Candyhouse Grandpa

While up in Oregon, Dylan wanted to do whatever my dad was doing. He'd be getting in to his swimsuit and he'd ask "Is Grandpa getting into his swimsuit right now?"

We'd be getting ready for the day and he'd ask, "What kind of shoes is Grandpa going to wear today?"

Hiking stick time

On Grandpa's paddleboard. They took almost daily trips around on the lake together, Dylan perched on the front of my dad's board.

Making fires at night.

Swimming on the lake together.

Fishing.

Playing his guitar for the kids. (He's learning to play a metallica song that is just too cool).

We found them clowning around together at the Newport Aquarium.

Dylan loved spending time with his Candyhouse Grandpa.

On the lake

Kathy and Addie on the dock

On the motor boat!

Driving the boat with Grandpa.
Too bad I didn't get a picture of Kathy that day on the boat. She hadn't ever been on a motor boat and it was fun to watch her with the wind in her hair and just laughing and having so much fun.

Loving just being on the lake together with my boy in the paddleboat

I even got brave and tried out my dad's paddleboard near the end of the trip.

And while I'm bragging, I'll mention that my mom and I swam out from the dock to the trampoline on our last day there. Both my mom and I NEVER go actually INTO the lake, being that it's pretty cold and we just prefer to watch everyone else in the water and stay dry. But that last day Dylan had done a lot of swimming and I had promised him that I would go with him if he practiced his swimming earlier in the day. I drug my mom with me. Misery (fear) loves company. Dylan swam out with us and we were all very, very brave!

Disneyland Birthday

For my birthday this year, we went to Disneyland. Sure it's a fun place to visit, but the real treat was being together with my sister, her family, and my parents for a couple days. The kids LOVED being with their cousins and I soaked up the time with my family.

In Toontown, waiting for everyone on the rollercoaster behind us (see the red rollercoaster? It's made for kids and it's pretty sweet.)

In Mickey Mouse's House, with some balloons to mark Andrew's birthday. (My nephew and I have the same birthday. Happy 4th Birthday, Drew!)

On Small World. Somehow it's even more special when you go on it with your parents and sister, remembering the first time you went on it as a kid.



Pixar Parade. Waiting for Lightening McQueen!
I love that parade. So much in fact, that the day before I dreamt that I was trying out for a spot as a dancer in the parade.

Little Minnie Mouse, asleep after a long day... along with her brother.

Dylan asleep in my dad's arms on the tram back to my car.
I didn't get home that night until after midnight. Thankfully I had my new GPS (thanks Mom and Dad for the awesome birthday gift!) to help me home (otherwise with the poorly marked detour on the 5, I'd have gotten lost for certain. Not good with two sleeping kids alone in LA!)

Last Day :-(

We canoed out to a cool sandbar today with Dylan and realized we should have been using that spot all week because it was perfect for Dylan. He played on the sand and the water was only knee deep for him. A good idea for next year!

Heceta Head

Yesterday we spent the day up the road at Heceta Head.
We hiked up to the lighthouse.

Taking pictures and picking wild blackberries along the way.
Then a picnic by the ocean.
This morning Ryan took the canoe out by himself for a bit while the lake was still quiet.

Swimming with Daddy in the lake.
And here's another one of Addie with a new hairbow debut...

Oregon Day 1

We got to Florence, OR yesterday and had fun today playing on the lake.
Dylan's grandma and grandpa have a trampoline raft anchored out in the cove of the lake they live on, and Dylan and I (Ryan) swam out to it. Dylan had fun jumping till he had no energy, and I had fun watching him.

Dylan and I took the paddle boat out, then came back and picked up mommy for another ride. By this time Dylan actually was so tired he almost fell asleep in the boat.

Meanwhile, Addison enjoyed the cool breeze off the lake all day.

Santa Barbara Weekend

We spent this past weekend up in Santa Barbara for Ryan's biology department annual retreat. We stayed at the Hotel Mar Monte, across the street from the ocean and walking distance to State Street.

My sister, Nicole, and her two boys came down to visit us on Saturday for the afternoon. So while Ryan practiced his talk, we went for a walk with the boys along the beach. It was really fun for Dylan to see his cousins and I enjoyed visiting with my sister.

Then this morning before we headed back home, we took Dylan to ride on the antique carousel - an original built back in circa 1915-1917!

On Saturday while walking along State Street, we came across this anti-war protest/demonstration. And in a state of silliness, I decided to pretend to be a part of the group, but without the flowers in my hair and flowing skirt, I just couldn't pull it off.
Don't you like the woman with her mouth covered by peace and heart stickers?

Camping

This past weekend we got brave and headed up north to Lake Lopez for a family reunion of sorts with my side of the family. We stayed with my parents in their tent, on very nice air mattresses (thanks guys for sharing!)
It proved to be a fun time for all. And there's nothing like a couple days without a shower to make you REALLY appreciate the comforts of home!

Here is our view of the lake from our tent.
Another pretty view of the lake.
Dylan and his Papa (my dad) over at the picnic table. I'm sure Dylan was VERY helpful!
p.s. That tent is the same tent we camped in when I was a kid! Crawling in it brought back a sea of memories of backyard campouts and Sequoia camping trips.
Dylan loved my cousin Tevin, following him around and playing in his shaddow as much as he could. And Tevin was the most wonderful role model for him, being sweet, helpful, and patient with him. (Thank you Tevin! We love you!!!)
My cousin Hayley, my mom, and I down by the lake.
Hayley, Dylan, and I hiking back up the hill to the campsite after an afternoon down at the lake with the kids.

North Carolina!

We are back from our family vacation to North Carolina's Outer Banks. We flew out first to Raleigh/Durham/Cary area with just the three of us for a day and a half before meeting the rest of Ryan's family out at the beach for a week (note that our little drive to the Outer Banks was supposed to take us 3 hours, but ended up taking us about 8 by the time we negotiated traffic and the beach. You think that was bad? Well, how about doing that again on the way back, except for that leg of the trip we were without air conditioning in our rental car. Fun times!)

We stayed in a great big yellow house on the beach, which we could only get to by driving 9+ miles on the beach in a 4 wheel drive car.

Needless to say, we didn't venture off the beach much while we were there, being that it took us nearly an hour to drive down the beach!

Besides lots of fun times on the beach, good books to read, and a meaty thunderstorm, here are a few other highlights:
-Ryan's parents shared their 25th wedding anniversary with us!
-Ryan's aunt and uncle came to join us (as a surprise) for the last couple days from Chicago!
-We saw the wild mustang horses, which were apparently brought to the outer banks in the 1600s. One even came up to me under the house one afternoon when Dylan and I went down to rinse off our feet before heading into the pool from our afternoon on the beach. What a treat!

Now for some pictures...



Here's us at Duke University





Here's us at Lake Crabtree Park.



Because every little boy has to learn how to throw sticks into a lake.



Dylan and his "Mimi"



Dylan with Grandma