Vancouver Island

Here are some pictures of our trip to Vancouver Island for the musicfest.  It was a good time but we were all ready to be home.  Emma and Sophie enjoyed the camping part of the trip (I think they liked not having to bathe for 4 days).  We camped in a field with zillions of other people.  Our little tent circle included our good friends Scott and Lori, Sonya and Ella, Griffbear (our very own fiddle player who entertained us with his music during down times at the campsite), Toby (our very own clown who juggled and made balloon animals for the kids, take note that he was not dressed as a clown, he's actually a teacher who has been to the only clown school in the US), and several other couples we know through Scott and Lori.  I felt like I didn't get to focus on very much of the music mostly because we were stuck trying to keep the kids entertained.  We did see Earl Scruggs, The Wailers, and Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet (my favorite).  I would definitely do it again only when the kids are maybe a bit older and more independent. 

  

The rest of the summer is pretty much unplanned.  We're trying to finish our deck/patio so that we can actually enjoy it this summer.  In a few weeks the girls (Karin, Sonya, Brenda, and I) are taking a weekend to spend in Sisters, OR.  I can hardly wait for that time away from my kids.  In Sept. Ryan and I are leaving the kids with his parents while we spend the weekend at a Dave Matthews Band concert that occurs yearly in the Gorge.  We'll be going with Scott and Lori and Jeff and Margaret Aschelmen.  Again, that should be a good time.  Apparently Margaret brings her bar with her to make all sorts mixed drinks.  Whoo hoo!

Hope all of your summers are going well.  Keep cool.

Heather

   

sappy title here

Hi!

I've got pictures up on my web site from our vacation to Hilton Head and a few from one of the children's swim meets. Lily has been listening to Hannah Montana lately. Oh boy, loads of fun there. (I feel bad for Aaron.) Seriously, I've been thinking that she's getting ready to start her period. She's been really hard to live with lately, and I am NOT looking forward to her being twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen. I don't want to be a grandpa. I heard of a girl who got pregnant at nine (and according to the Daily News, the baby was an alien).

Aaron spent a week at summer camp at Highland Retreat. I think it was the best 300 bucks we ever spent. He had such a good time. They swam, hiked, ate, played, and learned about "Jesus stuff," according to him. He's reading Lord of the Rings trilogy right now.

I'm looking forward to seeing you, Mom and Gretchen and Dad, this weekend. Becky, will you be around? I hardly saw you when you were here!

Thank you lord for Xanax and Dramamine. Look out Goshen, here we come!

Your brother/son/cousin Chad

http://web.mac.com/chadgusler

Cheri's 100 list

Surprise!! Here is my list!!!

