Sunriver Vacation

On our way to Sunriver we stopped by Black Butte just outside Sisters, Oregon. Yes, it really does look like this. Black Butte is a resort around a working horse ranch. Around a mile high, the weather in June was a perfect 70 degrees. Here Julia reluntantly poses while Dad captures the surrounding majesty.




This is the Deschuttes River as it rambles along side the Sunriver Resort commnity. We enjoyed a relaxing six mile canoe and kayaking trip with the whole Beltramo, Smith, Atherton, and Schneider clan.


Arik and Daniel



Julia, David, Arik and Daniel



Nancy, Jim, and Gram B



Daniel and Julia on the Deschuttes

Oregon in the Summer...Cont'd

Cathy and I posed for his one photo-op at the Rose Garden in Portland. As is evident by the cloudy sky and donned fleece, even in June Oregon can be inclimite by California standards. Here are some more scenes from Portland....



Grace and wisdom
Mr. Jim Atherton



The boys (left to right), John, Jarett, Jalen, Arik, Mark, and Jim



Arik and Julia in front of the USS Burke guided missile cruiser, here moored along the Willamette River



Julia ready to take a flight in a CH-53 Super Stallion



Arik, Commander in training!

Oregon in the Summer

A rose by any other name is still a rose.


For our family this past month, all of Oregon bloomed like a rose. For ten wonderful days we reveled in the beauty and peace of this special place. Cathy's sister Nancy lives in Portland with her two teenage sons, one of whom graduated from high school which was the occassion for our trip. But our travels took us, in addition to Portland, to Sisters, Bend, and SunRiver in the central part of the state.

These pictures were taken at Portland's well known Rose Garden Park. In the coming days I hope to add other highlights of our trip. But since this is one of the first places we visited after arriving in Oregon, I thought it nice place to begin.






The Girls (from left to right): Nancy, Barbara (Mom), Tamsen, Cathy, Tianna, Brita, Julia

Catalina

OK, it's been awhile since I've blogged anything. What can I say except that life is demanding and blogging is not tops on the list. For example, it's way below taking the kids to Catalina. I figured I had to go there myself at least once before my knees give out. Better late than never.

To be honest the island was about what I expected: a relatively barren landscape partially redeemed by a qaint little tourist town. I'll grant that perhaps I errored in refusing the many offers for inland excursions. No matter, we still had lots of fun: roaming around, beach-combing, eating crab, and the best part of all, riding the ferry ride across the blue pacific on a postcard southern California day. Here's a few more pics from the trip.














This was the last ride home. Yes, we got on.

From Our Family To Yours...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:9-11

What I'm Thankful For

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours....

Mark

Free Spirit

A couple of weekends ago we were down at Laguna Niguel with some friends. We stuck around the beach until the late afternoon sun set down in a blaze of orange and red against the dark sea. Beautiful.

Afterwards our little tribe, all eleven of us, headed up to P.F. Changs in Newport Beach.

What a dinner; what a day!

It was only just now that I noticed these two pictures Cathy snapped of Julia. They describe far better than words the joy briming over her carefree and ever winesome spirit.

MVP

Last weekend Arik was awarded the Game Ball by his coaches for outstanding offensive play against the Demons in the Fullerton Rangers Soccer League. This is one soccer ball that will never be kicked! With only two more games left in the season Arik has shown definite improvement in aggressiveness and knowledge of the game. Way to go Arik!