Portland, OR

We went to Portland last month for the skin cancer surgery on my nose and I just never got around to putting those pictures in, so I am trying to catch up. It was a cloudy day as you can see by the photos. I love Portland. I first lived there the summer I was 15. I worked as a nanny to a wealthy family with five children. The father was the Vice-President of Blitz-Weinhard Beer Company. He was descended from the Weinhard side. I lived there the summer I graduated from high school and before I went to the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Then I lived there for my third year of college when I went to Portland State College (now University) and also worked full time at the medical school in the Premature Baby Nursery. I joined the Church that year and went to B.Y.U. Then we lived there for four years during Dental School. After three years in Hawaii, I went back alone (with three kids) and lived there while DeWayne was in Thailand for a year. When he came home we finally bought our first house and lived there for another four years while DeWayne had a private practice before he went back into the Air Force. That makes a total of almost eleven years in Portland for me and eight for DeWayne. Brett, Michelle and Kay-Lynn were all born there, so I have lots of good memories of Portland.

I want to get all the 2006 photos in before I start on 2007. When I finish 2006 I am going to publish them in a book which I have started working on with Blurb Booksmart. Erica told me about it and has been helping me get started. It will be a journal, photo album and family history all rolled into one. I want to put in as much history as I can and then publish one each year like Erica is doing.


The mountains look beautiful even in fog. The weather stayed cloudy all day.


We go through this tunnel on Canyon Drive on our way in and out of Portland.


The Willamette River runs through the middle of Portland dividing it into East and West and then empties into the Columbia river. Several bridges connect the two sides of town.


Looking North toward downtown Portland from the 4th floor deck of the medical building where I had my outpatient surgery.


Same view with a close-up lens.


The Willamette River and two of the bridges from the observation deck. I used to know the names and order of all the bridges.


At the bottom waiting for the tram to come.


In the tram looking back. You can see the deck where we took some of the photos from.


We took the tram up to the campus of the medical and dental schools where DeWayne went to school and I worked as a research assistant for four years.


The tall building at the bottom is the medical building where I had my surgery. The purpose of the tram is mainly to transport patients and medical personnel between the waterfront campus
and the OHSU campus up on Marquam Hill, but lots of tourists and local residents ride it to see the view from the top.


The Ross Island bridge is the one DeWayne and I crossed twice daily to go to and from the dental school. We lived on the other (East) side of the river and eventually bought our house on that side too.

Another view of downtown Portland from the top of the tram.


You can barely see the snowy base of Mt. Hood under the clouds.


We drove by this cute little park in the downtown area.


Near downtown.


An interesting building downtown.


I took this photo of myself after my nose healed and with makeup on. You can't even see the scar. My doctor, Anna Barr, did a great job. She is a dermatologist with a specialty in Moh's surgery at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University).

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2007

Rhiannon seemed to enjoy wrapping presents. She was a big help.


I don't know how she managed it, but Cuddles wrapped herself up in wrapping paper.


Isn't she adorable?



A view of the tree from the bridge (walkway) above the living room.


Rhiannon on Christmas Eve wearing her new Hannah Montana pajamas.


Ryder in his new Christmas pajamas sitting on an old toy horse we brought here from Las Vegas.


Racer and Ryder on Christmas Eve in front of the tree.


Racer looks like a Botticelli angel with his curls and sweet face.


Rhiannon on Christmas morning. Look at her beautiful stocking that Tiffany spent so many hours putting together with embroidery, sequins, beads, etc.



Rhiannon is wearing her new sweater and holding an R.L. Stine spooky DVD.


Ryder is opening his set of Lincoln Logs. Racer also received a different set of Lincoln Logs.


What a cute, nice smile, Ryder!


Racer is concentrating on his set of Army figures.


Tiffany worked hard to make Christmas be a happy occasion for her children. Good job, Tiffany!


Two happy little boys!


Rhiannon wearing her new Nike pants, t-shirt and matching jacket (tied around her waist).


DeWayne looks thoughtful (and tired).


Tiffany, Racer, Ryder and Rhiannon.

