Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig!!!

We arrived home late Sunday night after what seemed like a year away from home. (Actually it was a little over three weeks.) We left on the 7th of August at about 4 pm and drove to Grants Pass. We stayed the night there, getting up the next morning and continuing on to Portland. We got to Portland about 3pm, spent the evening hanging out at my brother's house and getting ready for the next day. Saturday the 9th, we celebrated my littlest nephew, Judah Milo Carlson's first birthday. His actual birthday is the 14th but for sake of family and friends we had the party that Saturday. My brother's church family came and then some of his family and some of my sister in laws family came. We bar-b-qued and played games, but mostly just talked. Then the next day was church. We went to church with them, they go to the Gleason's church in Oregon City. They are very sweet people. I love Sis. Gleason, she always has the kindest words to say. OK, continuing on, Monday was just a play day at the house, Tuesday we took the kids to the Oregon zoo, and that was cool. The kids loved it and it is so big we couldn't do everything in one day. Wednesday, we drove up towards Mt. Hood, stopping at Multnomah Falls. We had a picnic there in the little park at the end of the falls, and then my kids played in the water. It was so perfect. We were the only ones there for quite a while. The kids and Aunt Dani(my sis in law) built a dam in the water, they raced little boats and climbed on the rocks. Then we drove up to Horsetails falls, then took the kids to this really neat place called Blue Lake, there is a splash park there, and the kids had a blast, in fact we had to take them back another day they liked it so much. After we got them all dried up, they keep asking Aunt Dani if they could go to Washington. And being the great auntie that she is, she took them. We went into Vancouver to a little park in the middle of the city. Then we went back into Portland(downtown) to a restaurant called Fire on the Mountain. My brother built this restaurant, and he did an incredible job!! Then we drove through downtown Portland, staying in the car at this point, because it was just Aunt Dani, the kids and myself, and it was dark. We saw all the important buildings, like the World Trade Center, the Oregon Trail Building, The Wells Fargo Center, Nordstrom, Ruths Chris...you get the idea!!! Anyway, it was so cool, because I like all the buildings and I like bridges and I like water and I like shopping....and you can see and do that all in Downtown Portland!!! So the next day, oh I forgot, the reason why it was just Aunt Dani and I, is because Ronnie and Jeremy(my bro) went to Coos Bay to work at my parents house which is being remodeled by my brother. So they came back late Wednesday night. On Thursday, we hung out at the house, then the guys kept the kids and Danielle and I went THRIFTING!!!! I found quite a few things, some really cool books and a purse. Then that night, Danielle's parents came over for dinner, they didn't make it to Judah's birthday party, and since Thursday was his actual birthday, they bought a cake(from Claim Jumper's) and came over. Then Friday we went back to the splash park, then Friday night we took the kids to this place called Bullwinkles (kinda like a John's incredible pizza)except they have outdoor things to do like golf. Saturday we went a few places, went to lunch and then left for Coos Bay where my parents live!
The first week we were in Coos Bay was devoted to Music is for Kids. My kids participated in a play called Livin' Inside Out! Levi and Myles each played a acting part and Elle sang a verse. They did awesome! Ashley was in it but when it cam to the actual play she stomped off the platform during Elle's solo, because Elle was wearing a scarf Ashley thought was hers. So she pouted for about four songs, then on the very last song she decided she was happy and ran back up to finish her act. I was quite embarrassed but other people though it was great! Beth Ezell and her family were there as well and Olivia and Julia were in the play. Olivia sang a verse and did a remarkable job!! Victoria, Susanna, and Alyssa help keep the kids in control, and on Monday(the first day) I was asked to choreograph the songs, Victoria stepped right in and helped me. She is awesome!!! That was a fun week.
The last week we were there, My mom and I took the girls up the coast to Lincoln city, then we drove over to Portland, stayed the night with my sis in law, and spent the day with her on Tuesday, then we drove back home by way of the coast. Both days were absolutely beautiful. Then Wednesday, we hung out at my parents. My kids find all kinds of things to do there, like creating mud slides, picking blackberries, stomping through the forest behind their house, finding golf balls for the neighbor lady and getting $ for them, playing basketball, football, and many more crazy things. Thursday, Ronnie and I took the kids to the park and fed the ducks(and the annoying seagulls) then we drove down to Bandon by the Sea. That night, Ronnie and I left the kids with my mom and went on a date. Friday, we went into town and ate at City Subs, which by the way has the best sandwiches ever!!! Friday night we stayed home, I made minestrone soup and homemade buttermilk biscuits, YUM!! Saturday, I got everything ready to leave and then made dinner, and for dessert, I made a homemade strawberry and blueberry jelly roll, my mom helped, she made the filling but I did the roll part!, Sunday we got up loaded the car and headed home. This time however we went home by way of the coast. We stopped in Eureka for a time(Ronnie lived most of his early life there) the went went through the Redwoods, through the Avenue of the Giants. It was beautiful. But now we are home and trying to get back into the groove!