Can you get into the blog?

Mom, I'm sorry I wore you out with stupid computer work on Saturday! Please let me know if the new system is working for you! You can try to post a comment below (you may have to click on "post" more than once - not sure why - or you could send an email.

We had a nice day today. Church, of course, in the morning. In the afternoon I did some family history research on the computer, and now I'm getting lesson materials ready for tomorrow.

That was nice to hear that Dave Jenkins has some old documents. I probably have the info already, but it will be good to see what he has. Mark and I are going to do the temple work in December for Uncle Bill & Aunt Pam Jenkins, and for Uncle Charlie Jenkins. I don't know why I've waited so long. I'll wait to do the work for Uncle Bill & Aunt Mary Anne Kenny until next spring, because we have to wait for at least one year after the death, and I want to do them together. We'll do Mike's work then, too. It will be nice to have all those wonderful people "hooked up" in heaven.  (Polly & Eric did Grandma & Grandpa Jenkins' work a little while ago - Grandpa Jenkins made me promise never to do his work, and I never did...but my kids did. :) Someday he'll thank me. )

I don't even want to think about this next week. It's going to just be crazy-busy. At least it's not supposed to rain on Tuesday and Saturday when we take the cub scouts out for the annual "Scouting for Food" service project - a door-to-door food drive in our neighborhood. I'll post again during the week to let you know how I'm surviving.

Thank you again for coming all the way to visit us! Won't be long until we're visiting YOU!

Sure is fun to have you here!

Plans for Friday

David, Holly, Arora, and Nate, Ashley, & Blake will all be able to come over on Friday evening. I've invited them for leftovers. I think I'll cook a pot of rice and make some cream of chicken gravy, and we'll have Hawaiian Haystack - very easy.

Do you have any ideas of something you would like to do on Saturday? Mark and I have thought of going into Portland to wander around Saturday Market, but are there things you would like to do? Please be thinking about it. We are flexible. Looking forward to seeing you!

A Good Hike

Mark and I went hiking in the Columbia Gorge today. It was his idea to go - perhaps the first time in my marriage to Mark that HE has been the one to invite ME on a hike! Usually it's the other way around. It was supposed to be rainy, but the weather turned out perfect. It drizzled for maybe the first 1/2 hour, but after that we had overcast and cool, beautiful hiking weather. The fall colors were breathtaking, and we saw creeks and waterfalls everywhere we looked. What a glorious day! Here are a few photos.

A beautiful day in the Gorge.

At the viewpoint - top of Multnomah Falls.
(You can click on the photos to make them bigger, so you can see more details.)

One of the many waterfalls on Multnomah Creek - above Multnomah Falls.

It was THIS big. Wonderful scenery, including the big old Doug fir trees. We hiked about 5 miles, from Multnomah Falls to upper Multnomah Creek, then west to upper Wahkeena Creek, down to Wahkeena Falls, and then east back to the Multnomah Lodge.

Mark crossing a small bridge on upper Wahkeena Creek.

Back in the parking lot - Wahkeena Falls in the background. Just 1/2 mile left to hike back to Multnomah Falls. We had such a wonderful day!

Good books

My friend Dorothy Jenson mentioned a series of books on her blog today that I think you would enjoy. (I think I would enjoy them, too, if I had more leisure time to read!) If you click here, it will take you to her post. It starts out about how she's trying to choose colors for painting her house, and then she talks about the books she's been reading.

Standing Up

Maddy is doing more and more big-girl tricks. This evening she was standing by herself at the coffee table. She has such a lot of personality - I know you will really enjoy her when you come down for Thanksgiving.

And did you know that David and Holly will be here then, too? They are coming to town to take care of Holly's step-brother's kids while he and his wife go on a cruise.

One more bit of news -Mike Koponick has had TWO job interviews this week, and it looks like he'll have offers from both companies. We'll keep you posted on how that is going.

Making You Laugh

I posted a funny story on my other blog today. And be sure to check out the Do-Re-Mi video on David's blog - it's really fun to watch.