I took Michelle yesterday and got her all registered for the 7th Grade. She is so excited. She will be in the Lightning band this year, playing the flute. They have hired a new band teacher from Louisanna. This should be an interesting year.

Sam got a call (after waiting all summer) from the Clackamas County Youth Corp, he will work every Saturday for six weeks. They hire students who have completed 8th grade and they do all kinds of work for the county. David did this a few years ago and they did trail restoration on the Sandy River.

Grace went to Papa and Grandma's for the last little bit of summer. She is having fun and getting spoiled rotten.

David Jr. is up working for his uncle Bill. He has been helping to pour concrete and do odd jobs. This is good for his self esteem.

Dave saw an ad on the TV for Olive Garden, unlimited pasta bowls. and decided we needed to go out. It has been a long time since we have had date night. Last night we were walking up to the long line and who should I see but my uncle Mike and aunt Susan. I have not seen them in over a year. He looks really good and seems to be in good health. They are really hoping to come to Cousin's Float this next year. We ended up sitting with them and visiting for 2 hours. And let me tell you the pasta was WONDERFUL!

I just finished this book. What a good laugh I had. It reminds me a lot of my family.
This book comes with a DVD, a must watch.

Chapter One

Chapter 1

OneWalkie-Talkie #1: “Dad . . . where are you?”

Walkie-Talkie #2: “We’re one minute away. We got caught at the light. You’re at that gas station in the middle of the next block, right?”

Walkie-Talkie #1: “Uhhh, yeah but . . . ummm . . . we have a slight problem . . .”

Walkie-Talkie #2: “What problem?”

Walkie-Talkie #1: “Ummm, Margarita didn’t swing wide enough around the gas pump and we ran into a concrete thing. It tore out the bottom of the RV. What should I do? Margarita’s sitting on the ground crying.”

Walkie-Talkie #2: “Holy crap.”

Less than a half hour into the adventure of a lifetime and the wheels had already come off. Well, maybe not the wheels, but sizable chunks of the rented Winnebago now lay scattered around a convenience-store gas pump in Mesa, Arizona. Big pieces of splintered fiberglass, twisted strips of jagged metal, and in the middle of it all, sitting on the oily pavement, head buried in her hands, was my sobbing daughter-in-law, Margarita.

www.campjinx.com

This is for you Lisa.

The Name Game

ROCK STARS:
Dave-Rogue Pleasant
Christina-Siskiyou Pleasant

MOVIE STAR:
Dave-Frank Hersey
Christina- Becky Snickers

DETECTIVE NAME:
Dave-Blue Bear
Christina-Purple Moose

SOAP OPERA:
Dave-Scott Vancouver
Christina-Marie Grant

STAR WARS:
Dave-Wildafercar
Christina-Wilchgalcphi

NASCAR NAME:
Dave- Frank Art
Christina- Dennis Robert

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:
Dave-Jean Sue Jackson
Chritina- AnnLee Croce

How to play:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (pet name and current street name)

2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on your dad's side, your favorite candy)
3. YOUR "FLY GIRL/GUY" NAME: (first initial of first name, first two or three letters of your last name)

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name and first 3 letters of the town you grew up in)

7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, favorite soda)

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first name of both your grandfathers)

9. FUTURISTIC NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne and the name of your favorite shoes)

10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother/father's middle name and the next name you hear on the tv/radio).

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY

Amanda Sue Christopherson (Williams)

August 20

I recieved this in an email and thought I would share with all. Really makes you think.

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street,going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed downwhen he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just whatthe heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of hiswheelchair and I can't lift him up."Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.
Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.


Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend -
He is crazy about you!

http://www.nannymcphee.com/

Stacy and I took David Jr., Michelle, Olivia, Gabby, & Grace to see this movie tonight. Sandy has free movies in the park every Saturday night in August. It was very cute. We took our dinner to the park and the ate then the kids got to go play for about an hour. There was a lot of people there tonight. Loads of FUN!

I found more pics from Cousin's Float. This is from Saturday dinner.

Caroline and Tim in the background.
Grandma preparing food.
Uncle Steven
Aunt Elaine Jim
Todd & Alicia & Baby Warren(yet to be seen)
I found a pic of Grace and I on the kayak. She and I took off and paddled out to the middle of the lake. Funny to be with my girl.

COUSIN'S FLOAT 2006

Again this year we camped at Lake Selmac in Selma, Oregon.
www.lakeselmac.com

Dave, Michelle, Grace, and I arrived on Thursday to have an extra day.
When we got everything setup we found out there was no water. The motor had gone out in the well. They did get it fixed on Friday. Thank goodness.

Caroline and Kira showed up Friday in the early afternoon, so we all went down to the lake and played in the water.

What a beautiful day.

Caroline and Kira enjoying their books.


Michelle ready for her turn on the kayak.


Grace is trying her hand at kayaking. She did pretty good for the first time.

Saturday we ventured out to the Illinois River Valley.

Doesn't it just make you want to jump in?

What a breath taking sight.