Lotsa Bike Racing...

Check out this link to a video on youtube created by one of my team mates. It shows some of the bicycling road racing I've been doing this year with the Valley Athletic Bicycling team. I completed a difficult two hour moutain bike race yesterday and I'm sitting here pretty beat up today, but it has been a fun racing season so far!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVuMRE6h0qY

Dave and Karen's visit to Oly

Eric's Dad (Dave) and girlfriend Karen came to visit us in Oly last weekend. They spent most of their trip in the Portland, Oregon area, but spent a long weekend with us. We did some fun stuff: went to a Tacoma Rainier's game, strolled along the Oly waterfront and Farmer's Market, toured the Capital campus, brunch at the Budd Bay Cafe, went to Westport, and had a picnic at the Boston Harbor Marina. It was a short, but nice visit.

Who are those two relaxed and happy vacationers?

Yummy seafood brunch at Budd Bay Cafe.

It was like 95 degrees while Dave and Karen were here. Carmen was hot so we took her next door to our neighbor's pool. She didn't really like it because she thought she was going to get a bath. She was a good sport though!

We couldn't take the heat, so we hopped in the car and drove to the coast, BUT is was cold there! What happened?

Eric and Carmen had fun in the surf anyway...

We enjoyed a nice dinner together on their last night in Oly before they headed back to Oregon for the rest of their trip.

Demolition of a deck

We had a nice large deck off the "2nd" floor of our split-level home, but it turned out the support beams were rotten and beginning to fail. We need a new deck, but before the new deck comes the demolition of the old one. Eric had a vision of how to tear it down and his vision worked well. The deck came down in a few hours and no one got hurt. We had a pizza party with the neighbors afterwards to celebrate as they helped at the end of the project.

Before the deck came down...

The railing is off and now come the floor boards...

The manly neighbor men lend a hand.

the last support is about to fall...everyone get back!

Eric gives us all a nice pole dance on the last pole standing

Now we need a new deck!

We couldn't have done it without Carmen's love and support :)

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes...

We've made a lot of changes to our little home this year. Whenever we feel overwhelmed by what we still have to do, it helps to think of just how far we've come! This set of pictures shows how our yard and bathroom have changed (for the better).

Our yard in early Spring 2008...

Our yard now... Eric put a great patio in the front!

Our bathroom after we tore off the wall board and wood paneling. Who would put wood paneling in a bathroom anyway?

We just decided it all had to come out - lath, plaster and everything!

Then we hired a contractor when we realized how much work we had to do. He replaced the picture window with a nice small window and put proper backing up for a new tile job.

Here is the finished job! We love it...

Just another view. Like the Euro-style sink?

Carmen's trip to the Farm

We recently took Carmen down to Grandma and Grandpa Era's farm in Winlock, WA. She loves it there and she had a great time. My dad is moving into the farm house and has already started on some much-needed remodeling. We are all excited that the farm will stay in the family.

Carmen's first hike down to the river

She really wanted to chase the cows!


What is she thinking about?

Behind on some pictures...the Procession

Pictures from Olympia's Procession of the Species (April 2008)...

Gray Whale with real blow hole action

Our old housemate: Andrea the butterfly

Razor Clams!!!


Our current neighbors: Patricia, Aaron, and Cree with their peace dove

Australia: Brisbane

Breakfast at the B&B and the last few hours of our lovely time in Australia.

This was a hand carved Nepalese temple made by 180 families for the World's fair in Brisbane. It was apparently a highlight of the fair.

A really nice man-made beach and lagoon along the river front.

Here we are with another Australian friend we made on the trip. Her name is Marg and she's from Sidney. She was in Brisbane visiting a childhood pen pal from America who was in town for business. Australians are incredibly nice people.

The waterfront...

A beautiful church

Brisbane is a beautiful city with amazing architecture.

Here is Eric enjoying an Australian espresso called a "long black" at one of the many cafes along the river front.



Eric is relaxing at our very posh B&B in downtown Brisbane