Well I am going to work on filling you all in on our family vacation. It was so wonderful to see all of you. The kids are all growing so very fast. It is a good thing we can share pictures or I wouldn't know what all those cute faces look like.
We started our trip off with a stay at Cali Emig's. We spent wednesday preparing for a bbq dinner. Jason & Kaelyn, Ashley & Courtney, Justin & Angelique, Connie, Grandma Jones, Michael, Cali & Joey and lots of kiddos. It was so fun to visit with them. Earlier in the day Cali, Ashley and I took the kids swimming at the pool and they had so much fun. Zac and Tyson went down the water slide all by themselves. All the kids enjoyed the water, it sure felt good on a very warm day!
The next morning we left Provo and drove to Oroville California. It was a long day of driving and we took a break at a rest stop next to the Salt Flats.
Friday we spent with Bob & Judy Saville and Grandma Wood. In the morning Bob pulled out the kid bow & arrows and spent time with the kids. Then later in the da Kerry, Jenny, Jeff and I took the kids to the swimming pool and Zac ran and jumped right in. After a few seconds I could see him struggling and so I went in after him. It was a little too deep and when the life guard saw me jumping in she too jumped in and helped him to the side where we took him to the 3 foot section. The kids at the pool all played marco polo and they had a great time. Saturday was the Wood Family Reunion. It was fun to see everyone. Dave took family photos of each family and Jeff used the video camera to visit with each family as they introduced each person and told a bit about their family. Then later in the day we took the kids down to the pool. There is a river that runs thru the park and they have made a pool out of it. So it is river water with a cement foundation. What a creative idea and good use for the park and families. Saturday night Jeff and Luke had one of there soft air wars. It was fun standing up on the porch watching them sneek around the area. We had to be very careful as there was a lot of poison oak everywhere.
Sunday was another travel day. We left California and went to Albany Oregon where we stayed with Laird's family. Melanie had spaghetti dinner on the table with homemade rolls and a banana split pie. We will see if Mel will share her recipie with us. I called mom and dad and had to brag that I was holding little Caden. :)
Then Monday Jeff, Zac, Tyson and I went to Salem. We took pictures of all the places we lived (which were many) and were able to visit with Silver, Jim & Lorraine Carter, Stacy Sikel and tried looking for Jeff and Kelly Olson but they had moved. we did stop at Sprague High where Jeff and I both attended. We were looking in the windows and some people came out and we were able to go in. We took a stroll thru the building sharing many memories of the past. As we were looking for the Spanish room we came across a teacher working in the German room and after visiting for a bit he asked what my maiden name was. I told him it was Andrea Adams. He said Kent & Sue's daughter. Yes! It was Fritz. He used to babysit Laird and I when we lived in Salem. We were only 4 & 5 at the time. Fritz had moved back to Salem and we met again when we were in Salem back in early 1990's. It has been many years and was fun to catch up.
Tuesday we took off for the Oregon Coast. It felt wonderful walking on the beach. I could feel all the stress just drain out of me. It was so relaxing. Jeff, Kathy and I took Gingersnap to Critter Cottage where we boarded her while at the beach house. Then we went shopping for the food for dinner. Needless to say we didn't just buy the food for dinner, but breakfast too. Then back at the beach we realized we forgot firewood. So Jeff ran to get the firewood and soon we had the fire going for the cookout. The rest spent the afternoon on the beach. Everyone enjoyed their hot dogs and smores. YUM! Wednesday we went to the Oregon Coast Hatfield Marine Science Museum, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, and then to Historic Nye Beach and let the kids have their fun in the sand and water. At no time on the beach were the kids actually dry. They loved getting wet with the waves. It was a good thing there was a washer and dryer at the beach house that we stayed in. We left Zac at the beach house as each evening Jaden, Sienna and Zac had to spend time in the jacuzzi. Jeff and I went to dinner at Lil Sambo's for dinner. The meal was great. Then we came back went on a walk on the beach and jumped into the jacuzzi. It was so beautiful. You could see ships way out on the horizon. I do love the mountains here but there is nothing that can compare to the beauty and sound of the ocean.
Thursday morning we got up early to catch the low tide and go looking for sea shells. It was beautiful. We were climbing over the rocks and trying to avoid stepping on the sea life and starfish. I even saw a small purple tinted jelly fish in one of the pools on the rocks. Jeff called me over and said he found an area with lots of small shells so all the kids came running too. Needles to say I ended up sharing alot of his find with them. Later we went back to the house and got ready for the day, washed all of the bedding and our wet clothes. Around 11:00 we were finally ready to leave. Dave, Kathy, Kerry, Jenny, Jaden and Sienna headed for Idaho for their trip back home. It started raining so Jeff, Zac and I went and picked up Ginger at the Critter Cottage and found some lunch. We went to Depoe Bay and Zac was sound asleep. Jeff and I could hardly keep our eyes open too. So decided to lay the seat back and take a little snooze. About an hour later we woke and had a great time strolling thru all the little shops. Then we went to Mo's for dinner. It was good as always. We then drove to Pacific City where we stayed at Pacific City Inn. We unloaded our stuff and took off for the beach. There were wet shoes to be found but no real treasures.
