Visiting...visiting and more visiting!!

I'm sure that you have noticed that I haven't blogged in awhile. Its summer and time flies and we travel. Jay and I have spent a week in Oregon in May, we got to visit with family and friends from the Rogue Valley. We also stopped by and checked on our house in Phoenix, that is for sale and no one is buying. It is a hard time to sell right now with the economy and people losing their jobs. So if you know of anyone looking....in that area....

We spent another week in June in Idaho visiting with family and friends and attending a wedding of friends. This trip allowed us more time to catch up with people we haven't seen for awhile. It was great.

John and Mark are both working and haven't been able to travel with us. Mark was able to get a job with the city parks and recreation. So he is getting experience in his area of study in college. John survived the Joint Commission evaluation that hospitals go through every three years. Actually they did really well and had the best one ever.

Luke is in north Idaho working at Circling Raven Casino and Golf Resort. He really enjoys his job and is gaining more valuable experience with this summers internship. He is living in Moscow and driving 45 minutes each way to work and back. He hit a deer but with his car...Thank God he is okay but did lose his rear view mirror and got a dent on the drivers side of the car. Luke surprised us and was able to make a quick trip down for Joel's and Amanda's wedding. It was fun to see him.

I will try to update with pictures soon.

May trip home from Moscow

I got to ride home from Moscow with Mark. We were totally wiped and spent the night at Kerry and Doug's and then spent Sunday night with Martha and Al. We visited with several people on our way home.

Becky, Steve, and Mark.
At White's, Dave, Doug, Mark, Connor, and Kailey.
Doug fixed us hamburgers, All the guys taking a big bite!

Surprise!! We had received an invitation to Brittany's Graduation Party. Just happened that we were in Boise on the day. The Bogue's are a family that use to live next to us in Payette. Haven't seen them in years but have kept in touch. Brittany is a year older than Luke. The kids use to play together when they were little. They have grown up. So Mark and I stopped by to see them. It was so fun to see them and get to visit.

Brittany, Mark, Sierra, John, Savanna, Mitch and Beth. Hailey was missing (Taylor Swift concert) Neola and Beth
Then we went to Martha and Al's and spent the night before heading to Colorado. We all got into the hot tub to relax. It felt great on the tired stressed shoulders.

Al and Mark in the hot tub. The rubber ducky picture.

Luke and Jessica are engaged!

Luke asked Jessica to marry him and she said yes! We are happy for them. Jessica is a sweetheart and we love her. They are already busy with making plans for the wedding. May 22, 2010 is the date for the wedding. They will get married in Fresno, CA at her church. We will host a reception in the Payette,ID area probably in June of 2010.

They announced their engagement to us by a text with a picture of the two of them with her hand in the picture and something shiny on it. I have to tell my "where I was when I heard" story. Jay and I were visiting in Ashland with Shirley and Craig. It was the much anticipated return trip to the Rogue Valley to see people. On Monday, Memorial Day, Shirley didn't have to work so we were shopping. We had been to several stores and then went to the mall. We were actually in the dressing room at Maurice's trying on clothes. Shirley was shopping for Michelle a birthday gift and I was trying to find a pair of jeans. I get this text. Great picture of the kids...oh wait...is that her hand in the picture!! .... Shirley asked if there was a ring on her hand....so I'm digging in my purse for my "readers"....I text them is this what I think it is????!!!!!!! Yes!! "Oh! I'm sooo happy excited!" Then Luke asked if I was crying?? Happy tears:)) I was shaking and was totally done trying on clothes. Jay was also at the mall and I called him he said that he was getting a text but because of how overloaded his inbox is it was taking a long time to download. He told me to stop talking and wait for his text to come in!! Then he joins us in the dressing room area...with the rest of the staff...while I'm showing them all my text!!

If I can figure out how to download pictures from my old razor to the computer I will post the picture. You can also link to Jessica's blog from mine for the re-enacted pictures and their story.

Amelia's Graduation

My niece, Amelia graduates from the U of Idaho! I was able to fly to Boise and then catch a ride to Moscow with Jamie and family to see the graduation. She graduated with a degree in Vet Sciences and has been accepted to continue her education in the Vet Program at WSU in Pullman. She was one of 10 or so graduates that were chosen from the 1300 graduates to be in a video to be shown at graduation. It was really special to be able to be there for her. Amelia walking into the Kibbie Dome with the rest of the graduates.
Amelia on the way to get her diploma, a quick hug with dad (Jamie)

Amelia and Neola... I missed all the family pictures. So I had her pose for one more with me.

Amelia with her 82 year old grandmother Zelda that was able to attend. Amelia with her cake.

Being silly with her parents! Jamie, Amelia and Norma.

Her brothers, Jerrad and Jeff. Amelia is shooting a Nerf thing at me!
Amelia with Mark and Luke....notice that she is on her tip toes....the days when she was taller are gone. Her younger cousins are grown up!