We thank God for a wonderful 3 week vacation! 20 glorious days, predominately in the North West. It was so refreshing and breath taking beautiful! Beware that this is probably the longest post I've ever written. Lots of photos! We're talking over a hundred.
Here we are right before we left!
We took the 101 (The Coast) the entire way up. Our first stop was Big Sur CA. Beautiful woods and beaches. The best of both worlds. We camped for 2 nights. The kids and JM and myself feel at home in nature. It was calling our name.
Camped by a fairly dry creek.. but it was supplied with lots of skipping rocks.
Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. Jumping off the Sand Dunes was a favorite. Sunny and chilly!
Mama!!!
Little fort on top of the Sand Dunes.
Chasing the waves with Papa
Second Camp Site in Big Sur......
Complete with a Swimming Hole that was so much fun.
Chilly evening with a fire
On the road again to the tip top of California. So....The World Cup was happening while were away.....Gilroy is where we stopped for a potty break. While I made lunch in the van we listen on ESPN radio...it was the day when Germany destroyed Brazil 7-1!!! We were crazy in the parking lot!
Next stop was Patrick's Point north of Eureka CA
This was a gorgeous area with tons of tall trees.
Gabriella made a tussy-mussy of wildflowers
On a little walk just behind our camp site. We could hear the ocean from our site.
The visitors station had fun activities for the kids. In order to earn their Patrick's Point junior ranger patch the kids needed to follow a map and hike up to each look out point.
The first of many look out points was Wedding Rock.
After Patrick's Point we were anxious to get to our next destination. The Oregon Coast! We stayed 5 lovely night is this beach house in Yachats Oregon.
It was about a 2 minute walk to the beach. Lots of crab legs and shells.
Another Ranger Station...complete with a Ranger and hats! The kids earned 2 more badges after another hike and exploring and Gabriella earned another patch for completing a very extensive booklet on Cape Perpetua and the surrounding areas.
On our way to visit a 500 year old Spruce Tree
Here she is!
On another after dinner walk. We loved that it didn't get dark until 9:30 pm
Cape Perpetua...
If you can climb it, the kids were on it.
So much drift wood to collect. By the way...Jude was never cold. Crazy boy. He never wanted to wear a jacket. Sometimes I insisted.
One day while at the Coast we took a little road trip to Eugene Oregon. When I was 19 years old I started singing at church on a worship team. Pedro Buford was one of the Pastors at the church and Worship Director. He showed me what it meant to worship. He taught me so much not only about music and worship but about true and genuine faith in Jesus. This man became a mentor, a second father, a dear friend. 6 Years ago he and his wife moved to Eugene to care for his Mother in Law. Pedro's health is not the best. He struggles with so many ailment but his heart is full of joy. He loves Jesus so much and is looking upward. Despite his frailty, he beams with joy thinking about his Lord. It was such a gift to visit him.
I even asked him to play the piano. He did even though it had been a while for him. It was wonderful to sing together again. What a blessed soul. His T-Shirt is the best. If you've not seen the movie...you should. I own it.
After the Oregon Coast we were off to Olympia Washington to see our old neighbors and friends, the Popes. But first....a little Cheese tour at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. It was the Disneyland of all things dairy. We splurged and everyone had a little ice-cream cone.
Our friends The Popes (minus their daughter Kayla who was in Sweden visiting her Grandparents). They were so welcoming and had a wonderful dinner ready for us when we arrived. Photo courtesy of Jude.
Gorgeous home, land and weather!! Our room was the one on the very top right.
The kids fell in love with not only Kayla's playroom but her jungle gym in the back yard...complete with a deer and her babies who walked through the yard....no photo though.
We unfortunately only stayed one night as we were off to Whidbey Island Washington the next day.
Our next destination was another breath taking spot. We stayed at the home of Ruth and Larry Hartman, parents of one of JM's college friends Andrew. They were so hospitable and gave us their entire downstairs. It was basically an apartment and so spacious and roomy. They were incredibly kind and so generous to us.
Views from Mt Eerie in Whidbey Island
Sis stayed in the car, chatting it up with Ruth.
The next day we took a ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor in The San Juan Islands.
We had lunch, a smoothie and visited the whale museum. Loved all the Native American Art too.
