I'm back

Okay, after 2 years and several attempts to get back to this, I'm going to try and post pictures from our upcoming trip.  I'm not sure how I got to this page to begin with but the question is, can I do with my cell phone?  Stay tuned.

Rogue River Hiking

  We just got back from a delighful weekend hiking with the Volkswalk group.  On Friday we hiked a 10K trail around Lost Creek Lake and then went up and hiked another 13K on the Upper Rogue River Trail.  On the latter, we had snow patches and lots of trees that we had to climb over.  The scenery was breathtaking.  Some times the river was tumultous and at others, serenely quiet and calm.
                            













                                                                                

 Gail and Terri Mason






                        

There were wild flowers everywhere.  On Saturday we started with a 10 K at Casey State Park and then spent the afternoon walking around Eagle Point which was having an old time celebration with it's Grist Mill.  What fun!

Look up there, it's an eagle.  Terri (and husband Bob) and Gail were intently watching the eagle.  Attempts to photograph it were more difficult but it was fun to watch it and all the many osprey.  Did I mention that we were at the fish hatchery?

           That's my guy!

Costa Rica

 Roseate Spoonbills in Torteguero

 One of the many butterflies we saw that actually stayed still long enough to get a picture

 Many iguanas came to visit us each evening

 My wish to swim in an infinity pool.  Arenal Volcano in the background

 The oxcart is the symbol of Costa Rica.

 An inquisitive macaw checking us out (on the Pacific)

Scott catches the first fish (a bonita) of the day.

Snowman Month

I don't know if it's the grayness and rain of winter or what but I'm always sad when we put the Christmas lights away, as everything seems so drab. Several years ago, I chose to use all my snowmen to decorate for the month of January.  Here are just a few of them to give you a flavor of what our house looks like during this time.  Yesterday they all went back into storage (my snowmen hibernate) and the sun is brightly shining so spring is near.

Christmas Pictures

 Delaney helping Grandma by licking the whip cream beater.

 Nicholas infatuated with his new toy the follows his marker path.

 Eli liked watching the birds at Grandma's feeder best.

The morning after Christmas, Mason and Mackenzie are both playing with their DS video system.

Zoo Lights

Okay, I finally figured out how to rotate a picture on here (well sort of, I had to put the picture in a folder on my desktop first)  but anyway we got to take Nicholas and Eli to see the lights at the zoo and it was so much fun watching their excitement.  We braved the cold and the crowds and had a wonderful time.

Our annual Christmas pictures

For those of you who would like to see the year's pictures we usually send in our annual Christmas letter.  This seemed like a better way to do it.  

Enjoy

Eli and Joel doing some serious playing in the sandbox

Grandma and Delaney watching the trains

Joel, Gail, Scott and Erin

Kathy and Gary Austin with Erin, Gail

Mackenzie, Mason and Delaney

Scott with our friends, 

Chuck and Linda Yard in Seattle

 Scott and Mackenzie heading down the slopes

The whole family gathered for Thanksgiving 

Eli, Mackenzie, Mason, Nicholas and Delaney 

The 60-year-old high school buddies

 Scott and Gail riding bikes on the wall of Xi'an in China

Scott and Delaney "chillin"

 Scott with Nicholas and Eli