Good News and Friday

I've been remiss not to mention the good news we had from Bolder (Brian) Lefebvre, who has spent the past year battling prostate cancer. The damn stuff had escaped the prostate. So the poor guy has been through not only awful initial surgery to remove the thing, an infected testicle also had to be removed, chemo and radiation - that finished up in May. Boldie just had his PSA re-checked and those numbers came back very good! So we are happy about that. Prayers and other good thoughts that all the evil cancer cells have been banished from his body.

The 3 bro-in-laws chat

Friday a.m. Susi and Sher plus Cowgirl the Wabbit Wuving doggie too off for Grand Junction - with an overnight stop somewhere in Idaho. We were sad to see them go! I'm not sure when I'll get to see Sus again...a wedding in the future? No engagements yet...

That morning was hike day for Paul, Amy, Jud and Kara. They walk up a peak overlooking a beach and the town of Manzinita. I had the bad shoulder and am in awful shape, so decided to pass. Several of Betso's kiddos went along - they all packed into the Kohan Suburban. Sounded like a fun trip.

Besides - I'd gotten a text from my Atlantic friend Julia Hoilien. We had seen her whilst in Colorado over Memorial Day and discovered we'd both be in this area during this week. Her family was in Cannon Beach! We made arrangements to meet at Haystack that morning. Betsy and the doggies walked there with me.

Jules and me

Jeff, Marcella, Zetta and Julia - beautiful fam!

Once Pablo and the chillens got back, we were off to CB to shop a bit and we and Cindy and Bold ate at the Driftwood. We saw a person with a pet duck with a lil duckie diaper. It takes all kinds!

Yep - one's a dog, but one's a DUCK!

That night our gang - 17 or so in number had reservations at the Lumberyard. Nope it's not like the one in Des Moines (where REAL men go to get wood...). This one was an okay restaurant. We started out at Warren House - disturbing Paul and Bolder's last night with their honeys...the waitresses there who had grown to love them.

Cute little place...Bold makes friends wherever he goes...

Jud and Kara had stopped by the candy store on their way home from shopping that day...and on a little walk down memory lane. (Jud remembered buying funky jelly beans when we were here in 2002 - he was 13), he bought these Jelly Beans. Under the influence of a couple drinks I had the bad idea of trying two of them...and of course instead of Pudding I got Dog Food, and instead Strawberry Jam, I got Centipede. That taste was in my mouth even after I brushed my teeth!

It was a fun night out and the waitresses came and sang to Betso! We got a lot of mileage out of the birthday gig.

Sad that it was our last night in Cannon Beach - the week was going so quickly as vaca always does!

The Kids are here! Betsy's Surprise 50th!

Wednesday was an exciting one, because the Goldsmith children were flying in that day. Paul played golf in the morning. Then we took off for Portland after lunch. We wanted to pick up a couple things at the shopping area near the airport - thank goodness Garmin showed us the way! Portland traffic is horrendous. As we started out in Cannon Beach it was 58 degrees and by the time we got to Portland it was around 90...but it was a dry heat.

I scored some new sandals at Marshall's - sparkly silver for Keith Peterson's upcoming wedding! Paul and I got to check out the IKEA store - a new experience for us. It's a Swedish discount shopping experience with furniture, other home supplies - even food. I got jube jel fish for Cindo and some gluten free chips for Amy.

Then it was time to head to the airport. Amy's flight was first, followed by Jud and Kara's a half hour later. All were on time, which was a relief! Hugs all around! The day stayed light nearly all the way back to Cannon Beach, even though it was around 10:30 p.m. by the time we got there. Bolder was the only one up - everyone had a beer then it was off to bed.

Paul is choosing

The next day was Cousin Breakfast Day! We had invited all the cousins to our place for a gathering before my Cali Cousins took off for the next leg of their trip. They were camping - I know...brave with triplets, huh!?! Susi and Sher had scored at a Farmer's Market in CB earlier in the week - they'd gotten Marianberries, blueberries and other great fruit. We got rolls at the delectable Cannon Beach Bakery - so hard to choose which thing to take home!

Susi, Andra, Leslie, Karen

In addition to the Cali Cousins, my Portland cuz, Leslie Morehead was there. She's my Mom's brother Herbert Leslie's daughter. I know - weird that my mom named her daughter the same name. And I have a niece Leslie. It's a great name! She's lived in Portland for many years - 40? And she and her hubby Bob bought a condo in Astoria just north of CB a couple years ago. She's really intelligent (must be a fam trait haha, and interesting). Leslie works as a consultant in computer software.

