Pacific City

We just returned from a four day trip to the coast. Kenin's parents and Jonne arrived last Saturday, and the boys left for scout camp on Monday. Monday afternoon, we left for Pacific City with Ken's family and Molly. We rented a beach house in Pacific City for the week - and it was so much fun! Here is a picture of the house.

The house had four bikes for us to use and I had forgotten how fun it is to ride a bike. There were a lot of bike paths around the "village" and we had fun riding around the neighborhood looking at all of the beach houses.
The weather was beautiful the entire week. We didn't even have "misty" mornings. We had to keep our bedroom windows open to get a nice breeze, and yet it was cool enough for us to wear sweatshirts. Perfect beach weather.

We traveled to Tillamook one day to visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory. On the way we stopped at the Lighthouse in Tillamook. It was fun to go inside for a tour.

On Wednesday we went to Lincoln City and after eating lunch at Mo's, we went to the glass blowing studio where Jonne and Molly both made incredible floats.

Every night we would walk to the beach to view the most perfect sunset. The entire sky would turn the most beautiful shades of pink and yellow. It would cast an amazing light on everyone. So peaceful and serene. What a perfect way to end each of our days. I am anxious to go back soon.

My Week with Sami

Sami and I are having a relaxing week without family. Yes, it is awfully quiet here, and I actually have to resist telling Sami to turn off the x-box and to clean her room. Words that I say every other day of the year. The only words I have even spoken today are: go outside, hurry up, sit, and eat. My vocabulary is regressing. She is very undemanding and so easy to cook for. She is always by my side, either sitting right next to me, laying on my legs, or stretched out at my feet when I am on the computer. It is amazing how attached I have become to her, and she to me. To have someone who loves to be with you and who never speaks back to you, but then the joke could be on me as I have not mastered the gift of translating "dog talk".

Ken arrives home from LA tomorrow, the boys and Molly return on Saturday. Then I will be back to my native tongue speaking x-box and clean rooms language (that obviously no one understands but me)!

July 4th Weekend

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. We drove to Lincoln City on Thursday and showed Lisa the Oregon coast. After lunch at Mo's, we relaxed on the beach. The weather was perfect. When we returned home the kids went to see "Get Smart", and everyone enjoyed the laughs.

On the 4th we had a BBQ at Misty & Bart Carters house. It was fun to visit with neighbors, eat great food, and watch the kids do fireworks. Alex provided the most colorful displays! It was fun introducing Chris and Lisa to everyone. We sure missed Matt, Jo & Sydney. Molly brought some darling pictures back from Utah with her; Sydney has the cutest chubby legs and cheeks. We can't wait until August to see them.
On Saturday Uncle Joe, Amy, Glenn & kids came to visit. We all cooked a great meal that Chris chose - lots of mushrooms to go with the BBQ'd steaks. I made Kenin's favorite cake with raspberry topping for his 46th birthday, which we celebrated Saturday night.

Every night we played "Nickel Nickel", a card game that the Walches taught us. The kids love to play it, and Chris was such a good sport as I think he lost every game. My parents played cards all of the time while I was growing up. All of the Andriches were taught "Mojo card etiquette" and Jeff loves to correct us when we don't follow the rules. I love that my kids enjoy playing cards. We had so many laughs. Saturday night 11 of us crammed around the table and played the game. I could play this every day.

On Sunday morning all of our company left. It was hard to say good-bye to Chris and Lisa. It was such a quick trip.

Today Jeff and Alex left for their week stay at EFY. Molly and Zoe Smith made a cake for Jeff Tolley who is going to Samoa on his mission. They were so cute decorating it. Tomorrow Molly is going to Hoquiam to stay with Tessa, and Kenin leaves for LA. It will be a quiet week for me and Sami.

Kenin’s Favorite White Cake w/Raspberries

Bake a white cake in a 9x13” pan. Cool.

Soften an 8 oz package of cream cheese. Whip with mixer, slowly add 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

In a separate bowl, whip 1 small carton of whipping cream. Sweeten with powdered sugar and mix in 1 tsp vanilla. Fold whip cream into cream cheese and stir until blended. Spread over white cake and chill.

Cook Danish dessert as directed for pie filling. Add berries and let stand for a few minutes. Carefully spoon over whipped cream layer of cake. If it is too runny it will spill over the edge. That is why I let it sit and thicken for a bit. Chill cake.

Utah Visitors

We are awaiting the arrival of Chris and Lisa. They are driving from Utah to spend the 4th of July with us. We are so excited to meet Lisa and to show her our Oregon. Tomorrow we are going to Lincoln City, and then relax in Salem and BBQ with friends. Hopefully Amy & Glenn, their kids, and Uncle Joe will be able to come and see them this weekend. The kids are leaving early on Sunday morning (Kenin's birthday), and so it will be a quick trip. Too quick for me. It is frustrating that it takes two days of vacation just driving. I am sure that spending 28 hours in a car together will not be torture for them!

Molly loves being in Utah. She has been staying with Papa, Jonne, Chris & Lisa at Snowbird, Katelyn McBeth in West Jordan, cousins Kelsey & Shelby, and tonight she will be with Matt, Jolynn & Sydney. She does not want to come home on Friday. We appreciate everyone for having her. She is trying to get a ride home next week instead of flying home Friday. She loved EFY with Kylie Drew at the U of U last week. EFY is such a great experience for the kids. Alex and Jeff are attending EFY at Forest Grove next week.