And more photos from Oregon

In an attempt to catch-up with this Blog, I am trying to let go of my desire to have these photos in order and clear. Hey, at least they will make it up before the end of the month!



Lindsay and Ella helping Grandma feed the birds.













An added to bonus to our trip: a visit with my step-sister, Stacey, and her two kids, Eric and Grace.






It was fun to see the cousins playing together at one of the parks that we played at when we were kids.



Even Uncle Erik joined in on the kid-filled day!


Ella and Grandma making one of my childhood favorite desserts, rhubarb custard pie. Unfortunately, Ella did not enjoy it as much as I did.







How cool to see your kids (and husband) having so much fun at the city park where you grew up. Bill and I went for a 10 minute date as we walked around the park alone. I even got to show him the place where my girlfriends and I built a bench for our senior class project.








Ella and I as fish at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Summer vacation, part III

Enjoying the oh-so-festive Fourth of July Parade in "downtown" Bandon, Oregon.

Who needs toys when you have a milk crate?

We have a tradition whenever we are at the beach with my dad that we MUST build a sand sculpture. In the past it's been a giant starfish, a walrus trying to squeeze out of an igloo and a living room (complete with TV and couch built out of sand). This year we went the more traditional sand castle.

Murph, Phoenix and my Dad.

One of my new favorites.

Lindsay enjoying a cupcake to celebrate Murphy's 17th birthday.

We played a lot on this vacation!

This photo shows the very sweet connection between Lindsay and Poppi.

Summer vacation, part II

Around here, we have this dinner ritual called "What was your favorite part of today?" I thought about applying this concept to our recent Oregon vacation, but I find myself stuck, because it was pretty much great from beginning to end (except for the incompetent staff at the Corvallis movie theater who cost me a chance to see an actual movie in an actual theater).

Looking at the pictures, one theme of "favorite things" is reinforced: the interaction and evolving relationship between Ella and Lindsay. What a delight to see them play, laugh and bond for a week straight...I loved it...and then how hard to have to drop Ella off at the end of the trip. That would fall under the "What was your least favorite part of your vacation?" category. Such is the life of a divorced/blended family...OK, you didn't come here to read me bemoaning my fate.

On to the pictures.

Father and daughters in the Redwoods:














Father and daughter in the Redwoods, creepy time lapse style:














Candid moment at the Safari Park (up close with exotic animals, but a bit sad too with the outdated, small enclosures and the deer begging for ice cream cones full of birdseed):




















The family bundled up, on the way to the beach. Typical July weather for the Oregon coast: 57 and overcast. The last morning was the best (of course), but we made the best of it.
















Sisters Collect Sea Shells by the Seashore:




















Mom and daughters




















More to come later...

Road Warriors

We just got back from an awesome week-long road trip to Oregon. We drove along 101, through the Redwoods, on our way to Bandon, Oregon to spend July 4th at the beach with Poppi, BoBo and Murphy. Then it was further North to spend some quality time in good ol' Philomath with Grandma and Grandpa (and an added bonus of time with Uncle Erik). Photos of the rest of the trip to follow.

The girls were such great car travelers. This scene only happened once per day for approximately 45 minutes (believe me, we counted the minutes). The remaining hours were spent singing along to Ralph, watching Elmo on the DVD, coloring, eating, talking and laughing (okay, and just a bit of crying on Lindsay's part).

A picnic in the Redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants.

Can you see the people at the bottom of the trees? And just think, these are the "small" trees in this area!

Fun Scenes of Summer