California

Over Christmas break, we drove down to California to visit my parents.  On the way back to Oregon, we drove through the Bay Area, stopping at Casa de Fruita on the way over. 

We then drove through Stanford University, so Bryan could see the campus. He would like to go to graduate school there.

  We looked around the Union and the Bookstore. 

Our final stop was at the Walt Disney Family Museum, in the San Francisco Presidio. Much of the information we've seen before, but it was nice to have it all in one place. The model of Disneyland was very impressive.

It was a beautiful day, and from the lawn of the Presidio we could see Oakland and Alcatraz and other sights around the Bay.

Rainbow Official Visits

On the Tuesday after we got home, Harmony Assembly held a Halloween Costume meeting. The next weekend, we had a sleepover to plan our Official Visit.

On Saturday, I took Jennifer to an OV in Hillsboro.

Yesterday was our Official Visit. Jennifer thought up the decorations. Our theme was an Afternoon in London.  

The girls formed a friendship circle at the end. 

Last Days at WDW

 

Friday we checked out of Saratoga Springs and back into a villa at Old Key West. This time we had one that backed up to a creek. We then spent another day in Epcot. We had lunch at the pizza parlor in Italy, and rode Test Track.

Saturday, Jennifer and I spent the morning at Animal Kingdom. A new Festival of the Lion King theater was under construction next to the Tusker House in the Africa area.  

In the evening we all went to the Magic Kingdom. Sunday the kids boarded the Magic Express, then Susan and I turned in the rental car and went into Epcot for a few hours. In the evening we packed and hung out in our room. This morning we took the Magic Express bus to the airport for our flight home.

Halloween at the Magic Kingdom

On Tuesday, we attended a special preview of the Grand Floridian Villas. We then headed over to the Studios for a few hours. 

Wednesday we spent some time at Blizzard Beach, then had an early dinner at the Beauty and the Beast restaurant in The Magic Kingdom. We finished the day with extra magic hours at Epcot.

Thursday Bryan and I headed into Typhoon Lagoon for a few hours, then we all went to the Magic Kingdom for a Halloween party. This was our first time at Disney World in October, so it was interesting to see the Magic Kingdom done up for Halloween, as we have been to Disneyland for it several times.

Saratoga Springs

 

Friday night the kids arrived and on Saturday we spent a few hours in Epcot. We wanted to get something to eat at the Food and Wine booths, but the lines were too long, so we headed to the Contemporary, where we were able to get our reservation time for Chef Mickey's moved up.

From there we headed into the Magic Kingdom. It was pretty crowded, so we did the things without lines and stayed until after midnight, when the crowds thinned out. We watched Wishes from in front of Gaston's Tavern.

Sunday morning we checked out of Old Key West and into a two bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs. We then headed into Epcot to watch Illuminations. Then we went to the Magic Kingdom for extra magic hours.

Yesterday we slept in then hit the pool. In the evening we went back to the Magic Kingdom, then had dinner at Ohana at the Polynesian Resort. It is a family style table serve restaurant, and they brought out meats on skewers. We left very full, and finished off the night by shopping at Downtown Disney.

Epcot and Magic Kingdom

Thursday we slept in, then went to Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for lunch. It was pretty good, with African/Indian cuisine. We enjoyed the bread service.

 

We then returned to Epcot to enjoy the Food and Wine festival. During the festival there are small food booths all around the World Showcase. In the old Wonders of Life pavilion they hold cooking classes and culinary exhibits.

 

Susan and I went to the Magic Kingdom yesterday. Work continued on the new Dwarf Mine train ride in Fantasyland.

The new Tangled theme restrooms were open. I played a round of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, as well as the new Pirate game. It is similar to the old Kim Possible game/new Agent P game at Epcot, as you find spots around Adventureland on a map and activate them with your key.

Disney World

Tuesday morning, Susan and I caught an early flight to Orlando. Upon arriving, we boarded a Magic Express bus to the Old Key West resort.

We checked into a one bedroom villa. Today we went to Epcot and had lunch at Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion.

From there we headed out and picked up a rental car, then drove into town for supplies.

Grand Worthy Advisor Reception

Last night, Oregon held a reception for its Grand Worthy Advisor. As head of the State Service team, Jennifer was in charge of the dinner before the reception, so we headed down to the Salem Scottish Rite, where we served pasta to over 150 people. The dinner made almost $1000 for the GWA's service project, Kid Talk.

During the reception, Jennifer recognized the members of the Service Team, and talked briefly about their other service projects for the year.

Rainbow Installations

We've been staying pretty busy with Rainbow events. Last Sunday, Jennifer was installing Marshal for Mount Scott Assembly. 

On Tuesday, Oregon's Supreme Inspector presented Harmony Assembly with its official Letters Temporary.

Yesterday, Jennifer again was installing Marshal, this time for Cherry Assembly in Salem. 

Bryan crowned the new Worthy Advisor. This evening, the Assembly held a fundraiser pasta feed for a Masonic family that had suffered a house fire.  

DeMolay Installations

Today, Bryan was installing officer for two DeMolay Chapters. This afternoon was the installation of Tigard Chapter.

 After the installation, Bryan performed the Ceremony of Light.

Then the Chapter and the installing officers posed for pictures. 

This evening he installed a new set of officers for Pacific Chapter in Forest Grove.

In the picture above, he is giving the obligation to the new Master Councilor.

Rainbow activities

We have been busy the last few weeks with Rainbow, raising money and initiating new members. One of our fundraisers has been serving dinners at several events at the Wilsonville Shrine Center.

On Sunday, we traveled to Salem to help Cherry Assembly initiate a new member.

Last night Harmony Assembly held its first initiation.

Harmony Assembly

For almost six months, we’ve been working hard on opening a new Rainbow Assembly in Tigard. Once Jennifer was back from England, that work paid off. Yesterday morning, Harmony Assembly, sponsored by Tigard Lodge, was instituted. After that, the Grand Officers of Oregon Rainbow initiated 9 girls into Rainbow.

In the afternoon, thirteen members of Harmony Assembly were installed into office, with Jennifer as the first Worthy Advisor.

Her installation and term theme is Toy Story.

England

During her last two weeks of study abroad, Jennifer was able to make several side trips. She visited Dover and Canterbury.

She also went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

 The programs last trip was out to Stonehenge.

They also visited the Roman Baths at Bath.

Here the group poses for its last picture.

DLC

Bryan spent the last week up in Washington attending the Pacific Northwest DeMolay Leadership Conference.

It was held at a Boy Scout camp near Mt Rainier. This was his seventh time attending, and his fourth year as a Junior Staff.

Jennifer, meanwhile, spent the week exploring London, including touring Parliament.

She also went on a tour of the United Grand Lodge and visited Harrods and Covent Garden.

On Wednesday, her group took a coach (bus) out to Blenheim Palace and Oxford.