Staycation 2011

This year we opted to spend our annual family trip at my parents house due to some complications with the timing of Sunriver. We were not disappointed! My dear sweet husband surprised me by driving in the day after me and spending five days with us, when I originally didn't think he would make it at all. It was wonderful to have him there for those few days!

I'll mostly just let the pictures speak for themselves. Needless to say, the time there was spent in good company, with good food, fun times, and tons to do.


All "the littles" as we like to call the grandkids, had a blast with each other and played so well. They spent a lot of time in the bonus room leaving the grownups undisturbed. It was wonderful.
We always get matchy-matchy shirts for 4th of July when we're together. We just can't not do it. It's super dorky, and we totally embrace it. (well, most of us do, the rest simply tolerate). Jefferson left on the 4th to travel home so that he could be back to work, so it was just me and the kids at the parade.After the parade we headed home for our own firework show, courtesy of Grandpa Paul. He lined up the fireworks and let the littles take turns picking the next firework.Wait til around 17 seconds of this video. You will not be disappointed!!

We enjoyed my parents snow cone machine on more than one occasion. The weather was perfect for it.
We rode the mini trains in Chiloquin. Summer and I may have giggled a bit during the ride. It is just so funny, and fun!This was Taytum's new friend. She LOVED Chasca and would chase her around yelling, "Tasca!"
Everyone enjoyed the four-wheelers.
My parents have a couple of horses and all of the grandkids enjoyed a ride around the corral one day. Taytum did not want to get off. Every time I went to reach to grab her to come down she would adamantly shake her head "No." Then Gramzee, kind of being a softy, would take her for another ride around the corral.
Trolley/park/feed the ducks/drive the John Deer:We spent time every day at the pool. My dad bought a huge blowup slide for the kids to enjoy (and maybe some of the adults too). The older kids spent the majority of the time coming up with new ways to jump into the water. They had a blast. The weather was beautiful the entire time we were there and the heated pool was so divine!
Some more pics of Bentley. She mostly just hung out. Nikki and Alli were great at loving on her and putting her to sleep while I tended to my other three munchkins.Raindrips on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens... were not our favorite things, but us ladies did share one of our favorite items from this past year with the rest of the ladies. It was so fun to see what everyone chose! Mom: Kameleon necklace pendant; Summer: family birthstone charm for necklace; Me: brownie spatula, recipe for brownie cookies, and brownie mix; Sharon: swedish fish and ring; Nikki: Downy wrinkle release; Alli: decorator sixlets. We enjoyed our "favorite things" afternoon at a Mexican restaurant. Love these ladies!
Seafood Fest:
We enjoyed many evenings of fantastic food. Seafood fest being one of my favorite nights. Notice the progression of the table. We started by wrapping the table in paper and going plate-less. Just dump the crab legs, coconut shrimp, scallops, and french bed right onto the table and dig in. Other delicious favorites of the week were smoked prime rib (maybe my all time favorite), burger bar, grilled pizzas, Roosters, Chinese, smoked tri-tip... hungry yet?
What a delight spa day was!! My mom treated all of us ladies to a morning at the spa. We left the children home with the boys and went and enjoyed pedicures and facials. I could definitely get used to routine facials. Yum!
The fire pit was used on more than one occasion. As you can see, my children enjoy their roasted mallows.
We also spent one evening enjoying a s'more bar. We enjoyed about five different types of marshmallows, with all sorts of different fixins from chewy chips ahoys to peanut butter cups. It was delicious!
And then, because we were acting like a bunch of 5 year olds, we had to go and hunt down the frog that we heard. That's right, all the kids were asleep, it was just us big kids.
There were some other fun happenings, like more park time and going to Cars 2 at the theater, but there was just too much to document! It was a fabulous vacation, as always. My family is just the best! Thanks Mom & Dad! Love you fam!