Is anyone still checking this?

I can imagine that no one takes the time to check this...why would you? I am currently the worst 'blogger' in the history of the world. Unfortunately, I just don't have much free time to do this. I am going to make an effort to try to post something new every couple of days, even if it is just a sentence or two.

Important events coming:

1. I start coaching the Gretna High School Sophomore Girls Basketball Team tomorrow. The exciting part for me is that my girls practice with the JV and Varsity teams...so I get to be a part of a high school basketball program. I am really excited about this. The hours will be more, but I am looking forward to it. I know I will learn a lot - this will be a great challenge. My focus for the Soph/JV/Varsity practices will be leading drills re: rebounding & focusing my attention on that during JV/V games while on the bench.

2. Jill's birthday is coming up...I have to come up with something big for her - she has taken on a lot more 'single parenting' with me doing this job...it is appreciated and I want to show her that. Sorry for the cheesiness.

I have to get to work on some school stuff - hope to add new pictures soon!

Sorry for the Delay!

My apologies for any regular readers who are waiting for an update of activity. The school year has started, so I am INCREDIBLY busy. Here is a sampling: Teaching 3 classes of 9th Grade World History, 3 classes of 10th Grade American History I, coached 7th grade Gretna Middle School Football team (asst coach, I should say) - went 5-0, taking a Master's class that meets every Wednesday night at Nebraska Wesleyan Univ. in Lincoln, Nebraska (approx. 1 hour away) that usually involves reading and writing a response paper every week, and recently had my parents visiting from Portland, Oregon for about 2 1/2 weeks (it was awesome!). Obviously my time is almost scheduled for me. There is a lot to fill you in on...I will hopefully have time to do that in the very near future!

Until next time...

Andrew's First Day of School

Andrew's first day of kindergarten at Prairie Wind Elementary was today! He was very excited and ready to go. Pictures include Andrew ready to walk to school on our front steps with his new backpack. Avery walked him to school with Mom and Alex. Avery wanted to make sure that she gets a picture taken of her and her backpack before she goes to Preschool...sometimes it is hard to share the spotlight! The last picture is of Andrew at his desk before class started. Tell me he doesn't look like a future Rhodes Scholar! It was a great day - he was concerned that he didn't finish his lunch...apparently in true Swanson style, he was too busy talking to his new friends.

Day 8 - August 8th: Leave Luray, VA and head back to Omaha, NE

Friday, August 8, 2008:
Leave Luray, VA for Omaha, NE

Slept in a little bit…Kathie and Jim canoed down to the cabin for coffee. Had to be out of the cabin by noon, so went over to Stonewall Crossing for lunch. I ran into downtown (Luray, VA) to the post office to send back 3 posters for my classroom. Luray was very nice. Luray is a neat little community. Left for Reagan National at approx. 2:15 and returned the rental car and checked in by about 5:15. We flew home with little problem. The AC in the house was turned off for the trip…so it took a while to cool down the house. Not a whole lot else to report…it was a fantastic week with so many treasured experiences.

Thoughts / Observations

• Midwest Airlines was great…when possible, I need to fly Midwest in the future! Wider seats and chocolate chip cookies are just a couple of things that stood out for me!

• After this week, I am exhausted and need to get some sleep. Will relax tomorrow at the lake I am sure.

• School starts a week from Monday on Aug 18th with students the following Thursday. I have a lot to do before now and then.

• I am now reading 1776 by David McCullough…the guy sitting ‘kitty corner’ from me was reading the same book…how crazy.

• I venture to guess that if a person was told that they would be traveling with his 'in-laws' and spending a week with his wife's relatives that he might get a little nervous. Obviously that person would not have married into the Watson/Pollard family because this trip has been absolutely fantastic. The trip was fun, relaxing, interesting, and thoroughly enjoyable! Thank you Jill and thanks also go out to Barb, Jim, Kathleen, Jim, Kathie, Chris, Elizabeth, Sara, Jaime, 'boys', and extended Pollard clan...it was fantastic!

Day 7 - August 7th: Monticello

Thursday, August 7, 2008:
Family visits Monticello

Nice morning. Loaded up the two cars with Barb & Jim and the family to go to Monticello – the Virginia Estate for Thomas Jefferson. The trip to Charlottesville, VA was very scenic and enjoyable. Having the kids along definitely made it a more ‘hectic’ activity than what we experienced earlier in the week. We had lunch at Hardee’s and then spent the rest of the afternoon at Monticello. We drove back through the University of Virginia campus. Had dinner at Stonewall Crossing after we got back to Luray. At night played a homemade version of the Newlywed Game with Barb & Jim, Kathie & Jim, Chris & Elizabeth, Sara & Jaime, and Jill & me. It made for a great night and a fun way to end the week.

