The Newest Brim

Dad threatened to outsource this entry to India, so here I (Kate) update the Brim family biannual blog. I know all two of you have been waiting eagerly for the official update, so here it is.

On Saturday, October 23, 2010 our family welcomed the first grandchild. Alden Michael was born 7 lbs, 11 oz and there's some other supposedly important stats that I don't remember. He turned out pretty handsome, too. I was worried that he would look all squished and I'd have to pretend he was cute. I promise, he's actually good looking.



I wish I could see him more often but I don't think Andy and Anna would enjoy my daily visits. It's probably for the best that 300+ miles separate us. My dad sure does make a great Grampa, he takes after his dad in that area.



Now on to the exciting news. Dad's been really into hiking lately. He even hiked Mary's Peak at the end of the Summer. I'm sure there's a blog post dedicated to his special hiking socks in the near future. Seriously, if you ask him about his socks you'll get him talking for at least an hour. If he really likes you he'll let you feel his pair of possum down socks. You've been warned.

B.R.I.M 2010

B.R.I.M. - "Beach Retreat In Midsummer" is over. All the kids and their spouses joined us for a few days at the coast, 11 of us total. Or 11.6 if we include "jellybean", the unborn grandson. We rented a large house at Arch Cape, just south of Cannon Beach, with a leopard skin patterned carpet and a couch made from the bamboo remnants of Kon Tiki. Oh, and a racoon that crawled around inside the walls and ceiling at night.

It was a lot of fun having everyone together again. Lot's of game playing, kite flying, beach walking, wave jumping, sand castle building and eating going on.

WOW, what a great looking bunch of kids.

And now that my blog followers have doubled in size (thanks Denise), I feel the need, nay responsibility, to increase the frequency of blogs from annual to semi-annual. Just think of it, twice the information flowing from my fingertips each year.

I am even more thankful than my sister.

Ditto whatever my sister Jan said in her blog. But I've got pictures of Thanksgiving Dinner uploaded before her, dominating the family blogs on this major 2009 holiday!

Kate made the pumpkin pie this year, it tasted fantastic and had a unique design on top. She's so artistic.

Ryan and Brenna came for dinner, we have more kids coming for second Thanksgiving on Saturday.

Brenna brought the salad, it was yummy.


The bird was about half the size of previous years, a sign that we are in a new mode of sharing the kids with the in laws.

Happy Thanksgiving Sis, I know you've been watching daily for my annual blog (and are my only reader).

New Year's Day

I spent the day in the man cave, working on transferring old video and pictures to digital form.  Lots of memories there.   

Here's a picture of my parents on their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  We all went to Harrison Hot Springs, BC, Canada to celebrate.  I sure miss my dad.

This picture was taken almost exactly 11 years ago.  This is the house our kids grew up in.  I hope they remember all the good times we had there.  Riding on the tractor with me while I mowed the field, building the two story playhouse, learning to drive, the zip line and cargo net in the woods, and having a dozen cats.

And what a good looking bunch of kids!  They sure have grown.  It's hard to beleive all but one will be married by June.