40 years together!

We took a few days to celebrate our anniversary over Labor Day weekend. We were able to find a camping spot at Ocean City State Park at Gray's Harbor, Wa. and spent some time on the west and north side of the Olympic National Park.

We attended church at the Ocean Shores Branch. They were all so friendly to the visitors who outnumbered the locals

The tallest Sitka Spruce in the world. The co-record holder in Oregon fell down a few years ago

These beautiful hydrangeas were planted all along the front flower beds of the lodge

Lake Quinalt Lodge. I am looking at the lake which was beautiful!

Here is a totem Pole/Rain Gage on the back wall of Quinalt Lodge. The record rainfall is shown by the bar that hits just at the base of the wings~a whopping 25 feet/year!

Ruby Beach~notice how coarse the 'sand' is

Ruby Beach in Washington~somebody had stacked stones on all kinds of surfaces on the beach

Lloyd in his 'Rhine River' pose on a huge stump in the Hoh Rain Forest

The Hall of Mosses path in the Hoh Rain Forest

Hurricane Ridge outside of Port Angeles looks out onto the Olympic National Park~miles and miles of steep wooded mountains. No road goes all the way through. A handful of roads penetrate a few miles into the park

Lloyd and Annette at Hurricane Ridge

Funny, funny Forks!

Lloyd and I spent some time on the Olympic Peninsula during the Labor Day weekend. On our way from the campground in Gray's Harbor to our destination of Port Angeles, we passed through Forks, Wa

For those of you who don't know the significance, Forks is the setting for the Twilight book series. It was chosen because it rains all of the time and vampires would feel more comfortable because they could avoid the sun.

It is interesting what fame does to a LITTLE town. Being shoved into the spotlight appears to have helped the economy since the place was crawling with people and tours and everyone (even the gas station) sells Twilight wares

but

you've gotta wonder if there is a down side like the shop on the little main street that looks like it was once a bank

who now sells high-end Twilight wares but definitely not owned and operated by Forks-looking natives.

Looks like they truly could be vampires

or

the Thriftway gorcery store (who sells most of the Twi-wares)

jumpin on the bandwagon by featuring 'Jacob' sandwiches (right along side the deep fried corn on the cob). It was rather tasty but ya gotta wonder~do werewolves like pastrami and cheddar with mayo? I guess that I never gave it much thought!

It was a brilliantly sunny day which

I am sure is rare in Forks

or maybe they have more sunny days than they let on? Could explain why the first movie-at least- was shot in Portland.

Even tho I am giving Forks a few jabs, it was fun to walk around and take in the sights and see what fame can do to a little town.

Summer Stuff

The Lloyd Bell family meet at Zion's Park area for the beginning of a week of reuniting starting June 28, 2010.

We stayed at a wonderful place near the east entrance of Zion for 2 nights and then made our way up to Bryce on Wednesday.

It was so very much fun to be together but I don't know what logic caused us to think that moving 22 children around would be easy!

They did have fun and we had a huge log cabin to house all of us.

Marsha and Beck and Anthony and Alexander joined us and they stayed in a smaller cabin nearby.

Mike Neilson and Mike Smith and Adam were not able to join us down south due to work committments.

Will post the northern part of the reunion later~

Some of the monkeys at Bryce Canyon
Nick, Lindsey and Makenzie with Mikeyla's head in the foregroung

Ma and Pa Bell with children~

Nick, Katie, Beth, Jim, Becca and Reed

Anthony, Alexander and a few dusty cousins~

Jack, Jaike, Sarah and Emi?

Takin a break on the Zion's hike Trail

Pa Bell, Evelyn, Jakob and Beth

Lovely Makenzie posing for the pix

Reed with Zack

Nate, Jocy, Laynie, Charlotte and Megan Bell

only 17 out of 22

Laynie cooling off

more cooling off with Grace, Emi, Jocy, Tyler and Jaike?

feeing the masses~

Megan had prepared everthing at the house so we could all make a lunch

sisters~Becky, Marsha and Annette

Sarah and Wilford

Pa and Ma

Tyler, Kate, Becca, Jaike, Emi and Grace

Jack and Katie with Max and Evelyn

descending the trail at Zion

trying to chill at the top

this is trouble

The Barn is Red!!

Lloyd and KW were able to paint the barn last Friday. It is looking great. Obviously I need to get a pix of the finished product

More Potpourri

While we were in Utah for graduation, Thanksgiving Point was having their Tulip Festival in their gardens. We took the kids and enjoyed the afternoon

Jakob taking a drink break
Stylin' Jack hitching a ride with the twins

Makenzie taking the stroller for a ride. This was at a lunch that the engineering department provided for grads and their families

Instead of an Easter roll, we had a kid roll at the tulip festival . Adam was getting into the action. The kids were having fun rolling when this guy about Nick's age decided to roll down the hill also and steamrolled Jack and folded him into a taco for a second.

While we were all gasping, I hear this voice from behind me saying "why Annette Bell, my son just rolled over your grandson!" It was my childhood friend,Susan. we really laughed at the randomnes of it all and, thankfully, Jack was fine.

From L to R (kinda)

Enoch, Max, Jack, Jonny, Evelyn on Sarah's lap, Elias, Jakob and cheesy grin Wilford.

It was a beautiful day and place

Potpourri

I just donwloaded a bunch of pix. Here is what we have been up to for the last 2 months

Graduation Day

Nick, Lindsey and Makenzie Bell

Notice the groovy winged sleeve on the gown.

Mike Smith's name was also on the program for a Master's but he did not walk

He just went straight into doctoral work

Nick's graduation for his Master's Degree~April 22, 2010

Makenzie seems to love the tassel

They are widening 185th and all on Dad's office side! All of the big trees are now gone on the whole side of the road and this is how close the road comes to Pike Street Place

The grandkids were unaturally impressed that I could make a bunny cake!

Nate's first Pinewood Derby~they seem kinder and gentler these days

everybody got a certificate.

Nate's was the best because he got best design

The Reed Bell family at Nate's baptism

Jocy, Mikeyla and Nate at Nate's baptism

March 27, 2010

Jocy sang "I like to Look at Rainbows "as part of the program and did VERY well

I accompanied her

If all moments could be this loving!

They're Here!

That twins are here!! Born May 5th at about 6:11 pm and everybody is fine. No names as of last night but they will come soon

Baby girl was about 5# 12 oz and baby boy a little smaller at about 5# 3 oz

They were born on May 5 so we were wondering if they would be named Juan and Juanita but Megan voted that down.

Mike Scott is still stumping for Moyd (a combo of Mike and Lloyd) for the boy and Reed was stumping for Bruce for a boy's name.

Charlotte is the girl's name in the fromt of the runninig

Grandma and Grandpa were concerned that they would have to leave before the babies came. They made it by a few hours
Here we are with brand new babies

Megan has been a trooper with all that she has gone through. Hopefully she got lots of rest last night

just off the elavator from recovery

baby girl on the left and baby boy on the right