#3: Returning Home to Scappoose from Eagle Crest Resort, Jun 26, 2009

On Friday the 26th, on our way home from Eagle Crest Resort, we took US 2o and 22 from Redmond to Salem, where we picked up I-5 to Portland.   We saw some beautiful pine and cedar forests and captivating views of Mt. Washington and a glimps of Mt. Jefferson (couldn't get photos - no scenic view points and trees were too tall).    At the view point for Mt. Washington, there were also informational signs regarding devastating forest fires in 2002 and 2003.    These photos are of Mt. Washington.   I tried to capture some of the damage from the fires in the video below.   The burned areas went on and on for miles and miles.

Everyone is welcome

Everyone is welcome at our home.  We take shoes off at the front door to keep the carpets clean.   There are booties available for those who want to wear something over their socks.   As you can see, everyone, from big to little is welcome.  Drop on by, anytime.

Auf Wiedersehen, Hanna - Saturday, June 13, 2009

Today was a sad day, as DeeDee and I had to say Auf Wiedersehen to Hanna at PDX (Portland International Airport) when Hanna went through the security check-point to board her Lufthansa flight home to Germany.   Hanna has lived with us since August 29th, 2008 and was truly a part of our family.    While here, Hanna met my sister Susie when she visited with us last September and a whole lot of Morse family in Bellingham, WA during Susie's visit; our daughter Jennifer and two of the five Robertson grand kids, Ian and Emily, when they visited in October; our daughter Christine when Hanna flew to San Antonio, Texas and spent a week with Christine and Trey; and of course our daughter Amber and grand kids Isaac and Abigail who live near us in Oregon.    Isaac and Abigail really love Hanna and are very sad that she had to go home.   The photos of DeeDee and Hanna and the one of the massive crowd of people were taken at PDX while we were waiting to get to the check-in counter and Hanna and me just before she went through the security check-point.

Hanna experienced several milestones and many new experiences while she was here in Oregon.   Hanna turned 18 in October; she experienced a US Halloween for the first time; then an American Thanksgiving; Christmas with Santa Claus leaving a filled stocking at the mantle over the fireplace; a theme park - Universal Studios in Universal City, CA; getting an Oregon Learner's Permit so she could drive the Scappoose High Driver's Education car as part of Driver's Ed class (and lots and lots of practice driving on the back roads around of Scappoose in our Camry), then getting her Oregon Driver's License on May 29th, passing with 95%; and finally graduation from Scappoose High School on June 6th.

We will miss Hanna.

Scappoose High School Graduation, June 6, 2009

Hanna graduated from Scappoose High School on Saturday, June 6th, with an overall  3.67 GPA for the three trimesters she was enrolled in the Senior Class at SHS this past school year as an exchange student from Germany.   Hanna's credits for her 9th, 10th and 11th grades at Gymnasium in Germany, plus her credits for the 15 classes she took as a senior this last school year at SHS met all State of Oregon and Scappoose School District requirements for graduation from high school in Oregon.  There were a lot of the other 172 graduates in her class who wished they had the grades she earned.  Hanna worked very hard for her grades and accomplished a lot this last school year.   During the year Hanna made presentations in several of her classes at the request of her teachers.  In addition, several teachers from other classes sought her out and asked her to also speak to the students in their classes.   Hanna is very personable and a very effective speaker.   She represents the best of what a foreign exchange student can be and of the youth of Germany.  DeeDee and I are very proud of Hanna, as I know her Mom and Dad, Sabine and Dieter, are back at home in Germany.

The Marine and his first tattoo, June 1, 2009

Just in -- this photo of our oldest grandson, Corporal Aaron Robertson, USMC, of Springville, CA, sporting his first tattoo.   As his mother Jennifer says, "Well, it could have been worse".  

Aaron is currently at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX for Military Intelligence training, prior to his assignment to his first duty station - Hawaii.

Ian's Successes at the Porterville Fair, June 1, 2009

Our 13 year old grandson, Ian Robertson of Porterville, CA entered several events in the Porterville Fair, as he does every year. 

Here is the report from our daughter Jennifer about this years successes:

     Ian won Reserve best bantam duck and Reserve best waterfowl (with the same little female duck).  He also won rosette ribbons for best and reserve best lightweight ducks, best and reserve best heavy ducks and best turkey (when you have the only turkey there - it wins) and took 3rd place in showmanship using a bantam drake.

 

     He took 2 pens of meat chickens, 1 received 5th place, the other did not place. He was able to sell the 5th place pen at the auction for $100.00. Which he will be reinvesting into his poultry project for next year.

 

     The big award this year was Junior Grand Champion for decorated cake, and yes he did decorate it by himself.   His strawberry jam won a 1st place ribbon as well.

 

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)