Eugene, Oregon

Jana & Paul introduced us to the new Basketball Brady number 8! His first year, Brady is fired up about basketball and as I practiced with him outside, he hit 9 out of 10 free throws. He's got a good eye for the basket and loves to steal the ball and rebound! We'll see Brady in the news before long. Payton has just completed her flower art on wood to decorate her room. This nice addition adds the outdoors inside for her to enjoy everyday. It was a fun filled overnight on our way to Portland.

Newspaper News in Ashland

The Daily Tidings, Ashland's Newspaper featured Lori & Bob's daughter, Amanda, in todays paper. The reporter searches our community for outstanding students by asking teachers, coaches, church leaders for recommendations & today, Amanda was featured in color on half of the back page. You may read the article by clicking on their Web site:

http://www.dailytidings.com/

In the top search box, type in February 18, 2009 and hit search. When you retrieve the 18th news, at the bottom, click on "Lifestyle Archive" and look for "Good Sport". This should bring up the photos and complete article about Amanda. Congratulations Amanda for this achievement!

The night before, Adam, Amanda's big brother, was battling an up hill basketball game. Adam needed his missing team members for assistance. He loves basketball and does a great job as a freshman Ashland Grizzley. I predict, he will easily make varsity next year!!!!

Valentine Surprise

We hope all of you had a wonderful Valentine's Day! We attended our favorite band in the West, the Emerald City Jazz Kings! (Eugene OR is the Emerald City) And even though they never dissappoint us, this was one of the best of their performances! We're still savoring the great music and those who performed it. Then to our surprise when returning home, someone broke into our garage and decorated our pick-up as you will note in the photos. There are 22 valentines in the first photo and if you don't get 22, count again. . .Hated to take them off but also hated to drive around Ashland like you see it! This Valentine's Day was a lift we all needed!

Esther's Cooking School

Amanda, daughter of Lori and Bob, asked grandma Esther if she would teach her how to make a pie? Of course the answer was yes. . .and the next problem was to find the right time in Amanda's busy senior schedule! Then decide what would be her favorite pie to make! For Amanda it was simple, APPLE was her favorite, of course Grandma knew what kind of apples to buy. You can't just use any apple if you want the best pie. There are very few kinds of apples that make good pies. Next question, a two crust pie or a "dutch" apple pie? Recently, they spent an afternoon making, what turned out to be, a perfect apple pie! From the photo which kind did Amanda make, a "regular" or "dutch" apple pie?

And you might guess, it was given to her favorite male friend!!!

Austin Texas Marriage Details

Ashley Freed, daughter of Roly & Candy, along with her fiance, Zack Steele, have created a new Web page with details of their coming wedding. We received the information card today and wanted you all to have these details! Their Web site is:


www.tinyurl.com/ashley-zack Just click on the beige line for details.

Artwork from Eugene, Oregon

Jana & Paul's boys recently had school art projects that were very creative.

Derrick Hazelton, age 5 recently painted his version of a Duck in a colorful pond. If you examine carefully, the duck has a horn.

Brady Hazelton's school project was something from the Mexican Holiday, Dia de Muerta or Day of the Dead. (a holiday close to Halloween) What could be more cool than to decorate a skeleton!

Wii Christmas

Our kids like to keep us in the 21st century. . .so after trying their new Wii games a year ago, we were fascinated by the realistic way you could bowl, play tennis and golf, in your living room! Esther and I bowl just like being at the bowling alley! You hold the bowling ball (controller) in your right or left hand, stand in front of your TV which pictures the alley and pins, you stride, swing your arm and release the ball (controller strapped to your arm so you don't throw it thru the TV screen) and if you aim right and don't throw too much of a curve, you get a strike!!! It's as much like the real thing as I've seen yet! Ask Dale Wise from Wakarusa. He and Treva visited us last fall and as a lefty, he learned fast and was throwing strikes and spares! But our kids didn't think that was enough for us so they all went together and bought us a Wii Fitness Board for Christmas. This is an amazing exercise tool for anyone. . .from jogging, yoga, balance, you name it! Esther and I are thoroughly enjoying exercise and actually look forward to it! And this week, we stopped in at daughter Jana's place in Eugene, Oregon where they have added guitars to their Wii!!! So now we can play guitar music by strumming and fingering to keep up with the music that streams towards you on the TV screen. If you miss too many beats your booed off the stage. It's a blast that all ages enjoy and levels of difficulty to match your skills. You can even sing along with a mic that's incorporated in the system. Amazing!!!!

If this isn't enough, our kids and grand kids now have us "text messaging" on our cell phone! I never thought we could learn this at our age but it wasn't as hard as it looked and the phones make it easy for you. Since we learned this new fad, our own kids who were afraid to learn decided if we could do it, they could too. It's a great way to get a message to some one's cell in a hurry without waiting for a pick up or leaving a verbal message. Just send me a note and I'll tell you how to get started.

Wii performers are, Brady & Payton Hazelton, Esther & Jerry.