Thunder Mountain Line Railroad - August 12, 2007

Oma gave me tickets to the Thunder Mountain Line as a wedding shower gift. The railroad operates out of Cascade and Horseshoe Bend. We chose to take the train out of Cascade and make a weekend out of it and stay in Cascade with Oma. We also went to a craft fair at the Ashley Inn in Cascade. We found some WONDERFUL local jelly and FUN marshmellow guns! I think we'll send a couple to James' nephew - his birthday is next month.

The train going into the rock tunnel - a favorite landmark.

A raft going under Rainbow Bridge - another favorite landmark.

Simpson Family Reunion - July 13-15, 2007

The Simpson Reunion will forever be the anniversary of our engagement. James proposed on July 6, 2006 (Happy Birthday Mom!) at the beginning of the reunion. It also falls around my birthday and I LOVE camping and rafting and doing highway clean-up and visiting for my birthday.

This year we went exploring in The Outlaw at the new Tamarack Ski Resort.

We have plans to ski there sometime this winter, but it was fun to drive up to the top of the mountain for a smooch.

South Fork of the Boise - June 16, 2007

This is an all-day float. The first 3/4ths is wonderful for fishing and sun bathing and complaining that the water is too cold in June. The last quarter is white water and FUN and the water is still freezing!

Rafters: James, Jessi, Gil, Kurt, Doug & Neil

Driver: Kathy

Only Fishermen brave enough to actually fish in the water: Kurt & Doug

Always wears pants while rafting, actually caught a fish: Gil

Best Farmer Tan and My Man!: James

Sun Bather (not a bad farmer tan!) and Official Photographer: Jessi and Neil

Memorial Day Weekend - Oregon Coast - May 25-28, 2007

My Uncle Norm was headed to the Oregon Coast over the long weekend to pick up some woodworking equipment. James' grandparents and an aunt live in the area, so we hitched a ride with Uncle Norm and went visiting and exploring.

Jessi and James on the coast.

Overlooking Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Exploring the tide pools along the highway.

Cubscouts - Pinewood Derby - May 17, 2007

James is the Wolf Den Leader and I am the Assistant Leader. Which means that James makes sure we do something active to try to wear them out, and I make sure we do something to make progress toward their Wolf badge. Here is our den and their cars.

Austin, Tyler, Hayden, Denny, Cameron, Connor & Ben. Jessi and James

For the Blue & Gold Banquet we had a Hawaiian Luau theme. The scouts made Tiki Masks for decorations. Here is James' Tiki Mask - we used a big box so it wouldn't roll up on itself. In another activity, we filled and sewed bean bags for games and we turned James' Tiki Mask into a bean bag target. Carter & McKayla playing in the Tiki Mask.

Christy J - blessed May 6, 2007

Our newest niece, Christy, was born April 4, 2007.

Standing or being held on the back row: Kristen & Aspen and Clay. Kurt & Tyler, Carlee & Christy. Gil and Kathy. Bree & Deven, Carter & Kim.

Standing or kneeling in the front row: Emma, McKayla, Jessi & James.

Tyler & James are great buddies because James stayed with Kurt & Carlee and family for 6 months before our wedding. THANK YOU! My favorite story of Tyler during that time... James has a coin jar with tons of pennies. Apparently it was within toddler reach because Carlee caught Tyler, pants sagging, with his pockets full of pennies!

Brundage Ski Resort - March 2007

Uncle Neil always photographs our adventures. This is one of my favorite ski photos.

This is the last year that I get to drive a "Ski Patrol" Subaru. So we're putting on the miles. We drove to McCall to ski at Brundage with my Dad and Uncle Neil.

Gil (yellow) & Neil (green) checking out the future ski lift.

James in profile looking over his next turns.