HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR FIRST BORN ALANA JO BAKER ODEM DEC. 3 WE LOVE OUR PRETTY DAUGHTER VERY MUCH! MARVIN AND JOANN

  Me, Marvin, Alana & pg with Sherry

  First day of school

  Marvin & I with our first 3 children, Marvin Allan, Sherry, & Alana at Uncle Earls & Aunt Edith's

  Alana in front with Marvin Allan , Sherry, Deanna, Craig & David

  Alana this Thanksgiving holding niece Ziggy

We have had a few hot days over 90 degrees. So yesterday, for the first time this year, I went in our pool to cool off. I went alone.  Today Marvin wanted me to go in the pool with him so I did. I love to exercise in the pool with whatever you call those little green things in my pictures. It is very relaxing. Our son David came over to fix our ceiling fan so he took a few pictures of us.

The other day Marvin checked our garden by our back porch and saw that something had been nibbling our plants. He saw some big hoof prints and some little teeny ones. Later, when we were coming home from town, we saw a doe and her two little fawns in the middle of the road just a little ways down from our house. We think they must be the ones that enjoyed eating some of our garden. They were so cute.

We went to our class luncheon Thursday. We had quite a nice turnout. Usually only 12 to 14 attend, but this time there were 27 of us there. The waitress had to move us to the next room to seat everyone. She was very kind and nice about it. Some of the ladies were going to Long Beach today to have lunch at one of our classmate’s condo. Although she lives in Florida, she spends some of the summer in Long Beach. They were also planning on staying overnight. My girlfriend that lives in Long Beach tried so hard to get me to come to the lunch and stay overnight too. I really wanted to stay home with my husband, but Marvin thought it would be good for me to get away and have a break. That was until he heard some of the ladies saying that they would bring wine. After that, Marvin changed his mind quite fast and said he would prefer I did not go. I was so relieved to finally have a decision made and have been glad all day that I stayed home. We had a very enjoyable day.

Some pictures

We wanted to see what Talena would think of the pool. She wouldn't get in so David threw her in. She went under, came right up, not happy, so Marvin & David got her our by pushing her up the ladder. Poor Talena did not like it.  Editor's note:  She probably remembers when you tried to drown her in the river!

  Marvin & I enjoying cooling off in the pool. You can exercise pretty good with those green things

  Dell, Michael, Cassie, & Lauriana having fun.

  The little culprits that nibbled in our garden

  Going up our road

  Coast Guard Helicopter going over the Cowlitz river looking for a 20 yr. old guy who presumably drowned after saving a 9 yrs. old girl PAPER WAS WRONG IT WAS A 3 YRS. OLD GIRL!

  Flying over the river

  Got down low right close to the water

  Scuba driver is checking the snags while the CGH hovers above him

  Helicopter sure churns he water

  Love and God's Blessings to all. JoAnn

   Trying to see if I can get my pictures working on here again. We have been busy doing the usual, City retirees luncheons, class luncheons, lake walking, the latest was Craig & Judy's "family and friends) annual picnic. Turned out good & enjoyed visiting with everyone. At the lake yesterday as Marvin came up to meet Talena and I  he said he heard a loud noise of something hitting the car window. He looked & saw that a young crow had hit it quite hard. Several crows were flying around it I guess trying to help it. He got out and looked around & it was dazed & crawled under the car behind him. He walked down to meet me like he always does. When we got back to our car we looked under the car that had the crow underneath it. It was still there. We tried to get closer & it hopped away & flew into a tree so hopefully it didn't get hurt but just got stunned. 

  Went to the 4th of July parade & in the eveinng to the fireworks. They were beautiful & we really enjoyed them. It was a very warm day & evening so made it all the more enjoyable. I am going to try & see if I can get my pictures on. They will be some of what we have been doing.

  Celebrated Aunt Delores's Birthday

Took Cassie & Michael to Kress Lake to fish & Marvin, Talena, & I walked around the whole lake took 35 min.

Grandson Michael, his GF, Cassie, Cassie's exchange student from France, Laurieanna

  On the way to Craig & Judy's Picnic we stopped on Rainier hill so Lauriana could get a picture of the Columbia River with Wash on one side & Oregon on the other side

  Taking the picture

  Brooklynn & Jen came over to our house to swim

Had elk visiting again too close to our pool & garden

  At Craig & Judy's barbacue in Brownsmeade

Craig getting the food started

  Tonya  standing me & Teresa watching Aunt Delores her bil Hoss & her sil Veilia enjoy the food

Grandson's Eric & Beau just arriving

Me & grandson Austin standing, Brother Ron & sil Nancy friends Gloria & Ritchie

  Grandson Owen standing. He was here for the weekend then had to go back to college in Virginia

Some of our nephew & nieces My brothers children & Marvin's brothers children

Daughter Alana standing me visiting at Hoss & Velia's table

Nieces Pam holding Shasta & Katrina by them

Me visiting with niece Teresa & 2 of her kids

Pie eating contest. Clifford, William on the left William came in 2nd on the right the 3rd one Eric who came in 3rd

Eric in the orange shirt standing happy because he came in 3rd

Another view. Kids & grownups enjoyed watching them

Son David eating with his granddaughter Brooklynn

Enjoying the fire, s'mores, & hotdogs. 

