September and Welcome Home Julian

 The biggest thing that happened in September is Julian telling me he wanted to come home to start the school year in Oregon...and school started in just 4 days from that phone call. Oh, and Hyrum was on a week long sailing trip. So, I had to contact AFS in New York and that was crazy because everything was shutting down early for the Labor Day weekend. I got confirmation that he could come home but that WE would have to buy his ticket. Then I had to buy a plane ticket from Osaka to Portland trying to figure out which flight would be the easiest for my 16 year old son to fly on his own. His host family was also taken by surprise at his sudden wish to come home. He had to go into the school and say goodbye to his friends and teachers that he had gotten to know pretty well and I think that was hard for him. His host family was very supportive and drove him to the airport and then I had my baby home. In the end I think he decided that a semester abroad was good enough and he was ready to be home and back into his normal routine of school work. I think school was really hard for him in Japan because he just couldn't read and write the language at all. And I think that after his first host family asked him to leave and he was passed around to 2 other families he was just ready to be back home among people he knew loved him. I am still so very proud of him for taking this leap and leaving home for 5 months. It is wonderful to have him home!

Playing croquet with the Doxey's...Saki had never played before. That didn't stop Steve from kicking ALL our butts.  That man doesn't go soft for anyone!

Saki participated in "Senior Sunrise" with the other seniors at Glencoe High School. It was a pretty early morning for her but she had fun and met a few people.

Saki's first day of school photo

My Julian came home!!!

He requested Gustav's (a yummy German restaurant) for his first meal back in the US

Saki joined the cross country team and her very first race was a "mudder"...she did so well!

After the race...go Saki!!

I invited a few of Julian's friends to come over one evening for some s'mores and games. I think he liked being able to see his old friends again.

Family walk around Jackson Bottom wetlands

Julian's first day of 11th grade

I went for a bike ride with some friends and Townsend decided to come along. What a great sport to hang out with a bunch of old ladies:)

We went through the gifts that Julian brought us from Japan

A great day out sailing with the family

We went to see "Pirates of the Caribbean" at the symphony. It was fantastic!

We had to get a photo with some of the "pirates"

Saki made Sunday dinner for 11 people...

...it turned out amazing!

Enjoyed a lovely walk around the lake in Vernonia with Robin and Sherry

We hosted a "pasta party" for the entire cross country team. We prepared for 30 hungry teenagers and let me tell you...they eat a LOT of food!

After another cross country race. I really think joining the team has helped Saki make friends at school

Tillamook cheese factory

I loved seeing all the kids playing together. It was so sad when the twins had to go back to college

We got a family photo taken for our Christmas card this year...

...and Saki got her Senior photos done. She is so cute

The boys took Saki to the rock climbing gym

I love these crazy kids

Hyrum and the kids tried making real German rolls. They turned out so delicious!

More games together

I drove with the boys down to Corvallis to help them get all set up for another year of school. It seems so crazy that they are Seniors this year!

Buffalo Bills game in Buffalo, NY!

 There isn't much I love more than going back to Buffalo. I have probably said it before but I never appreciated the city I grew up in until I was an adult and came back to visit. But I love Buffalo. I love the city, I love all the unique neighborhoods. I love the food but most of all the people are so great in Buffalo. What a fantastic time we all had. Katrina, Steve and Sam Doxey were there for the trip and the game. We had bought a ticket for Saki but she had a mandatory orientation with AFS that she couldn't miss so Sam came instead. I think everyone had a great time.

Had a blast getting soaked on the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls

So much fun to get up close to the waterfalls

The rain ponchos are pretty poor and we all got super wet!

After walking around the falls we went to Niagara-on-the Lake and rented bikes. There was a wonderful bike path that ran along the Niagara river.

Found the cutest little farm stand and had the most amazing concord grape tart!

Rode around Fort George...

...had fun exploring the Fort

Arguing about how to pose for a shot...

....decided on a kissy shot:)

Cute little black squirrels

Hyrum couldn't resist a quick dip in Lake Ontario.  He said the temperature was lovely

Walking around Niagara-on-the-Lake. The city budget for flowers must be crazy...this city is just exploding with flowers!

Found gelato in Canada!

Stopped at the falls on our way home to see them all lit up for the night

The next day we went kayaking on the Buffalo river

Then we had lunch at Schwabl's...

...beef on weck!!

Katrina posing with Tim Horton. He was a hokey player that opened a donut shop and now they are all over New York and Canada...pretty good donuts:)

We toured the house where Teddy Roosevelt was sworn in as President of the United States. He was Vice President when President McKinley was shot and killed in Buffalo, New York. He was sworn in as President in Buffalo so that it could be done quickly and the Nation could move forward with a President.

We ended our day with a lovely walk to Glenn Falls in Williamsville, NY

We had the BEST weather all weekend!

At Glenn Falls

Got my pizza and wings!

Game Day!

The Bills are having a great season this year and their win over the New Orleans Saints in Buffalo makes their record 3-0 so far! It was 78 degrees at the end of September in Buffalo! We lucked out with great weather.

Katrina, Hyrum and I walked by the Martin House which was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900's. It was just a few blocks from the home we were staying in!

We then walked around Delaware Park and watched the sun set. What a great way to end a trip to Buffalo!

The Twins In Wyoming

 Townsend and Emerson were able to shadow Stan Israelsen in his surgery center in Wyoming. Townsend went one week then Emerson joined him for the weekend and then Emerson stayed on by himself the following week. They were able to observe many surgeries as well as out patient clinic. Stan and DeNae were so fabulous and took really good care of my boys. I'm not sure they came home wanting to become surgeons but they were so lucky to have Uncle Stan show them what life is like as an orthopedic surgeon. Not only did they get to explore the medical side but Stan took them out into the wilds of Wyoming for a fun camping/ATV adventure. Thank you DeNae and Stan for being such wonderful hosts! And thank you Tanya for being my Gillette, WY airport uber driver getting the boys to and from the airport!

Townsend all ready to observe in the operating room

At the camp site.  Both of my boys forgot their coats! Luckily Stan had an extra coat and a wind breaker that he shared with them.

Skipping rocks. Stan had 2 ATV's and he let Townsend drive one and Emerson drive the other. They had the best time!

Mountain biking

They were so hungry by the time they got back to civilization! Luckily Gillette has the best pizza place!

DeNae showed them how to make bread

They got to spend some time with their Grandma and Grandpa Johnson as well as my sisters Tanya and Riann.  Thank you Wyoming family for all the love you showed my boys 💞

Hyrum's Big Sailing Trip

Hyrum had a real adventure at the end of August. He took a sailing class which entailed sailing with a group of 4 other guys from Anacortes, Washington, out to the Pacific Ocean, across the Columbia River Bar, and up the Columbia to Portland. The trip included sailing through the night out on the Pacific. It really was a fantastic adventure. 

Hyrum enjoyed getting to know a group of great guys, and he loved the chance to sail from port to port over the course of several days-- Quite a different experience compared to daysailing on the Columbia!

Rachelle, Emerson, Townsend, Saki, and Ella Duncan came down to Astoria to welcome the guys as they crossed the bar from the ocean. 

Overall, it was a great trip, and made Hyrum a little more confident with the notion of ocean sailing. Maybe someday?