I was glad our children had a chance to talk to my cousins - after all they're the same generation as Andra. It's important to me that they have an idea where they came from. I'm sorry Amy and Jud didn't get to know my Mom much, since she died when they were so young. They have met Leslie M. a few times though, which is cool! We did a cousin photo before they left. Steve and Andra are bloggers too! I'm so glad the cousins made time to see us during our gathering.

Susi, Betsy, me, Cindy, Steve Legarra, Leslie Morehead

Susi overlooks cheese production

Cindy and I crash the cheese van

Then we were off to Tillamook to see the cheese factory and the Cape Meares to see the lighthouse. We've made this trek each time I've been here. It's pretty cheesy (yes that's a pun) but fun. I love factories and these folks do it right. I believe the gummi bear factory in Creston should do this - it would be a gold mine for everyone, especially the town of Creston! We took fam photos out front after chowing down ice cream.

The Kohan clan - Wayne is home with the doggies

The Goldsmiths with Kara

Cape Meares is so beautiful - but some knucklehead vandalized the lens of the lighthouse so we weren't able to go up in it as we had before. Kara, Jud, Paul and I walked up to see the Octopus tree too.

How would you like to see this mob walking towards you? On the way to the lighthouse...

Jud and Kara by flag along fence

Checking out the Octopus Tree

After we got back, we had lunch at Moe's - the restaurant right near our home. The Bloody Marys there were good - lots of olives, beans etc. in them! I had fish tacos, yum! Susi and Sher joined our family. It was fun to talk to Sher about writing - she's into journaling and has written the life story of a man who had a terminal illness. This blog is similar to journaling.

That night was burger night! We grilled at our place (by we I mean Bolder and Pablo). Cousin Leslie came back this time with her spousal unit Bob, who is retired from USDA Forest Service. He traveled all over the world in that position. It was another evening of beverages, food and good company.

Plus it was Betsy's Surprise 50th Birthday! Which is really August 27th (1 day before our 30th Anniversary). I think she would have been surprised had not my sissies been a little loose lipped the night before after champagne when we were in Portland picking up the cherubs. Bolder brought the Pope Hat along, and arranged for Sarah and friend to scatter flower petals. Susi carried an old medallion Mom had either given to her or she inherited - from England dated 1970. I had prepared a slide show, but was sad the music didn't come through (We Are Family!). It was fun. Welcome to 50 sis - it beats the alternative!

It made me very happy to have Amy and Jud there with us.

The next couple days in beautiful Oregon

Ah - the life of vacation. One could get used to it!
Paul played golf with Wayne, Susi, Sher and my niece Sarah and her friend Allison on Monday. Cindo and I walked on the beautiful beach with Ziggy and Kirby the wonder wieners. I wished Odie could have been there - but of course, she would have hated both of them! She's a kind of a bitch. Like her mommy...

They're full brothers from the same litter. Ziggy is the chunky one (or
big bones as I used to say about Moki)

We headed towards Frank and Joe, the two big rocks south of our beach home. It was quite refreshing out - breezy and low 60's I'd say. Quite different than the 100 degrees back home in Iowa. I love talking to my sissies while walking - the time and the miles go quickly. I had fun trying out my new camera.

And they didn't even plan to coordinate outfits...

See the starfish peeking out from the water?

When my sisters and I get together it's pretty much non-stop talking. We don't tend to talk on the phone a great deal in between seeing each other. I'm not much for phone conversations. We email updates. But when we're together - watch out! Our kids love to sit and listen to the stories.

Bolder with Paul Kohan

When we got back from the walk Bolder, Cindy's husband and Paul Betso's oldest (one of the twins) son were ready to head to the "town" part of Cannon Beach for some Clam Chowder. Paul drove us in his new Mazda 3. Much to his parent's delight, Paul has a job! He's a proud graduate of the tough Computer Science program at the University of Washington in Seattle. He'll be working for White Pages, helping online clients get the information they're looking for. He was wined and dined by lots of employers before selecting that company. So if your child has computer aptitude - there are jobs!

It was fun hanging with Paul as a newly minted adult. We ate at what ended up being our go-to place The Driftwood. Decent Bloody Marys, the best chowder (according to chowder eaters), and good other soups, and really good prime rib sannies.

That night Betso made her famous pasta dish with heavy cream and Italian Sausage. We hung out at our house with its big kitchen, living room area. Cowgirl on bunny patrol was the entertainment. I didn't stay up too late though - still catching up for the night before and our long day of flying!

