Victoria in the news!

Check out the article and photo of Victoria ion the Tualatin Times, our local newspaper.

OOO SSSS UUUU !!!

Oregon State, fight, fight, fight!

A lot can happen in the next three weeks, but it's fun to enjoy the current position of the Beavs. Especially give the pre-season prediction (see below):

A Post-Election Moment

Whether your candidate won or lost, we live in a great place. For a little inspiration, I pass along this version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Faith-based individuals will appreciate this song:

Deleting Photos

Due to security issues my oldest daughter has asked that I delete all photos of her children from my FaceBook and blog so I will honor that request. It's sad for me because sometimes I just go to my own blog just to look at their darling faces.

I think I might also make my blog private for invited guests only but I will get back to you on that. I'm going to try to be more careful with last names on my blog as well.

New school year begins September 2008

Dimitri on the first day of his sophomore year at Tualatin HS September 2008

Happy Anniversary, Gretchen!

Today, Gretchen and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary. She should get a trophy, plaque, or some kind of reward for putting up with me for 33 years!

Sometimes, anniversary celebrations are elaborate or memorable. Sometimes, less so. Last year, was memorable — we went to Chef Tucker's for dinner, where Hillary had balloons and a card waiting for us. Tucker and Jenn served us some special, non-menu items. It was a wonderful evening. So much so, that we were remembering it, tonight, as we drove home from dinner (with Dimitri in the back seat!).

Unfortunately, there is no more Chef Tucker's. We miss it a lot, but we did get our son and daughter-in-law back in our "regular lives" (in fact, we had dinner with them, last night). So, what did we replace Chef Tucker's fantastic dining experience with, this year? Pietro's Pizza! Yes, that's right, we went out for pizza with Dimitri. You might say it was less memorable than the superb dinnere we enjoyed last year.

Believe it or not, this was Gretchen's request, so you'll have to ask her about it.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I love my wife, and I am so happy that she has put up with me for 33 years.

P.S. The only reason (well, at least the primary one) that I am taking time to post on our blog, this evening, is because Gretchen is having a lot of fun downloading and setting up Picasa. Guess after 33 years, a photo software program is more exciting than me! :-)

Dimitri's 17th Birthday August 5, 2008

Claim Jumper restaurant was the the location Dimitri chose for his birthday dinner. Grandpa Mortensen and Tucker and Jenn joined us for dinner. Victoria was there but you won't see her in any photos because she was either taking the pics or refusing to have her picture taken. After dinner we went home for cake it was ice cream cake.



Tucker and Jenn with the birthday boy





Grandpa Mortensen with Dimitri



August 5 is also cousin Hailey's birthday and the Levasa family just happened to also be at the restaurant for their family birthday dinner. Hailey is 19.



With Mom and Dad

Blogging Again! - Wichita July 2008 Part II

Victoria downloaded some photos for me so I have something to put on my blog. I really need to learn to do all this stuff myself, someday I will.

I miss my grandchildren so much so much! Hopefully before too long I will be going to visit.

10/24/2008 Okay this is where photos of the cutest kids in the world used to be so you will have to use your imagination.