Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Southern Oregon with the Rasmussen's

We met up with the Rasmussen's at Crater Lake. I have to pause and confess that ever since I've been able to distinguish land from water in the atlas, I've always wanted to see the nearly perfectly round Crater Lake. Sometimes dreams take 30 years to come true. Just remember that, kids.

Grant found a fellow connoisseur of navy blue and aqua. 

We go to drive out to the Pacific Ocean. The kids LOVED holding the starfish and touching the sea anemones.

 I loved that no one was swept away into the sea, despite their best efforts to get soaking wet.

On the way home we stopped to see the Redwoods.

There was not a horizontal redwood that wasn't touched by every kid. Each one had to be thoroughly loved. 

So many cousins, so little time! 

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Portland, Oregon with the Hancocks

We just finished an awesome trip to Oregon. It's a little rough going overnight, but we made it. Here are some highlights of our time with the Hancock's.

 Enjoying the visitor center at the Portland Temple.

 Wasn't it nice of the kids to show solidarity with Grant by falling asleep mid-walk?

 There are some awesome waterfalls in Oregon, and we got to visit some of the "crown jewels." I have always wanted to walk behind a waterfall, and here my wish was granted more than once.


 These are not the size of trees that we normally have blocking the trail in Tennessee. Oregon trees are closer the girth of an elephant than me. 

The three legged race quickly became the default activity. Even after hiking all morning and being positive that they couldn't walk another step without eminent danger of expiring. 

We went on a fun city walk with allowed Grant to touch more than just foliage. More or less dirty? I guess that depends on what you consider dirty. 

Many thanks to Quinn for taking a turn with Grant. I'm pretty sure we need to make a t-shirt with a burly guy on the front (just like Quinn) that says something like "Hiked with Grant."

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Panama Vacation

Last fall we went on a great vacation to Panama! 
Ryan made a great video of our trip which can be found here: 

Then Ryan got called as a bishop and we kind of fell off the earth.