Thoughts / Observations

• Monticello was probably the site I was most interested in seeing, so was very excited to see it. It was ‘awesome’ in every sense of the word…but was surprised how I found myself comparing it to Mt. Vernon. Jill and I felt that Monticello was more realistic and came across as a ‘home’ that was actually lived in as opposed to Mt. Vernon. It is important to note, however, that we liked the museum/presentation style of Mt. Vernon more than Monticello.

• The Plantation Tour was FANTASTIC, the docent really knew her stuff.

• Very good for me to see the layout of Monticello and its region as I read more info about Thomas Jefferson and the times.

• It was amazing to be in a place that at one point held such a historic person! VERY COOL!

• I wasn't aware of the fact that Jefferson had very little control of his spending habits and actually ran up quite a debt in his life...enough so, that it was passed onto his daughter to deal with (estate sale) after his death.

• Really liked to see the UVA campus. It was a little smaller, or at least had a smaller-school feel to it than other large state universities tend to have.

• Jill & I finished in next to last place (last: Jim & Barb) in the Newlywed Game. We all had a lot of fun. Chris & Elizabeth apparently know their stuff and 'won'...but really, aren't we all winners in the 'wedding game' of life? : )

Day 6 - August 6: Washington, DC

Wednesday, August 6, 2008:
Washington, D.C.

Today was another special day for me. Barb & Jim kept the kids (with the help of the Mailanders/Capella’s/’Blackie’ the cat/anyone else I may have forgotten so that Jill, Alex, and I could go into Washington, DC. Chris Mailander drove us in as he had business/work to do at his office – so we didn’t have to worry about driving into the city and worry about parking. It worked out perfectly for us.

We got into DC at about 9:45 and proceeded directly to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately the main chamber was being renovated so we were not able to go into that area, but it was still awesome to see. After looking around, we walked next door to visit the Library of Congress. We didn’t do a formal tour, but got a chance to see Thomas Jefferson’s original collection and inside the ‘reading/book' areas. We then had lunch at the National Gallery of Art, which was very nice. After lunch we proceeded to take a general tour of the Capitol Building. It was great to go inside, but unfortunately we were not able to see the Senate or House Chambers (you need passes from your Senator in order to do that apparently). We saw the Rotunda, the Statuary Collection, the Old Senate Chamber, and ‘the basement’?

We then jumped into a cab a traveled to the World War II Memorial. Very impressive. After that, we walked along the Washington Monument/Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial. I bought a few things for my classroom and Jill, Alex, and I sat on the steps and relaxed for a little while. Finally we headed over to Chris Mailander’s Office at Top of the Town (1400 N. 14th Street, about a block west of the Iwo Jima Memorial. His office was AMAZING as it had a vista view of DC that allowed you to see everything from Arlington, DC, to Rosslyn. After that, we headed home and chatted with the gang eating some rice & beans and wonderful ribs that Jaime cooked.

It sounds as though the kids swam in the river and paddled in the kayaks with the grandma’s.

Thoughts / Observations

• A great day. We saw the things that we really wanted to see. It was pretty hot & humid, but worth the effort.

• Very impressed by the Library of Congress, but in hindsight it probably would have been worth the time to take a formal tour. We really wanted to see the Capitol and thought the lines would be much worse than they turned out to be.

• Interesting fact that I didn't know about the Capitol and design of DC. The photo of the white star in the 'basement' or ground floor of the Capitol was originally designed to be the final resting place of George Washington. He was to be placed there with a glass covering so that those visiting the Capitol would see G. Washington's tomb. It is also the exact center for Washington DC as far as cardinal directions are concerned, which was intentional. Washington's family, however, wanted him buried at Mt. Vernon (as did George himself) which resulted with the Capitol placing a marble floor in its place with the white star indicating the 'true center' to the nation's capital city.

