Oregon or Bust

We had a great time in Oregon with my sister Stacey and her family. She lives in a beautiful area called Bend, and it has the Deschutes river running right through it. It is gorgeous!! We started off driving with my parents to Boise and spending the night there. It was nice to let the kids get out and swim and play. Alex really hated being in his car seat for that long. The next morning with left Boise and headed west to Bend. Unfortunately, on the way there, Alex threw up. It was awful!! The poor kid didn't understand what was happening and just sat there not sure what to do. Well, we cleaned him up and off we went as quickly as we could. We made it to Stacey that evening and she made a great dinner for us, and the cousins got to play together. Then, it went downhill from there!! Kelly was the next to get sick on Monday, then Amy, then Heidi, then Eric, then my Dad, then me. It was an awful 24 hours, let me tell you. The next day was very low key with me sitting in the living room trying to survive. My poor sister, what a way to welcome us in her home. She was so awesome and so calm during the whole thing. Unfortunately, her family got hit next with her son Kael and then her husband Adam. I am not sure we will be welcomed back to her house, ever again!!! (And I wouldn't blame her one bit!). While Stacey was taking care of Kael, we were feeling really good, so we took the kids down to the river for a fun hike. It was just so picturesque there with the pine trees, the sound of the river flowing down, the chipmunks. We had a nice time. Eric and Alex with the Deschute river behind them.
We made it out of the house, YEAH!!!

The cute cousins. Don't they look awesome???

Kelly, loved to just sit and drink her water. She was always too tired to walk.

We wore Alex out on the hike!! Cute!



After the hike, we actually started our vacation. We drove up past Sister OR, and went to a fish hatchery there. The kids really loved watching all the trout swimming everywhere. Alex and Kelly LOVED feeding the fish. It was really cool too. You would throw in this little piece of fish food and the trout would go crazy!!! Jumping out of the water, fighting each other over a piece. Alex loved watching the fish. He would do a little dance afterward.

My mom, Alex and Amy.

Heidi and Amy. They have grown up so quickly. So hard to believe!!

Alex, the explorer.

The next day everyone was feeling better. Thank heavens!! We went to this really neat cave just outside of Bend that was made out of lava. It just went straight back for a few miles. The park rangers give you lanterns and off you go. No guides or anything. It was fun. Alex and Kelly really liked it going in, but were ready to get out NOW!!! Eric had Alex in the back pack and he took off, I had Kelly in my arms and I just kept going. Their cries were echoing in the caves. NICE!

The cave explorers.

Kelly loved jumping around and hearing her echoes in the caves. This was going into the cave.

At the near end of the cave. The bigger kids were the only ones that could go on. It was just too small for us to carry the little ones through without a huge struggle.

Later this day my really good friend Jen Ward and her two pretty girls came and visited us. Jen and I grew up together in Maryland and now she lives in Oregon on the coast. She drove two hour out to see us, and I was so grateful that she was willing to do this. We had a nice BBQ with her and the girls. All the kids just played and had fun. The next day we went to a park so the kids could play and we could talk. It was just perfect to catch up and see her. Thanks Jen for coming out to see us!! (of course I forgot to take pictures this whole time, UGH!!)

That night the girls, Stacey, Mom and Myself, were able to go out to eat at a restaurant, YEAH!! and then we saw Harry Potter while the boys took care of the kids. That was so nice. It was so nice to have grown up talk with my mom and sister without interruption for a child. Plus, seeing movie without kids in a movie theater??? PRICELESS!!

This was our last day in Bend. Here is a cute picture with grandpa and the kids.




On the way home, we stopped in Nampa, ID for a Foster Family reunion. My wonderful cousin Liz and her husband Brian hosted this get together in their backyard. I was able to catch up with cousins that I had not seen in years. It is so surreal to see your cousins all grown up, with teenager kids and older, most of them are grandparents now, and I am just getting started. But, I still felt like a teenager around them, like nothing had changed. I guess that is how family is, you pick up right where you left off!!

My cousin Lanette and her husband Dave. And her nephew, my other cousin Larry's kid.

Eric, Alex, My dad, My cousin John and my cousin Shar.






All in all, we had a great time there. I love spending time with my family and just being with them, in sickness and in health. Thanks Stacey for a great time. Next time, you come here and stay with us. You can even throw up, and I won't mind!!