Evening now. David holding Kaylen & Brooklynn. The little girls were holding hands with each other. Cute.

Standing Grandson Joey & Granddaughter Rachel. Rachel just broke her leg. Had 4 wisdom teeth pulled went to go to bed & passed out. They thought she was over the meds but evidently not.

Son Jeff & grandson Eric getting some food

Me & sil Nancy, brother Ron & Grandson Owen, Craig's son.

  Finally got the pictures. I almost drove my Brother Gary crazy trying to help me but I FINALLY figured it out. Love and God's Blessings to all. JoAnn

I have been posting on Facebook most of the time because I find it easier to use. However I still prefer Xanga but I have been too busy to post here. Also with the nice weather we are having, Marvin and I spend a lot of time on our swings in the front and back yards. My daily lake walks take two to three hours and we do a lot of running around for our grandkids, which we do not mind; it keeps us on our toes. We have also been to the Quinault Lake and the Rain Forest two different times. They are about 200 miles from our house.  Consequently, I just glance at my computer once in a while.

Last week we stayed a night in a very nice Inn at Amanda Lake near Quinault. Our daughter Alana, Daughter-in-law Liz, and Granddaughter Jen also went to Quinault. They had planned to stay the night and had reserved their room. We had planned to go home in the evening since it is only a 3 hour drive. But we played at the beautiful beach until 9:00 P.M. and Marvin was very sleepy so we decided it would be best to spend the night. We got a suite that was connected to our kids’ room which made it quite nice. I am really glad we got to enjoy the area some more. We went to two different beaches, Beach 4 and Ruby Beach. Both have a trail you need to hike to get to the beach with rocks and big logs to climb over, but it was fun. I will post a few pictures of our trip. We love the ocean and hated to come home!

  Stopped at beach 4 & ate lunch. DIL Liz, Granddaughter Jen, they went in Jen's car to the beach, me, Daughter Alana

  Almost down the path to the beach

  Marvin took a picture of us on the bridge we had to cross to get down to the ocean.

  Jen & I getting ready to wade in the ocean. I just love to wade & have the waves come over my feet.

  Marvin & I inside a big rock.

  This is the bottom of the rock

  This is how tall it is

  This is Jen in back of the rock with the waves hitting her & scaring me.

  Liz & Jen climbing some of the rocks to get to sea creatures.

  Waves coming on to the rocks.

  Island with the lighthouse on it.

  Had little steps on some of the path

  Made it much easier. 

  Almost to the ocean

  This looks like Lava rock

  Had big logs to cross over as some were piled up

  Interesting rock, looks like a horse or some kind of animal

  Jen & I still playing by the ocean

  Marvin & I on the deck of our Inn

  Alana & Liz in their room

  Jen & Liz on their bed

  Marvin in our room

  Us ladies enjoying the deck

  In front of our room

  Walking by the river in front of the Inn

  Some more of the Quinault River in front of the Inn

Finally finished this. Sorry it is so long. I started it and then Marvin and Talena insisted I go outside with them. Marvin and I swing while Talena either lays in the dirt she dug or on the grass. I might go back outside. It is very muggy still. Was 88 but now is 77.

  Love and God's Blessings to all. JoAnn

 I will update. I am like Alana & Teresa, seems like hardly anyone has been on xanga. I have been doing mostly facebook but I really like xanga much better.

  We had Genny, Jim, & Maureen over last night for dinner & to look at old pictures of Grandpa Nelson & his family. Lots of them we couldn't identify so asked Marvin's cousin Maxine to come over with all of us one of these days & see what input she can give. Had a very nice visit & we really like Jim. So glad Genny got a good guy. We haven't been doing too much lately although we did go to the rain forest & Lake Quinalt. It is really a beautiful drive. Jen & her friend Aerial went also in Jen's car. They stayed in a inn over the week-end but we didn't bring Talena so came back in the evening. Our 53rd WA was the next day so we call that peaceful drive our celebration. Everything is blooming so pretty here but lots of rain & wind. Pictures of some of our doings.

  Our grandchildren Jen & Justin decided to work omn Grandpa's pond. Marvin & Justin checking things out

  Justin & Jen took down our storm damaged lilac tree & pulled tons of ivy out of the pond

  Of course Talena had to jump in the pond & get a drink

  Justin loading the lilac tree & Jen hauling it off

  Jen planted some flowers & put some bricks around it. Looks really nice.

  The other end of the pond with our good lilac tree.

  Going to the rain forest following Jen & Ariel in Jen's red car. You can see part of our "I love you" stuffed puppy on our dashboard.

  Lake Quinault

  Lake Quinault

  Aunt Delores & Uncle Hal brought us this cocoanut cream pie for our anniversary.

  Our 53rs WA.

  Talena decided she likes the rug Aunt Delores & Uncle Hal bought us. Our HS colors red & black.

  Our neighbor cut down this tree in their front yard.

  It was heavy wind & rain & the guy had this cable & went almost to the top & topped the tree first.

  Here the top is starting to fall. Scary watching him.

  Don't know how he dared to go up so far & stand back up there while it fell.

  Love and God's Peace and Blessings to all. JoAnn