Field Trip

Denny and I went on a field trip with Tori's kindergarten class on Tuesday to Camp Tillicum. Denny was in charge of a group of three students (which included Tori). Julie mentioned to the teacher that maybe Denny shouldn't have the "nose picker" in his group since she wasn't sure how he would handle him. Well, you guessed it. Denny got him! It worked out fine and even though he was a little hyper, Denny seemed to have him under control. And no nose picking that any one could see. This is where we all ate lunch.

I worked in the little school house with the crafts. The kids planted vegetables or flowers in cups and then made a science journal with pictures showing how the seeds would grow. It was great fun except I came down with a cold the next day.

Here Denny and Tori are getting on the bus to go back to school. There is no way that Denny or I could ever be a bus driver!We really enjoyed the day and feel so fortunate to live close enough to be able to participate in the kid's activities.

Tomorrow evening we will be going to Kyle's baseball game and on Saturday the play offs start.

Love to you all,

JO

"GIDDY UP"

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Newberg at the 60th annual boat races. Denny raced his new boat for the first time on Saturday. It is a 250-Pro and goes about 95 miles an hour. He loved how it drove and it was different to drive than the previous boats he has owned. It has a foot throttle and he lays down in it. The name of his boat is "Giddy Up."

They start the boats from the shore line and go around the course three times.

The first day, he drove good but he was just trying to get the feel for it. On the second day of the race, he "kicked butt!" In the first heat, he passed guys and took first place and in the second heat, he tied or was first again (we never did hear who actually won the race). The boat is beautiful and runs super. He plans on racing 4-5 more times and might even go back to the Nationals in Chicago.



Here is a picture of Tori helping Grandpa pull his boat back to camp. She has the biggest smile on her face! His boat trailer that he fixed up, is awesome.
It was a nice family day. Scott, Julie, Kyle (and his friend, Ryan) and Tori were there. Lori (Denny's sister) and Randy were also there both days.



Cathy (Denny's cousin) and her kids came to watch on Saturday. On Sunday, several of Julie's friends came. The weather was perfect on Saturday but it rained on Sunday. On Saturday night they had a bonfire and a Rock'n'Roll band. But it rained so hard that night that we didn't stay. Darn. I was really looking forward to it. I should have said it "poured!" I can not believe how hard it rained.


We had a great time. It was fun running into old friends from Newberg. (Denny and I both grew up there.)


We took flowers to five different cemeteries on Friday. I think this tradition is going to be a thing of the past soon. So many people are cremated and have their ashes scattered in various places. I have to admit, I kind of like going to the graves because it is a nice time to remember and think about someone, even though I think of all of them often. I bet that they are looking up (from their grave......but down from Heaven!) and saying, "Thanks for thinking of me today!"


Hope all of you had a nice Memorial Day weekend.


Love to you all,


JO

We Never Forget Old Friends

Today we received an email from an old friend of ours, Randy (we always called him Stump). When we lived in Forest Grove, Denny started a little guy basketball program and Randy was in charge of all the teams and coached Justin's (our son) team. He was great with the kids. He was good friends with Brad, who was Denny's JV basketball coach, so we saw him often. We went rafting several times with the two of them and Brad's wife, Widdy. Those were special times. When I was diagnosed with cancer, Randy sent me two of Lance Armstrong's books and I love them both and have found myself rereading them. So, I just want some of you that are reading this, to know that even though we might not see each other often, we think of you and cherish your friendships and the good times we have had together. Friends are so very important to us.

Here is a picture of Brad and Randy (on the right) while rafting on the Deschutes River. Aren't they cute?!

Here is picture of us rafting the on Deschutes River with my brother and his wife. Denny put Linda up front on purpose! I hope all of you have lots of friends and value their friendships like we do.

Love to you all,

JO

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today is my Mom's 83rd birthday. She lives in Vegas with Lloyd. My brother and sister also live there so it is nice that she lives near two of her four kids. All of us try to get together in Vegas during the month of May to celebrate Mom's birthday or Mother's Day. But this year, my youngest brother Michael, couldn't be there. So we are all getting together in Oregon for a family reunion in August. However, I decided last week that I wanted to see my Mommy sooner, so I will be going in a couple of weeks to spend time with her while Lloyd goes on a fishing trip with some family guys.

Each year we take a picture of the five of us. Here is my favorite picture which was taken a couple of years ago. In the picture is Carol (64), Michael (59), Mom (now 83!), Richard (61), and myself (62). I can't believe "us kids" are that old.