• Another interesting fact that Chris pointed out to us from his office view is that after the Capitol was built, the powers that be decided that no building shall be built taller than it...so that is why as you look across DC no building is taller that approx. 13 stories. Arlington, Georgetown, Rosslyn surround DC and don't have those restrictions. It was really cool to see. Next time we are in town, we are going to pay Chris money to show us around town...I wonder how far $15 and a Burger King value meal will get us? : )

• I am posting lots of pictures, most of which will hopefully be self-explanatory.

• One last thing, it was awesome to hear all the different languages and see all the international tourists. If I remember correctly, I heard approx. 10 different languages spoken at some point during the day. Very cool!

Day 5 - August 5th: Relax in Luray & Peach Orchard for Some

Tuesday, August 5, 2008:
Relax in Luray & Peach Orchard for Some

Today was a low-key day. The grandparents took the ‘big kids’ (Connor & Andrew) to a peach orchard to pick peaches, for a drive on Skyline Drive, overlooking the Shenandoah Valley & hiking in Shenandoah Forest to see a waterfall. I included pictures that Grandma Barb took. This excursion allowed the parents to stay home with Avery, Antonio, Marcos, and Abraham and relax a little bit. I spent the day working on my Mt. Vernon iMovie for my classes so I don’t have to spend much time on it when I get back to school. It was awesome…but a little disheartening that I would spend about 2-3 hours and have only approx. 7 minutes of a ‘documentary’ on Mt. Vernon. I know in the end it will be worth it. Later in the evening the ‘Mailander/Capella’ crew came over to our cabin for dinner.

Tomorrow Jill, Alex, and I are going to ride into Washington, D.C. to sightsee around the District without having to drive up & park. Chris has some meetings so he is going to take us up, drop us off, pick us up in the evening, and then bring us home…great deal! It should be a lot of fun and very entertaining…no agenda – but hoping to see the Smithsonian – American History & Natural History possibly, the Capitol, the Library of Congress, and the major attractions on the Mall. Thursday we will head to Monticello to see Jefferson’s ‘old haunts’.

Thoughts / Observations

• Good day to relax and get a break from the hectic pace. Again, I enjoy the company of the Mailanders and Capella’s. They are all very bright, very engaging, and a lot of fun. Wishing more and more that they didn’t live so far away.

• Connor & Andrew reportedly stated, "Today was the best day of their lives". Apparently the rule in place to go on this excursion was to be 5 & under OR 50 & over!

• The kids are doing well, but I am starting to see that it won’t be all bad to get them home and into a routine before the start of school.

• Not much history analysis to report…I wish I had a little bit better footage from Mt. Vernon, but will enjoy having internet access so I can fill some info not available to me otherwise.

Day 4 - August 4th: Mt. Vernon

Monday, August 4, 2008:
Mt. Vernon

Today was a special day for me. Barb & Jim kept the kids (with the help of the Mailanders/Capella’s/Blackie - the cat /anyone else I may have forgotten so that Jill, Alex, and I could go to Mt. Vernon (the Home of George Washington). We took Philip & Daniel to Dulles Intl Airport in the morning and then headed over to Mt. Vernon arriving at approx. 2:00pm. We spent the afternoon walking the grounds of the estate on the outskirts of Alexandria, VA. It was amazing to see such a legitimately historic place in truest form. We arrived home to exhausted family members (grown-ups & adults) and put everyone to bed after fun conversation.

Thoughts / Observations

• Having the Mailander’s & Capella’s to ourselves is a delight! They are WONDERFUL people.

• This week has reinforced a firmly held belief that a family has a tremendous impact as to what quality of person one turns out to be.

• This week has also reinforced to me that I basically won the lottery as far as ‘in-laws’ and ‘extended family’ that I have! What a fun, smart, interesting, and caring group this ‘Pollard Plus’ group is…they are FANTASTIC!

• I love my children dearly, but it was so nice to be able to meander around Mt. Vernon and not worry about the kids getting into things they shouldn't, using their 'inside voices', or getting into trouble. They had a much more enjoyable time playing with Connor, Antonio, Marcos, and Abraham then walking around 'some old house/place'.

• I realize that slavery was an institution when Washington was President and citizen…but seeing the slave quarters and understanding what took place…it was disturbing to see that one of the most important and celebrated figures in American history didn’t have the understanding or anti-slavery sentiment inherently within. In my eyes, that made him imperfect…a tad different then some portray him. For being the father of our country and such a visionary – I wish he could see slavery for what it was. Obviously he was a product of his time and place and that is important to recognize as well. (Virginia was in the South during a time when slavery was an important and accepted institution)

• Very interesting to see what has happened to the entire estate of Mt. Vernon. The small part that exists today is surrounded by present-day development, which is obviously in stark contrast to the peaceful estate that we visited.