1) I enjoy my life
2) I like my job and co-workers very much
3) I do not like working the circulation desk
4) I hate confrontation
5) I don't like arguing or listening to arguments
6) I like 75-80 degree weather
7) I like the change of seasons
8) I enjoy sitting on our patio with a cup of coffee & my crossword puzzles
9) I love it when other people make coffee for me.
10) I like going to coffee shops
11) I love having 'cookouts' in the summer
12) Love my grand kids!!
13) Wish I had some of my children's traits!
14) I think my children have done very well choosing their spouses! I love the in-laws!!
15) I feel I am a very positive person.
16) I try hard to find the good in people.
17) Narrow-minded people frustrate me a bit.
18) I tend to be of more conservative thinking than liberal.
19) My faith in God is the center of my life. I rely on His guidance daily.
20) I wish I enjoyed reading more than I do.
21) I enjoy browsing antique shops.
22) I shop at consignment and thrift shops.
23) I love singing with children!!
24) A large group of children singing invigorates me!!
25) I'm not as good one on one with children
26) I'm not very creative with my grand children's play activities.
27) I love shopping for my grand children.
28) I like music variety - especially fok, bluegrass, big-band and western swing.
29) I love hymns - especially performed/sung in various styles.
30) I appreciate my church family.
31) I like participating in the music of the church.
32) I like to clean.
33) I like to change my decor at times - as in the change of seasons & etc.
34) I am a bit nostalgic
35) I like old photographs
36) I get very frustrated when I can't find an item I so carefully put away!!!
37) It frustrates me when I can't think of the right words to use to express myself.
38) I do not like doing physical labor with my husband. I feel like I'm always 'in the way'.
39) I hate to exercise.
40) I do feel better after I exercise.
41) I don't like to watch television long periods at a time.
42) I like to watch HGTV & Halmark channels the best.
43) Radio talk shows annoy me when I'm trying to sleep.
44) I enjoy visiting our children .
45) I like getting pictures via e-mail.
46) I like getting pictures, notes & etc. from my grand kids.
47) I love listing to Maddie's 'gibberish'.
48) Sophie's facial expressions are priceless.
49) I enjoy having conversations with Lily & Emma.
50) I wish I could visit with Aaron more about his life! It would be great to be able to visit his school.
51) I miss the spontaneity of visits from my children which seems only to happen when they live close.
52) I have terrible eating habits.
53) I find it hard to plan & cook healthy meals.
54) I do not like to cook.
55) I do like to entertain.
56) I don't like to grocery shop.
57) I don't like to talk on the phone.
58) I like thunderstorms, but not when I'm home alone.
59) I like easy crossword puzzles.
60) I like to 'chit chat' with strangers.
61) I like to 'eat out'.
62) My favorite food is Thai.
63) I enjoy ironing clothes if I'm not under pressure to get it done.
64) I like getting personal e-mails.
65) Hate paying bills.
66) I gave my sewing machine away - which I never thought I would do.
67) I'm ready to sell my doll collection.
68) I have no desire to collect dolls anymore.
69) I would like to have a booth in an antique store.
70) I do not like visiting people in nursing homes.
71) I don't have a lot of patience with old people.
72) I don't like the thought of getting old - so I'm going to stay young.
73) Would like to be debt free.
74) Would like to watch Aaron, Lily & Emma swim.
75) Love to play dominoes.
76) Wish I could play the piano.
77) Would like to have a hammered dulcimer & an electric piano.
78) Hope to be able to travel when I retire.
79) Enjoying being alone on occasion, but not for very long.
80) Love a fire in the fireplace in the winter.
81) Love snow storms - but want to be at home during them.
82) Would love to go to Maine on vacation.
83) I don't like my reflection in the mirror.
84) I don't like my picture taken.
85) Wish I had an I-pod for all my music.
86) Wish I was 'savvy' with the computer.
87) Would like to have a digital camera & laptop someday.
88) If I had to more I would like a classic brick ranch home.
89) Would like to have a house on the lake.
90) I do not like to drive.
91) My decorating tastes have changed in the past few years.
92) I enjoy boating.
93) I'm not a swimmer, but will get in the water to play with the grand kds.
94) It feels good to get rid of 'accumulated stuff'.
95) I have too many clothes.
96) It's hard to resist a bargain.
97) I like being lazy once in a while.
98) I do not have a 'green thumb'.
99.) I did not teach my children how to can or freeze garden produce & fruits.
100) Oh, did I tell you I'm a blonde and I'm having more fun.!!!

Happy Summer!

Hey everyone!  Wanted to share some pictures of our happenings the last few weeks.  The first few are of a camping trip to Timothy Lake in the Mt. Hood area.  We had great weather and a great campsite with a view of Mt. Hood.  We also  went to the St. Paul Rodeo with Ryan's family.  That was a good time.  A very different crowd (I should've been showing more cleavage and leg).  We also just layed cement for our patio.  Very entertaining for the girls to watch.  For the 4th, we had a nice supper and did sparklers in the driveway.  We're getting packed up and ready to go to Vancuver Island for the musicfest this week.  We'll be camping with several of our friends.  I'm looking forward to it except that I will not have a shower for 4 days.  I'm sure I'll figure out a way to make myself and my children feel clean.  I hope everyone's having a good summer.

Chad's top 100

FYI. Chad's top 100 is on his website.