Mom looks great and is in fantastic shape. In fact, when I called to wish her a happy birthday this morning, she was walking in the new fitness center that had just opened. She and Lloyd joined it so when it is too hot (like now) they can still exercise. What a fantastic role model she is for all of us. I am so lucky to have such a loving and wonderful mother. Everyone loves her! She is always thinking of others and is helping anyone that needs help. Plus, she is a really "hip" mom. Here is a picture taken a few years ago when she went for a Harley ride with Denny. She loved it! I am so lucky to have her as my mom. So, happy birthday, Mom. I love you so much. I will see you in two weeks.


Love to you all,


JO

"Buy It. It's Worth It!"

Today I met Amy and Carolyn (the two gals I sometimes travel with) for some shopping. We like to go to the discount stores but today we only had time to shop at Marshall's since we seemed to find some great things there. Sometimes, it seems like you don't find anything and other times, you find way too much.......say like today! I was really hoping I wouldn't like anything since I shouldn't be buying more clothes. My closets (notice not closet but closets) are "full to the brim." I try to get rid of something when I buy something new. But that doesn't seem to work too well.

I have been looking for a pair of white jeans with a boot cut. They are hard to find. I had looked all over Clackamas Town Center with Julie last Sunday on Mother's Day. Well, I walked into Marshall's and there they were hanging on the rack right by the entrance. My size, too. I looked at the price tag and it showed $39.99. I thought that was too much to pay for jeans at Marshall's. After all, they are a discount store. I wouldn't think anything of paying that much at Macy, etc. And then I looked at the original tag on the jeans........$198.00! Can you believe it?! They are well made, but $198.00. You can bet I grabbed those right away and I wish I could wear the price tag so everyone could see the original price!

On my way to the dressing room, I walked by the lingerie. I don't usually look in that section. But there hanging, was the cutest pair of pajamas I have ever seen. No kidding. They are cotton with the most beautiful eyelet lace. They aren't sexy, they're just plain cute. I should take a picture of them and put it on my blog, but that just doesn't seem appropriate! Now I can't wait until my next "girl friend" trip so I can wear my cute pj's. Well, I hate to say any more about what I bought, but I also found a nightie that matched the pajamas! Again, cute, cute, cute. And the prices were really cheap on both. So I couldn't pass them up. I did buy a couple of other things, but nothing exciting like my jeans, pj's and nightie. But here is the funny part. Amy, ended up buying the EXACT same three items! What a copycat! Plus, she said she liked my capri pants I was wearing and I made the mistake of telling her where I bought them, so she and Carolyn were headed there later! I really don't care if she buys the same things I do, because lots of times, I buy what she buys. We seem to like the same things. We don't wear the same size because sometimes they only have one in each size. ( I wish I did wear her itty bitty size!) I know she will be reading this blog and just wanted to kid her. Actually, Carolyn also ended up with the same nightie! Won't the three of us look cute when we go on our next trip?!

Whenever the three of us go shopping, someone will pick out something and ask the other two what they think of it. Carolyn and Amy always say, "Walk around a while with it and then decide." I always say, "Buy it. It is worth it!" So they spend a lot more money when I go shopping with them. I think sometimes they don't invite me to go shopping with them, on purpose!

After shopping, we met Eileen and Julie D. for lunch at Arby's. We meet once a month. Barb (the gal from the Lunch Bunch, that recently passed away) was the one that got the monthly luncheons organized. So we wanted to continue the tradition.

Hope all of you stay cool in the hot (90 degree) weather we are going to have the next few days.

Love to you all,

JO

"Sharing Hope"

Yesterday I went to my support group meeting for women with metastatic cancer. Here is a picture of the quilt some of us gals made. Fern, a wonderful quilter and sewer, was in charge. She lives in Vancouver so it was convenient for me to go to our "sewing bees." The quilt is hung in the cancer conference room at St. Vincent's Hospital. The room has off white walls, so the quilt added a lot of color and warmth to the room. Wendy, another support group gal, made the beautiful wooden hanger. It was fun to sew on it with the others and it was nice to see how beautiful it turned out. We named the quilt, "Sharing Hope."

After the meeting, I walked to the other end of the hospital where my brother-in-law was about to have surgery on his back. My sister (well, really Denny's sister) was there and so was Julie. I stopped by the hospital today and he was eating pancakes, sausages, eggs, bagel, fruit, muffin, and drinks. Apparently, surgery doesn't affect his appetite! He said the nurses looked at him and could tell he was "an eater." ....................kind of like me! He looked super and the surgery went really well. Good job, Randy. Hope you recover real fast.