My computer died again, so here comes slowpoke with the Christmas photos. DeWayne and I, and Tiffany, Rhiannon, Ryder and Racer, spent the holiday together. Even though we didn't have company we went ahead and had our traditional fondue for Christmas Eve. We fondued meat in hot peanut oil, two kinds of bread in cheese, and strawberries, apples, and bananas in chocolate. The kids opened their Christmas pajamas and a toy before they went to bed. On Christmas morning the kids were up at sunrise (too early) and had a great time opening their gifts. Thanks to all you kids who sent Dad and me Christmas gifts. We love and appreciate you.
On Christmas Day we had a honey-glazed, spiral-sliced ham with raisin sauce, baked potatoes with sour cream, and baked yams.

CHRISTMAS 2007

Holiday greetings to all our family and friends from Surf Pines in Warrenton, Oregon. We ushered in the year with six inches of beautiful snow which lasted three days--just the right length for a little sledding by the grandkids and enjoying the beauty of it by the rest of us and then we were happy to see it melt.


Our driveway covered with snow.

Dewayne (and Kathy) went to Seattle for a dental conference on Oral Sedation. They enjoyed revisiting the Space needle as they first saw it at the Seattle World's Fair in 1961while DeWayne was in Dental School in Portland. He also attended the Oregon Dental Convention in Portland in April. He has been working at the Capital Dental Group Clinic in Lincoln City four days a week since July. He enjoyed two years of retirement before going back to work. His three days home are exceedingly busy. Now he has about 50 downed trees to cut, section and pile after the hurricane winds we had in early December. We were barricaded in here for a few days until he cleared our long driveway. He just bought a larger chain saw to tackle the project.


DeWayne walking Jennifer down the aisle at the Secret Garden.

Kathy has had some health problems to deal with this year. She began the year with physical therapy after a total shoulder replacement the preceding October. Then she had a lesion on her tongue removed along with several teeth due to diabetes induced rampant caries. She was scheduled for a shoulder replacement on her other shoulder but the pre-surgery EKG showed atrial fibrillation so that was cancelled. She will have electoconversion the day after Christmas to attempt to shock the heart into a regular rhythm. Throw in a Basal cell Carcinoma on her nose just removed with Mohs procedure and that is her year. She has enjoyed teaching Relief Society once a month, and going to the Portland and Las Vegas temples.


Kathy at the Las Vegas temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

We both like visiting with our children and grandchildren so we really enjoyed the month of June. We rented a house with a pool in Las Vegas and had a bridal shower and wedding (Jen), a graduation from Pharmacy school (Kay-Lynn), a baptism (Brian), two birthdays (grandchildren Jessica and Connor).


Jennifer and Brian's wedding with all the kids, their spouses and most of the grandchildren.

Debbie, Kirk Juchau and family live in Arizona. Aubrey just married David Gibbons, Kris and Jamie will marry next year and blend his two and her five children into one family, April and Damon Steer have a cute little baby boy named Devon, Ashley and Graham Traines have a new baby girl named Regen, and Alanna is a cute 12 year old who loves her horse and took care of April's horse also when April was pregnant. Kirk still works with GE with computer storage of medical imaging (sorry Kirk if that is wrong). Debbie is back in college working on a degree in Elementary Education and also does daycare for four to six children daily.


Sisters at the wedding. Erica, Kay-Lynn, Tiffany, Jennifer, Michelle, Debbie and Lisa.

Brett, Kim and family live in Las Vegas where Brett is a journeyman electrician. He has worked on hotels, malls, and recently the largest array of solar panels in the United States out by Nellis Air Force Base. Brett has two children who live with their mother Heather in Pahrump. They are Jazmine and Ryan and do well in school and sports. He also adopted Kim's three children Kayla, Stephanie and Ryan. Kim works as a Bartender and cocktail waitress.


Brett is in the center with the black shirt.

Lisa, Patrick Rorman, and family live in Las Vegas. Patrick is a FedEx driver. Lisa is finishing up with her PhD in Early Childhood Education. She also has a law degree from Pepperdine Law
School and two master's degrees, one in Early Childhood Education and the other in Mediation and Dispute Resolution. They have three children--Stephanie who loves to draw cartoons, Jessica who is an ice skater and the family photographer, and Steven a cute, mischievous 8 year old.


