Bend

 

We made several trips to Bend this fall. First we bought a commercial building downtown, then a lot south of town in Deschutes River Woods with a manufactured house on it that we rented out to Susan's mom.  

In November we drove down to California to move Susan's mom out of her apartment in Fresno and into the house in Deschutes River Woods. We also sold our house in Tigard, and rented a house in Beaverton to live in while the kids finish school. 

This month a contractor started building a pole barn on the lot in Bend to hold the stuff we couldn't fit in the rental. Right now it's all in storage.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween

Last week Susan and Jenn flew out to Disneyworld during Jenn's fall break. They attended the Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, and spent time at each park, as well as Downtown Disney, which is now known as Disney Springs.

They spent a lot of time meeting characters, but did ride a few attractions and checked out the Food & Wine stuff at Epcot.  

They also caught the new Festival of Fantasy parade at Magic Kingdom. 

Fall at University of Portland

The kids have been pretty busy in their last year of college. Jennifer has been working part time at the office for the School of Business, and both have been serving as Student Body Senators for the School of Business. They've also been busy running the Business Fraternity. Jennifer decided to live on campus this year.

   

She hasn't had much time for Rainbow, but she did serve as an installing officer for Cherry Assembly this afternoon.

Dapper Day at Disneyland

On Wednesday morning, Susan, Jenn, and I flew down to Orange County to spend a few days at the Disneyland Resort. It was a bit of a last minute trip so we stayed at the Ramada across Harbor Boulevard from the parks. Disneyland was celebrating it's 60th Anniversary.

Of course, being the fall, Halloween Decorations were also up, and the Haunted Mansion had been converted to the Haunted Mansion Holiday. We kicked around the parks Wednesday evening and Thursday. Jennifer met lots of characters, and we watched World of Color and the Disneyland Forever fireworks, as well as the Paint the Night parade. 

Over in California Adventure, Disney had rethemed the Condor Flats area into part of the Grizzly Peak area. 

Friday was Dapper Day, and Jennifer visited with other young adults attending. There was also stuff at the Disneyland convention center for the event. We flew back home Saturday evening.

More Juneau

Monday we visited the Alaskan Brewery. We were able to use the local bus system to get around a fair amount.

But several times Alaska's Grand Worthy Advisor drove us around, showing us some things outside the city like the university campus, and that the old Masonic Lodge is now used for State offices.

We also looked for bears.  

On our last night we spent some time with members of the local Rainbow Assembly. We flew home yesterday. We loved our trips to Alaska and hope to go back some day. 

Juneau

On Friday, we returned to Alaska, this time flying up to Juneau to spend a few days checking out the city and the surrounding area. On Saturday we walked around downtown.

And took the tram to Mount Roberts to admire the view below.

On Sunday, we hiked out to the Mendenhall Glacier and checked out the visitor center.  

And went out on a boat to see whales. 

Paris

  

After we got back from Alaska, Bryan flew to Paris. He met a friend and they spent a few days seeing some of the sights of Paris.

 

In addition to seeing some of the city, they also went out to Versailles and Disneyland.

Alaska Part 3: Kenai Fjords

On Sunday, our last full day in Alaska, we drove out to Seward to visit Kenai Fjords National Park. On the way we stopped and hiked out to Exit Glacier.  

When we got to Seward we looked around, had some lunch, and stopped at the Kenai Fjords visitor center, where the kids earned their Junior Ranger badges.

We then headed back to Anchorage. It's about two and a half hours from Seward to Anchorage. We enjoyed seeing wildlife, including moose, on our drives around Alaska. That night we flew home.

Alaska Part 2: Denali

At around four hours one way, the drive to and from Denali was long but beautiful. We enjoyed seeing the Alaska countryside and the small towns along the way.

We weren't able to see McKinley when we arrived at the park, as it was too overcast, as it often is in the summer, but we enjoyed looking around the visitor's center and driving into the park.  

We had dinner at the cafe next to the visitor center.

We stayed the night outside the park, then headed back in Friday morning to see a presentation on the sled dogs, and so the kids could earn their Junior Ranger Badges. If I had it to do over, I would have spent two nights near Denali; one wasn't enough.

Alaska Part 1: Anchorage

On Tuesday we flew up to Anchorage, Alaska. We spent Wednesday looking around the city, driving up into the hills above the town and around the campus of the University.

We also checked out the Costco, the mall, and downtown, where we had dinner at Benihana's and celebrated Jennifer's birthday.

 

Thursday morning we headed up to Denali National Park, stopping at the Ulu Knife Factory on the way.

When we got back to Anchorage Friday evening, we had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe downtown.

Today we ate lunch at the Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, which was really good, and spent some time at the Alaska Zoo. We met members of the local Rainbow Assembly for dinner.

Rainbow activities

Last weekend, Jennifer spent a day at Oaks Park in southeast Portland with members of Cherry Assembly.

This weekend we went up to Yakima for Washington's Grand Assembly.  We took a couple of girls from Cherry Assembly with us, and since it was 7/11 on the drive up, made a few stops.

 

While there Jennifer enjoyed visiting with some of the Rainbow Grand Officers from California, as well as Washington.

Around Portland

 

This week we had friends from Wisconsin come out for a visit. We took them around Portland, and out to Multnomah Falls.

 

We also went up to Vista House, located above the Columbia Gorge.

  

There's not much up there, but the views are great. 

 

Finally, we took them to Voodoo Doughnuts.

Grand Assembly

At the end of June, we headed out to Pendleton to attend the Grand Chapter of Eastern Star and the Grand Assembly of Oregon Rainbow.  Jennifer was presented a scholarship by Eastern Star and gave an acceptance speech. 

Later that week, Jennifer completed her year as Grand Faith. 

She and the other line officers presented gifts to the State Mom and Dad.

Gonzaga & Silverwood

Bryan is attending summer classes at Gonzaga University in Spokane, so I flew up this weekend to visit. He picked me up at the Spokane airport Saturday morning and showed me around campus. 

 

We then headed out to Silverwood in Idaho, and spent the afternoon in the park.  

We stayed Saturday night at a hotel with a water park, so we checked it out before heading back to Spokane on Sunday. We drove around Spokane a bit, watched a movie, and then he dropped me off at the airport for my flight home last night. 

Meanwhile Susan and Jennifer went down to Turner to participate in a parade with Cherry Assembly.

Sunday they attended a Rainbow outdoor initiation in Eugene. 

Grand Lodge

On Friday, we attended the Grand Lodge installation at Janzen Beach.  Jennifer escorted in several of the new Grand Lodge officers, including the Grand Secretary.

Later she posed with the new Grand Master, the GWA, and the GWAA.