Reunion, Reunion, Reunion!!!

What an exciting October I had...my official 45th high school class reunion had come and gone in August, without many of my friends or myself attending.  SO, some very dedicated "girls of '67" decided we just had to get together in October...how about Berea High School's very last Homecoming??  Our alma mater will be combined with our arch rival school, to form one high school, starting next year.  No more red and blue; no more Berea Braves!  It was decided...it would be a girls' weekend to remember!

I began my trip with a visit to "the other Chris" for a couple of days.  We walked and talked; we hit some of the highlights of Cleveland, Ohio (Oh YES there are!!).  We renewed our wonderful friendship, and had a great time!

 We toured the Cleveland Botanical Gardens...chasing butterflies in the "rainforest"

 We think we identified Berea grindstones being used as stepping stones along the paths

                                                The Cleveland Art Museum

 We visited President Garfield's memorial in Lakeview Cemetery...our docent told us many interesting facts...

 As we were leaving, he asked where we were from...when I said, "Idaho" he told us to wait while he looked up something in a large ledger...he then reported that the people of "the Idaho Territory" (!) donated $12 to the building of this memorial.

Now I'm off to the old hometown...Berea, Ohio...

 Before the rains came, we were at the BHS Homecoming game...the half-time show was fantastic!

 The band wasn't as big as it was 3 years ago, but still great entertainment!

 Now, here is the embarrassing moment none of us expected...Carolyn had kept a stash of incriminating letters/notes from junior high and beyond; wrapped them up and delivered them to the senders.  OH MY...

I don't remember writing them, thank goodness, but I recognized the hand-writing and had to own up.  Really hilarious and a bit humiliating.

 Hurry...set the timer...run and jump on the bed!  Still crazy after all these years!

I wanted to see my cousins who still live in Ohio...Don, and Mary Lou with their dad, Uncle Al and Mary Lou's daughter, Stephanie, and my cousin Margaret...we represented the families of all 3 Olsen girls: Violet, my mom, Lucille, and Lura.

 And then, I was off to Kansas City...two of my grandnieces welcomed me with signs and smiles!

                                                   Sisters' reunion...so good to be together!

Reed's 65th Birthday...SURPRISE!!!!

 We started out the day at Cache's flag football game in Emmett...Cache got an interception, which led to the winning TD!  Very exciting!!  Then we drove to Eagle for lunch...at least that's what I told Reed.

 We walked into the restaurant and...TA DA!  SURPRISE!  The grands were ready to party!

 After lunch, we all drove to Star, to Jay and Christa's for cake and presents...

 I had taken a photo of Reed back on the Salt River Indian Reservation, unbeknownst to him...surprise!!

 It happened to be BSU gameday...thus the blue and orange theme, and commemorative football.

I think he liked his birthday...makes getting older a lot more fun!

Forty-second Anniversary Dinner

 Believe it or not, this group of friends have all been married for 42 years...each!  We began celebrating together at year 10, when we discovered we had all been married in 1970.  This occasion was the BYU vs BSU football game (I seem to have a theme going in this blog!) when all but one couple would be in Boise. 

 It had been 3 years since we had all been together to celebrate, but Reed and I, and Alice and Rex (below) had been in Washington, D.C. to have dinner with Diane and Brent (above) in 2010. 

 Most of us have ties to both teams...Reed and I met at BYU, as did Alice and Bill (above), Diane and Brent, and Alice and Rex.  Now, Bill works at BSU, Con and Linda met at BSU...you get the idea!

After dinner, we were off to the game...the end result: BSU 7   BYU 6   I like our numbers better...42, and hopefully many more!

September Birthdays

                 Eden made me this set of "Season Blocks"  Turn the blocks, and the other 3 seasons appear!

                                   Christa and I shared the birthday party...here she is with Mia

And a good time was had by all!   I was handling camera duties, so no photos of the 63 year old!

Go Orange, Go Big Blue...

The boys continue the pregame tradition for our first home game against Miami of Ohio...MANY of my high school friends attended Miami of Ohio...it used to be called the "Cradle of Coaches" because so many influential college and professional football coaches began their careers there.  I love my Ohio roots, but I bleed blue!   J and D always throw the football before each home game, and I must serenade them with the fight song.  Then, with flags flying, they drive to the stadium.  Fight! Fight! BSU!

The Broncos Go To East Lansing and We Don't

 My sister and I had planned to meet in East Lansing for the BSU vs MSU game;  she graduated from Michigan State, married an MSU football player; I graduated from Boise State and married a BSU (formerly BJC) baseball player...it seemed a perfect chance to cheer together, for opposing teams! She cancelled...I stayed in Boise... SO, we rented a suite, invited Missy, Kip and McKena, and tried our best to root on the Broncos. 

 This has become almost a tradition...we did the same thing last year for the BSU vs Georgia game!   .McKena loves to swim in the motel pool, and we all EAT and cheer!

Unfortunately, this game ended poorly...Sparty won...we were very sad...we're not used to losing!

Little D is ONE!!

                                             The invitation...

                                             The decorations...

                                              The treats...

                                             Happy Birthday to YOU...Make a wish...
    
            YUM...

                                           Birthdays are FUN!!

Vacation on the Coast

 We have found a great place to start our vacation...Long Beach, Washington...we arrived in time to see the sand sculptures before they crumbled...

 We stopped in Ilwaco (ill-wah-co) to see the fishing boats in the marina...

 Back at the beach, we saw many boats closer than we have ever seen them...they were fishing for tuna, and apparently, there was a competition going on...big prizes...$2000 for a tuna!!!

SOLITUDE...this is why we love Long Beach...we are usually alone on the beach!

Safari Campin'

 Bellamie is ready to go...first, find the animals...they're hiding!

 Our second trip to the Story Trail...this year the story was Hey, Little Ant...and yes, we found real ones.

Next we went to the Boise Aquariium...are those the screaming eels??!!!!

 
Bellamie loves all creatures great and small!