Patrick, Lisa, Stephanie, Jessica and Steven.

Michelle and Barry Lee recently moved from Newport, Oregon to Reno, Nevada where she is teaching Kindergarten. We enjoyed frequent visits from them when they lived here and were sad to see them move, but happy that Michelle was able to go back to teaching. Barry was able to transfer and continue working with the same construction company that he worked for in Oregon. His brother, Tony, helped them move and is staying with them now. Michelle is happy to report that she is three months pregnant. Her due date is June 10th.


Barry and Michelle.

Kay-Lynn and Greg Robbins live in Las Vegas with their son Connor. Kay-Lynn was thrilled to graduate from Pharmacy school and has been working as a pharmacist at Smith's. She also has a BS in Biology, an MEd in Health Sciences and Administration and an MS in Biochemistry. She says she is so glad she is done with school! Greg has worked for Sears and also watches Connor, a precocious 4 year old who has started pre-school this fall.


Connor, Kay-Lynn, and Greg at Kay-Lynn's graduation from pharmacy school.

Erica, and husband Vince Fordiani live in Payson, Utah with their family. Vince works as the Utah Valley University's president's assistant. Erica is substitute teaching in the local elementary schools and has decided to get a second BS degree, this time in Elementary Education. They have four children--Anna the talented dancer, Olivia a cutie who is full of energy, Anthony a smartee and game expert, and Daniel who keeps everyone on their toes with his shenanigans.


Erica holding Daniel, Vince and Anna, Anthony and Olivia.

Jennifer and her husband Brian Hotchner live in Las Vegas. Brian is a self-employed courier and Jennifer works as a cashier for Sam's Club. Jennifer is also attending UNLV and majoring in Elementary Education. They have a lively little two year old daughter named Zoey who keeps them running and is just too cute! They recently moved into their own brand new home in NW Las Vegas next to the Spring Mountains.


Brian, Jennifer and Zoey at their wedding at the Secret Garden.


Jennifer and Zoey at Brian's baptism and the Elder who taught him and then baptized him.

Tiffany, our youngest, lives with us along with her children. Tiffany works in Astoria as a lifeguard and swimming teacher. She also helps her mom in her spare time. She has three children--Rhiannon an eight year old who like drawing and dance class, Ryder who is four years old and attends pre-school and loves motorcycles, and Racer who is three years old and goes to day care at the same facility with Ryder. They keep Tiffany hopping. It isn't easy to be a single mom.


Tiffany holding Ryder and Racer with Rhiannon in front. Tiffany was the Maid of Honor and Rhiannon was the flower girl at the wedding.

We are enjoying out home here on the Oregon Coast and love the beauty we find here. We love driving on the beach and exploring our surroundings. We are so grateful for our family and friends and for the Church, and especially for our Savior whose birth we celebrate this month. We wish you happiness and peace this holiday season.

The "STORM"

By now you have all heard that we have had a HUGE windstorm, the worst anyone here can remember, with hurricane force winds measured at Camp Rilea (Army) 5 miles from here with gusts up to 140 mph. This is what our driveway looked like after the storm was over. Our power, heat, phones, computers, were off for 6 days. Luckily we bought a generator last year after the power was off 3 days and we froze and lost the food in the refrigerators. We also had our gas fireplace and gas hot water heater. The generator has four outlets, so next on the agenda is to hook it up to the electric box so it will run our gas furnace and electric power.


Trees were broken off and some were actually uprooted.


Here is Ryder in the hole left by the root ball.


This is the mess DeWayne and Tiffany had to clean up before we could get out of our driveway.


Where do the deer go during a storm like that?


They look OK to us.


DeWayne with trusty (not so trusty) chainsaw. We bought a big new one later that week when we went to Portland. The big ones were sold out here.


Cranking up the temperamental thing.


Tiffany having some fun.


A neighbor's car blocking our way out.


Another car in the way.


It looked like a war zone.


More trees down.


Our house. A tree hit the deck behind and the next morning another gust blew it off.


The woods from my bathroom window.


Once we could get out of the driveway, we went to Seaside where we heard a gas station was hand pumping gas. We waited in line for an hour and a half to fill two 5 gallon cans of gas for our generator!