Summer Vacation 2011

I had the best summer vacation of ALL TIME!! It wasn’t out of the country or in exotic places is was here on the west coast with my family. It was the best for so many reasons.

Reason #1 – We needed to leave our crazy, busy lives for a minute and find a place where we could unwind, recharge, and focus.

Reason #2 – The Oakland Temple

This was not planned, but we saw it on the hilltop and made a quick exit off the freeway. We started driving up this random road and crossed our fingers that we would find it. The road took us to the very entrance of the temple. Coincident? I think not.

This temple sat so perfectly on this hill, perfect view, perfect start to our family vacation. We walked into the visitors center and we were the only ones on our little tour. We watched a movie about eternal families, and we visited with the sister missionaries for about an hour. One sister was heading home in two weeks and the other had about 7 months left. They talked to us about how John and I met, how I decided on a ring, how many kids we wanted to have, etc. I felt like I was 21 again. Their giddy little personality was hilarious. We loved them!

Reason #2 – San Francisco

John nor I have ever been to San Fran. We drove down Lombard Street, got car sick. We then ventured over to Pier 39.

Yes, that is Alcatraz in the background. I wanted to go there so bad but it is too expensive. Someday.

We drove on the Golden Gate Bridge. So fun and packed with people. I loved San Fran’s character. The structure of buildings. The steep roads. The apartments, condos, shops on the steep roads. The foggy bay. I loved the view of San Francisco.

Eyrlin loved the rainbow tunnels.

Reason #3 – Medford, Oregon’s Park

We stopped to let the kids out to stretch and we found the perfect Oregon park. It had soft grass, swings, a stream, bike path, wooded areas, flowers, etc.

That is several flowers in my hair. The kids were collecting and placing them in my hair.

Reason #4 – THE OREGON BEACH

Thanks to my brother and his wife, our Christmas present was a weekend stay at the Otter Crest Beach. We fell in love with this place!

We unloaded the car and then went straight to the beach. It was getting dark but we didn’t care. It was beautiful!!

Broden on the beach.

Jax wrote in the sand MO (mom) + JX (Jax).

John and Canon enjoying the ocean water.

The cousins.

Eyrlin and James made their own fire on the beach, it was so cute!

Rylon, on the beach just as the sun went down.

John and Canon. I loved watching them together watching the water.

Family photo.

Uncle Bryan trying to sneak a bite.

We saw a whale!!

Eyrlin and her cousin Brit.

Jax and Rylon.

My family on the suspension bridge.

A quiet family walk on our last day at the beach. TEARS, lots of them!! I did not want to leave.

Canon….

The kids on our last visit to the beach.

I will miss this place, actually, I do right now. Our room had a beautiful view of the ocean, and I often sat out there just thinking. I couldn’t believe that I had the time to just think, but I did. I took over 200 pictures at the beach and 50 of the other places we visited. I think it’s obvious just how much I loved this place. It was the perfect place to vacation. Oh and we pretty much had the beach all to ourselves the whole weekend. It was a little secluded!

Reason #5 – A trip down memory lane

The house I lived in as a teen.

Multnomah Falls. So refreshing!

Reason #6 – Running into the Howe’s in Provo, Utah

We totally missed them, and we were so glad we got to meet up with them in Provo!!

A portion of our trip got cut because of the fourth traffic. We went home late Friday night, hated that our trip got cut short, so we left again to end the two week vacation…….

…….and came home on the fourth of July!!

We have built a lasting memory on this vacation with our little family. The kids got to see cousins they don’t see very often. They saw weather, trees, and a beach they have never seen before. Most importantly, we spent every bit of time we had, together!! We had a great time and can’t wait to do it again, SOON!!