Tacomawa: Tacoma Summer + Simon Seattle

Simon Visits + Seattle

Simon and his friends David and George have been traveling the country this summer on a research grant. Geographies of Logistics: Organization and Culture in the New Company Town. Their first stop was Seattle, so we had a great day seeing the city with them. (Next was San Francisco, then Las Vegas, then home to NYC.)

 

Simon's high school friend Ben also joined us, talking a weekend off from his PhD studies at WSU. Our first pilgrimage was to the Seattle Public Library, a Koolhaus design.

Stephen, Simon, George, Ben, David

Other exciting places to visit- Freeway Park is begging for parkour, and the Olympic Sculpture Park (part of Seattle Art Museum.)

The next day, the guys made a trek on a Mt. Ranier trail. Their goal was Camp Muir, a base camp for mountain climbers planning to reach the summit. They made it 2/3rds of the way, and enjoyed views and snow at 8,000 ft.

Tacoma WA

Back in Tacoma, Brock and Jill adopted an adorable Wire haired Pointing Griffon named Sprocket. He and Clementine made instant friends, and added to summer bbq fun.

Julie and Jason, with their sons Issac and Seth showed us around Sequim, WA. On the beach, our cells phones texted us, "Welcome to Canada!" and informed us of new rates. (We could see the Canadian shoreline across the water, but not sure why we were connecting with their towers.)

Sequim is home to the Olympic Game Farm, a drive-through petting zoo where feeding the animals is encouraged. The animals think it's a great idea and do their best to join you in the car.

Stephen made friends with a baby bison.

Summer camping has a new outlet- we bought kayaks this summer! There are many places to get out on the water here, so we're trying to find the best. American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Alder Lake, or in the Puget Sound: Owen's Beach, and Titlow Park. Kayaking in the ocean is a bit more intense- we spent most of an evening trying to reach the Tacoma Narrow's bridge. After resting for two minutes, the current carried Ginger backward a distance that had taken an hour's paddling to achieve. So, we gave up for that day. Maybe by this time next summer we'll have stronger arms.

Ginger spent many happy hours this summer painting and redecorating the Stem Coaching Center, where she tutors Math and Reading. The center was formerly painted white and red, but after several coats Ginger changed it to a Spring green. She added two trees, which will be covered with origami cranes made by the students over time.

Other projects- a world map where readers can pin the locations of the stories we read, a giant ruler to measure their height, and a rubick's cube.

Tacomawa: Stephanie's Wedding Spokane WA + Madler Visit Tacoma WA

Stephanie & Ryan's Wedding

In July, we drove to Spokane to see Ginger's cousin Stephanie marry her wonderful new husband, Ryan. Their first dance song was "I Don't Dance" (Lee Brice)- but their joy was evident.

Our drive was smoky, as the area has serious forest fires this summer. When the sun went down, we could see the fires about an hour out of town.

Nancy's longtime friend Nancy hosted us. Her parents, Vern and Pat joined us for lunch along with cousin Dave and his family, Cadie and Eric. Vern is a retired United Methodist pastor. Ginger play in a horn quintet at a wedding he officiated several years ago.

(Eric, Cadie, Pearl, Nancy, Nancy, Vern, Pat, and Dave.)

All dressed up for the wedding reception- Pearl, Mandy, Nick, Ginger, Stephen and Nancy. Pearl has attended five grandchildren's weddings, and will be 92 this fall.

Romance and silliness were in the air...

 

Jim escorts Stephanie for Father/Daughter dance. Now all their children are married. Mike & Paula, Peter & Kelsey, and Mary watch the dance. The Lee family are the best wedding dancers to be found anywhere, slow or fast, they have fun.

We visited Riverfront Park, site of 1974 World Fair. Nancy sang there with her choir during her senior year of high school. They still have several old structures from the fair, bridges, and merry-go-round-

-and a metal goat with vacuum mouth to eat your trash. (He's supposed to encourage kids to keep the park clean)

Tacoma + Seattle WA

Mandy and Nick drove to Spokane from their home in Billings, so it was a good time to visit Tacoma, just another four hour drive. 

