Sunriver, HERE WE COME!

We have been counting down the months to our Sunriver vacation week for MONTHS! As the time drew nearer, we realized that we had lots of friends and family that we wanted to see (namely in Seattle and Longview) but we knew that making TWO trips might be insane with our wee travelers, so...we took off a few days early to make a few stops along the way!

We first got to see our dear friends, the Schneringers! We just drove over the pass and stopped to see them at the park for lunch. Caleb and Ali are way bigger than last we saw them--just in October!--and Grace and Josh had a great time swinging and sliding with them. Troy and Lauren are expecting Zoe, baby #3, in August, and they both looked great. So fun to catch up with them.

Next we jetted over to Kirkland to see the Websters, who had moved back from the Midwest last fall. Liam stole the show with his kid-sized guitar-serenading ("Baa-Baa Black Sheep" never sounded so good!) and he was such a good sharing kid--sharing toys with Grace and his crib to Josh, who was desperately in need of a nap. Kristin and Jer showed us their lovely apartment and we got to catch up on Jer's new job and Kristin's somewhat-new job! :)

That night we stayed with Brock! He's been in his new house for two years and we're JUST NOW getting over to see it. We had a great time bringing toys into his tidy abode and putting food on the floor during dinner. :) We watched a Mariner game on the tube, visited, and took him out to breakfast at our favorite little diner on Alki Beach. So fun to catch up on his life!

Then Sooz and Marc showed us a good time--pirates on Alki, park loitering with hungry kids, relaxing in their toy-filled living room, and lunch from a great FOOD CART that we'll never forget. (What was the name of it?) :) Grace and Josh got to steal naps at their house, but it was hard for them to give up any minutes of playing with Baby Jacob! That boy is the cutest thing ever! I got lots of Auntie kisses in, FINALLY! :)

Leaving the Nelson family's house, I finally remembered to take pictures! I'd told Jeff to remind me to take pictures of everyone we visited and HE FORGOT, just for the record. :)

Then we were off to Longview, WA to spend a couple of days with Aunt Annie and Uncle Drew...

Our stay with Drew and Annie was filled with fun moments: Gracie running laps in their front yard, Joshy peeing on their rug after baths, a trip to the park with Swede and the kids, a great coffee shop with play area, and a visit to Slick and Twinkle's house (toys and a kitty cat!). We all caravaned down to Sunriver together--the two Lochhead clans and the Swanson fam. Our one big stop (before the meltdown in Madras) was at Mt. Hood. We wanted to see Timberline Lodge--Jeff kept chanting, "Red Rum...Red Rum" in an eerie voice. Apparently "The Shining" was filmed there, and from his impersonations, I don't plan on seeing it. :) :)

Next stop...Sunriver! (Actually, there was that meltdown I mentioned earlier that took place in Madras--forcing us to eat at a KFC--quite memorable...and that stop alongside the road to change a screaming, stinky 15-month old...but after that, SUNRIVER!)