Oregon

 We went to the Bread Board for dinner.  They cook all their pizzas in the brick oven.  This is one of Oliver's favorite places to eat in Oregon.

 We went on the university campus and visited melanie's office.

Henry playing and Oliver playing his violin for us.  He is doing a fantastic job.  

OMSI- Portland, Oregon

 OMSI Museum in Portland, Oregon

 Lots of interactive things that Henry liked to play on.

 Oliver completing the fun stuff.

We all had a fun time.

shopping

 There is a fun tree house for the kids to play in at the Woodburn Mall.  It kept Henry busy.

Oliver helping keep track of Henry.  He is down below and has Hi on his phone.

McMinnville, Oregon

We all went to the Evergreen Museum today. What a combination; air, space and waterpark.

 I love what they did to their golf cart.  A good picture opt for Randy, Henry and Melanie.

 Lots of interesting things to see in the Aviation museum.

 The original "Spruce Goose" Hercules, built by Howard Hughes.  It is so big I could not even get a picture of it.  The wing span is the length of 5 football fields.

 Next we went over to the Space Museum.  They had a section of the Berlin Wall.

 Lots of neat things to do with space.

We had dinner at McMenamins.   What a fun unique restaurant inside  an old hotel.  McMinnville is a darling town with lots of shops,  dining, and just fun things to look at.

 It  rained all day but the parade went on anyway.  Oregonians to do stop for rain, something they are all use to.  We lined up outside on the main street to watch the Christmas Parade.

 Afterwards we got free Chocolate milk and then we went to a store and had a cookie.

The parade was darling.  I could not believe all the people that participated and performed in the rain.  It was a light rain and we had umbrellas so it was not bad.   What a great day with the Hays Family and Ashley.  

Melanie's 40th birthday

Melanie turned 40 today.  We gave her a small freezer for her birthday; Ashley a book;, Hillary a birthstone necklace and Chocolates (Henry requested we share this part of her gift); and Oliver had made her a neat paper project.  Hard to believe our oldest child is 40.  What does that make us?

Thanksgiving

 Wednesday Randy and I drove to Salt Lake City, no snow on the roads in either state.  Thursday morning we flew out of the SLC airport with Ashley and headed to the Portland Oregon airport.

 We arrived at the Hays for dinner time.  Melanie had the dinner all ready and we had a great Thanksgiving with the Hays family.

 It is always fun to be with some of the grandkids.  Oliver is working on a rubrics cube and Henry is working on a game from his school.

Game night at the Hays.

Lily and June

 We had a few fun days with 2 of our granddaughters.  June is growing so fast and loves to do all kinds of things.  She will climb on anything and is not scared a bit.

Lily loves to dance for us and and just is a fun little girls to be with.  It was a great visit in Salt Lake City.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

 We took Ashley, Hillary, Caleb and Lily to the play at the Capitol Theater.  Lily was so excited to go.  She sat up front with me and the others were a few rows back.  When the loud music came on she got a little scared and did not want to see the Grinch.  She climbed up on my lap and looked the other way.  She got curious though and turned around and loved the rest of the show.  She was so cute to watch.  Her eyes were so big.  I think she will love the theater!!!!!

She got Max at the show and took him to school the next day for 'Show and Tell'

Relief Society Activity

 The 89th Ward combined both Relief Societies and we had an activity out at our house.  They had pizza and a movie.  Most of the girls just visited and got acquainted with each other.

A few did go downstairs and watch the movie.  It was a great success.  

First Snow

Holden and Keagan loves to shovel snow.  They were cleaning off my driveway and then they got to play.

Last day in Oregon

 Oliver has started taking Violin lessons.  He is doing very well and played on his violin for us.

 Henry showed us some of his art work.  He is drawing all the time.

 Ben has been working on a project also.  He has made this violin.  He made it all out of scrap lumber they had around.  He is very talented also.

Time to go home.  We flew out of the Portland airport, went to Salt Lake City; traded planes and flew to Idaho Falls.  Jaxon picked us up at the airport and took us home.

We had a great time in Oregon  (even though it was rainy).  We had so much fun being with the boys and taking care of them for Ben and Melanie.  I am so glad for family and the joy they bring into our lives.  Thanks Hays for letting us come.