Trinity Formal 2012

I can't dawdle here.  In 90 minutes, we've got folks showing up to take the boat out for the first time this year.  Never mind that it is currently 50 degrees and overcast with only a high of 62 predicted...if it's not raining, it's going to happen.  Afterall, today is Heather's birthday and we will fulfill her wish!!!!

So, I will hastily upload the 43 favorite pictures from last night's Trinity Formal.  It took place out at Camp Harlow, which offered so much more diverse opportunities for posing the girls and their dates.  We had a good time, took the kids with us (as they were invited as well), and this year I opted for comfort over fashion by not donning the formal attire myself.  Good choice!!!  I will give some details of the couples later on, but for now, let me just get them uploaded and this post published before the next adventure of the weekend begins!

While the kids were mostly good at occupying themselves on the grounds of all of Camp Harlow....sometimes we caught them hanging around where they didn't need to be.

This is Erika and Keith.  Erika is someone I've had the opportunity to meet with a few times, and she's now in a relationship with Keith who happens to be Amanda's (from our Thursday Night Ladies) brother.  Huge approval rating on this couple!

I'll give this couple a thumbs up too....

These pics are chronologically out of order, but with so many, it didn't seem that important.  This is the leadership of the Trinity House....Erika, Kelsey, Darcy, Danielle, and Abby.  All five such amazing women.

This is Caleb and Kelsey - she is the house manager and can't seem to take a BAD photo to save her life...I couldn't help but throw three of their poses in as they were just soooo perfect!

Alli - Dave Mertz's oldest daughter.  I feel blessed to have been able to connect with her and her BFF, Megan (following pic) this year - in fact just this week over fro yo.  Her date, Elijah, is just a good friend, as is Megan's.

What a cute pose, huh?!  Doesn't he kind of remind you of "Augie" on "Covert Affairs"?

Another, "good friends" pairing with Abby and Matt...

And, Abby being silly on the swing...she never stops laughing - there's a girl who embodies "partying for Jesus"....

Recognize him from the previous post?  This is Jacob...whose farm we visited earlier in the day for his grad party.  He accompanied the lovely Olivia (another friend pairing).  Olivia is a dancer and a lot like Abby in her enthusiastic infectious spirit for life.

Because Camp Harlow had had their annual "Work Day" earlier on, Dave Mertz was still hanging around his work domain.  Here he is adding to the photography backdrop by adding bubbles with his younger daughter, Natalie.

Darcy, posing with Mikayla

Danielle and Gina with their dates...(can't remember these guys' names...)

Here are just the ladies - love how colorful they all looked - they just dazzle, huh?

More of Kelsey and Caleb...

And, appropriate that this post is "Kelsey picture-heavy" as Saturday was her 21st birthday.  I teased that it was quite a party they threw just for her!

 
The obligatory picture of the two of us that some sweet person will offer to take.  This time, not as fancy as years past.

This is John Mark (the same guy who was helping out Mikayla in the pics at Jacob's farm) - this time with his friend, Else.  She's headed to Norway this fall with YWAM....she is so excited!

Another Jacob connection - this time it is his sister - posing in this picture.  Her name is Gina, the four kids in that family all look so different and have such unique personalities.

A couple of fun poses of couples that came early.  As they are "really in relationships" they wanted a little more time to find creative shots....I think they came up with some great ideas.

This gal is Kristen, who put this year's Formal together.  Wow, that's a load of pressure.  She was just so thankful the day had arrived and it wasn't raining!

Two of the musicians for CCF, Jimmy and Heather....clearly he cracks her up!

This is the best shot I found of the group - always so hard to get that many people captured, "looking good".  We should have rotated them all to be more in the light, but hey, by that point, we had a serious time crunch going on. 

I think this was certainly the most fun in terms of photography we've ever had at a Trinity Formal....as it was our fourth year doing it.  I hope they return to Harlow again - so many creative options for posing.  And, John is thankful, that by staying up until 2am, he was able to get all of the pictures uploaded on to Facebook so that hopefully, upon their waking up, they'd have them ready to look, see, and relive the fun of the evening.

