Steam train ride

Today Pam, myself along with Jeff, Val, and their boys went to Elbe Wa. to "take a ride on the railroad." When we got their we waited for the engine. To our surprise a vintage diesel came instead. I know that I was disappointed. Then the steam train came. I was excited. We boarded and went to the open car at the front of the train. It was a move that I don't think we'll do again if we have a future trip. Pam was wearing white & she turned black!! It's funny now. The kids loved it. But, since we were following the engine we got all the sut, leaves & bugs along the way. I know 2 people who will be travelling in the enclosed cars next time! We the mexican food restaurant inn went to eat at the Eatenville location. It was the same place Jack & I took Aunt Mary Ann & Uncle Erwin to years ago. I will be riding a steam railroad again next Friday on the Virginia & Truckee railroad with Michelle, Bob, Karen.

Europe 94

Back in 1994, Oma & Judy came over for a visit. We had a really good time. We went to Holland & Bavaria/Austria. This 1st story, or 1st half is of Holland. They flew into Amsterdam, Pam, myself with Jacob & Michelle were there to pick them up. We stayed for a couple of days. We went to see Volendam and the historic village with the old windmills. I don't know how to spell it & that go's for the sell check also. Judy was really excited to taste some of the old Dutch favorites when it came to the food. The food there is really good. At dinner in the hotel they had some fun desserts.

Oma was right at home when it came to being in Holland. That makes sense since she is all Dutch!

Our trip to Germany & Austria will come later. Our family, are blessed to have such fun on trips. It's even better when you have your own tour guide!

SUB-ZERO

Last week the Walsh's, Linda & Mario has finally opened their Ice cream store. It's a long time waiting. The name is Sub-Zero. The "Cool" catch is they "make" your ice cream right in front of you! Special order mind you. There are a lot of different flavors & ways to make ice cream.
They are in a great location. They are next to Best Buy. It is a high traffic area. They should get lots of people seeing this fun place. Jack is really good at PR so that is a plus. It's difficult to run a restaurant. Your are married to the business. We all will help if needed. A lot of family works there with friends. It seems like people like it. They are having a lot of people come in. They have been at the Federal Way's Farmers Market. They have been in the paper & I hear on King 5 news. Good Luck with the business.

France

This trip to Holland was fun. But the trip for me in France was really special. Pam & I spent a lot of time in Europe but! not in France. Some of the other members of the party been to France But like us enjoyed the time in France with their spouse. On the way to Paris we stopped to see Normandy. We stayed in Caan. Now on Sunday they had a Farmers Market. They are big in Europe. They are usually on Saturday but this one was on Sunday which was good for us cause we didn't get there till Saturday. We would've missed it. Above is Pam, Karen checking out the vendors.

Our Hotel was near the Marina. It was a beautiful water way.

Above is the castle, fortress for William the Conquer. He ruled England but from the Normandy side. Below is his grave.

Walking the small streets of France, in a small town is pretty fun. You can't help be amazed were you are at!

Below is our Hotel.

It's a little intimidating in France. None of us could speak French. In Europe it helps if you at least try to speak their language. Pam did a pretty good job. Driving the Freeways there takes a toll. We took them a little but , it was more fun taking the back roads. You see more of the way the locals live. The way they had the directions on the signs just confused us a whole lot. After being lost a couple of times we realized how to read the signs. It's nuts trying to figure out their signs.

More Normondy

I think this is Jack. This is the Battery that the Rangers were after when they were scaling the cliffs. The reports said it was active and had to be taken out. Unfortunately they were not active.

This is how deep the holes are that the shells from the ships caused. They were all over! There was no surviving if you were exposed!

This is Omaha Beach. It was the bloodiest beach of them all! General Omar Bradley almost called it off cause of the bloodshed! I am very thankful for what all the soldiers had to go thru for the world to be free. A lot of brave men and women! Thank you all!

Normandy

During our trip to Europe we visited Normandy. This was something that I wanted to do for a long time. When we were stationed in Germany we tried but, for some reason we couldn't get there. Well, we finally did. Above is some of the coastal defense. There were a few remaining.

Above is were they buried the soldiers 1st. If you don't know how it works is this. As they are going thru the area, they have Grave registrations come thru & try to identify the bodies 1st. Then they bury them in an temporary grave & then after the battle or war they try to figure out were the remains go. This is were they were before the permanent cemetery.

Above is 1 of I think they said 5 women that are buried in the cemetery. They were killed during the battles. A brave woman who people hardly know was there.

Here are some more coastal defenses. Can you imagine having to storm the beaches with bullets flying all over & people dying all over? It had to of been horrible! I'm thankful for those who did make the sacrifice. I'm thankful for all who had to endure that "Day of Days!"

"You had to be there!"

