Family Reunion Trip to Oregon

This was the first trip we have been on with the kids in a while. Children, you’re getting better. Traveling with you is getting so much more fun!

We made it through security still smiling. Kaiya was still a challenge due to the red-eye flight we were on. Kaiya always needs her sleep.

We now take up an entire row on the airplane. James and I still have to split up to help manage the chaos.

The kids were more than excited to have their iPads back. I think they have been living in the top of our closet since the last trip.

We hit the ground running. Since we got in at 3 AM, my uncle let us crash at his house for a few hours until some of the breakfast places open. We went to my mom’s favorite, The Original Panacke House and it was soooo delicious! Next we went to the “Happiest Place on Earth,” (at least in my opinion), which is The Enchanted Forest.

The Enchanted Forest is the best because it is about 1/20th the price of Disney Land and there are no crowds and lines. Everyone in the family comes happy and stays happy and leaves happy. I definitely can’t say that has ever happened at Disney.

We always love scaring the children in the first castle. Stuart is at the age he doesn’t remember the Enchanted Forest from last time.

Kaiya especially loves the initial fairytale lane.

I got to hang with Harper and Stuart who preferred the kiddy rides.

They had a grand old time, while the other kids were doing the big rides.

Apparently, the last picture I at the Enchanted Forest was of James and Stuart peeking at me through Skull Mountain.

The next day Nana and Grandpa took us to Cottonwood Beach near their house. It was the perfect hot, sunny, day for it.

It’s not an ocean-beach, but a river beach. More like what we are used to a beach being in Alaska, but with the hot temperatures, it was so much better!

I found this picture of Grandpa and Chase being silly one night at dinner:

The kids got plenty of pool playtime. Thanks to summer swim lessons, we are down two life-vests!

I had to take a picture of my sweet babies sleeping. I wonder how much longer we will all be able to squeeze into a single hotel room.

Stuart won’t be able to fit on two couch cushions forever.

The next day we had the opportunity to go peach picking at a farm with great-grandma next to her house. Although Kaiya apparently ‘hates peaches’ she sure enjoyed picking them and she was tall enough to reach them.

This was my kids’ first experience of picking at an orchard. So much fun, and the fruit was so flavorful compared to our Alaskan fruit.

What good old-fashioned fun. I’d like to do this with the kids more often. I need to search out some farms in Alaska.

The next day was the family reunion. Which I guess I didn’t think to take pictures of. I’m sorry children!

The day after that we got to go visit my mom’s parents’ graves with her three brothers. I think it is the first time they’ve all been together in a long time.

I only brought Thomas and Kaiya because I thought the others were too little and likely to tear up the graveyards.

This was the first time I’ve visited my grandfather’s grave. It was really peaceful to be able to visit.

Ee went back to Great-Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a family barbecue. It’s so nice to spend time with the family we don’t get to see often.

We got dessert with Nana and Grandpa.

On the last day of our trip we went to Multnomah Falls because we’ve been to Oregon and Washington so many times and never visited. I’m glad we went this time!

On the way home from the trip, the kids and I had to fly alone because James had to fly directly to Boston for work. We survived and it honestly wasn’t that hard. I love how they’re getting older and easier!

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