To the Lake!

 finally! Those first 4 hours from Portland to Richland......almost unbearable. I managed to stay awake to stop after 1 hour and have a potty break with all 4 kids in the most crowded little town and what seemed like the only bathroom in town. Lucas couldn't find a sandal and threw a monster fit on the sidewalk. I had no choice, but to make him walk barefoot to the shack eating place, use the closet size bathroom and leave. All while trying not to give up on my trip and sit down and cry. What was I thinking....traveling by myself with 4 kids?!

A couple more stops for gas and my sanity....we were just miles from the Oregon/Washington border. I was at my wits end. Ammon was screaming, kids were fighting and just plain LOUD. I finally pulled over, helped Ammo, used my best 'MOM' voice - holding back the tears that we were almost there, WORK WITH ME!!! There were no more issues for the next 60 miles. Then I was so sleepy I couldn't drive anymore. Luckily my sister, her kids and my mom were following behind me at this point. I pulled over, my mom drove, traded Aubrey for Lea and we made our way to Edna's in Davenport, WA.

 Calla, Abbey, Lea, Aubrey, Lucas

 Mom, Lizzie, Melissa (surrogate niece), Kristin, Ammo

 To the Ferry, ahhhhh, the lovely ferry ride. The part of the trip where I have a death grip on my kids and envision the worst possible outcome as they look over the edge to get a 'better' look at the water.

My niece Ashley waiting to get out of the van and enjoy the ferry ride.

  A group shot with whomever we know on the ferry - family or family friends - memories in the making.

Steve (& Taylee), Mom, Shay, Lucas, Ashley, Abbey, Calla, Aubrey, Lea, Ammo, Lizzie, Tanner, Melissa and Brianna

 Your best CRAZY face - apparently Ammon's is actually looking at the camera instead.
My mom taking a picture of the picture takers - Rozann, Kristin and I.

 AZ cousins

 A beautiful sunset ride across the Columbia River

Proof I was there and made it. :)

Gosh we love Aubrey! And my mom for driving - I was exhausted.

shout out!

I need to give a shout out to my wonderful friend (words don't to her justice, but I try!) Kehaulani Loo Driver!
After arriving VERY late in Portland without a clear plan of where to stay, I texted her to see if she was still up - she works nights at the hospital, so I figured she'd be up. She was a in a movie.

Abbey had to use the bathroom, of course we make it to the exit of the ONLY place that might be open and it's closed - dang Taco Bell! It was too late anyway, she'd already had the accident and was now in a wet car seat.....great. Steam is now pouring out of Jeff's ears and we get off the next exit to go to a hotel and it's the wrong exit. Only way back is through construction.........ugh.

We get to Portland, find our way to the hotel we stayed at before with free points - only room available is $176 for the night - it was already 1 am. My dear sweet friend Kehau guides us with texts to that hotel and pulls up right behind us as Jeff returns with the news about the room and rate......As we debate back and forth, she kindly (quite insanely.....) offers up her guest room. 

Did I mention she's a newlywed?! We've stayed with her before, but before she was married and her sweet husband knew us.

 He agrees and we go to stay with them. One room still full of wedding gifts and the other enough room for us to crash for a few hours. We don't care - we'll take it! :)

They even made us breakfast - seriously WAY better than any hotel I've ever stayed in. :)
As a token of my appreciation, I left a small bag in the bathroom with all our toothbrushes, deodorant and my wedding ring. I'm a good friend! :)

I was already on my way to Washington when I got the text I'd left it behind. Jeff would have to go get it.
Not my finest moment, but you get to see who your true friends are in times of crisis.

Thank you Brandon! And THANK YOU KEHAU!

She knows the same would happen if she showed up at my door - there is always room for her (& Brandon & any future children)

My beautiful friend and her handsome husband - Sept 2010, Portland, OR.

Return to Portland

To Portland! It seems we've made at least 5 trips to Portland over the last 2 years. A lot considering immediate family does not live there.

