It's Been Awhile

Wow, it's been a really long time since I've blogged. A lot has gone on since my last post, and I've had pictures and things I've wanted to share, but I just could not get myself motivated to actually get on here and post. I love my computer and all the things I can do on it, but sometimes, I think that it sucks the life out of me, and after I get on and get caught up on all the scrapbooking message boards I'm involved in and do whatever else, I need to do, I just don't want to get on here and start typing, especially since I know it will take me awhile to say what I want to say. I won't even try to get caught up with everything that's gone on since my last post.

I do want to share some photos that I took over Memorial Day weekend. We had a very nice weekend. The weather was great--it has been sunny and warm for well over a week now--today it was in the upper 80's. The kids had Friday and Monday off, and Dale took them off as well. Friday we drove up the Columbia River Gorge to Bonneville Dam on the WA side where we went inside the dam and to the fish viewing room. Then we went to the OR side and went to the fish hatchery, which was very cool. There were ponds full of huge rainbow trout, and a pond with a viewing window that had very large sturgeon, including Herman, the 10 foot long, 70 year old sturgeon. Owen, especially loved all the fish.

The lovely "Hanford green" Columbia River water

The kids and Dale watching the numerous rainbow trout

Owen watching Herman the Sturgeon

Saturday was spent doing some things around the house. Dale did a little yardwork, while I started to tile our kitchen backsplash, which has been left undone for almost 2 years since finishing our kitchen remodel. I actually didn't end up doing much since I called a friend of ours who did tile for years to ask a few questions and if I could borrow his tile saw. He ended up coming over and pretty much doing the whole job. That's the way to do home improvement projects. I still have to grout the tile, though, which is the messy part. I'll post pics when I get it all done.

Monday we took another road trip up to Mt. St. Helens. Apparently, Dale has never been up there despite living here 13 years. I guess I just assumed we've gone up there. It was a gorgeous day, and we drove up to the Johnson Ridge Visitors' Center. Despite the eruption of Mt. St. Helens being a huge part of my history, the kids weren't too interested in all they could learn at the visitors' center, but we hiked around a little and tried to impart as much knowledge as we could to them. It is amazing to see where the side of the entire mountain blew out and the effect it had on the area. Things have grown and recovered tremendously there in 29 years (the anniversary was May 18th), but there are still areas where all the mudslides occurred that remind me of the surface of the moon.

Reflected in the window of the Visitors' Center

Trying to get these kids to pose all together for a picture is like pulling teeth.