 

In Seattle, Mandy and Nick especially wanted to visit the Seattle Aquarium. They're as excited as an otter! 

Mandy and Nick last visited Seattle during a high school band trip, so we ate lunch at the same little bakery. (They weren't dating yet, but Nick remembers wanting to bring Mandy her sandwich.)

Back in Tacoma, we went to the LeMay Car Museum. (We never get tired of that place.)

don't crash!

Thanks for a wonderful visit!

Tacomawa: Dori's Wedding Story WY + Billings MT + Reunion Powell WY

Dori & Brandon's Wedding

Childhood friend Dori married Brandon in beautiful Story, WY...

Kristian and Ginger were happy to see Dori and celebrate with her!

 

(Above and below photos by Amos Olson)

Ginger made Dori's wedding cake, but Dori added on a few flowers...

Don't drop it... don't drop it... and dance! (two photos below by Amos)

Congrats to the happy couple & many years together.

After the wedding, we spent the day in Sheridan, WY.

We liked the quirky architecture of the historical Sheridan Inn. Kristian did student teaching in Sheridan for her elementary education degree. (She's just recently been hired as the Gifted and Talented teacher for Cody elementary schools!)

 

It's been one year since Kristian & Amos were married! Happy Anniversary!

 

Billings MT + Bridger MT

Ginger visited with friends from Billings West High, Julie and Talia. Julie has become a foster mom and is hoping to adopt. Talia is going to go to college in Spain this fall to study international business. First, she'll mentor a group of Japanese students who are visiting the US for two weeks in August. We helped her brainstorm ideas for fun activities, ways to practice English, and American customs to participate in. 

Nancy's aunt Lois passed away, 16 months after her husband Stanley. She had a beautiful funeral, with poems, psalms and songs she had chosen in advance. The family had written down favorite memories of her, and a granddaughter shared a poem about her at the graveside service.

Lois joined Stanley at the Bridger cemetery. (His military gravestone lists his service in WWII and quotes John 11:25-26) Their four daughters shared a happy moment remembering their parents at the gravesite. From left, Terry, Stacey, Rena and Penny. 

Grandma Pearl has been walking with a walker since she had surgery on her leg. Uncle Jim retired that week, now he and Mary are having many adventures.

Nancy visited the Langstaff graves, her father, infant sister, and grandparents. She braved the sprinklers to put yellow irises from home on their graves.

We picnicked at the Bridger park, where we had reunions when we were kids. We wanted to recreate some old pictures with Bessy the Cow. (Old pictures on right)

 

 

Montana is beautifully green this year. We drove through the country roads.

Nancy and Ron are going to continue at the church in Glasgow for another year, but they visit Billings often.

Ginger and Ron reading comic books, and Mandy shares her work lunch as a picnic when Ginger drove into town.

 Powell High School: 10 Year Reunion

It's been 10 years since high school graduation! The Powell High School class had a reunion, and were welcome to invite any old classmates (Ginger actually graduated from Billings West, but spent 11 years of school in Wyoming first.)

photo by Amos Olson

From left, Elisha and her baby Maggie, Elizabeth, Ashley, Laura and Kristian.

Amos and Kristian live in Cody, 30 minutes from the hometown. Amos made a mix of the popular songs of 2004 to listen to on the drive. Ginger made a panther cake, and we played lots of board games.

Danyon has been working in the film industry in Sundance, Utah all summer. She plans to move to New York City or Los Angeles! Her family picked her up at the Cody airport. Craig, Danyon, Lisa, Kristian and Amos.

The weather was a bit too blustery for an outdoor photo session, but Amos set up a white screen and lights in the basement. Here's a behind-the-scenes shot of Kristian's fashion blog, Without a Style.