Friday we headed for Grandma and Grandpa Thorntons place. We pulled in at Oceanside but the rain was just pouring down so we got back on the road and we stopped off at Tillamook for a sampling of cheese and our ice cream cones. Then we made a stop at Cape Mears and by this time the rain had let up to a light drizzle so we hiked down to the lighthouse and it was so beautiful looking out over the ocean. There is also a tree named the Octopus Tree. I will post a picture of this. Then back on the road we went to Arcadia Beach. By this time the rain had stopped and it was really nice outside. We took Ginger with us to the beach. It was fun to watch her as the wave were going out she would walk in the water, but when the waves were coming in she would run back to the dry ground. The tide was low and we were able to get around this one rock that jutted out into the water between the tide coming and going. So we made a dash for it and were able to get on the rocks just as the next wave was coming and Ginger not liking the waves wanted up on the rocks too. So I stepped off the rock and into the wave that was now heading back out. Zac was already inland farther and he found a message in a bottle. It appeared that someone had been there earlier in the day and had tossed the bottle out with their letters in it and the waves just carried the bottle back to the shore. So we brought it home with us. It is our most unique treasure that we found on our trip. Back on the road we headed for Grandma & Grandpa's where we had a wonderful roast beef dinner and more homemade rolls. YUM! We had a great visit with grandma and grandpa and were able to take some video and interview them. This will be a great thing to show our kids and thier kids too. They talked about growing up and their life together and even some fun stories of Grandpa's driving 30 mph when the speed limit was 12 mph. I can't even imagine having a speed limit of 12 mph. We stayed with Aunt Karen while in Warrenton.
On Saturday we went to Grandma & Grandpa's for breakfast and then we all went to the Cemetary where we have lots of family, to the site where the Japanese only missle hit the area back in time of the war, Battery Russle, the Jetty tower where they are rebuilding the Jetty, then over to the Peter Iredale. We had lunch and headed for Uncle Steve's place and visited with him and Louise. Then Jeff, Zac and I went to drive on the beach at Sunset Beach. We also came back Sunday morning where we found a bunch of Sand Dollars. Then off to Aunt Karen's for dinner with her and Carl. Then later we went to visit Marilee and her mom and boyfiend. Back at Aunt Karens we visited and were able to video tape her and learn more about her family.
Sunday we had breakfast with grandma and grandpa again and they showed us a video of them with their parents and Sue and Steve as kids. It was so neat. I can't wait to get a copy. Just another reason to go back to Oregon. :) Then we wnt back and drove Sunset beack again. We went both ways and it was 17 miles of fun. There were a lot of light bulbs that had washed up on the shore and then off to Seaside we went. We had a late lunch and our standard ice cream cone that is a must each time we are there. Zac road the merry-go-round and we walked thru the shops. After this we headed for Washington where Brock and Paige lives with their little Olivia. That evening Brock bbq us dinner. Monday we went to Olympia and went past the places that we lived and had lunch at our favorite resturant La Taqueria. It was good as always. Then a stop at Traditions I found a beautiful shirt hand made in Mali. Back at Paige's we enjoyed her trampoline. It brought back many fun memories of when we had our trampoline in Olympia. We had dinner with Brent, Jill and little Megan. She is 4 years old now and looks so much like her mom. Later Paige and I went for a walk to try and get the baby to come but after a walk to the ice cream store there was still no baby action, but good ice cream.
Tuesday we headed for Idaho where Brad and Joanne live with their three little ones. Carlin, Shelby and Samantha. We had a great time on the 4th at the parade in Meridan. Then we had a cook out at Joanne's parents. Later they came over and we did our own fireworks. I was holding Samantha and when the loud ones went off she would jerk but by the end of the evening she was so sound asleep that she didn't even move. On Thursday we met Brad and took the kids to see Ratatouille. It was so cute. I think that Pixar has come out with some really great movies. Then later we went to Brad's boss's place and went swimming and then to Joanne's brother's place for some homemade mint ice cream with mini mm's. Brad also taught us a couple of new card games.
Friday we headed on down the road to Jenny's. Tracy and the boys, Forrest and Park came for dinner. It has been a long time since we have seen them. Jeff and Jenny gave them the 20 questions to see what they like. Jenny already had all of her sea shells out on display. She is so great with that kind of stuff. Then on Saturday Jeff, Jenny and I went to IKEA. I love this store. Jenny found that she really liked it too and said she was going to bring Kerry here sometime. Kerry offered to stay home with all three kids just so he wouldn't have to go. Well now it is only a matter of time. Then we went to McGraths for dinner and to the Orem Owls baseball game. I took Zac to the other side of the field and he was able to chase after a few balls that came his way. One ball another kid got to right before him and he gave Zac the ball. And right behind Zac were 2 other little kids who really wanted a ball so Zac gave them the ball. He has such a big heart. Then at the end of the game we made our way back to the family and laid on the blanket and watched a fireworks display. It was a fun evening.
Sunday we started for home and made a stop off at Rock Springs where we took a detour to the Red Desert. We saw some wild horses, went to Boar's Tusk and the Killpecker Sand Dunes. Boy, the sand was hot! Back in the truck I told Jeff I want to get one of those white rocks so on our way out and back to the freeway we stopped and not only did we get some white rock but we found a bunch of petrified wood. Another treasure found on our trip. We rolled into Evans a little after midnight.
We sure enjoyed our trip and seeing all the family and new little babies too. Thanks to everyone who let us stay with them it was greatly appreciated. It was a wonderful time. I couldn't believe that we were on the road for 3 weeks. It went by really fast.
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