Paul Kohan went with Paul, Boldie, Cindo and me the next day too, on our trek to Seaside, the town just north, where we ate lunch at a new brew pub in an old jailhouse. The tangerine brew was good. Shopped at Safeway and selected a big chunk of salmon for grilling that night. Bolder is griller extraordinaire! He made some of it blackened and some just seasoned. Plus he did sweet corn on the grill. Paul G. was his helper. They spent each afternoon together at the "Raven" just up the street, chatting up the cute bartender chicks and having a few bevvies. They've become such buddies!

That afternoon I invited our cousins over to our place to visit a bit without the "mob". Cindo and I were the only ones home at the time of their visit. It was my cousin Steve Legarra and his wife Karen, along with their daughter Andra Speck and her husband Zach plus their triplets! Amelia, Abigail and Ethan - going on 4 years old. I read Andra's blog and am amazed at how much this fam does with a busy group like this. They all live in California - Andra and family in Rocklin and her parents not far from there. Steve is my Aunt Dorothy - my Mom's sister's son. We didn't know them well as the miles between Iowa and Cali were a barrier.

I'd gotten to meet Steve, Karen and Andra in October of 2010 when they trekked here tracking down genealogy information.
My Blog about our 2010 visit

I think she got marshmallow in her eyebrows...success!

I was happy to finally get a chance to meet the little guys! They're quite the characters and I was glad our CB home came complete with kid's books. They quite enjoyed those. I invited them to our Smores fest later that night! A new experience for the kiddos.

Cindy helps the triplets daddy supply smores

Nothing like a fire on the beach - we don't get this in Florida

These were a busy couple of days - just what the doctor ordered. Beach time, a few bevs, relatives, good food, and laughs galore. The environment is great!
 

Shot into a Cannon

Cannon Beach! Ten years ago Betsy suggested our family get together at her family's favorite spot, Cannon Beach, Oregon, just a few hours from their Southeastern Washington home in Kennewick. We took her up on it! The year was 2002.

I was working at the landfill in Creston then. Dad was married to Pat2 - Mom passed away in 1997. We invited cousins and aunts and uncles from both sides of our family - Bullock and Morehead. And they all came! Even Aunt Dorothy, Mom's sister, who almost never traveled from her home in Sacramento due to health problems. That year I took 2 weeks off and we drove out. We went again in 2008. And now in 2012. This year we flew into Portland.

Paul and I had to leave Creston at 2:30 a.m. to get to KC for our flight and Lefebvres had an early wakeup for their Denver trip too. We met Cindy and Bolder in Portland on Sunday July 8, where we had rented a van. We stopped at Super Target for some food and a few bevvies but Betsy had picked up a whole cache of booze from Costco, so we didn't need much. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from there straight west to Cannon Beach.

Does this make us look like alkie cruds?

Susan (AKA Suso/Susi) had arrived the night before with friend Sher and her dog Cowgirl. Susi's husband Jim Alvillar was busy with a trial and couldn't attend. Susi and Sher drove in from Grand Junction, Colorado, a two day trip. Cowgirl was crazy for the bunnies that were all over the area. The house we rented for the week was great - huge open room upstairs. Betsy and Wayne's rental was across the street but they're going to take the one we stayed in next year.

As soon as we arrived we went to Warren House for lunch. A banana and 2 airline cookies doesn't cut it and I was starving! A Bloody Mary and a rockfish po' boy sannie started out my vacation right! 3.5 Moki heads.

Paul, Cindy and I took a beach walk right away. It was quite chilly (60 degrees?) for people used to 90+ degrees. Quite refreshing really. I love that beach. To the right of our beach entrance (our house was just a half block from the beach) is Haystack Rock, and to the left, Frank and Joe. Those are two other rocks that we like just as well at Haystack because they aren't as busy with tourists. Frank and Joe aren't their real names - that's just what my nephew David Kohan called them when he was little, so it stuck.

Bunnies look like they were once pets...

Betsy, Wayne and a few of the kids and friends got there a couple hours after we did. Pizza was the evening meal. We were entertained by Cowgirls bunny antics.

I enjoyed meeting Sher - interesting woman, a writer like me! Cowgirl is on the lookout!

Of course Lemondrop martinis were in order. And I was in luck because Susi is the originator of the fab recipe. So she and I made them together. I love my sisters so much! Even without alcohol. They are smart and caring. Of course they're funny. We have all that history - and we love each other's children and spouses. That's quite a bond when you think about it. To grow up and have these separate lives, but come together seamlessly.

Bullocks rock! Just ask our husbands...
So that was Day 1.