ZigZag 2010

Quick photo add, I'll write more later..... :)

Enjoying the cool down

BBQ at El Dorado Park

Bring your kids, playing gear and a side-dish. Let's get the nets up, balls flying and frisbee's whirling.

The map below shows the layout of the park. We will have someone there at 7ap to hold a spot. (Unfortunately without a large group, 500+, you cannot reserve a spot.) The address for the park is

7550 E. Spring St. 562-570-1773.

Mel's Cell phone number is 503-550-0433

My new pathway - my Mother's Day gift.

I was a bit forward this Mother's Day and asked for exactly what I wanted. Some might think that it takes away from the romance. But if I left it to Ryan he would have gotten me more diamonds and I already have more then I can wear. I know I know I'm an odd girl to ask for slate instead of diamonds, but I know what I want ;)

I saw a walkway at my friend Terri Scott's in Trout Lake over ten years ago and have been lusting after it ever since. She had slate winding through the grass with woolly thyme growing in between. It had been there for some time so it was well established and the thyme was like a carpet. When you walked you could smell the thyme. Just gorgeous.

On Saturday we went out and hand picked the rocks and laid them out. It took three trips to get all the stone that was needed but in the end, and a ton of stone later, I just love it.

Brachs 11/2001 - 4/2010

A man's best friend

The original party animal

This morning has been very difficult for us, Brachs woke us up not being able to walk and needing to go outside. After carrying her outside so she could relieve herself she passed away within a few minutes. Brachs died with seemingly very little pain and worrying more about not making a mess in the house than her condition. Brachs has been truly man’s best friend and I am very privileged to have had her by my side. So much of my life and now our families life has revolved around Brachs that it is going to be very difficult to let her go and not miss her a hour by hour basis. Coming home without the exited “welcome home, I missed you so much” tail wags and doggy loving is going to very hard for our family. I have been looking at pictures of Brachs to include with this email and it is amazing how much we have been through together and how many lives she has touched, it is amazing to see how small Ty and KayLeigh were when she welcomed them as her own, it is heart wrenching to see her loving to take care of Jack and Rhys when they were babies and to know how little they will remember of the amazing dog that considered them her own pups. I have hundreds of photos of Brachs that deserve a story about her but unfortunately I can only attach a few, please take a moment to look at them and remember our beloved Brachs.

With tears,
The Tallman Family

Brachs and her two pups.

Greg & Brachs

Brachs making sure she was going with her family.

Rafting down the Rouge River, just Ry and his two ladies.

Kim and Brachs

Thanksgiving 2009 at the Dorros'

These are the after pictures, I will have to get my hands on the actual party and post them. It was a success if I do say so myself... It went so smoothly with everyone pitching in. It is what Thanksgiving is all about.. being around family and being grateful for all that we have.

The boys were comfy watching cartoons in their pj's so us adults could enjoy the post party.

Kim and I made thes little place holder pumpkins. It took a little longer then we had thought, but it was nothing a bottle of wine couldn't help. We loved the end results and were happy we stayed with it.

Ty turns 10!

Ty entered the double digits on November 28th... (yeah, I know I'm a bit behind)

Ty got a new bike! When I went shopping for the bike I was overwhelmed with choices and just couldn't believe me little boy was moving to a 20" bike. I ended up recruiting Ryan and he endured ToyRus for me to pick it out. Ty and his buddies had a great time playing Lazertag and eating overpriced pizza!

Shirl comes to visit

My closest and oldest girlfriend came up to visit in September.. and these are the only photos I have.... hint hint Shirl...

We went to see Heart at Edgefield. We had a great weekend and were able to catch up and reconnect. I loved it.