I managed to get all of us and our belongings into the doors to the airport and we sat by the check in. The boys drank their milk and had muffins for breakfast. In the meantime Josh parked the car and took the bus back to the airport. We managed to check in with all our stuff. I was happy to just survive this part of the trip. Once we got rid of the car seats life was much easier!!
We managed to get through security without any problems. We headed down to our gate, took the boys to the bathroom and it was already time to board the plane. Things went smoothly. We were in the last row (did they think WE would be trouble??!!) which was nice since it was right by the bathroom.
Jack and Ewan sat next to each other, Josh in the seat across the aisle from them and I had the seat in front of Josh. Sean switched between sitting with me and Josh. They were all very excited to fly. It was a smooth trip to Chicago. We had a tight connection there but made it. We arrived at the gate and boarding had already begun.
This leg of the trip was extremely pleasant since we flew first class. So much more room for the boys to roam and to hold Sean. More beverage service. AND and actual meal. We all had breakfast. It is a good thing they served a meal too since all three boys ate their meal well, PLUS plenty of the snacks that I packed. Jack and Ewan were quite thrilled to get Sprite since they normally do not get any sodas.
Jack and Ewan enjoying Sprite in first class
Sean living the first class life
We arrived safely in Portland late Friday morning. We headed to baggage claim and waited for all our luggage. Josh went to get the rental car while I got luggage. Everything arrived, except one of the car seats was missing. This would be a huge problem. After waiting over fifteen minutes and watching everything go around but our missing car seat we headed to the service desk when suddenly our car seat decided to appear. YEAH!!
So now came the fun part, getting three boys, four backpacks, two large suitcases and three car seats to the rental car. I put one of the cars on my suitcase and Josh had the other two. We barely managed it, but we did make it to the car. When we arrived the the car, the boys did not understand why it was not their Toyota Prius!! While Josh installed all the seats the boys played with the minivan. So many new things to explore. Sean loved "driving" the car, Jack discovered the TV. Finally we were off and running.
We went to a lovely cafe in a residential neighborhood, thanks to the Food TV site (I cannot remember which show was there). The food was delish. The boys were a little cranky at times, but that is understandable given how long they had been awake and the time change. After surviving the meal we were off to our cabin in Welches, near Mount Hood.
After a stop at the grocery store along the way and driving around the mountains a little we met Oma, Opa and Uncle Nick at the cabin check-in. The boys were thrilled to see Oma, Opa and Uncle Nick. We all checked in and settled into our cabins (we were neighbors). It was cute to see the boys walk two doors down and check on Oma, Opa and Uncle Nick.
Friday evening we had the big 50th anniversary dinner for Aunt Kay and Uncle Fred. It was so fun seeing the family all together again. Dad and his four siblings were all there along with their kids (11 of the 12 cousins/grand kids were there) and some of our kids too (15 second cousins), plus a lot of Uncle Fred's family and several of their friends. It was the most cousins we have ever had all together, just one missing because she had her first baby just a month ago. The second cousins all got along and played together as if they had always known one another.
It was fun to catch up on all the family gossip and see relatives we had not seen since I was a child. Josh met the last cousin he had not met yet. We ate good food, drank well and socialized. The kids played hard. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I do not have any photos from this night. Hopefully I will get some pictures from everyone else soon, plus there was a photographer there to get the five of us together and all of us with Oma, Opa and Uncle Nick too.
Saturday we took a walk with the boys in the neighborhood near the cabin. Later we followed Oma and Opa to a beautiful lavender farm. After that Oma and Opa took the boys to an alpaca farm. The boys saw a baby alpaca born just that morning! They also drove around some of the Fruit Loop (the berries were all in season, strawberries, blueberries, marionberries, huckleberries, raspberries, black raspberries....we so LOVED all the fresh fruit while we were there).
Hiking near the cabins
Enjoying the cool weather for a hike
Sleepy Sean at the lavender farm
Hummingbird at the lavender farm
All my boys!!
Baby alpaca
Enjoying huckleberry milkshakes with Oma and Opa (Sean was asleep in the car)
FYI: For those of you who have never been out West, you simply must have everything
huckleberry you can get in your mouth!! ESPECIALLY the milkshakes.
Josh, Nick and I went to a winery and then to Hood River. We went to a brewery and enjoyed some time on the river watching people wind surfing and kite boarding.
Saturday evening there was another family dinner. We had much fun again. It was at one of the rental houses on a creek. It was absolutely beautiful. Sean had lots of fun hanging out with Rachela. Jack and Ewan had too much fun playing with the older kids and getting dirty in the horseshoe pit.
Five of my cousins near the kegs of home brewed beer!!
Sean and his new love (drinking ice, NOT home brew)!
Sean helping pitch a game of wiffle ball
The kids watching Kay and Fred's grand kids to a skit about their first date
Happy 50th Aunt Kay and Uncle Fred!!
A musical performance by one of Kay and Fred's granddaughter
Sunday we had a family breakfast. Then several of the guys headed to Portland for a beer fest. Oma, the boys and I stayed at the cabins. We had lunch and then went to Kay and Fred's house. I did some laundry there and we had fun with the family.
That evening we cooked out at the cabins and had dinner with Oma, Opa and Uncle Nick. Ewan spend the night in the bunk beds with Uncle Nick. He was very excited!!
Jack waking up in the top bunk at the cabin
Monday morning we were off for another leg of our journey, Crater Lake. More to come later....
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