Becky's 100 things

1. I like living alone
2. I am not a morning person
e. The older I get, the more people annoy me
4. I am not a big fan of weddings
5. I do not like cleaning
6. I miss the Goodwill stores in oregon
7. I would like to meet Stephanie
8. Some of the happiest times in my life were when Heather & Ryan and Gretchen & Todd lived in Goshen
9. One of my friends was murdered by a guy I had a blind date with once
10. I buy too many magazines
11. I don’t like eating alone
12. I am obsessed with anything that has turtles on it
13. Sometimes I hate being a homeowner
14. I love to travel
15. I look at Petfinder.com at least once a week
16. I start lots of projects that i don’t finish
17. I unintentionally collect cookbooks
18. I like shopping at the farmer’s market
19. I like going out to breakfast
20. I would really like to own a pick up truck
21. I have never broken a bone
22. I have never been a patient in the hospital
23. I would like to experience pregnancy & birth
24. i don’t think I will ever have children
25. sometimes i don’t see the point in getting married again
26. i love to laugh
27. my eyes are my best feature
28. i like shoes because they always fit
29. i often read when i should be doing other things
30, i often feel that i don’t fit in
31. i wish i didn’t live in goshen
32. having a good job makes it difficult to leave & try something new
33. i would wear different clothes to work if I could
34. i get tired of working with people who are dying
35. i feel old and boring most of the time
36. i like rainstorms
37. I like cold weather better than hot
38. i would like to own a farm someday
39. i hate it when strangers come to the door to sell things
40. one of my shoes is on the PA turnpike somewhere
41. i am afraid of getting cancer
42. mountains make me happy
43. i can’t concentrate with the tv on
44. i can’t fall asleep with music playing
45. i like naps on sunday afternoon
46. i am in a supper club
47. sometimes i wish i could shave my head
48. most of my friends are younger than me
49. i would be a veterinarian in another life
50. i waste a lot of time on the computer
51. i think my nephew is pretty awesome
52. living in the present is difficult for me at times
53. i don't like wearing shorts
54. no nuts in my brownies!
55. i like coffee but not iced coffee
56. i like to ride motorcycles.
57. kittens make me happy
58. often i wonder what the point of my life is
59. i snore
60. i don't like getting my picture taken
61. I never balance my checkbook
62. people think my life looks easy
63. I wish I was athletic
64. I don't have much self-confidence
65. I am really good at singing, but don't get to do it much
66. I like swimming and being around water
67. I can spend a long time in used book stores
68. I get tired of doing the right thing
69. I have a healthy guilt complex
70. I used to be really fun
71. I feel tired & overwhelmed alot
72. I would like to work 3 days a week instead of 5
73. I went to Las Vegas and didn't like it at all
74. I refuse to drink diet pop
75. Butter instead of margarine
76. i like The Chief ice cream
77. Holidays are lonely
78. 100 things is alot to think of
79. I like cleaning out my ears
80. I am very protective of my time
81. I have never smoked
82. I like having & using my fireplace
83. I don't much care for Indiana weather
84. I do like having 4 seasons, though
85. Most of my decisions are based on what other people will think.
86. I regret not traveling more in my 20's
87. I know alot of people but have few close friends
88. Some of my nicest shoes are from goodwill
89. I like big dogs rather than little ones
90. I have an obsession with fruity fizzy drinks
91. I often go shopping when I am sad & wonder why I don't feel better afterwards
92. I had a spiritual director who was a Benedictine nun
93. As a girl, I thought I would be a missionary in Africa
94. I am concerned about world hunger
95. I would like to visit Scotland someday
96. Tractor Supply is one of my favorite stores
97. I often sleep to escape reality
98. I like camping & hiking
99. I like taking walks
100. I almost always eat breakfast at work rather than home.

