IT'S A BOY!!

Last night we had a "reveal" party and this is the minute the kids found out

that they're having a boy. Details about the party later.

I have to hurry to my Bible study this morning but I wanted to post the great news about Jana and JJ. Yesterday the ultrasound showed without a doubt that they are having a baby boy. If he was born today his name would be Finn Tokala Avison. But by March, who knows. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for this little guy. Keep it up!

Double Datin' with the Folks

On Thursday night, Dad and Jeanne treated Al and I to an evening of Musical Theater. A group of Broadway performers visited Salem and sang 25-30 selections from famous Broadway musicals. The 5 singers hit on everything from Oklahoma, to Hair, to Cabaret, to Phantom of the Opera, to Rent and a whole lot more. It was 2 hours of great music mixed in with a lot of "behind the scenes" Broadway. It was fun to realize that Al and I had seen almost all of the plays that were featured in the program. As usual the Elsinore theater was beautiful and a nice woman in front of us agreed to take our picture. Obviously Jeanne didn't get the memo that black was the uniform of the day. It's a pretty good picture tho, don't ya think?

Before the theater, we met for dinner at a little French restaurant here in town. I had never been to La Capitale on State Street but I will be going there again. The atmosphere was lovely and the food delish. I had a yummy baked eggplant dish, Al had a thick rich onion soup and epicurian dare devil Dad had a hamburger that he split with Jeanne. The salads were fresh and came with toast points smothered in goat cheese...O baby! Al and I also found a new wine that we love. It's a pinot gris/guwertziminer that is dry and light and so so good. Anyway. the whole evening was delightful and we didn't even have to go to Portland.

Susie Homemaker Times 2

I don't sew very well but I can do curtains

Porter is lovin' eating avacados and sweet potaoes mixed with breast milk. Mmmmm!

Last weekend Al, AJ & JJ drove to Chico CA. for the National YoYo Championships. While they were away, Maryanne and I practiced our domestic goddess skills. We both got caught up on all our ironing, Maryanne made and then froze a whole bunch of organic baby food (sweet potatoes and avacado) for Porter and I made the curtains for his room at the new house. You'll notice there are no pictures of either MA or me and that's because we never got out of our jammies. Neither of us was fit for photographic posterity AND we wanted nothing out there on the web that could be used for blackmail purposes down the road. Sometimes it's fun to just be home and do homey things. Thank goodness no one came to the door!

The Awesome Kroc Center

South Salem makes a fast break towards the goal.

Last Friday night Al and I had the pleasure of watching our multi talented neice Lauren, play water polo for South Salem High School. Al was in 7th heaven watching the teams "duke it out" and remebering his glory days as an All American WP player in high school and college. The Kroc Center compition pool is state of the art and a real gift to our schools. Everyone of our public pools have closed due to lack of funds so the Kroc Center came about at just the right time. Besides the pools, there are wonderful community rooms, a day care center, a pretty nice work out area, a fantastic gym, an amazing kitchen, a beautiful chapel/theater and tons of classes and events that the public can be involved in. I don't love McDonald's food, butI'm sure impressed by what McDonald's money has done for Salem.

The frighteningly high rock wall.

The very fast and very tall water slide in the "play" pool.