Back in 1990 times were uncertain for the Sirrines. Our unit was being deactivated & the nation was going to war. Pam had plane tickets to Washington to have Christmas here. We couldn't afford one for me, especially since we weren't sure if I could go to Washington for Christmas or to war. The time came when they said we could go on leave. I ended taking the bus. As we were going in Utah we passed thru Price Utah. I saw the famous JB's restaurant & I started to chuckle. The guy next to me who befriended me asked what was so funny? I looked at him & couldn't explain it. I replied " You had to be there." What had happened was back in 1988, the Lutz's, 4 kids, the Sirrine's, 3 kids, Ady, 3 kids stopped at the Jb's to eat breakfast. Kids under 12 eat free. Well, there were 10 kids under 12, double the amount of paying parents! We went thru the line, wiped it out. We then went thru a second time, Again wiped it out. Then we went a 3rd, wiped it out. We walked away full! We're pretty sure the store manager was happy to see us leave & as I rode thru I noticed that they do not have that buffett anymore or the kids under 12 eat for free either! You had to be there. I'm sure the kitchen was a lot emptier after we left!

Karen & I went up to the top of the Arc-De-Triumph. It had a great view. I've already been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Pam didn't want to go up so, Karen & I went up on the Rc. It's to celebrate the Military Victories. It was built by Nepolean for Nepolean's victories at first. Now it's for all successful military operations.

Josh went up before us so the threee of us tok a photo for a job well done.

Paris #2

Pam & I ran into Karen, Mary & Josh by accident. As we got off the bu we were heading toward the Opera House. Pam has always wanted to see it. I've past it before but thought nothing of it last time I was in Paris. As we were getting in line there was Karen, Mary & Josh! As big as that city was we run into some of our party. We checked out the Opera house & I was amazed! I was glad that we did see it. It was just gorgeous! It is Worth a visit for those who is going to Paris. Notre dame is amazing. To think that they had no idea what a treasure it is a 100 years ago! I've known in America it took us a long time before we started to restore & maintain our historical stuff but, I didn't think of that problem in Paris.

I had to take this photo to prove that we were there. It was a place in the 1800 where the rich lived & shopped. Even thought the shops that they have there are still highly priced, the commoner like us could still walk down the most famous street in Paris. The Walsh's were at the Louvre. They really enjoyed it. It's like our Smithsonian.

Our hotel was the Eiffel Seine. It was just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. We could easily walk there. That also were we picked up the bus for getting around the city. Most of the travel people on tv won't tell you about the bus tours but they are fun. We did it in Washington DC, Pam has done it in London,and New York. I wished I had 1 more day for the Versille. I was there before but, would like to see it again.
I was in Paris in April of 1980 as a single soldier on a tour. Pam was 15 in June of 1980 with her family. Then in 2010, 30 years later we were there together as a married couple.

During our trip to Europe some, some of us went to Paris. I know I'm skipping Ca an but! I'll get back to it. Paris was very short. It was very fun. We bought a bus pass on double Decker bus's that takes you on routes thru the city & you can get on & off the buss whenever you want. So that's what we did. We checked out the most famous street in Paris. It was the Ave Des Champs Elysees. After we accidentally ran into Karen, Mary, Josh we got off there and strolled down that famous street. We ate lunch there. That was incredible. Even though the street isn't like it was during it's heyday of the 1800's, it's still pretty cool. When in Paris, do as the Paris people do. The outdoor Cafe's. It was really fun trying to fit in. A bit of warning though! Soda's cost a lot!!!! One mourning I got up to get something at the store & I decided to watch the people of Paris. I watched the people as they went to work. TV cannot really show you how people in other place's live. Sitting there and walking with them is the best way that you can see how others live.

When we got to Paris, we turned our vans at the airport. Then we had the bright idea of taking the metro train system to our hotel. It was an experience that is not forgotten. The train was almost empty until each stop more & more got on until it was standing room only. We also has all the luggage! There was a stop that some trouble makers got on. They tried to con me by throwing something on the floor by my feet & tried to distract me so they can steal something. It didn't work.

Jacob & Danial missionaries.

I was to lazy to go back to see if I wrote a blog about Jake going on a mission. This is our 3rd of 3. He's went to Mozambique in Africa. 5 months before that Danial, his cousin went to Argentina for his mission. His mission is just south of his dad Jack Walsh. They are just as proud of him as we are of Jacob. Danial will come home this December, Jacob will be coming home in May. The 2 of them have a blog that the moms are updating for them so, if you want to see photo's and see what it's like in each mission you can.

Camping Labor day weekend 2011

This Labor day weekend the Vander hoevens, Jeff & Val with their boys, the Sirrines Pam, Mike & Michelle went to camp at Cascades Peaks campground near Packwood & Randal. We had a very good time there. It might have been hot during the day but we had some pro's. It got chilly at night, having shade trees during the hottest part of the day helped. We also liked the fact it didn't rain! We checked out the Flee market that Packwood has every Labor day. We all went on Saturday & came home on Monday. We had our loud music people, our talkers till late crowd. We brought our dog. She loved it. There we're a lot of dogs there.

Pam bought a little stove. It was a Washington Husky. We found a normal fire pit after someone left. They use a big Semi-Truck rim for a fire pit! So Pam bought a large bucket to use for air flow, since we have 2 at home we left that there also. We burned all the wood so I didn't have a bundle of wood in my lap on the way home.

Of course we loved having the fire. We went thru a lot of wood. Some even tried swimming. Rumor has it that the water was as cold as Lake Tahoe. Just saying.

Hopefully next year we could go camping again. We as a family use to enjoy camping as long as it didn't rain. It was a real fun time. Until next year.