New Hermit Crabs

"Guess whats inside?"

"Peekaboo!!"

"Hi, My name is Yoda."

Here is Puppy, Baby Girl, Cliff Hanger and Yoda.

This is thier home and habitat.

They are the newest members of our family.

Here is a video of our new babies.

This is Yoda climbing over the door stop.

Oregon Trip-Day 1-Friday

Our Oregon Trip

For the Fourth of July weekend, Brian and I took Zoey up to Seaside, Oregon on vacation to see my parents, her G' ma and G'pa Bowman. We took her on her very first airplane ride, which she thought was great and then, rented a car and drove the two hours from the Portland City Airport down to the coast where my parents have a house in Surf Pines Estate in Warrenton. We arrived at about three o'clock in the morning on July 4th. Just in time for the festivities!

It was a quest to bring our real life angel baby named, Zoey, to meet her long lost Grandparents whom she hasn't seen since we left for Las Vegas in 2006...

I wanted my Mommy and Daddy to see my wonderful baby girl and to see the family that we have become while we've been away. "You look beautiful and I love you guys!"

Here is my parents georgeous house in Surf Pines Estates.

They have a two story house and the six big windows in the back are the huge vaulted ceiling livingroom looking out onto the back yard and deck. They have a lot of land around thier house with beautiful trees and woods and you can actually hear the waves crashing from the ocean just one mile away. When Brian and I first moved up to Oregon with them in 2005, when Zoey was first born, we lived in the top right bedroom and we always saw deer out the window or even, a herd of elk grazing in the backyard. Oregon is so cool.

The Fourth of July

When we woke up, it was like waking into a dream or entering Heaven as I was suddenly surrounded by all my loved ones and family whom I haven't seen in ages. The only siblings missing who couldn't make it this year for our annual Fourth of July Reunion were my Sister, Kay-Lynn and Brother, Brett, and thier families and a few of my Sister, Debbie's kids and families. We Love and missed you guys!

First on the agenda for the day...

Family Portraits!

My Dad and Mom, DeWayne and Kathy Bowman

Sister Debbie, Kirk, Alanna, Ashley and Ashley's baby, Regen.

Niece Ashley with baby Regen.

Brother Brett's kids, Ryan and Jazmine.

Sister Lisa, Stephanie, Jessica and Steven.

Sister Michelle, Barry and twin girls, Chantrel and Brenna.

Sister Erica, Vince, Anna, Olivia, Anthony and Daniel.

Our family, Brian, Jennifer and Zoey.

Sister Tiffany, Rhiannon, Ryder and Racer.

The entire extended family!

Just the Bowman gang-missing Brett and Kay-Lynn.

Time for the crazy picture!

All of the Grandkids! Wow, wev'e been busy!

"Okay, Get Crazy!"

Cute baby Regen. So sweet-you look just like your Mama!

Next, it was time for the yummy Fourth of July barbeque!

"Say, Hi, everyone!" Just look at that spread, delicious!

Here is my Dad, the chef and mastermind of the whole reunion planning commitee! Thanks Dad!

Getting food and socializing in the kitchen, just like old times!

Look who I found... Baby Brenna...

and baby Chantrel...the twins!

"Ahhh, sweet babies!"

Time for Seaside and Fourth of July fireworks!

Brian and I drove ourselves and went and visited my Aunt Deanna before heading down to the beach to join the gang for smores and hotdogs around the camp fire and lots of fun fireworks!

"Look, I found a ball, Mama!" So cute!

Here's Brian ready to go blow some things up! Setting off fireworks, like most men, is one of his favorite parts of the Fourth of July celebration. The Barbeque always comes in a close second!

Here is Mama Jenn looking pretty in pink. I am totally ready to go explore Seaside and let all the great memories come flooding back to me. I love our Seaside reunions because we actually lived here and to us, it is a part of home, especially since Mom and Dad are still here.

"Home is where the heart is."


First, we headed to the Carousel Mall...

We always go here first, it has become tradition. However, this year is extra special because it was Zoey's first time getting to ride this...

The Carousel! This was her favorite horse. It is Mommy's too. It's so beautiful!

Here is Daddy strapping Zoey in. It goes pretty fast for a kids ride!

"Hi, guys! You look so cute!"

Time for the famous Seaside firewoks show!

Here is a video of what it looked like to walk down the board walk in Seaside on the Fourth of July. You can see how every one brings thier lawn chairs and sits in front of the hotels on the grass or along the wall in order to see the show. Down on the beach there are huge pits dug out of the sand where everyone lights thier bonfires and sets off thier fireworks from and they even bring down BBQ grills and camping tents and stay the entire night to party.

My fireworks photos..."Firecracker, firecracker, boom-boom-boom!"

Here is a video of the great fireworks show that Seaside puts on each year. This is only a small clip of it. The show actually lasts closer to an entire half hour, if you can believe it!

