drive our way to our first grand daughter, Ashley Freed's wedding in Austin, Texas. . .then head north to Indiana and Michigan to see relatives and friends. (a trip covering about 7000 miles) We left early on Saturday, June 6 and made it to Pasadena, California the first night. We managed to see a jazz concert with our friend, Bob Wilson, and left Monday morning for Phoenix. Brother, Phil and wife, Jeanette welcomed us in their new home in Mariposa, Arizona. The next day we lunched with Bethel college friends, the Washings and Lusks and dined that evening with nieces, Debbie and Kathy, Keith and Dave and kids. It was a packed yet wonderful day! to be continued. . . .