Family Vacation Summer 2012

What a wonderful vacation we’re driving home from! We are thankful that we even had the opportunity to go in the first place and second that everything went smoothly. The smooth trip began on July 3^rd when we realized we were packed and ready to go so why not leave that evening as opposed to waiting until morning? We drove to Redding, CA that night and to Bend, OR the next.

Crater Lake

From Bend we drove to Yakima, WA and stayed with some of Daniel’s high school friends. It was fun to be able to catch up with quite a few of them. The next day we drove to Davenport, WA and met up with my parents, brother, sister in law, and nephew. We spent July 6^th-12^th at my parents’ unfinished cabin. It was a mix between camping and squatting. The cabin has a roof, exterior walls, a few interior walls, exterior doors, windows, a refrigerator, 2 toilets, 3 sinks, and a stove. That’s pretty much all.  The biggest perk  was the fancy lodge and swimming pool in the private community. We definitely enjoyed our time with family making meals, swimming in the pool, boating, and napping.

After about a week there we headed to Western Washington to stay with Daniel’s parents in Port Orchard, WA with a brief stop at my Grandparents in Fall City, WA. We wanted to be sure my grandparents had a chance to meet their newest great-grandson. Again, we enjoyed more laid-back time with Daniel’s entire family (two sisters, two brother in laws, 2 nieces, and a new nephew).

At one point when I couldn’t find a good place for Capper to nap and he was grouchy while Anellah ran around like a wild-child I thought about how much easier the trip would have been without kids. Easier yes, and although it may have included more 
logical conversation,

 more fishing,

 less crying, and more uninterrupted sleep, 

Capper sleeping where his great grandmother's baby dolls slept many years ago!

it would not necessarily been better! 


We surely would have missed out on a lot of splashing,

 laughing, 

 hat wearing,

 s'more eating,

 spinning,

 a TON of swinging,

 cousin time, 

bubble blowing, 

dancing,

and general playing. 

We miss our Family already but it's good to be home.