2016 Drum Corps Finals

Dan has had a lot of fun the last few years reigniting his love for Drum Corps. He marched with the Railmen in 1993, and they have been trying to reinstate the Corps for a few years now. This year, they competed in the SoundSport competition (a smaller scale show) in the all-age, less than 50 members division. After nine months of rehearsals, the Railmen took to the road and competed at the National DCI finals.

Surprise! They won best of division, and also took best of show out of 16 corps. That's right. National champions! We're still waiting for Dan to come down from his high.

2016 Olympics, Wilson Style

Every four years, the magic of the Olympics happens. Each time around, there are special things for us to remember. This year, my friend's daughter was invited by the McDonald's foundation to participate in the opening ceremonies. How wonderful for my girls to see another Chinese adoptee on global television! This is also a time for my girls to be able to cheer on team USA AND China, and to see athletes who look like them doing amazing things. One of my favorite moments was simply watching Dan take the globe and show Annie where the athletes were from as they were parading into the stadium.

Here are some shots of our Olympic season.

Our own Breakfast of Champions

A typical evening - me with a knitting project with Dan next to me.

Welcome Home, Dayna!

Dayna was so incredibly blessed to be able to spend two extra weeks with her grandparents in Oregon after the rest of the Wilsons came home. She was spoiled, fed, and shopped 'til she dropped. While much fun was had on the Oregon side, the rest of us in Nebraska missed her terribly.

Her homecoming was very sweet. She bought gifts for each of us, including her hamster Hickory. I think he was happy to see her, too!

July Projects

For Dayna - pattern: Rose City Rollers; yarn: Premier sock yarn

Pattern: Pencil socks (my own); yarn: Knit Picks kettle dyed/Stroll

Baby blanket for my new great-nephew Easton, made from yarn that belonged to my late grandmother (his great-great grandmother)

Mt. St. Helens

With a bonus day and clear skies, we took our young geologist up to see Mt. St. Helens. Dan and I both watched it erupt as children. We went back in 1999 and 2009, but saw nothing. This time, the skies were clear and beautiful. So much has grown back even in the last seven years.

Family Campout - La Pine edition

This was our first family campout in Central Oregon with the girls.

Our little cabin in the woods

Ice dying

Hiking the Obsidian Flow at the Newberry Caldera

Mt. Bachelor and Broken Top over Paulina Lake

The sky was so blue

Largest Ponderosa Pine

Spokane

A gondola ride over the falls. A walk through the park. A ride on a carousel that's over 100 years old. A drive by Dan's old house. Spokane is a beautiful city!