Scotland Holiday

We arrived in Scotland safely Sunday afternoon after a very long plane ride and a short stop in Paris. Where we had the most confusing plane transfer. It turns out we were arriving in terminal E2 and changing planes, departing at gate E23, which was very hard to figure out was actually still in terminal E2, but we had to leave security so that we could come back into the other side of the same terminal. Also, our lovely gate E23 was not where the plane was housed but the bus that would take us to the plane, a 10 minute bus drive which seem to take us through the French countryside.

All in all we had a good trip and are now staying with some wonderful friends of Meagan's.

Tiah

4th of July

I hope you all had a good July 4th, celebrating our Nations birthday. We had a busy weekend, like almost all our weekends. Meagan had a friend from Scotland visiting, so she was out & about driving around Eastern Washington showing off all the great wineries, going hiking, and visiting farmer's markets around the area.

I went to my college roommate's wedding in Pendleton, OR. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding in Eastern Oregon. I had not been to Pendleton for several years now, its probably been 10 years. The town has grown, although most of my memories about Pendleton are from when I was a small child. Although, it was amazing how many things I did recognize & remember, such as the McDonald's, the Skippers which is now a Starbucks & the office complex where Dad had worked. I even remembered the corner on Main Street, where one summer when I was about 3, it was so hot that my shoes got stuck in the asphalt while I was crossing the street with Mom. All in all it was a good trip.

Then of course we had a barbecue at Aunt Kenda's new house, which was the perfect spot to see the fireworks from her front porch. Something that we should do every year from now on.

As a side note - this week Meagan and I are getting ready to head for Scotland. Very exciting!

Tiah

New Job

Big news for me. I just accepted a new position at the University where I work. Beginning Friday, I will be working as an Accountant in the AUX Accounting office. This will be a big change from the account receivables/payable area that I have been working in, and it will be sad to leave my office mate, who I have shared an office with for the past several years. However, it is an good & exciting change in my career path. Wish me luck.

Tiah

Graduation and Science Camp

Well like Tiah said I finally graduated from Eastern! And I am really excited to start my student teaching in the fall! I am already planning with my cooperating teacher and getting ready! After graduation I headed off for my senior capstone, which was offered the week after graduation. We spend five days at Chewehla Peak Learning Center near the 49 degrees ski resort. It was a blast we spent each day out at a different field site doing inquiry investigations and learning about different ways to teach science to elementary school kids. We learned about water quality, fire ecology, geology and the areas history, and about trees and forest ecology. It was so much fun! I got to know my classmates really well and we had fun going experiments.
As for now, I am looking forward to my student teaching and I got a job at Costco, so I will be working hard all summer!

KelliJean

Ocean Trip

Last week, the cousins were visiting from the mid-west for KJ's graduation. They were going to spend a few days in Newport, OR before going back east, so I tagged along. I had a wonderful time, running around the beach in the rain, mist, & wind with the two little boys. They showed no fear to the cold water & spent a good amount of time running in & out of the waves.

We had a good time, visiting all of the beach shops, searching with no luck for an oyster with a pearl. We visited the Newport Aquarium to see the sharks, and the Underwater Gardens to see the octopus; where we also learned that the sea star is one of the most dangerous predators in the ocean. Not far from here, we walked along the pier and heard lots of barking, we looked down and what did we see....about 20 sea lions hanging out & talking to one another. The cage that it looks like they are sleeping in, is a movable cage that the coast guard takes out to use to help rescue sea lions, when its not in use the locals like to use it for their naps.

We had a late night smores & camp fire on the beach before coming back to Portland. We also had the chance to visit the tidal pools and see fun creatures.

Tiah

Graduation

KelliJean graduated from Eastern Washington University this month. With a degree in Reading and a minor in Special Education, she will be student teaching in a 3rd grade classroom in September. We are very proud of her, and I'm sure Mom & Dad are very excited to have the last daughter out of college. They can now start planning for all their retirement plans.

Tiah

Washington DC trip

Last week I traveled back east to participate in my good friend, Becca's wedding. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia and all of us bridesmaids were able to stay at her home, while we helped with the preparations.

Our first full day we went to George Washington's Mount Vernon. Where George & Martha lived from 1759 - 1799. We toured the estate and grounds, which have been kept as faithful as possible to the original. A fun fact was that during one year the Washington's hosted over 600 overnight guests.

After Mount Vernon we had lunch & sight seeing in Georgetown. Our sight seeing included the restaurant where JFK proposed to Jackie. And Holy Trinity Catholic Church where President Kennedy and his family attended while living in the DC area.

Thursday and Friday were mainly running wedding errands. However, Friday night was the cocktail hour in Alexandria's historic old town and then a trip to the Lincoln Memorial. Half way walking across the Potomac River into the district, the sky opened up and we were caught in a downpour. We made it to the Lincoln Memorial and huddled inside to wait out the rain. The rain did eventually stop and we and we made it to see my favorite the Korean War Memorial. There was just something about seeing this at night in the rain that made it all the more moving. We also visited the Vietnam Memorial and the Red Cross Woman's Vietnam Memorial.

Saturday was the rehearsal at the Old Presbyterian Meeting house, the church building that President Washington attended. Then dinner at the Athenaeum which was once where General Robert E Lee did his banking.

Sunday was the wedding in historic Leesburg, VA which the groom joked is as far west as the locals travel. It was a beautiful but very hot (95 degrees) day. The groom, Kevin, had joked that he was putting me in charge of the weather after Friday's walk in the storm. So I'm happy to report the weather agreed with me.

Monday was our last day for visiting. It felt very fitting to spend Memorial Day in the Nation's capitol. The Arlington National Cemetery is very sobering on this day. We were also able to see part of the Memorial Day parade and festivities.
The National Archives was my favorite place to visit and I could have spent the entire day there but unfortunately I was with people who wanted to visit other places. We also, visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

Overall I had a wonderful trip, and I can't wait for a return visit.

Tiah