Jeremy went to the Maaco Training

Most of his time was some pretty intense business instruction in the classroom. There were five new franchisees in October getting taught how to run their business and manage their employees. One of the new franchisees had a build-to-suit just like us and it's taken just as long as ours!! He's based near Chicago. Jeremy made good friends with the team from Florida and the franchisee from California, too.

They had to learn all the steps from estimating to painting for the work to be done in our shop, too. This is one of the cars they did in class.

On the weekends, they all headed out on the town together! They visited New Jersey and then New York, where they saw the Statue of Liberty and visited Ellis Island. Times Square was the favorite stop, from what I hear. Jeremy got "schooled" by a ticket salesman on the street on the differences between New Yorkers and us West Coateners (he saw a Western and knew how it was out here.) To prove his point, he proposed to a passerby who didn't give him the time of day. You'll have to ask Jeremy the story... it's pretty funny. And what's up with thinking we drive covered wagons out here?!

Right before elections, Jeremy got to visit some of the first political icons of our country including the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell. He was ready to come home by then.

Well, almost.

He attended a couple days of the yearly Maaco conference at a 5-star resort in Miami, where he was too busy sipping sodas by the pool and chatting with owners of million dollar centers to snap pictures.

THEN we got our man back. That was a long 4 weeks!

OUR MAACO BUILDING GOES UP!

At the beginning of October, 2008, our building was all laid out flat. Up until the 14th, "progress" was a dream that could change everything if it actually happened!

Less than a month after the big crane arrived and arranged the walls, they are painted and we have a roof. The offices are being framed out, as well as our paint and storage rooms. The garage doors are installed and the electric lines are run with plug-ins everywhere. The sprinkler system is in. The gas lines are run.

There is so much new PROGRESS every day, we have to make sure and get down to Hwy 212 and 135th to catch the latest!!

Woohooo!!!! (Thank You, LORD!!)

Weekend at the Beach

First Day of School

READY OR NOT, HERE WE COME!

Labor Day Treasure

There's my grandpa! I tried not to take a direct picture of him, catching my husband by surprise, instead. And I certainly didn't mean to highlight the big block of diet Pepsi! No... I see my grandpa in the background. He came all the way out to my house on Labor Day and had a great time just watching everyone and eating some contraband chips. The "thank you" has to go out to Angie, who invited herself over and everyone else, too. I'd like to take credit for being the amazing hostess, but I've gotten a little rusty to even consider it over this past year. Unfortunately. So, whatever, whenever, whoever happens next can never take away the treasure of my family coming out on Labor Day this year. Especially my grandpa.

VOLCANO!

Fun days, I tell ya! We visited Mt St Helens!! We are volcano experts, nearly. Aidan got interested in them back in... 2004. Super Summer Spectacular that year was Lava Lava Island and we took a trip to Crater Lake for a wedding. We built our own volcano out of paper mache and blew it up with some soda and vinegar (not too exciting). The diet coke and mentos is much more thrilling. The kids especially enjoyed this trip, getting so close to the mountain and it was smoking a little! :-)

Four at OMSI

Oxbow Park Spontaneous Family Reunion