37 years!

Today, August 20th, Marcie and I celebrate our 37th wonderful years of marriage.  Don't think we look much different, do you?!

Early birthday in Oregon!

Last weekend we had the chance to visit the Oregon coast with the Shakespear's and the Oregon Turner's - we met at the Shakespear's and had a wonderful time.  Even though it's a couple of weeks before Marcie's birthday, we celebrated early anyway and had a great time together.  We had beautiful weather and spent lots of time at the beach!  Oh how great it is having family close by:)  Here are a very few of the many pictures taken.

Can't hit the Oregon coast without a trip to the Tillamook cheese and ice cream plant!

 Took a very fun walk to Munson Creek Falls - the highest water fall on the Oregon coast

Fun at home, loading the piñata's with candy, piñata fun, and a wish for Marcie T!

  Marcie and Jeremy were very good sports!

Beach fun:)

 You think we could get these 4 to run in the same direction for a picture?!

Marvelous time!  Thanks everyone.

Lattin's/Vincent

On Saturday, we enjoyed a trip to Lattin's country farm where the kids saw lots of animals and fed the goats. They really got a kick out of the goats who would "steal" the whole sack of grain and the kids laughed and laughed.  We also enjoyed some of their wonderful apple fritters.

On Sunday we had the privilege of attending church together as Brigg blessed his new son Vincent.  What a sweet experience that was!!

We are so grateful to have this new young man in our family and thank Heavenly Father for his safe arrival.

Nauvoo the Beautiful

On Monday afternoon, after spending the morning at the Shedd aquarium in Chicago, we rented a car and followed Brigg and his family down to Nauvoo Illinois - where we spent all day Tuesday and into the early afternoon Wednesday in this historic and beautiful city.  We saw couple missionaries make rope, run a loom, make bricks, demonstrate horseshoe making along with prairie diamond rings, and visited several of the businesses and homes of the 1800's.  What an inspiring and testimony building time we spent together. Wednesday afternoon Marcie, Havalah and the two boys traveled back to Chicago to spend the night and catch a flight on Thursday morning back to Washington, while Brigg and Scott drove the car west!  They stayed nights in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Bozeman, Montana before arriving late Friday night in Lacey!

Admiring a beautiful statue of the Savior

Enjoying several modes of former day transportation

Brass and bagpipe bands played throughout the town

The beautiful Nauvoo Temple from the site of the pageant

Luke inspecting our horsepower before our carriage ride through the Nauvoo countryside

Maybe the Prophet Joseph rode his horse to this spot outside of town to ponder while looking at the Mississippi River

Two senior missionaries guided our carriage tour and told us wonderful stories - obviously these 3 were paying close attention!

Inspiring and grateful feelings we enjoyed at Carthage, site of martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum

Scott and Brigg took the camera west --on one particular day stopped 3 times:  to take a hike in the Badlands!; a delightful stop at Mt. Rushmore; and a late evening visit to the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

We felt very blessed in our travels - Brigg's car had a few problems and we know that there were many praying that we would make it make to Lacey safely, which we did.  Along with Marcie, Havalah and their two boys, it was wonderful to also be greeted here by Megan, Jeremy and their family who now live in Oregon!