What I've Been Doing Since January

Ok, that's too far reaching. New title: What I've Been Doing This Last Month. Much easier to write about. School started July 28. I was a little nervous to start a new year, as usual, but it has gone quite well. My new class started with 17 students, and has gone up to 20, which is where I hope it stays. After ending the year with 28 last year, 20 is a nice small class. So, I was teaching for 3 weeks, and then went off track. Ahhh, I love year-round school! I went to Oregon/Washington for about 2 weeks for a family reunion. My sister-in-law Rachel took some amazing photos (I barely even used my camera while I was there...) so I'm giving her the credit for these.


This is the river that is at the bottom of my parent's property - the Washougal River. It is nice to skip stones on. They live in the most beautiful place on Earth...my personal opinion.

My very favorite thrift store - Buffalo Exchange - I went twice while I was in Oregon. They've got punk, retro, preppy, and then the just weird stuff. I spent way too much, but I got some cool stuff. I always like going there because the sales people wear the most BIZARRE getups. It's awesome.

My uncle Neldon (or Melton as we sometimes call him) has the coolest home ever. I always remember playing there when we'd visit on family vacations. It's only gotten better since there. He's got a zipline swing, a merry-go-round swing (that swings you high and wide), a little carousel made out of wood and pipe, a tree house, train whistle, comfy hammock, an old barn perfect for exploring, and then this cool train made out of water barrels, pulled by the tractor. Even the adults love it!

I tried to convice my dirty nephews to get clean by offering to take a bath in the jacuzzi tub with them. It was fun!


We went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a sampling of their wonderful cheese (my favorite is the Special Reserve Aged White Cheddar - yum!) and to-die-for ice cream.


Then we headed to the beach. It was a little cold (it had rained all day) but I was DETERMINED to swim in the ocean. So I did. Once my skin was numb, it wasn't too bad! ;) I tried body surfing, but it didn't work too well. So I just wave jumped with my nephew and brother. I didn't want to leave, but we had to get to our campsite.


We went camping at Silver Falls in Oregon. I'd never been there, but it's beautiful! We hiked all around and behind the upper and lower falls. It was great! We stayed in little cabins and then congregated for meals. We had a talent show too - my idea. I got the idea from Dan In Real Life and I thought my family should do that too. I showed how I could write with my toes, my sister took requests for drawing with her eyes closed, my parents read some funny stories, Clint (my nephew) showed what a master he is at guitar hero on his DS, and we had some other great acts/talents. I think I'm going to insist that that be a tradition for all our future family reunions.

After we were done camping, we had to hit the Portland Saturday Market on our way back. It's a treasure trove of junk and cool stuff. Lots of good food, crazy people, hippies, punks, and trinkets. I got a pair of earrings this time. Normally, I look for this sock shop that has knee-high socks with crazy bright patterns on them, but I couldn't find it this time.

All in all, my trip was a great one, especially because I got to be with my siblings, their kids, and my parents. Good times.