Christmas 2015

 Hard to believe that Christmas is just 5 days away. We had our Burrows family Christmas on the weekend before Christmas this year. Martin's mother Penny came from Sheridan to spend several days with us and celebrate the season with the family. It has been quite the year for Martin and I. As you can see from this year's picture, we have lost our big gray wolfhound Sailor in September and now only have Cina. Cina was diagnosed with bone cancer at the end of November and is just beginning her chemo therapy with hopes to prolong her life as she is only 3. It really brings into focus the importance of living in the now and enjoying your blessings on a daily basis. I feel extremely fortunate to be retired this Christmas and to able to  spend time with the people closest to Martin and I.

 Martin and I went to the tree farm in Washougal the first week of December and cut down our tree. We have really been enjoying our mornings in front of our fireplace with Cina on her bed enjoying a cup of coffee and the Christmas decorations.

 Cina and I in front of our living room tree, I know I will treasure this picture of our "good girl"!

 Above is Molly with her boyfriend Dan, clearly they seem to be enjoying the festivities. Perhaps it is Brandon, seen below getting into the spirit of things by disguising himself as a package.

 Nice bow, Brandon, hard to believe that you are 12 years old!  Below is Kate, Martin's oldest daughter. I love to see her smiling face on Christmas or anytime!

 Kate is working Christmas Eve and Christmas day, so I am happy she was able to take Saturday night off to come to the party.

 Anna, with her great grandmother Penny. I love her fancy holiday dress, though she claims she doesn't like her holiday shoes which were edited out of this picture.

 Brandon with his great grandmother Penny. He is really becoming quite the handsome young man.

 Martin's mother, daughters, grandchildren and significant other. Looking good people!

I'm finishing up this blog with a picture of Martin thrown into the crowd for good measure. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Grandma & Grandpa Camp, 2015

At the end of July, for the second year in a row, we had our Grandkids, Anna and Brandon stay with us for a fun filled, activity packed week. 

The week started out on Sunday with a train trip to Seattle for a Mariners baseball game.  We met Marlene's sister Maxine, and our Niece, Ann at the ballpark.  Here's Marlene and the kids waiting at the train station in Vancouver for the early morning train.

We sat in a  section of SAFECO stadium reserved for Eastern Washington University Alumni and their families.  Everyone got a free Eastern hat which you can see Marlene proudly wearing, next to Maxine, who is sporting her Mariners cap.

After the game we had a nice relaxing train trip back home.  Here you see Brandon and Anna sporting their new Seahawks shirts...which for some reason they preferred to Mariners duds.

We even got a picture of us together with Brandon as the able photographer.

On the day after the trip to Seattle, we took a great hike up Beacon Rock.  Some nice person took a picture of all four of us recuperating at the top.

Later in the week we took off to the Oregon Coast near Newport to spend 3 days in a rented house right on the beach. The dogs loved walking on the beach as usual, but with Sailors weak rear-end, they didn't run quite as wild as in the past.

The house even came with a great hot tub, that the kids loved.

This shot was taken late at night from the deck of the house we were in, of the rare "blue moon" casting it's light over the ocean.

A very early mist rolling in from the sea at the beginning of what proved to be an unusually hot day for the the Oregon Coast.

If smiles tell a story, then it must have been a successful trip.

Family Christmas 2014

 Family got together tonight to celebrate our Christmas. It was wonderful that Martin's mother was able to make the trip to join us it made the party even more special.

 Molly and Anna waiting for us to open presents.

 Josh and Bhri waiting for the festivities to begin.

 Great opportunity to spend time together and catch up on what has been happening.

 Everyone seems to be enjoying the holiday dinner Martin and I prepared.

 Eat more, we have a huge turkey!

 Martin's mom and Ray with the wolfhounds and together below.

Great family gathering, Merry Christmas everyone!

Hiking with the Grandkids

 The grandchildren are staying with us this week, so Martin and I have been planning some things to do while they are here. Today, we knew that it was really going to be hot. So we planned an early morning hike at Lacamas Creek Park here in Camas.

 We did about a 2 mile hike; everyone agreed that it was plenty of walking since so much of the hike was uphill.

 Here they go, leaving me behind, but I caught up.

Sailor had a fun day, he stuck his head into some stickers and came out looking like a bush...

 Sailor got to try on Anna's hat, he does look pretty stylish.

 In this picture, Anna, Brandon and I are crossing the bridge over the little falls.

 On the way back, Anna had both dogs. We did stop to rest on the other side of the bridge.

We were done with our hike by 1100, exhausted we returned to the house to rest. The plan this afternoon is to give the dogs a bath!

Seahawks Come to Town

 Seahawks are touring Washington State to thank the fans for supporting their efforts last year, to share the Vince Lombardi trophy and to promote the NFL initiative to get kids active and moving.

 One of the stops they made was to Camas High School's Doc Harris Stadium where they hosted a Family Festival. Above Molly and the kids pose with Blitz the Seattle Seahawks mascot.

 Here is the Vince Lombardi trophy that is awarded to the team who wins the Super Bowl.

 They had all kinds of activities for the kids to do. Anna got to learn cheers with the Sea Gals the Seahawks cheerleaders. The Camas cheerleaders joined in to learn some new moves as well.

 The players actually scrimmaged with the kids, I think this might be Doug Baldwin. They were super friendly and worked really well with all the kids in attendance.

 Blitz couldn't help himself and jumped in to play against his team.

 Really fun to watch them play with the kids. This is probably the closest I will ever get to a real NFL player or to a Seahawks game.

Here Blitz and I discuss the game, I think I gave him some good advice.

Streets Alive

Today we went on the "Streets Alive Loop" in downtown Vancouver.  This was a 4.2 mile loop closed to autos for this event...just bikers, walkers, and we even saw one horse.  Along the way were booths with activities for kids, and stuff of interest for grownups, as well as food booths and treats of various kinds.  We went with Molly and Brandon.  Unfortunately Anna was sick today so had to stay home with her dad.

Here's Brandon getting electronically fingerprinted, at a Kids ID booth.

Molly, Brandon and Marlene on the walk.  We went through lots of interesting Vancouver neighborhoods, as well as through downtown, and a stop at the farmers market.

And interesting intersection along the walk.

A rear view of the intrepid walkers

Brandon getting a free judo kicking lesson

Tree hugger but he wouldn't put his hand in the trees mouth for some reason