I love the 4th!

1-800-FINKS-RULE

While cruising around, we passed a group of 9- or 10-year-old boys who nodded at us and said, "Cool bikes.... Old school." Hahahahahahaha.

I like songs

Below is a nice song for a sunny summer day.

All God's creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing low, and some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands or paws or anything they got, now ..

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus
Moans and groans with a big t'-do
And the old cow just goes moo

The dogs and the cats, they take up the middle
While the honeybee hums and the cricket fiddler
The donkey brays and the pony neighs
And the old coyote howls

Listen to the top where the little birds sing
On the melody with the high notes ringing
The hoot owl hollers over every-thing
And the jay bird disa-grees

Singing in the night time, singing in the day
The little duck quacks, then he's on his way
The 'possum ain't got much to say
And the porcupine talks to himself I

t's a simple song of living sung everywhere
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear
The grumpy alligator and the hawk above
The sly raccoon and the turtle dove

Handsome man

Father's Day and the Pink Fink

Today was really a lovely day. After meeting, John, Gayle, Brent, Danny, Little D and I drove to Derek and Sara's for lunch. After that, we went for a bike ride around their neighborhood (I am now totally hooked on cruisers! - how cool is that Pink Fink?!). Tonight I ate dinner with my parents, and then caddied for my dad at the golf course - excellent father/daughter bonding time. Finally, just a few minutes ago, I ate cheesecake and took a bath (but not at the same time, although I've done things like that before). Anyway, I was able to hang out with the people I love (including three of the best dads around), be outside, and eat dessert, all of which makes for a very fine time.

I like summer because...

Happy things about summer:
- Flip flops
- Fruit stands that sell Ranier cherries
- Daylight that lasts until 9:00 at night
- the 4th of July with its fireworks (and all of the food associated with it)
- Camping with the Centralia crew
- Fairs, mostly because I can look at barnyard animals
- Church conventions
- Watermelon
- Fireflies

Crazy sculptures

One weekend in May, Brent, Danny, Little D and I took a trip to Mount Ranier. On the way back we stopped at this somewhat random outdoor sculpture place and this is what we saw....


Derek and Sara, this is for you!

Animals!

I'm not sure Derek knew what to think about this guy.

This is the best shot I could get :)

The zoo, a fine place to visit

Brent and Danny bought Derek this monkey in the gift shop, he hugged on it for about 20 seconds, and then tossed it onto the pavement, at which point I ran over it with the stroller. So much for a souvenier from our day at the zoo :)

Ry visits

My not-so-little little brother :)

Derek and Sara's house

I am willing to post this wretched picture of me because he is so blasted cute. And that, my friends, is the sacrifice of an aunt.

Friday at Derek and Sara's was so fun! Susan and Sara made a fabulous dinner, we played a new game, and we watched a slide show that Ryan made documenting his time in Iraq. Let's do it again, you guys!

Birthday fun

The Centralia posse

Soren and Leyla sitting in a tree.. :)

Bill and his birthday pie
It was getting late and we were getting tired. This is what happens when you get old.

The ocean, one more time

This would be the cover of our next CD.

A preview

Fun has abounded in the month of May, which means I have lots of pictures to post. I have pictures, but no card reader with which to transfer them from the camera to the computer. I'm hoping, however, that Derek can help me with that this weekend. All this is to say that coming soon, you will be treated to the following:

- Soren and Hilary's birthday extravaganza
- Brent, Danny, Little D and I visit Mt. Ranier and a weird sculpture place
- The Pearson clan goes to the zoo
- Anything else that happens between now and when Derek can help me with the card reader issue

Little D at the... sea

He was watching the seals, and we were watching him :)

Family history

50 years ago today my dad, grandparents and uncles came to America from Germany. And that is pretty neat.

# 3

At the aquariam
Yikes. Getting my nephew to safety is serious business :)

Depoe Bay #2

I think we must be watching a really big wave coming in.

It's a fortunate thing to have a photographer in the family.

New pictures, people!

Muchas gracias to Derek for burning a CD for me with pictures from our Oregon Coast trip. I think there are 198 pictures total, so expect a very thorough representation over the next few days.

Depoe Bay

This one is neat because it looks like we're going to be swallowed up by that wave.

Sisters :)