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Digital Memories: 1991

Pictures truly are worth a thousand words.  Over the last few months, I have been scanning in many of our negatives, and completing our digital library.  While I undoubtable have thousands of negatives to go, I can't help but share some of the pictures I have recovered so far.  Given the wild and crazy clothing, I have permission from specific children to post these pictures!  I hope they bring back to you the same loving memories as I had when I first saw these pictures come back to life on my computer screen!

We started in Portland Oregon, and stopped at the Tetons first.  Truly magnificent mountain range, and a beautiful valley to the east.

As you can see, taking pictures the old fashioned way was not always as sure fire as it is today with digital cameras that let you see the shot immediately.  Occasionally, the pictures were out of focus, but the photographer had no clue until it cam time to see the negative, usually days or weeks after the shot.  Oh well, you can still see the bright colors of the 1990's.  This is three ham bones high above the RV cab.

Mom usually found a way for Tiffany, Jennifer and Terrill to stay occupied while I was driving.  Typically, I got up early and drove.  Kids would wake up a hundred miles down the road, have breakfast, and get going while we were driving.  Around noon, we would stop at our first sightseeing location, grab lunch, and explore.

Some kids enjoyed time to themselves - listening to tunes and drawing, while we were cruising down the road... ah, the simple life... music, drawing, and a road trip!

We took in many fun places... Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore,  and the Devil's Tower (home to the major scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind).  Note the subdued colors of the very comfortable clothing!

Laurie hand drew the shirts we wore at the family reunion!  Here is the whole family, June, 1991, standing in front of the RV in Wisconsin.

While in Wisconsin, the kids did a lot of fun activities... fishing, horseback riding, playing cards with distant relatives, hiking through the woods, boating on a pontoon boat and many more!  These are just a few of the classic photographs.  For the record, Ashley did not enjoy the horse solo, but with her sister, this was fun.

Terrill apparently plays cards much better when his sister helps him decide what to play.

After the reunion in Wisconsin, we travelled south to visit historic Church sites.  We actually drove over the Mississippi river, and then took a ferry (RV and all) back across to Nauvoo.  

We also stopped in Provo, to show the kids both where Mom and Dad spent two years, and to show them where they would be spending time during their college years...never hurts to set expectations early.

Please let me know if you enjoy these fun pictures from long ago.  As I found out yesterday, we have hundreds of pictures yet to go.  I plan to share them with all of you on the blog, but also make them available on CD, once we get them organized and labelled.

Have a Happy Easter!

Love Dad.

April Weekend in the NorthWest

Laurie came up to Bellevue this weekend.  Friday, the girls went shopping and to lunch....

Shopping at Nordstrom's... so much fun!

How cute is she!?!?  Lunch at Bellevue Square.

How can you shop without raiding Grandma's purse?

After a long day of shopping, it was time to head home.   Saturday morning, it was time for a walk.  Note the matching headgear... Daddy and Daughter!  Spring has sprung, and the flowers are starting to arrive.

After a few minutes of walking, headgear and jacket quickly came off.  Kayla doesn't really walk that much... mostly running or standing still.  Walking simply is not part of the repertoire!

We did manage to get her to to stay still for just a few pictures.  Mom and Dad overlooking the lake.  And resting on a stump, both offered a chance to rest from the 2 mile hike.

When she was walking, she found some sooo cool things to do... like stepping into the mud puddle,

or finding a walking stick, or is that a sword?

Yikes!  She's even coming after Grandpa!

We were still able to find a nice place to take a breather, and enjoy another photo-op!

On the bridge with Mom, Dad and Grandma.

Just can't let go of the tree.  A real nature lover!

Grandpa and Kayla... Late in the hike, Kayla was getting a bit tired!

After a hard day of hiking, everyone went home and took a nice nap.  That evening, Laurie and I stopped by Braden and Tiffany's.  Kayla picked her outfit.... pink, pink and more pink....  What a girl!

I LOVE PINK, and LOVE to have my picture taken!

I don't know how I got so dirty?

Tahoe in April

There is still plenty of snow in the Sierras.  Laurie and I decided to spend the weekend in Incline Village with Ken and Janet.  We arrived Friday night, late, and found snow all around the cabin.  Looking out, late at night, we saw snow through the windows.  The following morning gave us a better idea of just how much snow fell this winter:

Waling down the stairs to the family room

Along the side of the house - 15 feet of snow?
Futon room window is below the snow line.

Yup - this is the view out the kitchen - snow where no snow has come before!

While the driveway is clear, a major pile of snow is on the front yard.

After breakfast at Wildflower, we headed up for a few hours of snowshoeing.  What a wonderful time we had.  Gorgeous scenery, friendly wildlife, and a storm blowing in from the west.  We had sun, wind (50 mph), and snow.

Lake Tahoe in the spring.  

Ken and Janet BEFORE we head out over the snow

Beautiful sunny day in the meadow

Only a quarter mile in, the Chickadees asked for food.  Everyone had the chance to feed the local wildlife!

At the top of the ridge, it looks quiet.  Looks are deceiving.  It was blowing very hard just 20 yards behind us.  No Chickadees on the ridge today.  They were all hiding out lower, where the wind is calm.  We ran into two couples and three dogs on our journey.  They were kind enough to take this picture of the windblown party.

Chickadee in it's natural habitat - looking for food.

Chickadee in it's foraging mode - finding food in the palm of Ken's hand.

Coming back down, we paused on the trail for quick pictures.  Storm was blowing in, and we were racing to make it back to the car before we were caught.

A little way's further down the trail, we came to a tranquil little meadow, where we paused for yet another photo-op.  It was snowing here.

Terrill - this one's for you.  Look, no lift lines.  Once he got started,  he was all over the meadow.  There was plenty of wind to keep him snowboarding all afternoon.

Coming back from our little trip.  A spring day, complete with snow clouds, at Lake Tahoe.