Yesterday after I got home (I also had my oil changed in my car, had a new battery put in my watch at Freddies and bought a case of wine at Trader Joe's) we went to Joe's Crab Shack on the Columbia River to have lunch/dinner with some friends that Denny went to school with. We really enjoy their company and try to get together a few times a year. The food was great and we sat and talked for three hours. Luckily, it was not their busy time so they didn't mind if we stayed, and stayed, and stayed!

So I had a big day yesterday. It seems like we are always busy. I am glad that I feel well enough and have the energy to be busy!

Love to you all,

JO

Happy Birthday Barb, from the "Lunch Bunch"

Today I went to Shirley's house for a "Lunch Bunch" get together. They recently purchased about 20 acres near Newberg. Fantastic house and acreage with a great view. They even bought 4 cows! We wanted to get together today because it was Barb's birthday. She is the "Lunch Bunch" gal that passed away recently. We had her picture on the table and held it when we had our picture taken. We had a great time, as we always do when we get together. Thanks, Shirley, for hosting it.

After the get together, I drove to Kyle's game. It only took me 15 minutes since it was in Newberg. He played great. He had a perfect slide and ended up being safe. They tied the game which was good because the other team had never lost a game.


Tomorrow, for Mother's Day, Julie and I are going to Clackamas Town Center to shop. I don't need a thing so I shouldn't buy anything, but ...................................! Will let you know later what I buy! Should get something for the hot weather we are supposed to have next week. Will just have to wait and see if it really happens. Hope so, even though my body isn't ready for shorts and sleeveless tops. Did you know that fat looks better tan?!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Love to you all,

JO

A Celebration of "Our Champion"

On Thursday, we attended a celebration for Jeff Durham. He was the husband of one of my best friends, Amy. He had Alzheimers for several years. He was a teacher and football coach at Forest Grove High School for over 22 years and then was Athletic Director in McMinnville and Forest Grove. He lead his football teams to seven consecutive league championships and was "Oregon Coach of the Year in 1976."
He leaves behind the greatest family. It is one of those families you look at and say, "I want a family like that." If I had to put a label on them, I would call them the "Fun Family."

The church was filled to the brim. Some of the people had to sit in the balcony and there were people standing along the walls on both sides of the church. Have you ever been to a service that lasted an hour and a half.............................other than a Catholic Mass!? The speakers were great and everyone was laughing as they were telling "Jeff" stories. They had a video of him and his family. It was one of those services that could have gone on all day because it was so enjoyable and heartwarming. Gosh, is it okay to say that a service was enjoyable? I know that Amy's goal was for this to be a "celebration" of Jeff. I know that is what I want.........people celebrating my life instead of mourning my death. I really liked what Rich Osbourn (he officiated) said at the beginning of the service..... "We are here to celebrate a special day; the day Jeff Durham was born!" Isn't that nicer than mourning the day he died?

We got to see lots of old friends that we haven't seen in a long time. We used to live in Forest Grove and Denny taught and coached there. Julie and Tori also went to the service and Julie saw some school friends and teachers she had in school. I got to meet Amy's sister and daughter-in-law. I have always heard so much about both of them so it was nice to put faces with names. And they were both pretty faces!

I just want Amy and her family (and that includes Doug, a special family friend of theirs and ours) to know that I think the service was the best and Jeff would have been so pleased. I can imagine him saying, "Jeez, it just gives me chills!"...............................one of his favorite sayings.

Love to you all,


JO

B-Ball & T-Ball

Tori, our 6 year old granddaughter had her first T-ball game last Saturday. It was so cute to watch. She wore a pink baseball helmet with a hole cut out for her ponytail, a pink glove and had a pink bat! She threw the ball good, hit good, ran good but most importantly (to her) she looked good! A couple of the out fielders were playing in the dirt with their backs to the batter. Her coach is a policeman and because he had to work that day, was there during his lunch hour. So he had his police uniform on with his gun and club on his belt. Julie (our daughter) said, "Those kids better run fast to first base!"

Kyle, our 10 year old grandson, got to pitch the first two innings. He did a great job and struck a couple of boys out. He is left handed, as is Tori and Julie. (pretty unusual, huh?) He had some fantastic throws and is real fast at running the bases. They both have games this weekend so I am looking forward to watching them play again. Especially since the weather is going to be nice.

Hope all of you have a great weekend. Enjoy the nice weather.

Love to you all,

JO