Heather's 100

1. I look forward to reading these lists

2.  I love working in my yard

3.  I eat a little chocolate every day

4.  I have a hard time falling asleep at night unless I read

5.  I love fiction

6.  George Bush is the worst thing that has currently happened to our country

7.  I'm voting for Obama

8.  I strongly dislike being home alone at night

9.  I hate being scared.

10.  I keep a baseball bat next to my bed

11.  I love food

12.  I enjoy tickling Ryan even though he really hates it and I end up getting hurt (it just amuses me to see him laughing so hard when at the same time he is so mad)

13.  I love having Sophie in bed with me in the mornings

14.  I have no control when it comes to eating cookies

15.  I'm thankful for the good memories I have from my childhood

16.  I hate my stomach

17.  I wish I had a hobby

18.  I wish I knew what I wanted to do when I grow up

19.  I enjoy easy crossword puzzles

20.  I still think Brad Pitt is hot

21.  I strongly dislike my neighbors across the street

22.  I love getting my hair done but hate the way they style it

23.  I hate making appointments

24.  I'm thankful for a partner like Ryan

25.  I dislike being responsible for dinner every night

26.  babysitters are awesome

27.  I love Portland at night

28.  I love fresh air

29.  I love direct heat on cold days

30.  Emma's drawings make me happy

31.  I wish I was more articulate

32.  I wish I still had my original front teeth

33.  I bought our alarm system from a door-to-door salesman

34.  Clothes smell best when they have dried out in the sun

35.  I wish people took recycling more seriously

36.  I hope the price of gas creates a demand for electric cars and better public transportation

37.  I always drink cream in my coffee.

38.  I drink coffee every morning

39.  I love eating out, especially for breakfast

40.  I keep my house freakishly clean

41.  Sour smelling rags and towels really annoy me

42.  I enjoy watching birds

43.  I have 5 birdfeeders and 1 birdbath in my yard

44.  I love planting things in soil

45.  Mangos and bananas are my favorite fruits

46.  Fresh berries are also on my favorites list

47.  My father-in-law makes the best blackberry shakes

48.  I miss my dad's BBQ chicken

49.  I want to learn how to sew

50.  I'm learning how to can

51.  I made 30 jars of strawberry freezer jam on my own

52.  I like to mow with our reel mower

53.  I miss Saturday mornings as a kid

54.  I like having family work days

55.  I'm lucky to have such a great family

56.  I enjoy mixed drinks

57.  I'm beginning to enjoy beer

58.  I recently met with a trainer to help me get excited about exercise

59.  My favorite mug is made of fine bone china and covered with flowers (very grandma like)

60.  I love dogs

61.  We have several feral cats claiming our yard as their own

62.  I think cat shit smells worse than dog shit

63.  Ryan is my favorite person to take trips with

64.  I like to burn candles

65.  I like to burn incense

66.  Sandelwood is my favorite incense

67.  I love the smell of cedar

68.  I'm trying to limit myself to 1 shower a day instead of 2

69.  I hate grocery shopping

70.  I floss daily

71.  I always read the birth, marriages, and death sections of The Mennonite

72.  It feels good to clean out my ears

73.  I do laundry every other day

74.  I use the toilet seat paper guards in public restrooms

75.  I'd rather pee outdoors than use a port-a-potty

76.  I'm excited that Sophie is almost toilet trained

77.  Summer isn't summer without iced tea (mom's recipe)

78.  I love Indian food

79.  I love sushi

80.  I enjoy Ikea

81.  Emma reminds me of myself in a lot of ways

82.  Sophie's personality makes me laugh

83.  I hate having professional pictures taken

84.  I make the beds every morning

85.  I have a hard time leaving the house when it is messy

86.  This drives Ryan nuts because he hates being late

87.  I never leave the house with dirty dishes in the sink

88.  Yes, I'm a freaky clean lady

89.  Sometimes I think I might need therapy

90.  I regularly shop at Goodwill for clothes

91.  I dislike my lips 

92.  I wish we could see Chad and Cyndi more often

93.  I don't want to birth anymore children

94.  I look forward to retirement

95.  I wish I would've experienced a home birth

96.  I'm terrible about keeping up with my girls' baby books

97.  I think I have arthritis in my hands and hips

98.  I sleep with my window open, almost always

99. I'm going to a folk festival on Vancuver Island for a weekend where there will be no showers and lots of port-a-potties

100.  I'm glad we're doing these lists