Things Kids Say

We had just finished lunch at Mike's and John got cold. He said, "I am so cold I just got the shi**ers". I tried to tell him the correct pronunciation of the word "shivers", but he insisted that he had said it correctly. Mark and I had a great laugh to ourselves.

Alison's Friend Birthday Party

This year Alison wanted a Luau for her Birthday party. So we invited some of her friends from school over for a wonderful afternoon of fun! They swam, did the hula, played games and ate. We had tropical drinks with Flamingo straws, fruit and of course cupcakes and ice cream cones. The girls all had a great time and got along really well. They were such good friends at school. Alison is looking forward to the new school year to see her friends again.

The Hula Girl!

Kaydyn, Aviana, Quinn, Ella, Alison, Elizabeth

They swam while listening to Hanna Montana. Sometimes a girl just has to dance!

They played Hot Coconut! They also did the Limbo. I was holding the Limbo bar, so no pictures of that one.

Opening presents.

The cupcake tower!

Does she look happy or what!

4th of July

The 4th of July means Family, Friends, Food and Fun for our neighborhood! It started when Alison was born. A few neighbors have family over, BBQ and set off Washington fireworks. That means ones that go up in the sky! They are not legal here in Oregon. Then we all get to know each other better and we start adding to the group. This year there were about 60 people! So. Much. Fun! It starts with the kids parade. They decorate their mode of transportation and go around the block.

Alison and her scooter.

The whole gang!

Because Ryan was "too cool" to go in the parade, John was as well. So funny!
I must admit, they do look pretty cool.

When all of the parade participants got back we did a human pinata! The adults threw candy at the kids. There was a lot of candy, and it was fun to see the kids scramble for it. A few of us noticed that the kids were not picking up all of the candy. We asked them why. They told us that those were things they didn't like. Kids these days!

God bless America and potluck BBQ's! We had more food than you would know what to do with! Plus a 16 lb. smoked turkey, hot dogs, ribs, and 2 briskets! If you went home hungry, it was your own fault!

Happy Family

We all enjoyed $1200 worth of Fireworks! That's what happens when you get so many people pitching in. It was fabulous! Can you say, "4th of July with the Davis' next year"!

Alison Turns 6

Alison got to celebrate her birthday on multiple occasions this year. When all of the family was here for John's baptism we had a family party for her one night.

One of the Barbie's she has been wanting. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Thompson. She loves it!

A hug from Uncle Sean

Then on her real birthday, breakfast in bed!

She got a double stroller and twin baby dolls from Mark and I.

John gave her Barbie in a Mermaid Tale. She has fun taking that in the swimming pool and bathtub!

She chose Olive Garden for dinner. They don't sing anymore for people's birthdays!

Red Robin gives you a free meal on your birthday (if you sign up on the email). So on Monday we went there for dinner. At least they still sing to you and give you an ice cream! That is my kids favorite part of their birthday.

Dance Recital

Tonight was the kids dance recital. They have been going to Studio One for a year now. They really love it! John has been taking Break I. Alison was in a Ballet, Tap, Tumble Combo class. Alison was really excited for the recital. She loved her costume and loves to perform. John was very nervous. The rehearsal the night before was very helpful to help calm his nerves a bit. We were lucky to still have Grandma and Grandpa Davis and Jason still here. So they also got to watch the performance. When I get my DVD of the performance I will post their dances. Great job kids! We love watching you dance!

John with his teacher Brian. Brian also heads up a group of break dancers that perform at the Trail Blazer's games!

Alison

John, Jason, Alison.

*Side note- John is not hugging himself. That is how he does his "cool" pose.*

Happy Family

John, Grandpa, Grandma, Alison

John's formal picture

John's class' performance was called Robot Rock.

Alison's formal picture

Alison's class' performance was called Circus Ballerina.

Mt. Saint Helens and Shopping with the Grandparents

Mark, John and Jason went to Mt. Saint Helens on Saturday. They were blessed with a beautiful sunshine, 75 degree day! They had a great time going through the visitor's center and hiking.

This is a view of the mountain today.

A rock that was thrown during the eruption.

While the boys were at the mountain, Alison and I went with Grandma and Grandpa Davis shopping. They took her out to pick out her Birthday present. She was so excited!

Alison and Grandma having a picnic with her new stuffed animals. She also got a doll play pin and a few diapers for her dolls. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa. She loves her gifts!

Fort Stevens and Astoria

The second day at the coast brought sunshine and an Alison that was feeling much better. So off to Fort Stevens we went! Fort Stevens was constructed during the Civil War and remained active until shortly after World War II. It is the only military installation in the continental United States to be fired on by a submarine. Shells were discharged from a Japanese submarine during World War II. There was no damage, and Fort Stevens did not return fire. It sits at the mouth of the Columbia River.

View of Fort Stevens

Everything at the Fort is hands on. You can go up the stairs, down ladders and into the buildings.

Grandma Davis, Alison, Jason, John, Mark

The family

Alison

John

After a few hours exploring Fort Stevens we went to have lunch in Astoria. Then it was off to the Astoria Column and other fun sites!

Grandpa, Grandma and Jason

Astoria is the first and oldest permanent United States settlement west of the Rockies. The Astoria Column is the final, crowning monument in a series of 12 historical markers erected in the early 1900's between St. Paul, Minnesota and Astoria, Oregon. These markers were meant to salute early explorers and settlers for their critical role in the United States' stretch to the Pacific Coast. The Astoria Column is made of concrete and has 164 stairs!

View of Astoria and the 4.1 mile Astoria-Megler Bridge to Washington. It is the longest continuous truss span in North America.

Alison and John

After concurring the Column it was time to see some movie sights! First up, Goonies!

How exciting!

Goonies House. Yes. someone actually lives there. So this is as far as we went.

We also saw the elementary school used in Kindergarten Cop. It was funny to see these places and talk about the movies. The kids haven't seen the movies and we said we could rent them when we got home. Then we started to remember the movies and realized that we can't let them see them because of language and themes. Oh well, maybe when they are older. Then we headed to the Oregon Film Museum. It is housed in the Old County Jail, another site that was used in Goonies. They had a lot of memorabilia and names of all of the films that have been filmed here in Oregon. Did you know that 300 movies have been filmed in Oregon!

The gang.

Jason with his souvenir t-shirt. They have a wall with different quotes from movies that have been filmed in Oregon. If you could name 10 different movies based off the quotes you won a prize! Jason did it! The fabulous prize was a toy coin like the ones in Goonies or a chocolate coin. He proudly took his toy coin to, I am sure, display in a beautiful frame in his new home.

Alison

John

After Astoria we headed back to Fort Stevens to see more of the coastline and the shipwreck.

View of the coast from an observation platform.

Ahoy mates! John, Mark, Alison and Jason

Jason and John exploring the shipwreck.

To finish our fun filled day we ate at the Pig'n Pancake in Seaside. We had never eaten there before. Think Denny's, only better.

Uncle Jason and Alison