My trip home in August was positively delightful. I loved playing with friends and fam.
The trip started with a nice homecoming at the airport and then we drove straight to my favorite mexican restaurant in Beaverton to have lunch with the fam. No better way to start a vacation.
With Steph here there were bodies everywhere. I loved every moment of it. We spent the first weekend doing what we do best, eating and playing games.
After a few days, Steph and I headed for Boise, her new home. Pops joined us as well. We spent some time at the pool, playing games, jumping on the tramp, eating froyo, shopping, and watching movies.
I loved spending time with this delightful little angel. She is certainly precious.
After a few days in Boise, I hopped a plane to SLC where Scott, Chloe, and Heidi picked me up from the airport and we headed to the Uintahs to hike the tallest mountain in Utah, Kings Peak. This would be the second attempt for me and Scott and this time it was successful. The weather was perfect, company unbeatable, and my knees gave me no problems. This was my first hike since Kilimanjaro and I had certainly missed hiking.
Highest point in Utah!
Nothing like ending a good hike with a late night meal at Denny’s.
I got to spend the next few days visiting with friends and family in Utah. I enjoyed seeing everyone but certainly wish I had more time. It was entirely too short.
I LOVED seeing my nieces and nephews again.
Mike is preparing the most divine CCC’s. Wow, they were good!
We played games and I laughed harder than I have in a long time. My brothers are hilarious.
Floated down the Provo River with John and Mirm’s kids. I think Zach is done going on adventures with his Aunt. There are usually tears involved. Poor kid. The rest of us had a wonderful time. Just barely missed the rain.
Loved seeing friends.
Breakfast with Dre…
Cafe Rio with Cindy…
Froyo with Tess…
Late night chat with Raq and Brian…
Lunch with Becks…
A tender mercy running into the women from my home ward. My “substitute” mothers sitting at the same table. Seeing these women just made the tears flow. Can’t express how grateful I am for all the women who took such good care of me when my mom died.
Dinner with Bryce and the fam and of course a movie afterwards…
A little meeting with my Zam friends off the freeway at Thanksgiving Point…
So many more people I wish I could have seen. I’ll just have to save it for my next trip to Utah.
Back in Portland the girls went on a dinner date with Pops.
The next day we headed out for a long awaited camping trip with the fam (of course that includes the Barker gang as well). The plan was to head up to Mt Rainier but the weather was so bad we ended up staying in a random campground on the way out to the beach. We spent the next day at the beach and the Tillamook cheese factory.
The beautiful beach…
The Octopus tree…
Pops enjoying his smores…
Robin and Steph also enjoying…
Sagie sporting her new implants…
Celebrating Pops birthday…
Roasting baby Hazel…
These two mischievous girls…
Enjoying the water…
Steph being obstinate by not looking at the camera after several attempts I finally gave up…
Nothing like singing with the sisters…
The biggest marshmallows I’ve ever seen…probably my most favorite part of the camping trip…
The orange burrito…
Jaxon…self-explanatory…
Hiking with the kids…
The babies…
Lighthouse…
After the camping trip, I got to spend time with some Oregon friends…
Sweet adorable baby not pictured here…
Love that my dear friend has herself a little belly. Can’t wait to meet her little one.
I got to play mom while Rick and Heidi took a weekend getaway to the beach to celebrate their anniversary.
Of course we made cookies…
Went for a bike ride/walk…
Got injured and then had to show off the injury…
Sat around on the kitchen floor…
Enjoyed some great bowling…
The dreaded trip to Oaks Park actually turned out quite delightful. The weather was perfect and I loved hanging out with Heidi, Brenda, and all the kids.
Apparently I was too big to go on this ride.
We spent the couple days before I left celebrating Heidi’s birthday. Spent some time bowling and soaking up the sun at Battleground Lake. It was the perfect way to end a month of bliss in America.
Just hoping to make Steph jealous with this pic…
