The Zdenek Family at Loon Lake

We were so excited to have our daughter, Melissa Zdenek, with husband, Ryan, and girls Payton & Gracie, visit us for a week here at Loon Lake. It was a great time of fun & relaxation. Ryan had to be back at work on Wednesday, so flew back Tuesday afternoon. Melissa & the girls stayed on until Friday. We saw Payton make her first swim (with life jacket) into the deeper water.... what an exciting time. There's a picture below showing this great accomplishment!

Payton (3) and Gracie (1) on our front deck

Payton putting her handprint on the new steps BaPa made down at the lake.

Gracie relaxing on the boat

Melissa, Payton & Gracie enjoying a trip around the lake in our Pontoon "Party" Boat

Ryan & Payton on the boat

While Melissa & Ryan were here, Ryan helped Neil make new concrete steps down at the beach. We were able to get handprints, or footprints, for all the grandkids, except Trent & Kaden, but we put their initials on one of the steps.

BaPa and Payton making Pancakes for breakfast

Payton helping Grandma by watering her plants in the morning.

Gracie is really enjoying being on the boat....Look at that smile!

This is "Ribbit", the frog Payton found on our side deck. Whenever she heard him croaking, she was out on the side deck looking for him.


Grandma helping Payton & Gracie look for Ribbitt

Gracie is helping make pancakes, too.

Ryan & Payton on our front deck

Ryan & Melissa had a date one evening, so BaPa and I watched Payton & Gracie while they were gone. These times are very special for us.

We took a hike into the woods behind the cabin. Here's BaPa & Gracie

Grandma & Payton on the hiking trail.... we were hot

Ryan playing with the dominoes with the girls. Payton would set up a snake and Gracie would show how to make them fall down quickly.

Gracie in the "Buff" - she's missing something... don't you think? But oh so cute.

I have a big fake goose down by the lake, and both Payton & Gracie enjoyed sitting on it...

Gracie down at the beach

Payton, and a neighbor's dog, looking for fish. The dog actually dove in when he thought he saw one. I've never seen him catch a fish, though.

Payton taking a very long swim in deep water. She was so excited. Mommy & I were just as excited when we turned and saw her swimming out to the ladder at the end of the dock. It was probably 20' deep where this picture was taken.

"D-Otis", the cat, doesn't seem to be concerned that Gracie is laying on top of him. He seems to really enjoy the girls.

2-week Motorcycle Ride to California

On August 3, Neil & I, along with our friends, Ken & Marian Russ, left on a 2-week Ride on our Goldwing Motorcycles. We traveled along the coast of Oregon and California. On our trip we stopped at the Sand Dunes in Florence; OR, traveled 104 miles in a jet boat up the Rogue River; went through the Redwood Forest in Northern, California; camped along the ocean in California; road the "Skunk Train" out of Ft. Braggs, California; and visited Crater Lake in Central Oregon. And that's just to mention a few of the things we did. Our trip was 2,000 miles long, and we camped at various State & KOA Campsites along the way. The weather cooperated with beautiful sunshine most days. We did have some rain our last night of camping in Redmond, OR, and some strong winds on our way home through Northern Oregon. It was a great time.
Neil & I standing in front of Crater Lake in central Oregon. And, yes, the lake is really that color blue. When you are looking at it, you think it is a painted picture. It is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed as a result of a volcano erupting.

Ken & Marian at Crater Lake

A beautiful sunset on the last night of our trip in Redmond, OR

Our campsite at Redmond, OR. This is the one night we had to deal with wet weather. But, the guys put the Blue Tarp over the stove and table, so worked great.

Ken, Marian, myself & Neil standing in front of the "Skunk" Train

This is looking back at the Open Car of the Skunk Train. If you look closely, Marian has her hat on and Kenny is in a Blue T-Shirt. The Skunk Train is only one of 3 in the United States that is a "Flag Stop" Train. People who live primitive can flag down the train and catch it as it goes by on it's regular run without making reservations. We were able to ride on a 2nd one up in Alaska in the Denali Forest a couple of years ago, and plan on making a trip to Colorado for the 3rd one sometime next year.

At Westport, CA, Ken & Marian walking on the beach. There was a beautiful sunset that evening.

We stopped in Gold Beach, CA, and took a 104 mile ride up the Rogue River on a jet boat, going over class 4 rapids. The driver also enjoyed doing 360 degree turns in the water which caused all of us to get a little wet. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was breath taking. This is the four of us in our life jackets. Hard to tell here, but we were all a little wet.

On the Rogue River, the scenery was beautiful. Here is a picture I took looking up the river.

