Day 1 for our new Van started with Mickayla saying good bye to our old van. She had a very hard time letting the van go. She called it Bessie. It took both Kim and I to convince Mickayla that Bessie would be happy with her new family. (We didn't turn her in for scrap metal.) Kim worked hard to get me a good van for a great price. He called around until he found the van I wanted for a great price. He and Mickayla then drove to Lynnwood to pick the van up. It took him 3 hours to get it. We thought they wouldn't be busy on a Monday night but they were. The van is beautiful. It has more gadgets than I know what to do with. It is comfortable, with leather seats, a DVD player and control for air comfort seperate for the front two people and then the back passengers. I won't list all the other cool stuff. Kim really did a great job getting us a wonderful comfortable van for a great price.

Day two with our new van. Mickayla and Will were very excited. We broke the van in with a drive to Seattle with Darren and Ruth's family when they arrived that afternoon. We all fit into the van very well. We had a pleasant trip into the Seattle center, Pike place Market and the International district.

Day three of our new van Darrren, Ruth and our families were traveling along on our way to Orcas Island when we guess a big semi flipped a rock up that hit the side window next to Will and shattered the window. Poor William was very scarred by the glass falling down on him. I pulled over and Ruth and her boys broke out the rest of the glass out toward the street and we moved Will to the back of the car. We had just started our trip to Orcas Island (we were in Lynnwood). So we travelled along with full air plowing through the van.

Darren putting together our new window that we purchased at True Value hardware. Black plastic bag and duct tape. It was a lot better than the wind at full force at freeway speeds. The difference in pressure was painful so we had to have other windows open along with this one. The Black plastic bag made it so it wasn't so bad. Mickayla said that she thought it made us look like we were red necks. I am afraid we were more like white trash. We didn't have to have it that way long. We got it fixed the next day. The window is as good as new.

I love the fire pit. It is a lot of fun. Yet it seems when ever we have the fire pit going every one talks about hating blue bunnies!

I thought you all would enjoy seeing Blake after getting his wisdom teeth out. Doesn't he look lovely.

Brooklynn and Papa on the board walk after they saw turtles, ducks and beavers.

We had a great time with Brooklynn while she was with us in Seattle. I hope this can be a yearly thing. Anyhow we had a fun family home evening at Wynetta (sp) bay bird area.

Blake went to the temple on Tuesday. It was a great day.

My Dad out watching the boys mowing his lawn. He is very weak and can't do much. He enjoys sitting outside.

It was a wonderful pleasure to go and see Keith Graduate

Fishing as in Pleasant Valley as a kid

It has been nice to have my two other boys here this weekend.  As you can see Mickayla, Will and Blake are enjoying having Jason and Justin back.

Family Photos

I have been going through old family photos while I have been working on typing up my parents life histories. It has been fun to see the images of years ago. This picture is off my Dad making willow whistles for Darren, Thane and I. We use to love running through the woods plowing on our willow whistles. I am sure we sacred the animals half to death!

Where in the World is Blake Risenmay going?
Blake put in his mission papers this week. This is your chance to guess where Blake might serve.
Blake we are excited for you. No matter where you go - it will be the best place in the world for you.

Erin and I thought I could buy a little food to take to California with us so that we could have a few snacks at Disneyland the first day. I think I may have over bought. But you know me and having enough food!

Now Doesn't this look familiar?
I answered the door today and who was standing there but a policeman. Now if Reed and Blake was home with Jason and Justin, I would have said, "What did they do this time?" But the boys weren't home. I was sure that I didn't do anything! The police officer asked if he could look in my backyard. I wanted to say, "I promise my boys don't live here anymore! You can find one in Provo and one in Brazil." But instead I said, go ahead. I'll keep the dogs in. The police officer was looking for a weapon that a student had possibly thrown into our yard or one of the neighbors yards. They never found it. I have gone in the back yard and couldn't see anything. I told Mickayla if she finds anything she is to not touch it and let me know immediately. We did get a lot of phone calls from the neighbors asking what was going on.