Boarding the ferry to go home. Sleepy boy on my back.
We were hoping to see some Orca whales but we unfortunately didn't spot any.
Lunch and exploring under Deception Pass in Whidbey Island. Just gorgeous.
Hanging Gabriella!
More rock throwing
Deception Pass.
She stands like her Mama.
Two evenings after dinner Larry (or as Ansel liked to called him Mista Le-wweee) took us on a walk to see the Donkeys. The kids fed them carrots and apples. They were pleased with this snack.
We were sad to go and loved our time. Here is our final picture of Ruth and the kids. Semi retired, Larry was called into work that day and wasn't there for the photo. Emergency surgery on an 11 year old boy who busted his teeth....Larry's a Pediatric Dentist, came to the rescue.
We took the ferry to Seattle and spent the afternoon there on our way to Portland Oregon. We had lunch at this little joint and met my Uncle Henry there.
The kids got a kick over the fish throwing at the market.
After lunch we went to see Maria, Henry's gal. She owns and runs a Montessori school in Seattle. What a view from her school...see the needle?
Here we are in front of the school (a beautiful old home converted into a school) and Maria and Henry
The kids had a ball playing with all the wonderful things Maria has for her children in the school.
Ansel was especially in heaven.
The traffic out of Seattle just about did us in...should have known better...Seattle, rush hour, Friday night. We made it to our destination way past our bedtime.
At the Laughing Planet...one of our fav little places in the Northwest. Delish healthy food, lots of vegan options and good place for the kiddos. http://laughingplanetcafe.com
The Pearl District...Me and Jude
Portland Dream
Birthday presents at Powell's books...it's only the largest bookstore in the WORLD...a city block long...3 million items...HELLO! Spent our time in the children's section...lots of fun books for Gabriella and Jude.
Laurel Hurst Park in Oregon. We had so much fun here and it was a nice break for the kids...JM and I loved being in the city...the kids did fine but needed a break from trains, street cars and walking.
The Food Truck Scene is Huge in Portland....it's were it all began after all.
The Rose Gardens. Beautiful and in Bloom. Hot day though.
After Portland we headed to Mt Hood for 2 more days of camping. On the day we left it was Jude's 5th Birthday and the next day Gabriella's 8th Birthday. Cupcakes all around from Saint Cupcake in Portland.
We made it to Mt Hood. Late Dinner in the Dark!!
with head lamps....
....and a tired Mama.
These kids are crazy. They didn't want to go on a hike, they wanted to go swimming in the lake...even though it was raining and cold. It was Gabriella's Bday that day. Well celebrated.
We wished we had a kayak too!
"Mom!!!! I'm freezing!"......"Aaahhh yeah."
I'm not cold anymore...back in the lake...
Warming by the fire.
Crazy jumpers and Gabriella's staff
Mt Hood in the distance
Pyro Ansel!
Light Dancing
Sunset at Mt Hood
The night before we left it poured rain!! Dumped!!! Thunder and Lightning!
We loved the rain but it wasn't so fun to pack up camp in the rain and mud....off to Lake Shasta for our last camping experience.
Didn't take pics at Shasta....we were basically there for one night.....kids were talking about home...almost there guys.
Right before we left, a little visitor came to our camp site. Gave him some carrots. Friendly little Bambie but I kept my distance.
Last stop...Napa CA!! It was 100 degrees. We found "Frati" Gelato. They used to be located in downtown Fullerton and we loved having a treat there once in a while. They relocated to Napa a couple years ago and we were so sad. We found them in Napa and enjoyed a long awaited treat.
The Most fantastic finale dinner in Napa at Ca'Momi. Do your self a favor...if you're in Napa, visit Ca'Momi. Delish and authentic. Cool venue. We were stuffed. BTW....our kids can eat!! Almost every restaurant and home cooked meal we made on our trip, our kids put it away! Makes me so proud.
Last night before we head home to Fullerton...These silly sleepers. Yep, that about sums it up. Total fun and exhaustion.
Amazing Vacation. I have to say I didn't really want to come home but I was ready to not live out of a suit case either. Thank you Lord for health and safety on this trip. It was so needed and so memorable.
1 comment:
You found Frati! So great! I love all these pictures. You guys are the best!
Post a Comment