July 19 through 23, 2008

Saturday 19th~~~ We drove to the beach house today to spend a few days with Sharon's daughter Thresa, Cory and family for a few days of fun at the beach. Bodie and blaize were so excited to be at the beach, they couldn't wait to get in the sand and water. After we got settled in,Kent and Cory drove to Nehalem to bring home Chicken and Joe's for dinner. Tress brought along some embroidery work she has been wanting to work on, so she is enjoying TV and sewing while Nonnie (Sharon) is on the beach with the kids. Sunday 20~~~ The kids were up at 6:00AM this morning they were so excited to play, so we ate a big breakfast and they went shopping while Kent and Sharon went to Mass to see Father Jack! In the afternoon, we all went fishing, the lake needs to be restocked so Cory caught the only fish. The kids had fun casting their poles in and out and the picnic Tress packed was great, so it was still a lot of fun. (picture) Monday 21st~~~Today we played miniature golf and walked around town and ate ice cream and acted like the tourist do when they come to Rockaway. We had a nice BBQ dinner and later we enjoyed a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. The sunset was so beautiful tonight. (picture) Tuesday 22nd~~~ Today the kids had a lot of fun flying the kites they bought yesterday. Kent got out his stunt kite collection and tried to fly one but the wind didn't cooperate very good for him. The little kites really flew good though. Wednesday 23rd~~~ Today we are going home, Kent made waffles for breakfast and then we started cleaning house and packing up to go home. The kids stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory and at the Air Museum on the way home. We stopped at the casino and ate lunch and played the slots for a short time.We all had a great time but the time always goes too fast when you are at the beach,

July 24 through 27th,2008

Thursday 24th~~~~ Kent got up early and went to Portland to watch Brandon play ball while Sharon stayed to to meet her friend Bette for coffee. In the afternoon we started taking things back to the 5th wheel as we are leaving on Monday. Friday 25th~~~Kent went to Portland to have lunch with a friend and Sharon spent the day with her grandson Ray. We went for a long walk stopping at the skateboard park in Salem and watched the boys on their bikes ride in the bowl. After lunch we drove to Keizer and watched the boys their do the same with their bikes. We drove home and got Rays bike and returned to the park so he could try doing the same on his bike. Grandma had a book along to entertain her. What a fun day for both of us. In the afternoon Kent and Sharon drove to Stayton to see our friends Ralph and Beth. We had fun catching up on each others lives and eating the fantastic rib dinner they BBQ'd on the grill for us. Saturday 26th~~~~Kent spent the day in Portland and Sharon spent the day doing laundry and loading her clothes in the 5th wheel, that evening she had dinner at McGraths with Nancy, Pat and Helen, her co workers from the salon. They had a great dinner and spent a long time over dinner talking about all the people Sharon used to see at the shop. After dinner Sharon invited the girls over for Ice cream bars and they visited more to catch up on what was going on in each of their lives and families. Sharon went over to her daughters house to catch the end of a card party they had there. It was sure a busy day with so many things tto do and go to, but we can rest up when we get back on the road. Sunday 27th~~~ We invited Sharon's kids over this afternoon for a chili dog dinner. It was easy and we got done early so we could play cards one more time before we leave in the morning for Maine. It is always hard to say our goodbyes as we won't be home until Thanksgiving this time. We are going to the East Coast starting with Maine and heading south to Florida.

July9 through July 13, 2008

Wednesday 9th~~~ We are camping near Prineville, Oregon with three of Sharon's girls and their families, they keep telling us we need to go camping with them at "Walton Lake." All three families were on a weeks vacation, so we decided to join them for 4 days. It really is a quiet peaceful place out in the boonies! It is 30 miles each way to go to the closest town which is Prineville, so you don't run to the store for minor things. We all fixed a part of each meal and we ate group style. In the evenings, we had a big bonfire and we played a lot of cards with the Coleman lanterns for light. Mike had brought his 4 wheelers up to the lake so Mike and Kent went out on a 30 mile safari for 4 hours Thursday (picture) while Jeff took Kim, Matt, Shelby and Sharon to a old gravel pit and everyone took turn doing target practice. (picture) There was also an old abandoned log cabin over grown with weeds that we had fun poking around. (Picture) On Friday Kim, Shelby, Maggie and Sharon drove into town and went to garage sales. It was real hot, but fun to do. One of the garage sales was closing and they were giving away anything that didn't sell to keep from having to haul it away. They must have had at least 50 VHS movies. So Jeff and Sharon got several of them. Kim and Mike have solar panels on their motor home, so the kids use their trailer to watch movies. There is no electricity there, but the kids have generaters to use when their batteries need charging. Kent and Sharon have no generator, as we don't rough it, to our amazement, our batteries held up for the 5 days. We even took our daily shower and had no problem with water or the black water tank. It was so much fun, and I know we will try it again. We all headed home on Sunday, Pam and Jeff had a flat tire on the inside duel, Kent and Sharon came along and helped them call Triple AAA and get going. Then Kent got a moving violation ticket in Prineville for a stop sign ($242) . YIPE!!! Lisa and Gene's motor died going down hill and they lost their power steering. SCARRY!!!! Kim and Mike had no trouble going home, but they lost their awning on their motor home during the week when the wind came up and we were out sightseeing. All of it gave us a good laugh when it was over and done with, at how weird it was for everyone to have a problem. Kent is appealing to the MERCY of the Judge!! LOL When we got to Detroit Lake, We decided to stay there for one night as it was so hot in Salem and cool there. It is a fantastic place to camp and Kent or Sharon haven't been there for years. We came home on Monday .

July 1 ---July 6, 2008

Tuesday 1st~~~ Today Sharon spent the day working in the yard cleaning out the weeds and trimming the flower beds from the winters growth. Kent not liking yard work went to the beach to enjoy his daughters who are there for the July 4th holiday, he will be home on Sunday. Wednesday 2nd ~~~ Today Sharon changed the oil on the car and had it washed and then she visited the girls at the beauty salon and had dinner at Tress's house. Thursday 3rd~~~ Kent having fun at the beach and Sharon is having fun in Salem. After morning coffee at Lisa's house, this morning Sharon,Tress, Bodie and Blaize drove to Albany to the water park. We had a picnic in the park and then when the pool opened for the evening swimmers at 5 PM we went in and played in the water until 7PM. It was so much fun as we had stopped at the store and bought some water toys and the kids wore life vests that the pool provides. Bodie spent the night with Nonnie. Friday 4th~~~ This morning, Bodie and Nonnie drove to Independence, OR to watch the parade they have there every year on the 4th of July we bought lunch and ate it while we waited for the parade. They had a carnival there and a lot of booths set up to shop at. We called Kent to exchange news, and he was having fun with the Rockaway parade. Our parade was lots bigger, but Rockaway gave away lots and lots more candy!!!! I think someone should tell Independence that lots of candy thrown is what makes a parade fun!!! LOL Saturday 5th~~~ Today is the "All Star softball Tournament" that Sharon's son Bill coaches and her granddaughter Kallie pitches for their team. They won the first game of the tournament, now they have 2 more to win. The umpires have told Bill that Kallie is the best pitcher they have seen in this league and wanted to know who taught her how to pitch. Bill said "just dad sitting on a pail catching a lot of balls."