Downtown Portland

Last weekend we went boating down the Willamette River through downtown Portland. I love the bridges and the scenery. Here is my attempt at a photo collage. The photography is blah, but hopefully you can still appreciate the view.

The girls are ready for a great time!

Floating home community on the Willamette River. No yard=no mowing.

"I'd rather be playing video games."

Downtown skyline

Burnside Bridge

One of the sternwheel ships, the Columbia Queen

Docks with the West Hills in the background.

St. John's Bridge, the most beautiful bridge in the city.

It's Grandpa Time!

"Alice in Wonderland"

Ellie was a teacup in the Mad Hatter's tea party for her ballet recital. She danced better than I have ever seen her in rehearsal--we were very proud of her!

First Day of Summer Vacation!

Now, since I homeschool, it's not really the first day of summer, but the kids thought it was because they finally got time to play with their cousins all day! They had a Primary activity in the morning, and then we went over to swim and play in the backyard. After the "June-uary" weather we've had, the sunshine was welcome!

Check out Seth's little feet up in the air. And Hannah's wild hair.

Israel: Part XV--The BYU Jerusalem Center

The Jerusalem Center is a landmark. Everyone knows where it is, who the Mormons are, and the students. Even though we cannot proselyte in Israel, the Jerusalem Center tells many about the Church. The Center hosts concerts in the auditorium on Sunday nights, and the community, regardless of religion, comes to hear the music. The building is phenomenally beautiful, like everything the Church does.

When we arrived there and entered the gates, I felt the most comfortable there of any place we had visited, and I realized it's because the Spirit is there, and it's a Spirit that is recognizable to us as members of the Church. We all breathed a deep sigh of familiarity. And then we went looking for the immaculately clean restrooms!

The arches that can be seen from the city look like this up close.
The main floor entrance and lobby that welcomes visitors.
View of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Center.

The gardens around the Center are gorgeous!
John and I with Jerusalem in the background. This is the view during sacrament--it's not distracting at all!
The really nice, imported organ that no one gets to play except the Center's organist! And invited organists who perform in the concerts.

I was able to play the Steinway that is used for Sacrament meeting and piano concerts. Famous people have played that instrument!

Busy Saturday!

We left the house at 9:15 and didn't get home again until almost 4:00, and then immediately left the kids at a friend's house so we could go to the temple. Our first activity was the ward activity--Olympics. They set up ten different events and when you completed them all with your family, everyone got a medal.

Then we split up and I took Ellie to a ballet rehearsal while John took Seth and Hannah to the last baseball game. We met up again at the end of the game and left immediately to meet the Reids and Perkins for a rafting trip on the Washougal.

Locks of Love

Hannah decided that she wanted to grow her hair long enough to donate. I don't know where she got the idea, but when I took her for a haircut yesterday, my friend Amy put it in a ponytail and chopped it off. We looked up Locks of Love, which makes hair pieces for children who are ill, and mailed the hair to them. Hannah was excited about helping others, and I love her hair short.

Last Day of School

Tuesday was Hannah's last day at River Homelink. They did a reader's theater and then had a little party. This is her teacher, Mrs. Rothacher.

This is some of her class: Lauren, Cory, Blake, Hannah, Kylie. They read (very well, too) "Fiddle Diddle," which is the story of the grasshopper and the ants.