Hanna Gets Her Driver's License and a Car - Friday, May 29, 2009

This morning we went, with Hanna driving, to the Oregon DMV Office in St. Helens (about a 15 minute drive) so Hanna could take the driving test for her Driver's License.  We also drove around St. Helens for a little while so Hanna would have about 30 to 40 minutes of driving before we stopped at DMV.  I must say that the people at the Oregon DMV are SO MUCH nicer and more friendly than their counterparts at the CA DMV.  After completing some paperwork, we went out to the car and Hanna and the Examiner drove off - the first time I have not been in the car with Hanna when she was driving.   I think I was about as nervous as she was.  It was a nice warm morning, so I waited outside the Office watching a crow eat scraps of food from a trash can.  Hanna and the Examiner were back in only 15 minutes, and then they sat in the car for several minutes.   Of course, I was worried that by getting back so soon Hanna might not have passed and the Examiner was talking to her about what needed to be worked on.    But, as they got out of the car, Hanna looked over to where I was sitting and gave me a big smile and nodded YES.   Hanna passed with 95%.   Hanna was glowing and was so happy.   All the way back to Scappoose, where I dropped her off at school, she kept looking at her Temporary Driver's License, just to make sure it was real. 

CONGRATULATIONS HANNA

And, later at school, after Hanna gave her speech in Civics class, a classmate gave her a blue Ford Mustang as a gift.  (click on the photo for a close up of the car)

Someone had a party for his 67th birthday, May 25, 2009

We celebrated my birthday (May 26) on Memorial Day (May 25) since almost everyone we invited had the day off - our next-door neighbor Kevin was called in to work (Washington County (OR) Sheriff's Dept, so he missed the fun.    Attending were Kevin's wife Lindsay and their kids AJ (8) and Shelby (3); Jason and Becky from across the street; friends John and Janet; Christina and Steven and their kids Alora (3) and Elijah (1); Chris and Amber and the grandkids Isaac (3) and Abigail (1); and of course DeeDee, Hanna, and myself.   15 lbs of ribs, 7 lbs of tri-tip, my home made pototo salad, Hanna's fruit salad, tons of chips and dips - including a to-die-for artichoke dip that Janet brought, a chocolate cake that Lindsay brought, and Angelfood cake and strawberries.   The temp was in the low 70's and the day was just gorgeous.  We all had a wonderful time, the kids all played well together, no one got hurt, and all-in-all the day was a great success.

Lions Club, Monday, May 18, 2009

Earlier in the school year, motivational speaker Stu Cabe from Littleton, CO came to Scappoose High School to speak about "bullying", the use of improper language, and respect for others.   Hanna was very moved by what Stu had to say and she talked to us about how great it would be if Stu could come to Germany and speak about these subjects at schools there.   So, for her required Senior Seminar project at Scappoose High School, Hanna decided to develop a plan for financing and scheduling Stu speaking at schools in Germany.   As part of her project and fund raising, Hanna was the featured speaker at the St. Helens Lions Club meeting on Monday evening, May 18, 2009, where she talked about her experience in Scappoose as a foreign exchange student and explained about her Senior Seminar project.   Hanna is a very effective speaker and her message was warmly accepted by the Lions, who graciously gave her a small donation at the end of the meeting.   We are very proud of Hanna.   The photo shows Hanna and Bob Krenz of the St. Helens Lions Club after Hanna was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for her speech.

Grace Lutheran of Scappoose, Men's Retreat, May 15-17, 2009

10 men from Grace Lutheran of Scappoose had a wonderful time at our annual Men's Retreat.   The retreat was held at the Christian Renewal Center, Silver Falls, OR.   We stayed in a fully furnished two story cabin for 14, that included a full living room and dining area, as well as a full kitchen.   But, we didn't have to cook, as the Renewal Center staff kept us well fed with home cooked meals served in the dining hall.   We used the kitchen facility as a repository for our emergency stash of chips, dips, cookies, sodas, and all those little life saving things that one just has to have while on a retreat - you know, away from those who would tell us not to eat all that wonderful stuff.   It was a great time of Renewal, Fellowship, and Faith Building.    Attending were, decending, starting at the top, L- Bill Covlin (contemplating the deeper meanings of life) and R- myself; L - Wolfgang Grube and R - Dave Vance (our official photographer; L - Phil Mann and R - Rudy Pletz; L - Steve Layton and R - Rich Weaver; and L - Bob Krenz and R - Boyd Ruby. 

Girls Day Out on Mother's Day, Sunday May 10. 2009

Amber and Abigail took Grandma out for Mother's Day.    They went to Washington Square Shopping Center where they wandered around window shopping, went to BareEssentials for facials, and topped the day off with a meal at The Cheesecake Factory.   Abigail wanted to make sure that Grandma tasted everything.    And, since Abigail is not allergic to dairy products like her big brother Isaac, she made sure she had all the whipped cream she wanted.    Abigail also is seen showing off her fourth generation "Japanese eyes" she inherited from Great Grandma Susie (DeeDee's mom Sumiko Shibatani-Thompson), Grandma and Mommy.

National Train Day, Saturday, May 9, 2009

On National Train Day, Amber, Isaac, Abigail, DeeDee and I went to Portland's Union Station to see the trains on exhibit.   There was engine SP 4449, a diesel steam engine with it's diesel tender, one sleeper/club car, and a cabboose that we could tour.   For the engine and tender, all we could do was look into the engineer's cab from the outside through an open window, but we got to go through the car and cabboose.   Isaac LOVES all things train and was really excited.   Abigail rode in a back pack behind her mom and was so good, looking around, eating her sandwich and just being cute.   The highlite for Isaac was when a 50+ car freight train came in to Union Station, pulled by 4 diesel engines.   It stopped for a while, so we were able to go up on the pedestrian bridge that goes over the tracks and stand right above the third engine.    Then, the engineer got a green light and he pulled out.   It was fun watching the train slowly go out of the station, with each car passing under us.

Scappoose High Senior Prom - May 2, 2009

Hanna went to the Sr. Prom Saturday night with her friend Jasmine and Smitty, an exchange student from Thailand, who escorted Jasmine.    They started off with dinner at Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant in Scappoose and then I drove them to the Oregon Convention Center in Portland where the prom was being held.    Hanna said she had a great time and that her feet hurt from dancing so much.

Hanna's Trip to Texas - April 21-28, 2009

On the morning of the 21st, Hanna flew from Portland to San Antonio, TX, where she stayed in Spring Branch with our daughter Christine for a week.   They had a great time riding horses and seeing the sights, including The Alamo and a wild animal park.   At the wild animal park an ostrich took a liking to Hanna and stuck his head into the car to get something to eat.  Hanna finally got her window rolled up, so the wise old bird just went around to Christine's side and stuck his head in all the way across to Hanna.  

Hanna was introduced to some game food, such as deer and elk that Trey had from hunting, which she said she really liked.  She came home with a Texas Tech cap and several T-Shirts, two of which Chris and Trey specially picked out for her.   The weather was very unlike Oregon, in that it was warm (85 to 90), and a little humid.   If there was one thing Hanna didn't like, it was the BIG BUGS that flew around, especially the ones that directly flew into her.   Hanna arrived back at the Portland airport at 9 PM on the 28th, dressed in a short sleeved T-Shirt, Levis rolled up at the calf and flip-flops.  As she walked up to me, she said, "It's cold in Oregon" -- well DUH, it's Oregon in April, where we just had three days of rain and highs of 60 if we were lucky.