DJR Statewide Initiation

Saturday was the annual Statewide Initiation for the masonic youth groups of Oregon. At the Salem Scottish Rite, Bryan led Oregon DeMolay in initiating 7 new members. 

At the West Salem Lodge, Jennifer and the Grand Officers of Oregon Rainbow held an initiation and a reception for the State Mom and Rainbow Dad. Jennifer was Grand Fidelity. Afterwards all three youth groups met up at the Scottish Rite for a dance and talent show.

This afternoon we attended the 100th anniversary of the Mt Scott Chapter of Easter Star. Bryan performed the Ceremony of Light.

Occasional Grand Lodge and Rainbow OV

Last Tuesday,we drove up to Vancouver Washington to help the Rainbow Assembly with an initiation. Jennifer performed the Worthy Advisor part. 

Last Saturday Jennifer helped the Assembly in Canby initiate three new members. She gave the Fidelity lecture.

This Saturday Bryan and I attended an Occasional Grand Lodge held in Forest Grove. Bryan spoke to the Grand Lodge Officers and other attendees about Oregon DeMolay. After, he lead a small team to perform an initiation degree for an Honorary DeMolay Chapter.

Yesterday we returned to Forest Grove so Jennifer could attend a Rainbow Official Visit.

DeMolay and Rainbow Installations and Receptions

On the Saturday after we got back from Florida, Jennifer's Rainbow assembly held its winter installation. It was at Sellwood Lodge in Portland, and the theme was Dinosaurs. Jennifer was again installed as Worthy Advisor. That night the kids went to a dance in Gresham held by Mount Hood DeMolay. 

On the Sunday after we drove down to Eugene for a DeMolay installation.

 

This weekend was the annual Oregon DeMolay State Officer Reception and Sweetheart Ball. It was held Saturday night at the Wilsonville Shrine Center, and both Jennifer and Bryan were honored as State Princess and State Master Councilor.

Yesterday morning Jennifer attended a Rainbow installation in Salem. Today she attended an Official Visit and Reception in Eugene.

Finishing the Parks

Thursday we started out with a few hours in Animal Kingdom, then went over to the Studios. 

We finished up the day with dinner at Germany in Epcot, and watching Illuminations.

Friday we checked out of the Beach Club Villas and headed to the Magic Kingdom to complete our collections of transportation and sorcerer cards. We then took the monorail back to Epcot and walked to back to the Beach Club, where we caught a Magical Express bus back to the airport for the long flight home.

Disney Transportation

We spent a fair amount of time Tuesday traveling on different modes of Disney Transportation in order to collect trading cards. First the Friendship boats to Epcot, then the monorails between Epcot and the Magic Kingdom and resorts. We walked around the Grand Floridian Resort, where a new DVC wing is under construction.

From the MK, we took a bus to Port Orleans, where we had lunch, then a boat to Downtown Disney for a little shopping. Another bus took us back to the Beach Club. We capped off the day by going back into Epcot.

Yesterday we went back to the Magic kingdom. New Tangled themed restrooms are being constructed where the old Fantasyland Skyway Station was. We spent most of our time playing the new interactive game and trying to trade for a complete set of cards.

Vero Beach

Saturday morning we checked out of Bay Lake Tower and, after Jennifer boarded a Magical Express bus to MCO, Susan and I drove to Vero Beach. We wanted to get away from WDW during marathon weekend. Vero is a nice resort, a bit smaller and more laid back than the DVC resorts at Disney World.

We stayed two nights there, enjoying the pool and walking on the beach, and eating at the restaurant onsite. Meanwhile, Bryan attended a DeMolay retreat in Washington DC.

Today, while the kids started their classes at the University of Portland, we checked out of Vero Beach and headed back to Disney World. We checked into a studio at the Beach Club Villas.

We loved the easy walk into Epcot.

Storybook Circus

Wednesday morning we spent a couple of hours at Typhoon Lagoon, then went into the Magic Kingdom. We spent some time exploring the new Storybook Circus area, and rode the revised Dumbo.

We finished up the night by checking out the new Belle attraction at New Fantasyland. The photo above is what the attraction looked like earlier in the day.

We spent much of Thursday meeting characters. We started the morning in the Magic Kingdom, where we rode Space Mountain and took some pictures. Bryan left around noon to fly to a DeMolay International Conference in Washington DC, so we headed to Epcot. For dinner we ate at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Hotel. We finished the night back at the Magic Kingdom.

 

Yesterday we went to Hollywood Studios, then Magic Kingdom.