On the barque "Eagle" (US Coast Guard)

Bryce took this photo looking down the steps we had to go down (facing forward) and the steps were narrow and steep.

I have no idea how the people on board the ship know whose boots are whose.

The Hoffers aboard the barque "The Eagle"

Onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. It was a training ship called Horst Wessel when it was taken from Germany as a war prize in the 1940's. It reminas a floating classroom today, providing fundamental lessons in leadership, teamwork, and seamanship for Coast Guard and Naval Academy cadets. To maneuver the ship, cadets must haul more than 200 lines--their first lesson is to learn the name and function of each--forming more than six miles of rigging. They must also learn about standing watch, navigation, engineering and first aid.

At 295 feet, the Eagle drawfs the historical tall ships one third it's size. It's masts tower up to 150 feet, supporting 22,0000 square feet of sale reaching across teak weather decks.

The Eagle has retained other historical details, such as Germany writing on the VIP stateroom's bathroom sink, and the old title that remains beneath the Coast Guard nameplate nailed on top of the brass.

As the ship was coming towards Astoria, they encountered a storm about 150 miles off the Columbia River's mouth that pelted cadets with hail as they lowered and tied up sails in winds howling up to 30 miles/hour. Some of the cadets had painful red welts as a result of the hail.

The top photo was not actually on the Eagle, but in my livingroom after everyone came home and was relaxing with a book. Calviln and Hobbes has been a HUGE area of interest for the kids. Bryce gave me a book for my birthday and I already had 3 others.

Hoffers in Anna's driveway

The Hoffers really surprised me. They said they wouldn't be at my house until 9 or 10at night because they couldn't leave until Alan got off work around 4pm. It always seems like sucha short visit. But I was out at Freddies stocking up on groceries for their visit and I'd called them several times with questions about what kind of vegetables should I buy, what kind of milk do the kids drink (skim, 1% etc), what kind of sandwich meat do the kids eat. And then Bryce called me at 3pm and said "Anna, you need to buy dish soup also." Then he burst into laughter and said "We tricked you! We're at your house!" Alan had not slept well, and decided he wouldn't do well at work, so thought he wouldn't go to work and instead they headed down to Oregon by 10 am. I was so happy to get that extra time with them. We went out and saw Indian Jones and the Crystal something-or-other. (I kept my hand over Sarah's eyes through 2/3 of the movie!) We had a super visit. More photos coming.

Family get together in May

Family get together on Bev and Don's patio. Notice how AUNT BEV has her fingers up

behind two little boy's heads.