Sizzling in July

We were starting to wonder if we would ever get a summer up here in Newberg. June wasn't exactly warm. The last week we were running a space heater downstairs in our basement. But, today the temps have soared & it looks like the heat has arrived in time for July. I'm hoping the raspberries are all out there on the vine just bursting so I can go pick up a few flats & do jam this weekend.

After recouping from our trip to St. George a few weeks ago, we got back into our routines around home. Cassie is back in water polo & will start lifeguard training in another week. The kids & I went & got library cards & found a good storytime to take Colin to every week. We are anxiously awaiting the new Harry Potter book due out the end of the month.

Chris' nephew Alex came & stayed with us for the last few days. He was taking some leave time from the Army & Ft. Polk of all places where he is stationed. It's so ironic that he is serving where Chris did. Alex is a special ops guy though. So, he spends ample time in the field playing war games, but has so far managed to keep from being deployed. He has just over a year left on his committment. He was so fun to have around. We shopped, ate good food, went to OMSI, played at the beach, played Xbox & hung out. Craig dragged him off to the driving range 5 minutes after he got here. He was so patient & kind with all of us. He drove up to Tacoma with us for the 4th & is spending his last few days with Kathy & Wally before he heads back to Polk.

We enjoyed a baseball game with Chris' parents the night of July 3rd. The Rainers played the Bees or the Buzz. Which is it? Anyway, SLC was awesome. They had some hard hitters & great pitching. Tacoma tried to come back at the end, but came up 1 run short. They put on a great fireworks show after the game & we got to Chris' parents really late. The party was in full swing out on the pininsula where they live. I think the bangs & booms stopped around 4-5am & then started up again shortly after daybreak. By then Wally, Chris & I were out riding. It was a post-card day! Not a cloud in the sky. I could see the Olympic Mountains & the lakes were glass. We rode a 40 mile roller. Chris & Wally ate it up. I on the other hand thought it was torture! Especially when at mile 36 I'm facing another 5% grade. Ugh! Chris says now I'm ready for the STP which is our next big ride on July 14th.

Kathy & Wally grilled up a storm for the 4th BBQ. Chicken, ribs, brats, dogs, burgers, THE WORKS! It was amazing. Unfortunately for me I was too exhausted to fully enjoy it. My stomach got the better of me after no sleep & a big bike ride. All the little Beecher cousins ran around & had fun. Our kids came home & sat in the driveway & watched our neighborhood do all their fireworks. Chris & I went to bed.

So, I finally posted all the fun pictures from the last few weeks. It's been a busy summer so far! Our ward continues to grow each week with new move-ins. Our stake presidency came this last fast Sunday & put a new bishopric in our ward! Most of the aux's will be reorganized in the coming weeks. Makes going to church a little more interesting when there's changes like that.

I'm looking forward to having my Mom come a week from Friday! Chris will be traveling on business quite a bit this month. So, her help & company will be greatly welcomed. Chris & I are getting our miles in on the bikes while he is in town. I've been running since I've moved up here. I have the Nike plus system that has been tracking all my runs. I completed mile 85 today! (That's 85 miles since February.) That's a milestone for me because I've never run that much in that amount of time before. I'm just about a week from mile 100! Now if could only swim....I could be a triathlete. That's why I've pushed Cassie into that role all these years...because I'm afraid of deep water & can't swim. Maybe someday she & I can do a tri together & she can do the water leg of the event. We'll see.

Stay cool & drink lots of water!