Marian got a little wet on this one. It's hard to recognize her because she's ducking to try to keep from getting soaked. I had a hard time taking this picture & the one below because I was being thrown about during the quick turns, and I was also trying to keep the camera dry. Plus ..... laughing a lot

Neil really enjoying the water when we did a 360 degree turn.

This is how we travel! This picture of the bikes with Neil, Ken & Marian was taken in the Redwood Forest in Northern California. The trees are huge!

The four of us standing in front of a huge Redwood Tree in Northern, California. Marian & I wear hats when we are off the bikes to hide our "Helmet" hair.

On the Oregon Coast looking back at a lighthouse. I was standing at the Sea Lion Caves when I took this picture

Enjoying a "Crazy & fast" Sand Dune ride in Florence, OR. It was early and a little cooler this day. It reminded us a lot of snowmobiling. With our goggles on, it's a little hard to recognize everyone. In the back row is Neil, Marian & Kenny. I'm sitting in the middle of the center row. It was really a fun and exciting ride.

Ed & Gloria, Neil & Rosie visiting White brothers

On July 27, Neil & I, along with my twin brother, Ed Nordby & his wife, Gloria, took a day to visit our Mom's brothers who are living in or near the Spokane area. Our cousin, Linda, tried to make arrangements to bring our other uncle Ed White (93) over, but she was unable to do so. It was a day of memories, and remembering so many times we shared with Mom's family when we were growing up.

Curt White (78), our Mom's youngest brother, Ed & I

Ed & Curt White, who lives in St. John with his wife, Lorraine

Our Mom's brother, Don White (90) who lives in Pomeroy, WA at a Senior Home.

Mom's oldest brother, George White (98), with his wife, Betty who is 89. Behind George & Betty, with Ed & I, are our cousins, Judy Nelson, and Marlene Landers.

Deer Park High School, Class of '62 Mini-Reunion

One of Rosie's classmates from Vass, NC, Darla (Stevens) Howe, was in the Deer Park area visiting her mother and asked me if I could get any of our classmates together so she could visit with them. I contacted the local classmates, and invited them to a Hamburger Potluck on our deck here at the lake. We had 22 Adults, and 5 Grandchildren here that evening. Jackie Reynolds & I furnished the Hamburgers/Buns & Condiments, and everyone else brought Salads. Darla brought a cake with "Class of 1962 Forever" on it, and Dan & Doris Berg made Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. Food was great, conversation the best with old friends.

Loretta (Baker) Sicilia, Katie (Francis) Ewart, Darla (Stevens) Howe, Jim Qualls, Jack Leliefeld, Pete Reynolds, Linda (Pakker) Miller & Dan Berg
Doris Berg (Dan's wife) Jackie Reynolds (Pete's wife), Alaine (Leliefeld) Qualls (Jim's wife), Neil Dewey (Rosie Nordby's husband), Jim Miller (Linda Pakker Miller's husband), Katie (Francis) Ewart, Darla (Stevens) Howe, Jim Qualls, Chuck Ewart (Katie's husband)

Good friends: Rosie (Nordby) Dewey, Darla (Stevens) Howe, Katie (Francis) Ewart, Karen (Berg) Fortune, Linda (Pakker) Miller

Classmates & Spouses

Very Back row: Stan Sicilia, Dan & Doris Berg, Alaine Qualls, Clark Adamson

Middle row: Pete Reynolds, Jackie Reynolds, Linda (Pakker) Miller, Karen (Berg) Fortune, Judy Adamson, Jim Miller, Jack Leliefeld, Betty Jean (Whitney) Leliefeld

Front row: Katie (Francis) Ewart, Chuck Ewart, Darla Stevens, Gloria Nordby, Loretta Sicilia, Rosie (Nordby) Dewey, DeeDee Hodgson, Neil Dewey, Sharon (Jensen) Hutchings, Jim Qualls

CLASSMATES:

Back: Stan Sicilia, Dan Berg, Clark Adamson, Darla (Stevens) Howe, Jack Leliefeld, Betty (Whitney) Leliefeld

Front: Pete Reynolds, Linda (Pakker) Miller, Rosie (Nordby) Dewey, Karen (Berg) Fortune, Katie (Francis) Ewart, Sharon (Jensen) Hutchings, Jim Qualls

Grandkids at the Lake - Summer 2009

Every year we invite grandkids over to Loon Lake to enjoy a couple of weeks of playing in the water, and enjoying time with Grandma & BaPa. This year we had Kyleigh (12), Aspen (10), Braydon (6) and Brooke (4). Kyleigh & Aspen have been with us for 6 summers, Brayon for 3 years, and this is Brooke's first year. Here are some pictures to capture the great time we had. Neil & I look forward to this every summer!!