On the Jacobson Farm

A couple of weeks ago we received an invite in the mail from our dear friend, Jacob, to include our family in his UO Graduation Celebration Party.  It was to take place at the property his family just moved to in the Coburg Hills.  I drive the route near where they live frequently as it's the back roads way to get to my parents house - and it is spectacular.  They live on a farm with lots and lots of acreage.  When they acquired the home, they also adopted this horse, "Mario", and the mule, "Millie".  I'm hopeful I can get my mom to come out and visit with Mario as he is trying to recover from some significant damage to his tendons from age and the kind of work he did in pulling a buggy for the previous owners.  He and I bonded - and though others would say he's "on his last leg", based on the response I got from finding that magic itchy spot to scratch, I think he has some life left.  Leave it to me to get invited to a grad party and spend more time with the animals than I do the people.

Obviously, the kids were having a good time playing king of the rock pile - and Mikayla's learning skills early in playing the "damsel in distress" so some some cute guy (his name is John Mark...GREAT guy but way too old for her!), can help rescue her.

And, then there were the goats - obviously a big draw.

This is Joseph.  He is Jacob's youngest brother - and someone we hadn't met until we came out to the farm.  He is only two years older than Brayden - and attending the same high school Brayden will most likely end up at.  It was really wonderful getting to know and talk to a different member of the Jacobson family - very different from Jacob, but equally impressive in his own unique personality (which reminds us a lot of Brayden).

And, this guy is Jacob.  He's been "Ping Pong" out at Camp Harlow for the kids, has been a significant leader and inspiration at CCF, and is someone we've long considered "one of our favorite guys" among the group.  He was out on our boat last summer as well. 

It was a treat to spend some time out on their farm.  Now a brief reprieve before heading out to Harlow to take pictures for the Trinity Formal.

Missin' the Meyers

Friday was a wide-open day for me.  To be honest, I've had a lot of those, and while that might sound like "livin' the dream" to have time to spare, I've actually struggled with being disciplined in making the best of it.

Since the sun decided to come out, I opted to take Syd for a long walk.  At one point, I actually considered driving us both to the coast, but without a pal (human, I mean) to go with, it didn't seem worth it.

Instead, we opted to walk throughout the neighborhood.  Along the way, we walked by the Meyers home.  I'd hoped I'd see that someone was home and maybe get some time with Amy, but given lights were off - I figured I was out of luck.  Instead, it inspired a phone call to John to see if he was in agreement with me that a bbq/evening with the Meyers should be in store for the night.  He was - and miraculously (given their busy schedule), they were able to come.

I gotta say - Syd is a little outta shape.  She's also still covered in her winter coat.  So, when she got home, she was overheated.  She splashed water from her water bowl on to the floor to be able to lay in.  I took pity on her and gave her a cool bath (she was due for some cleaning anyway).  She was quite content to just hang out in there for a while (we have a glass door that pens her in), and SOOOO exhausted when she got out.

My pictures of the evening with the Meyers are pretty cruddy - interior shots with my cell aren't usually so hot.  Oh well, it provides proof of the memories - and they were sweet - hanging out with this family we enjoy so much!

 

 

Welcome June!

Oh happy day, June 1st!

May ended on a very good note - allowing us the opportunity to visit the Eugene Swim and Tennis Club pool for the first time this year.  When Mikayla and I first arrived, due to her school having one of the earliest releases (and consequently earliest start times) - we had the place nearly to ourselves.  In a shocking change-up of normal pattern, I actually hopped in myself and we went over the best strokes for her to use when she does the Gilham Triathalon next Wednesday.  Brayden was able to join us when his school got out about an hour later.  His school is quite close to the pool as well, so he was able to walk down on his own.  As Travis would say "what a deal".

 

Later that evening, these fine lades came over.  The last officially Thursday Night Ladies group at my house this school year.  Next Thursday, we'll be at Heather's home - and then we'll be hit and miss with whoever's around to do what randomness folks have in mind on any given Thursday.  Dinner was EXCELLENT....corn on the cob, teriyaki chicken, rib-eye steak, raspberry pretzel salad, strawberry shortcake....SO NOT HELPING THE EFFORTS TO DROP THE WEIGHT GAINED OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!!

Unfortunately, the energy level was super low last night.  I think I was ready to be "Brayden" last night....hopping around, pushing folks' buttons (sorry Kaela), etc- kind of funny that the younger set, for once, didn't have the energy level I did.

So today is the start of June.  While it is warm today, it's a bit overcast and the upcoming days outlook is back in the lower 60's.  Not so great for the many outdoor activities I'll be posting about us participating in this weekend....