• Mt. Vernon was fantastic, makes me interested and intrigued to visit Monticello later in the week.

Day 3 - August 3rd: Visit Battle of New Market & Pollard Reunion

This morning the family went to New Market, VA to visit the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park & Hall of Valor Civil War Museum. It commemorates the last decisive battle victory the Confederacy would have in the Shenandoah Valley by using teenage cadets from the Virginia Military Institute in addition to other soldiers.

Thoughts / Reactions:

• I hadn’t heard of the Battle of New Market before and interesting to hear how the VMI cadets came into use. VMI had provided several key leaders to the Confederacy over time including Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee to name a few.

• It became apparent that we are still in ‘The South’ as the Museum was set up by the VMI and presented a southern perspective…still a little strange to see Confederate flags sold and prominent in the Gift Shop. It reflects my ‘Yankee’ upbringing and perspective.

• Was able to shoot some video that I will hopefully be able to utilize in iMovie for teaching my American History class in the future.

• In traveling to New Market, it gave us a gorgeous view of the Shenandoah River Valley. Absolutely gorgeous.

The last official event of the Pollard Family Reunion tonight involved photographs being taken, Preston (he and his family live in Baton Rouge, LA) cooking/providing Jambalaya for dinner, Jane singing several songs for the family, Keenan doing a stand-up comedy routine, and a DVD/slideshow presentation involving the family photos provided before the Reunion. It ended around midnight. Overall, the reunion was a HUGE success. Most family members will be heading out in the morning!

Thoughts / Reactions:
• This was impressive. The entire weekend was very well coordinated and was able to be enjoyed by everyone there. Not only was it relaxing and enjoyable overall, the fact that it wasn’t a wedding or a funeral brought a relaxed vibe that let EVERYONE enjoy it for what it was…fellowship of the ‘family’. How many people get the opportunity to do such a thing?

• One other positive aspect of the weekend is the notion that everyone had the opportunity to go home with the ‘Pollard Family History Book’ that puts the Pollard family genealogy in ‘concrete’ fashion, which is priceless. At the end of the evening, they had a photo slideshow that showed pictures of all of the relatives and how they are tied together. The slideshow and the 'Pollard Bilble' really tied the whole weekend together well!

Day 2 - August 2: Pollard Reunion & Float the Shenandoah River

Saturday, August 2, 2008:
Float the Shenandoah River & Pollard Reunion

Woke up this morning to a nice thunderstorm. The itinerary is for a 5-hour float trip this morning down the Shenandoah River, but we will see if it still happens.

Made a run to Wal-Mart today…picked up a Virginia Cavaliers hat and a T-shirt that says Virginia: Gotta Love It! w/ the outline of the state behind it in blue….AWESOME. Unfortunately, was late getting back to the house holding up everyone going on our big canoe/kayak/tube float trip down the Shenandoah River!...the float trip was approx. 4 hours long from 12:30 – 4:30pm. It was very nice, but was also an adventure. I was with Jim in the canoe, while Barb was tied to our canoe on an innertube w/ Clair also tied on with another innertube. Andrew floated on an innertube with Sara & Jaime’s canoe including Elizabeth, Connor, and Antonio. At the ¾ mark of the trip, we got caught in a massive thunderstorm w/ flashes of lightening and a LOT OF RAIN! We eventually went ashore and waited the storm out and tip the canoe over to dump out all of the rainwater.

After finishing our float trip at Stonewall Crossing (the Shenandoah River goes right by their house), we cleaned up. In the evening, a Bluegrass band played on the porch while dinner was served. Fabulous food and ambience. The evening had a cool breeze, which made the evening near perfect. The evening wound down with a presentation of the ‘Pollard History’ a.k.a. The Pollard Bible. It was a time of sharing stories, recollections, and conversation.

Day 1 - August 1st: Leave Omaha & Arrive in Luray, VA

Friday, August 1, 2008:
Leave Omaha for Luray, VA

Up at about 3:30am to get ready to go. Out the door at 4:15am. Park N’ Go by 4:40am. At the airport by 5:00am checking in. Swanson’s, Barb & Jim, Grandma Kathleen all boarded Midwest for the 2 hour trip. Oren’s sister Ima Jean was on our flight as well as Bill & Cheryl (Malcolm’s daughter – Malcolm was Oren’s brother). Plane departed at about 6:15. Kids did great. Alex slept for most of the flight…handled his first airline trip like a trooper. Andrew, Alex, Papa, and I slept for a little bit in the plane. I was excited to land at Reagan Int’l Airport because it lands near a lot of the DC monuments...unfortunately I was not on the Potomac River side, so didn’t see much.