*friend's wedding (me and Ammon)

*Christmas 2010 (another LONG road trip)

*Grandma Reynolds funeral (Jeff only)

*and now Summer 2011

It really is a beautiful city and we've been there in every season - maybe we'll move there....who knows.

Would definitely be a switch from sunny AZ.

We go to visit Grandpa Reynolds and our favorite aunt Debbie with her family. :)

Jeff stayed in Portland for the night and flew home to Phx while I drove on that same day to Richland and on to Twin Lakes......it was a very LONG drive by myself and screaming baby, but I thankfully caught up to my mom and sister.

 Favorite spot is to ride with Grandpa - love him!

Lost and found

I was cleaning by the side of our house and this is what I found.
So stinkin' cute! There are 3 of them. A sure indication that we need to be in our yard more if a mama cat can give birth and we had no idea! My neighbor, Kelly, said the kittens were at least 2 weeks old. Seriously so cute - she picked each one up and gosh I'd love to keep them if I knew I didn't have to buy food for them and that my husband is severely allergic to cats. Mostly the last part that keeps us from keeping them. :)
Jeff or the kittens.......

Guess we'll keep Jeff. :) Any takers on the kittens??

This is how we roll

How do we survive day after day in the car.......well, we finally finished Irish Beach and were headed North to Portland, OR. This is how we do it: 

We sleep!

 sometimes not so comfortably, but whatever works.

 Jeff drives. I'm the navigator - see the atlas. :)

 I take pictures of stuff - Mt. Shasta in Northern California

 Road signs so I can answer the all important questions of 'How much farther', 'Are we there yet?' and 'Where is Weed, CA??' Btw, it's 5 miles from that sign. :)

 I also read if I can find something to take along. This was actually a very enlightening book. As lame as the title is or what you think of Dr. Laura, I would suggest reading it.

 We listen to books on cd - 21 hours for your listening pleasure. We borrowed LOTS of cd's from the library to keep us going.

 And more pictures of Mt. Shasta - just beautiful.

Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA

 In the early 20th century, Fort Bragg residents threw their household garbage over the cliffs above what is now Glass Beach. They discarded glass, appliances, and even cars. The land was owned at that time by the Union Lumber Company, and locals referred to it as "The Dumps." Sometimes fires were lit to reduce the size of the trash pile.
In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board and city leaders closed the area. Various cleanup programs were undertaken through the years to correct the damage.
Over the next several decades the pounding waves cleansed the beach, wearing down the discarded glass into the small, smooth, colored trinkets that cover the beach today. (info taken from here)

 Fort Bragg (30 miles on windy, drop off cliffs - enough to make even me sick) was on our way out of Irish Beach and our group had made at least 5 trips to there for various reasons - it was the closest store of ANY kind, the pharmacy and now for Glass Beach. I was anxious to just GO, but we stopped for one last hoorah before heading North to Portland, OR

yes I have a death grip on Abbey because 5 ft back and it was bye, bye baby! She got too close for my comfort and was unstable on the rocks.

 Abbey had to use the bathroom and the only bathroom was a port-o-potty at the entrance - not close by. Thankfully when we got back there, the potty was being cleaned. YEA, we didn't have to use it!! Our van was right there and a Denny's down the street, we hopped in and went to Denny's for a potty break. When we came back everyone was down there checking out the view and heading back to us. Each one taking a different path to the same destination..........(it's a deep thought, just give it a minute) :)

 It appears as if they just have to walk up the hill, but it goes WAY down, then they get to climb back up the path to us. Notice my wandering son......

A seal - right in the middle of the picture and one slightly to the right in between all the rock formations. My camera was acting up and wouldn't work very well. something about sand in the lens....causes problems.

 another seal - looks like a dead fish.....but it's alive and it's a seal. :)

 posing with grandpa - one last time.

 Are the berries poisonous?? I don't know, you try.
Me: I saw a lady eat one just a second ago and she's not dead yet. :)

(I thought this was a good father/son/grandson moment)

 Ammo loves his Da-da!!

 So long California!!