Elma train ride 2011

This past Summer we were able to make time for a train ride.  We went to Elma & took the train.

There was Jeff & Val along with their boys, Pam & myself.  We had a very fun time.  Pam made the mistake of wearing white on an open car.  A lot of her "white" wasn't so white anymore.  The trip took about 1 & a half hours.  Half way we were able to get out & just hang out.  Our schedule this past Summer along with the VanderHoeven were filled up & I was happy that we had the opportunity of  riding the rails.

Cruise 2000

There is a reason why I'm doing the 1st 2 Cruise's.  We're going on a 4th cruise, Pam & I & I want to have all 4 blogged.  This time we went on the Western Caribbean.  We sailed on Princess this time.  We left out of Ft. Lauderdale.  Coming on the cruise were Oma, Opa, Pam, myself, Jeff, Val.  It was  in November of 2000.  We had fun in Jamaica.  We floated down a river.  The local were jumping out of the trees to splash us.  Then we jumped out into the river on a rope.  Poor Pam ruined her nails & it really hurt also.  We had fun in Tulum.  We didn't make it back to dinner.  It was OK, we had a blast.  Riding that bus was a scary thing.  We didn't know that we would make a few trips in that area in the near future.  They had great entertainment, food.  I am looking forward to the next cruise.

As usual we had a great time with our Thanksgiving day.  We had alot of people.  We had some people who hadn't been to Thanksgiving for a long time.  It was Linda & Mario's 1st since the days of using the church building on Om's last Thanksgiving.  Jamie Vander Hoeven was here & it has been 2-3 years for his last time.  Matthew's 1st in 3-4 years also.

Last night Judy & Linda came & helped Pam, myself, & Matthew in getting the house ready for the big day.  They were a lot of help & much appreciated.

Of course football was a part of the day.  There are 3 for Thanksgiving.  Only 1 matters of course, the Cowboys.  (who won!)

There3 was enough food that if we wanted to start all over, it was all ready there!  It was a most excellent meal, 3 huge turkeys sacrificed their lives for us.  We eve n shared with the dog.  The most lucky dog in the world.  We all talked about what we were thankfull for.  Brians friend, Jasons friend, & Mario's familyjoined us on that.  Afterwards it took 2 shifts to clean up.  It was successfull.  It helps to have a dishwaser!  Thank-you all for coming.  Pam l;oves doing this so, it makes it worth the effort that she puts in & it makes her very happy when you all come.

1998 Cruise Part 2

 We had fun on board also.  At dinner was a great time to try new & different foods.  Above is Ady tryin Escargo!  As you could see, hedidn't enjoy it to much.

The middle photo we are approaching St. Marteen.  We had a very fun day there.  Below are the waiters we had.  Tony & Ernie are their names.  Tony was the main one.  He was from India.  Ernie was training & from France.  Of the 3 cruise's that I've been on so far, they were the best.  Tony was making up time spent in India.

Cruising 1998

In 1998, November, we went on our 1st cruise.  We did the Eastern Caribbean.  We really had a fun time.  we left out of Miami.  We got there the day before, a must when cruising.  We stayed in a part of town that you have to be very carfull.  With us were Oma, Opa, Pam, myself, Jeff, Val, & Ady.  Ady & I went to Burger King cause we were hungry.  With the type of people hanging around we thought that we would have to RUN to our hotel!  We made it.  The AM that we woke up we tested our snorkel gear in the swimming pool.  It worked.  The 1st photo is the adult game were you had to find things.  I need to find a bra.  Lets say I found one.  The next 2 were in Nassau.  We were at a Mcdonalds & for the 1st time Pam wanted me to order.  I missed all the fun.  There was a local family sitting there.  The mom who was big hauled off an hit the hubby!  Then she took the kids and ran into the bathroom.  She didn't like the fact he was eating some of the kids french fries.  As he was sitting there he replied "I'm going to get that woman!"  Then he got up and proceeded to bang on the bathroom door for them to come out.  Then she came out with the kids & belined to the door & out of Mcdonalds.  I missed the fun cause I was ordering!!!

Camping in the Great Northwest

We as a family love to go out & be part of the beauty of this state.  We use to go out a lot. 

 Above we like to test our luck.  It was at the end of Summer so, we didn't have to worry about the water flooding.  Below We like to hop around.  All these trips were between 2000-2003.  That was a hghlight of our camping.  Our kids loved going on these trips.

 Here are some of the beauty.  Below is in the cascades .  We were right in the middle of some of the most beautiful part of Washington.  We arrived late .  We ended up pitching our tents in the dark using flashlights.  But!  When we woke up the next day we were surprised to see the beauty that u see below.

There will be more trips.