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.