We got the rental cars (I get to drive a Grand Marquis around Virginia…not my first choice) – I look like an old man or an undercover policeman. Drove Jill, Grandma Kathleen, Avery, and Alex. Followed Jim, Barb, Andrew & then picked up Phillip & Daniel at Dulles Intl Airport. Kathleen was quite surprised when we pulled up and they were waiting…what a pleasant surprise – one of Kathleen’s perks in her ‘condition’. We got lunch and then it was approx. a 90-minute drive to Luray and Jim & Kathie, Chris & Elizabeth Mailander, and Sara & Jaime Capella’s Virginia Farmhouse Homestead: Stonewall Crossing. It was built in 1739 and they have restored parts of it, modernized parts of it, and expanded parts of it to make it a fantastic ‘getaway’.

At some point I will try to get a registry of who all is at the Pollard Reunion, but initial thoughts is that this is a good turnout. My initial chart is that it all starts with Malcolm, Bob, Art, Oren, & Ima Jean (the Pollard siblings). Obviously Oren is Jill’s Grandpa…so that is our connection. Malcolm & Ruth had 4 kids (and 2 attended – Marilyn & Cheryl) the other 2 are deceased. Bob & his wife Jan didn’t have any kids. Oren: Kathleen attended. Kathie and Jim obviously were there as were their children’s families. Chris & Elizabeth with Connor 5 and Abraham 15 months. John Mailander wasn’t there. Sara & Jaime Capella were there with Antonio 4 & Marcos 21 months old. Ima Jean attended as did her kids. Steven and his wife Kate from Ogden, Utah along with their 2 girls Jane and Clair. Karen and her husband Preston from Baton Rouge, LA with their 2 boys Clay and Keenan.

Thoughts / Observations

• From a very self-centered perspective…I would love to see the Swanson’s / Greene’s pull something like this off. I suppose we did it at Grandpa’s funeral and at Karlynn & Scott’s house last Christmas…but to get most of the group together in a fun place would be priceless. The other roadblock would be getting the Swanson, Greene, Magnusson, or Bendickson extended families together would be even a greater challenge.

• Absolutely love being on the East Coast and surrounded by all of this history…much like an artist/sculptor would love to visit Venice or Rome, a Cubs fan visiting Wrigley Field, or a Duck fan visiting Eugene, OR. I am reading info regarding the Civil War and hearing first hand accounts of real life personal experiences with Civil War encounters (property encounters) with the Civil War. Luray, VA is kind of known for being Stonewall Jackson’s territory…and it is obvious. Roads, bridges, and other items are all named after him.

• We are staying in a 2-bedroom cabin on the Shenandoah River approx. 1 mile away from the Stonewall Crossing. It is very nice…but coming in at night means lots of moths, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes come in with whomever. It has a fairly rustic feel to it, but will be nice to call ‘home’ over the next week. Andrew & Avery are sharing joint sleeping quarters (futon) for the first time…not pretty to start, but asleep now.

• It is 11:30 local time and I am beat. I need to get some sleep – have been on the ‘go’ since 4:30AM local time…NICE!!!

PICTURES INCLUDE THE FRONT AND BACK PICTURES OF 'STONEWALL CROSSING' AND A PICTURE OF OUR 2-BEDROOM CABIN THAT WE STAYED IN FOR THE WEEK ON THE SHENANDOAH RIVER.

Virginia Trip Overview

It is about time that I do a run down of the trip last week. I kept a journal with some additional thoughts & observations about the events as the week went along. I will admit right now that I do have some spelling errors & I didn't finish a complete family run down...my apologies for that. At some point I will try to get back to update the appropriate information. This just allows you to get an idea of what we did for the week. Here is the general itinerary:

Friday - Aug 1st: Leave Omaha & Arrive in Luray, Virginia
Saturday - Aug 2nd: Family Reunion & Float the Shenandoah River
Sunday - Aug 3rd: Family Reunion & Visit the Battle of New Market Battle Site
Monday - Aug 4th: Jill & I Visit Mt. Vernon
Tuesday - Aug 5th: Relaxation Day in Luray
Wednesday - Aug 6th: Jill & I Travel into Washington DC
Thursday - Aug 7th: The Watson's & Swanson's Visit Monticello
Friday - Aug 8th: Leave Luray, VA & Arrive Home in Omaha, NE

It was a busy week, but a lot of fun. You have already seen some pictures...now I will add some context. I hope you enjoy the entries as I post them.

