Oregon Trip

The kids have done quite a bit of traveling in their young lives; they are becoming professional little travelers.

It's all about preparing before with your shows, music, and headphones. Those were needed when they flew to Medford to see Mama Zista and Papa Dave.

The first order of business was to order pizza with Derek and Austin.

"Mmm...cheap pizza"

The older boys took the younger boys fishing, and then taught them the fun art of gutting your catch. 

"Mmm...fish guts"

Jens preferred lounging by the pool instead of fishing. Gotta work on that tan.

The older boys also taught the younger boys about weird fruit, like whatever the heck this thing is.

The kids were really excited when dinnertime rolled around and they got to eat the fish that they gutted after catching it. Don't they look stoked?

Thankfully Grandma fed them "real" food at their other meals.

DeA found a place that sold suckers with interesting little charms inside, like a cricket or scorpion. Maybe there wasn't a lot of normal food on this trip. 

They spent a day in Brookings, on the Oregon Coast. 

It looks cold there, I'm sad I missed it.

DeA, always looking the best.

I bet the hotel stayed nice and clean during this trip.

Meanwhile, Leo was struggling with the little attention that I could give him. He became more and more needy as the kids were gone.

I don't know what Jens is putting her toes in, but it doesn't look like it hurts.

My cute girls.

The smoke was pretty bad from the local forest fires, but on a more clear day they hiked up Table Rock. 

They made it all the way, with energy to spare.

What a (smoky) view!

They were rewarded with a trip to the skate park. Jens thought a real reward would be a lounge by the pool with some cool beverages, but here we are.

Ryker loves getting Grandma cuddles.

I don't know why Jens is so scared, but at least you know she's not being dramatic.

Back on the homestead, I was taking Leo swimming after work to get out his wiggles. I was unaware that he needed to be brushed out after every visit. That led to the groomer shaving him and turning him into the weird thing in Neverending Story.

More Grandma cuddles!

They spent a day exploring the weird town of Ashland.

Walking on water!

A good trip to Ashland is complete without some ice cream.

The kids had a long, eventful trip home. Their flight to Wenatchee was cancelled after being delayed for three hours. Blewett pass was clogged up from vacation traffic, and there was construction in Seattle. Thankfully, Uncle Nick drove down to SeaTac and picked up my family, and dropped them off at a DQ in Bothell. DeA said that she has never felt trashier than she felt waiting by the freeway with their luggage while they waited for me. Eventually we met up and could enjoy a delicious dinner at somewhere else that wasn't DQ. 

The happy reunion was short-lived, however. Once DeA saw what had happened to Leo, she was not quite as happy to see me.