A Memorable Week Ahead

Here we are Sunday night preparing for the week. Russ is getting packed to venture out with the older boys on their annual High Adventure. After their 50 mile hike last year, they decided to tone it down a bit. They are going rafting, backpacking, biking, canoeing, and rock climbing. Sounds much simplier! McKay is enjoying his last week home before he heads off to boot camp. He is scheduled to leave next Sunday on the 20th. That will prove to be a big day as well. He is going to be presented in church to be ordained an Elder which will then take place during priesthood. Just a few hours before he leaves for boot camp. The reality of it all is settling in and mom isn't particularly fond of any of it. We realized that he might not be home again for any extended time for a while. He will spend the next year in training and then he will serve his mission. Let's see . . that's three long years. Here is a little of what we'll be missing.

This last Saturday was Abby's last track meeting for the summer. She didn't do as well as she would have liked but it has given her some good goals to work on. After she jumped we stopped off at the National Guard display for Abby to climb the rock wall. It was so fun and she did so well that we took a few pictures.

Below is a video Russ took of Abby jumping.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR GRANDPAS

We have two of the greatest grandpas ever and their birthdays happen to be just within 2 months of each other. So we wanted to pay tribute to two of our favorite grandpas.

Grandpa Winterrose
on May 18

Grandpa Allen
on July 10

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We love you so much and we wish you were here. Here's hoping you both have the best year ever.

Our Visit to Astoria

Here we are in one of the prettiest places in Oregon, Astoria! Home of the world famous Maritime Museum. Lots of interesting stuff on ships, barges, tug & tow boats, fishing, and much more. Jill is standing by the world record largest chinook salmon (83 pounds) and the top 10 things that bring good luck to fishing. We liked no. 4 best, "No suitcases on board, only farmers carry suitcases".

Jill is now steering a large battle ship on to victory!!! "Is that an iceberg ahead?"

She is now watching a daring rescue of a man overboard by the Coast Guard! The Coast guard has a significant presence in Astoria because the area where the Columbia river meets up with the Pacific ocean is one of the most dangerous areas to cross in the world.

Dad takes a rest on a huge anchor. Mom thinks they could just hook that huge chain to Dad and use him as the anchor.

This handsome couple is posed in front of a lighthouse boat called the "Columbia". This boat was used as a mobile lighthouse to warn ships of danger.

Mom is pondering the challenges of life as she looks out over the little harbor where one of the Coast Guard bases is located.

"Hey you guuuyyys". You might recognize that line from the memorable movie classic "The Goonies" which was filmed here in Astoria.

If you look very, very closely on that little rock in the middle just off shore you can see a bunch of penguins that must of got lost on their last hunting excursion. Maybe they were just birds that looked like penguins. Who cares!

Here Mom is in front of a historic lighthouse that is still in working order, still warning ships that there is land near by. This was pretty cool and Mom executed the hike up the hill like a skilled mountaineer.

We stayed in the Benjamin Young Bed & Breakfast Friday night after doing all the sight seeing previewed above, woke up bright and early for the breakfast part of the "Bed & Breakfast", and then went to the annual Scandinavian Festival (Mom has some Scandinavian blood coursing through her veins if you didn't know that already). We watched some fun authentic Scandinavian dancing and ate some Scandinavian food and then drove back to good old Aloha. It was good to get away and relax a bit.

OUR FAVORITE FATHERS

Today is Father's Day and we have some of the most wonderful fathers in our family. We want to pay tribute to them today.

The dad who seems to be the most seen and heard is Russell J. Allen. He is so wise and quick to offer his advice, wisdom, and anything else he might have. He is loving, kind, wise, gentle, understanding, intelligent, and best of all still good looking even at an older, more mature age. (That was mom speaking.) He is breaking into the grandpa mold very easily. He loves his grandkids and always thinks of them. We love you on this Father's Day and every day!

Grandpa Allen is the favorite father and grandpa from St. George, Utah. He is warm hearted, easy to please, always wanting the best for us. We love him for his humor, cute smile, gentle nature, and little limp. Thank you dad and grandpa for all you have been to us in our lives. We love you a million!

Another favorite dad and grandpa from Cedar City, Utah is Grandpa Winterrose. He stays young by golfing regularly and taking walks to Top Spot with grandma. He is kind, gentle, always giving or helping anyone who might need a hand. We love and adore you. Happy Father's Day.

!! McKay Graduates from High School !!

Well, that long awaited day finally arrived and McKay is now a 2008 Aloha High School graduate. It is hard to believe that he has made the whole journey and is now a grown up! He graduated on June 11, 2008 in the Chiles Center at Portland State University. There was a mere 486 seniors, McKay was number 5, and so it was a very long evening. However, it was a very fun night to honor him for his good work. He went to the all-night grad party following graduation. He didn't get home until 6:00 AM and was totally exhausted the next day. CONGRATULATIONS MCKAY, WE LOVE YOU!

OUR NEWEST EAGLE SCOUT !!

McKay had his Eagle Court of Honor last Friday night. It was a real treat to honor him and two of his friends, Sean Whitnah, and Garrett Parker. There was a video put together that highlighted their lives and some wonderful speakers who spotlighted each boy. He also received an American flag that has flown over the US Capital. We are so very proud of McKay. May seems to be his month, between graduation and now the court of honor, he has been in the spotlight with many busy things. To top it off he has 60 days left before he leaves for Marine boot camp. He is very excited. Congratulations McKay for earning your Eagle. You're awesome!

WE LOVE YOU 2008 GRADUATE

The time of attending class, doing homework, and creating class projects is now drawing to a close for McKay. It seems like it was just yesterday that he was ready to start kindergarten. The time has really flown by. He is excited to be out of school and on with his life. He is even refusing to go to the classes that are just showing movies for the last couple of weeks. He will graduate on June 11 at the Chiles Center at Portland State University. He is also going to attend the all night party at Bullwinkle's Fun Center. Can you imagine 8 hours at the Fun Center? He will love it. He has had a wonderful school experience and we, at home, want to congratulate him on his achievements. We have included some of our favorite pictures of Mac. This has been a delightful journey.