Presidential Homes

Monticello (top - Jefferson's Estate) vs. Mt. Vernon (bottom - Washington's Estate)

Monticello was probably the site I was most interested in seeing, so was very excited to see. It was ‘awesome’ in every sense of the word…but was surprised how I found myself comparing it to Mt. Vernon. Jill and I felt that Monticello was more realistic and came across as a ‘home’ that was actually lived in as opposed to Mt. Vernon which had more of a feel of a museum. It is important to note, however, that we liked the museum/presentation style of Mt. Vernon more than Monticello.

What a week!

I have a TON of pictures and stories to share regarding our trip to Luray, VA and all of the sightseeing we did. I will post a few pictures & share a few stories at a time...if I wait to post it all at once, well - you won't see it for another couple of weeks.

As for those of you who are not aware, Jill & the kids and I went to Luray, VA (90 miles SW of Washington, DC) for the Pollard family reunion. We left on Friday, Aug. 1st and returned on Fri. Aug. 8th. While there we canoed the Shenandoah River, played with relatives, relaxed, and visited: Washington DC, Mt. Vernon, Monticello, Battle Site of the Battle of New Market, and the campus of Univ. of Virginia. Here are some of the initial pictures:

1. Jill, Alex, and I overlooking Washington, D.C. Andrew & Avery stayed in Luray to play with Connor, Antonio, Marcos, and Abraham. I think the kids were happier and it made for much more relaxed sightseeing for Jill and myself. We saw the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, the US Capitol Building (see next picture), the National Gallery of Art, WWII Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. It was hot, humid, and we were exhausted by the time this picture was taken.

2. Alex & I in front of the US Capitol Building. One of the effects of 9/11 is the Capitol Building has been pretty much shut down. We were not able to see the chambers of the House or Senate as you need to get tickets from your Congress person...but we were able to see the Rotunda & Old Senate Chamber which I do discuss with my students - so it worked out alright. Alex took the day in stride and handled the Capitol tour with little problems.

3. Mt. Vernon - On Monday, Aug 4th Jill, Alex, and I walked the grounds of George Washington's Virginia Estate. It was very impressive and well worth the time to see. I got some great video footage and Jill shot some fantastic pictures. There will be more about this in the near future.

Enough for now, will post more later. It is definitely good to be home, but we had an AWESOME week in Luray, VA. Thank you Watson's, Mailander's, Mailander's, Capella's, and Pollard's!

The Cousin's At the Zoo

It was a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska today for our day of fun. It was a logical choice, really - what better place for the kids than a place that houses WILD ANIMALS! We saw it all, rode the train, ate ice cream, made faces and noises at all the animals, and were in bed and asleep by 8:30pm. They were hot & tired, but we all had a great time. I would say that Alex enjoyed his first trip to the zoo, but he really wasn't conscious for much of it. On to the Lakehouse to swim tomorrow and then it is off to Schaller, IA for Popcorn Days...I don't know if Kristen, Ryan, and Luke are ready for what they are in for - a whole lot of fun!

The pictures include:

1. Riding the zoo train

2. Me & the boys standing in front of a Sun Bear 'lounging in a tree'

3. The kids enjoying their ice cream...at least whatever actually made it in to their mouths

4. The King of the Jungle up close & personal...not Avery, but a lion!

Until next time...

Fun with the Cousins!

On Friday, the 4th of July, my oldest sister Kristen and her 2 boys Ryan & Luke arrived for 2 weeks from Portland, Oregon. Oh the fun we are already having! Here are some pictures from our trip to the Lakehouse on Sat. July 5th. Many pictures will come over the next couple of weeks.

Pictures:

1. 'Ahoy there matey!' The cousins on Papa Jim's boat

2.Ryan and Avery on the dock

3. On the jet ski w/ the 2 desperado's, Andrew & Luke

4. The 3 'pirates' (Andrew, Ryan, and Luke) off to look for treasure...in this case, live fish!