September 2022 Part 1: Trip to Washington and Oregon.

Sep 1st we headed north and west.  We had lunch at a park in Spanish Fork canyon, played by the river and then jumped back in the car headed for Idaho. 

September 3rd we visited Brian and Shanda. Melissa and the kids went for a walk and found some marionberries. 

We wanted to go to the northwest to visit Great Grandma Clift, found out Rune's baptism would be happening while we were in the area, so we adjust out travel plans to go to Washington first.  9/3 we headed to the church.  Kai entertained the kids with their drawing while we waited for the meeting to start. Our family had a cold slowly passing through, so we tried to wear masks as often as possible.  We tested 2-3 times over a week, it wasn't COVID-19, just an annoying cold. 

Rune's birthday bash!

Uncle Andrew was in town, from California, even though he lives in Oklahoma. His work schedule is weird. 

Sunday the 4th we decided to watch church on TV because we still had a couple of sick-os. Then we went to Lake Meridian Park to enjoy the nice weather and Finn had a zen moment watching the ducks. 

After the park we met the Aurich's at the Puget Sound for a picnic at Saltwater State Park. 

The kids had fun digging and getting damp. 

Well, not all the kids.  Some stayed dry and cool... cousin Kael. 

Why do we try to pose for photos at the end of play?  You're never going to get everyone smiling when you've already announced that it is time to leave. We had fun dinners with the Aurich's every night. 

Monday the 5th we went to the zoo. On the way we saw a bunch of cargo ships, sail boats, etc.  We decided to stop and have a homeschool lesson.  That's kind of the point of homeschool, life is your classroom.  We sat on the coast watching the boats, colored pictures and wrote sentences. 

Oh, and I tripped while holding Lilian... three steps out of the van.  She got scrapes on both knees and limped the rest of the trip, when she remembered to. 

Waiting on the animal magic show.  They had various cool trained critters, from a vulture, to chickens, to leopards. 

Touching the jellyfish ball. 

Walking under the aquarium. The hammerhead sharks were Finn's favorite.

Family time at the otters. 

Fun at the carousel 

It was way more fun once the horses started moving. At least Finn was smiling in the background.

Inside the aviary, Hannah waited 10 minutes for this bird to land on her stick.  

What a cool aunt, she convinced teenagers to pose with her and they smiled!

Tuesday the 6th we headed south.  We stopped to see Mt St Helens Monument on the way, it wasn't on the way, it was several hours out of the way, but it was fun anyway. The bathroom situation, not so fun!  Many broken bathrooms and Melissa with a very full bladder. 

After the observatory and history center, we went to Coldwater Lake, where the water was very pleasant for wading. 

And for getting totally soaked, if you're 6 and under. 

Look at that cute babe, too bad someone's kids ruined the background. 

Sept 7th we found great grandma Clift and Aunt Stephanie.  By now, Andy was the only sick-o.  So we continue mostly outdoor activities.  Plus it was warm and dry, so you have to enjoy the outdoors. 

Quiet time!  Watercolors are pretty awesome.  We mostly stayed in hotels this trip, AirBNB is not the great deal it used to be and having a pool and breakfast is very valuable for kids.  This AirBNB in Aloha, Oregon was pretty good though.  

After quiet time we stopped at the Cedar Mill waterfall for a short hike. 

Then dinner at Stephanie and Wayne's.  It was fun to see great grandma multiple times.  Lilian even gave her a few snuggles and hugs, I think she liked knowing where she got her middle name from. 

Sept 8th, Hillsboro, OR has lots of awesome parks, including several splash pad style parks.  Thursday we spent the afternoon at a splash pad. 

Then dinner at the Clift's, including smores!

Grandma was smart enough to stay out of the smoke, until it cooled down enough to need the heat. 

Melissa and grandma. 

Melissa and her second cousin Kristin Kerr Brady met while at BYU.  She lives about 40 minutes from Hillsboro, so they met for ice cream after we finished at Stephanie's to catch up. 

Friday the 9th starting the drive home. We stopped at Multnomah Falls for a quick leg stretch and hike. There were so many fires pouring smoke into Idaho.  By the time we got to our hotel that night the sun was pink and the skies were solid gray. 

We spent a couple nights in Lindon.  On Sunday after zoom church Nana and Granddad showed us the progress at the Lindon Temple site. 

Then we had a triple birthday bash.  Look, the curly haired one is Sam.  Sam's at BYU now.  It is cool to connect with him now that he's so close. 

Jeanette, Indi and I all got to celebrate together.  So we had chocolate zucchini cake, Eaton mess and cheesecake.  I ate too much!  Yum!

Goodnight Sam!

Monday Sept 12th: Time to hit the road again.  Blanding sure is far away from everything.  Nana told us in an email, about arriving safely or something we forgot in Lindon, how much she enjoys us living far away.  She'd be furious if I left it at that.  She hates that we don't see each other every week, but loves that we see each other for days at a time. She feels she knows our kids well, because when she sees them, at her home or ours, we live together.  We cook, eat, play, clean, nap, sleep, etc.. for days at a time. I appreciate it too, and I think the kids will have a stronger relationship and deeper memories because of it. 

Every trip must end and for the last year, our trips end with some kid snuggling a reluctant cat.  You know you love it Cali, stop trying to act tough!