We are home.

We arrived home yesterday. I am feeling sick again because I slept on the couch (with Hope) with the fan on because the house was so stuffy from being closed up for over two weeks. Lovely. I am not going anywhere today if I can help it. Oh, that is right. I have no groceries in the house.

I used to like flying. It used to be exciting. Now it is not any fun. The planes are too small...think of toddler on lap and the seat in front of you reclined fully. Lovely. This flight was harder because the kids were awake and had to be entertained. Hope just had to scream on occasion. I guess it really could have been worse. People were understanding, so that was nice.

We had a nice welcome home. The freezer had not been shut completely before we left and so it truly is an icebox in there. Not sure yet just how much stuff I have to throw out. I do know I need to defrost it. Lovely.

This morning I threw away a large roach that expired in the kitchen over night. I still smashed it just to make sure. I was not going to pick it up even with a tissue just to find out it still had life in it.

We have a ton to unpack today...and tomorrow...it looks like it will never end. So far I only have found one picture that got broken.

Later. I will update the regular site on our vacation.

Hilary

Happy Birthday Cake

Jack Viohl

GO COUGS

I dressed her in this really cute outfit for Jack's birthday (an Oregon
State fan). Jack's uncles are here and they attended OSU...
Jack Viohl

Birthday Sunshine

This is looking out Barbara's kitchen window.
Jack Viohl

Good morning

Jack Viohl

Good morning!

Hope loves her Gramma Barbie's pantry! Brady had to jump in on the photo
op as well.

Happy Birthday, Kim and Jack

On Friday we met at Papa's Pizza to celebrate Jack and Kim's (jack's
sister) birthdays. It was fun. They have a fun room for kids to play in.
I was irritated because the "ref" who was watching the kids wasn't
enforcing the rules effectively. I would have ejected several kids from
the room had it been me. ithe kids had fun though.

A huge THANK YOU to Kim as well as congratulations for being ahead of
the game with her birthday presents for our whole family. We LOVE our
new Columbia Sportswear jackets. They are great.
Jack Viohl

Friends

I got to see Crystalyn and her girls after the zoo. We had a short
visit, but it was so nice to see her. Her girls have grown so much.
Wow.
Jack Viohl

MORE ZOO PICTURES

We had a great time at the zoo yesterday. The weather was AWESOME. It
was a typical day with the uncertainy of rain; but the sun shone bright
and hot. It was the first day we have not felt cold since arriving here.
It was so nice; we were able to walk around without sweaters or
jackets.

The kids loved the zoo. Even Hope loved it. She called most everything
'monkeys' or 'bears.'

The giraffe was impressive. I (Jack too) am always surprised by how TALL
giraffes are! Wow.

Hope seemed impressed by the elephants. She didn't want to leave their
site.

Brady said that he "likes all animals" when asked what was his
favorite.

"Gramma Barbie" had to think about her favorite, but sited the giraffe
as her choice.

Next time we go we hope to see the lions and crocodiles: they were
somewhere else due to renovations. I wonder what their alternative
lodgings were. I am trying to imagine them in a closet somewhere.

Yeah, we had fun!
Jack Viohl

ZOO PICTURES!!!

Jack Viohl