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!!