Zoey thought the whole thing was fantastic! I wish I had gotten more photos of the campfire and everybody attending but, unfortunately, it was too dark for great photography and I was too busy enjoying myself! I love Seaside! Happy Fourth of July!!

Oregon Trip-Day 2-Saturday

The Old Crab and Beach House

Brian and I started out day two by going down to the Promenade and visiting his old work place, The Old Crab and Beach House.

We have kept in touch with the owners, John and Joanna and associates and send them Christmas cards each year. They were happy to see us all and to see just how big Zoey has grown in the last two years that we have been away. This is us inside the shop.

Lunch

Then, we had lunch at one of our old favorite spots on the Prom, The Big Kahuna Island Grill. Here is Brian giving me a great, big smile.

I look so happy because I just ordered the delicious teriaky pineapple chicken sandwich. It was soooo good! New recipie ideas for home!

This is Zoeys' rock collection that she got from John and Joanna's store. She absolutely loves rocks and likes to match all the colors together making out pairs with one big and one little. Then, she points and tells us "Dis is da Mama wock n dis is da bebe wock."

This is a very happy little Zoey girl.

To the Beach

After lunch, we met up with Tiffany and her kids, including Brett's two, Ryan and Jaz. This is the beach in Seaside.

Here is Bri and Tiff. They are laughing at me 'cause I am playing photographer again and chasing Zoey around in the sand to snap photos of her!

Sisters are Forever! Isn't that right, Roo?

Brian and Jenn with bunny ears!

Happy Vacation in Seaside, 2008!

I had to chase Zoey and force Brian to get a family photo real quick. Don't they both just look so happy to be posing? Ha Ha Ha! Okay guys, say "cheese"!

Here is Tiff sorting stuff in her "stroller" for the boys. I love that she pulls and old skool Radio Flyer wagon with her two sons inside. So totally Seaside, baby!

Here is Brian being a good Uncle. He volunteered to help lift all the kids into swings...

...made sure they didn't fall out and then, gave them each pushes to make them happy. Good job Brian! What a good Daddy and Uncle you are!

Jeepers Creepers husband, you are getting buff! Go Brian!

"Hi Zoey, what are you doing?" This is Zoey's first time to the beach ever since she was born in Seaside in 2005. She LOVED the beach sand!

Mommy-Daughter Adventure

Here Zoey discoved that the beach is bigger than just her little area by the sidewalk and she is looking to make sure that I am going to follow her and let her get away with venturing out further. Look at that sly little grin that says, "Hey Mommy, I want to go further. Are you coming with me or am I going to have to run and make you chase me?"

This is Zoey experiencing her first sights, smells and sounds of the ocean...the great expanse of deep blue-grey water, the feel of the cold, salty breeze on her face and the loud roar of waves crashing. "Oh yeah, she's hooked now." Can you tell?

First, she had to feel the wet sand between her fingers...

"It feels sticky, Mama!"

Then, she sat mesmerized, watching how the waves crash and roll in.

"Wow, Look Mama!", she tells me. Zoey absolutely loved the beach and the ocean. In fact, I think that it was probably her most favorite part of our whole vacation!

--"Our journeys in life sometimes bring us to unexpected places where we can see with absolute clarity just what Heaven must be like. We have walked on a glass mirror reflection of where Angels walk above with footsteps that are infinate."--

When Zoey was bending down getting hand fulls of sand, she reminded me of a little indian child, discovering the world around her with such reverence, respect and deep facination for it all. I had such a wonderful time with her out on the shore line that day. Even though it only lasted about fifteen minutes, it is a moment in time and vision of her beauty and innocence that will be sealed in my memory forever.

Here is Zoey, caught in the act of throwing her cute little handfuls of sand at Mommy! My little stinkerpot. You are just like your Mama; Sweet and sour, so bratty but, fun and full of love!

Mommy and Zoey. "I love you, baby!"

Seaside Views

Okay, here are some cool 360 shots of Seaside Beach. This is the Seaside Hotel and Resort.

This is a view looking down the Boardwalk at all the motels and cool beach houses.

This is the beach and you can see tire tracks from the coast guards.

Here is Jazmine and Ryan coming back from getting thier feet wet.

This is Tillamook Head. Brian and I have actually hiked this mountain with Zoey when she was only three months old, strapped to Brian's chest in her baby carrier. It took us three hours and we hiked six miles in all. It was really beautiful! There is also a little lighthouse right off of the shore but, you can never see it because of all the fog.

The Swingset

My little sister, Tiffany. So cute!

Me, Jenn Sue Sid!

Zoey swinging. "Weeeee!"

Big Daddy, Brian!

End of the day...

After a long, fun filled day of adventure, we headed back to the homestead for some yummy dinner and more family bonding. Here is Zoey, like the sunset...

Going...Going...

Gone.