The grandkids playing in Field at Great Grandma Ev's

Brooke Weddle showing how well she can swim in deep water

Brooke Weddle with Cousin Timberly McDonald (Ed, Rosie's Brother's, granddaughter) playing dress-up at Great Grandma Ev's.

BaPa shooting Aspen & Kyleigh with the Water Blaster from the dock

The Grandkids playing on the water float. Brooke just came off the slide; Kyleigh is watching her (yellow life jacket), and Braydon getting back onto the trampoline.

Their favorite thing to do was riding in the tube behind the boat. All 4 of them are in the tube. They kept motioning for us to go faster, and make sharper turns. There is No-Fear in this group.

On their Trampoline/Slide Float - (Left to right) - Kyleigh, Brooke, Braydon & Aspen.

For their birthdays this year, we bought the 3 older kids this trampoline/slide float. They are all laying on the trampoline. They had a great time on it. We were concerned about Brooke being able to enjoy it, but she swam right out there (deep water -- but with life jacket), went down the slide many times, and had as much fun as the bigger kids!!

Grandma Rosie with her four grandkids over at Great Grandma Ev's place. Grandma Ev has fixed a lunch for them (Hotdogs & Root Beer Floats) every year since the kids have been coming to the lake. Ed's grandkids were also there (Nelson, Cody & Timberly McDonald)

The four of them "snaking" through the water behind Aspen paddling the Kyak. Holding on to the boat is Kyleigh, followed by Braydon and Brooke bringing up the tail.

Aspen (10), Kyleigh (12) Braydon (6) and Brooke (4)

Here are the four grandkids the first day they arrived. Aspen, Kyleigh, Braydon & Brooke. Apsen & Kyleigh are VERY good swimmers, so if Neil or I were at the dock, they weren't required to wear life jackets. If we weren't with them, they also had to be safe with life jackets.

When the four kids had to leave to go back home (Nathan & Tracy came over to pick them up), we all had a "Crying" time. It started with a couple of the kids, and then Grandma had to join in with a few tears. It's always so sad to see them go home, but we know we'll get to enjoy them again next year!

Ladies from Roslyn Presbyterian Church at the Lake

Marian Russ & I put together a Ladies Retreat at our place on Loon Lake and invited ladies from our church in Roslyn (Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian) to come over for three days. We had such a great time.

Saturday morning trip around Loon Lake on Pontoon Boat. Lila (in front row, middle) gave wonderful devotion while we enjoyed the serenity of the morning on the lake with our friends.

The results of decorating our Flip Flops, and giving each other Pedicures. Can you tell whose feet are whose?

Merrily Larsen, Lila Knox, Marian Russ, Marge Hathaway, Beth Matanich & myself.

On July 9 Five ladies from our church in Roslyn arrived at our place on Loon Lake for a summer Retreat. Neil was at an Air Show in Arlington, WA, so was a good time to have a "Ladies Retreat". This is the 2nd year we have been together to laugh, relax, do crafts and just enjoy a wonderful time together. Becky Isley wasn't able to make it this year, but Lila Knox was able to join us. We decorated the shirts and hats you see in the picture, and also 'fancied-up' flip-flops to wear to the craft show in Chewelah the next day - Chataqua. Marian & I had also found the bags and embroidered their names and filled them with items they might use while here (water, napkins, lip gloss, sun glasses, etc.). Also everyone painted Bird House planter decorations and put them into a pot with a Martha Washington Geranium. Later in the week a Mary Kay Representative gave us facials. We enjoyed hilarious laughter giving each other Pedicures to get ready for the Craft Show. Of course, we had plenty to eat, drank lots of tea & coffee, and just had a fun time.

LTR120SCChallenge. Beth Matanich in the lead, Lila following 2nd

This was a "Lake to Road 120 Stair Climb Challenge." From our Lake to the road where we park the cars, it is 120 steps. We came up with the idea of a stair-climb challenge on the first night. We were all breathing pretty hard when we made it to the top

Marian & Marge enjoying a relaxing swim on Saturday morning

While on the boat on Saturday morning, Lila gave us all a flyer with "de-stressers" listed. As we read through them, we all marveled at how many of the statements we enjoyed during the weekend. Some of these were: "Laugh", "Cry", "Eat Almonds" "Think about wonderful things" Have lunch with friends" "Get a Professional Massage" "Treat yourself to something special" "Be open to sharing your life and faith with someone else ..."

Merrily, Lila, Marge, Marian, Rosie, Beth having facials

I invited a Mary Kay Consultant over on Friday evening to give us facials, and also to help us with Foot scrubs, etc. We laughed alot....but I'm sure we all came out beautiful. Can't you tell by the picture above. Another fun evening