Let's Go Back to the Beginning...

Shall We?

This sequential person is going about this all wrong. I started with the end of our vacation, interrupted with a current event, and I'm finally going back to where I should have started: the beginning!

Russ had July 3rd 'off,' but ended up working on a consulting job all day. My mom invited us over for dinner, and we didn't exactly get in early. Not a great start for vacation prep!

I didn't want to travel on the 4th and hoped to spend some time enjoying the evening, at least. My grandparents were in town and it was important to take advantage of that. My whole family went back and forth trying to decide how best to celebrate the day. That is, until we heard that a close friend was going to be participating in a Civil War Re-Enactment Camp. Ta-da! An event to attend. We were planning on watching the 3 o'clock battle. (Perfect. I could get a few things accomplished in the morning before heading out.) When we realized it would be in the 90s, the plan was quickly changed to arrive before the 11 o'clock battle. Hmmm. Out the door at 9:30 am.

My parents, my mom's parents, my two sisters, their husbands, my niece and nephew, a French foreign exchange student (staying with Holly), and my boy clan. Whew! And hot, hot, hot. At least we weren't wearing wool uniforms and fighting on the battlefield!

The battle was well-acted. So many soldiers. The canons rattled my whole body. Quite incredible to experience. I think the camps were even more fascinating, though. I can't believe how many people participate in this group. The tents went on and on and on. Almost everything is open for visitors to explore, and the re-enactors are happy to show people around and explain things. They try to have all the details period-appropriate. What dedication. So many families were participating together. I'm guessing history really comes alive for those children!

Russ took many of the following photographs, as both of us had cameras in hand. (And, yes, I know, it is a lot of photos, but you should see all the ones I left out!!!)

Me, in action:

Oh, and then we headed over to my uncle's house (Dad's brother) for swimming, BBQ, and chatting with even more family.

(Hmmm. Vacation hasn't technically started. Come to think of it, I haven't packed and we're leaving in the morning....)

A Full Day With Friends

(Interrupting the vacation parade of photos to bring you this day with friends...)

I am feeling abundantly blessed and rich in friends. This blog has opened up worlds to me in many ways, but I especially treasure the relationships it has brought me. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon and early evening with Travelin' Nan and Bella Art Girl. They visited my home last summer, and we had planned to get together last fall. Our get-together was indefinitely postponed by Bella Art Girl's tragic accident. She has been recovering over the past months, and it finally worked out for us to head down to their neck of the woods.

We started out at Nancy's house. She served a wonderful lunch, and the boys played like crazy in the back yard. I didn't take many photos because it was delicious to sit, relax, and engage in conversation.

I've been sitting here thinking of words to describe Nancy and Maricel. I don't think words do them justice. To begin with, the friendship between the two of them is magical. The way they accept and encourage me is beyond what I can explain. They are just plain beautiful and lovely in every way.

We then headed over to a local park. I didn't think I would ever be able to tear Luke and Levi away from the large sand pit with the water feature. The rest of us spent quite a bit of time on the side-lines, under the shady trees, enjoying popsicles. Lily and Evander were good sports and rolled down the grassy hilly with Leif, over and over again. Little Miss Wilder and Leif played chase, often corralled by the extrememly helpful Emma. Nancy and Maricel refer to her as CinderEmma. All I know is that I would like to take her home with me. What a gem!

We ended the day with homemade pizza and cookies at Maricel's home. I am now in the mood to paint my whole house interesting colors. And create. And feel. And think. Maricel is quite the artist. Her masterpieces are scattered about the house. I couldn't stop gazing at them.

I even had the pleasure of conversing with Maricel and her husband, Tucker, on the subject of homeschooling. Tucker began a thoughtful series on homeschooling on his blog, PilgrimAkimbo. I encourage you to head on over and begin reading!

Thank you, Nancy and Maricel, for your hospitality and friendship. I am blessed to know you!!

A Day at the Sea

After spending an afternoon and evening at 'the farm,' the next day dawned bright and early. Colleen and her oldest two sons, Jan and Per, ran a footrace which conveniently ended at the state park where we happened to be camping. We cheered them on, enjoyed post-race music and awards (Jan was third in his age-group), grabbed some lunch (I borrowed Colleen's youngest sons, Rafe and Kai, so I could experience what it was like to have 5 boys ~ 7, 6, 5, 4, and almost 3), and met down on the beach.

They brought their canoe for the day. It certainly was in serious use for the rest of the afternoon. Jan and their Luke were kind enough to row Rafe, Levi, Luke, and Leif over to a nearby island for some exploring.

Hans (Colleen's husband) swam out to the island and brought Leif back in the canoe. He and Kai were best buds.

Hans and Per then gathered up the rest of the crew still exploring the island.

Russ and Hans supervised more canoe fun, which lasted the rest of the afternoon.

If the boys weren't in the canoe, they were climbing rocks and investigating tide pools. Colleen and I spent the day lounging in the sun, relishing the slight breeze, and talking up a storm.

The sun fell lower in the sky. The tide rose and covered many of the small islands and tide pools.

Does it get any better than this? Seriously.

Making New Friends

Our family had the distinct pleasure of meeting new friends on our vacation! Colleen has been a long-time online acquaintance (you can meet her over at her blog, Ski to Sea), and we finally had the opportunity to become friends in real life! We visited her beautiful home and organic dairy farm in the stunning location near Mt. Baker.

What a backdrop!

It is a good thing Russ was willing to take pictures. Colleen and I hardly took a breath in the midst of conversation. We had a lot of ground to cover!

The boys had a blast in the river.

I'm pretty sure they are all ready to join Colleen's family. With five boys of her own, do you think she would notice another three? Leif, in particular, adopted Colleen's husband, Hans.

We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening eating a delicious meal, playing, and talking, talking, talking. Luke and Leif couldn't get enough of the kittens. Levi wanted to move into the boys' rec room.

The sun set on the mountains, and the evening came to a close. I'm disappointed I didn't take the time to get more photos of their home, gardens, and farm. I guess I'll use that as an excuse to visit again... At least I was able to get more photos of their family the next day as we spent it on the beach together!

Thank you, Colleen, for the wonderful food and hospitality.
It is a pleasure to count you among my friends!

Returned

I love going on vacation, but it is equally nice to return, though I'm avoiding even glancing in the direction of the laundry pile. Much more fun to browse the 1,000 photos and reminisce. Already.

I'll Be Back....

We spent the day at a Civil War re-enactment. I felt so sorry for those guys in the 90+ degree heat. Whew! Fascinating, though, and I wish I had the time to share more photos with you. Alas, I don't, and it will be a quiet week here at Mt. Hope Chronicles, as I am taking a blog break. But I'll be back, I promise.

I Heart Faces ~ Fix-It Friday

Since I have a million other things I am supposed to be doing, I have no idea why I am participating in Fix-It Friday at i heart faces, but here I am. This is my quick fix today. Below is the original photo 'Most Beautiful Gift' and above is my edit. Ta-da! Wish I had more time to play!

Capital

Are You In the Willamette Valley?

Tickets are now available!

Bard in the Quad has been incredible the last two years.

I'm so disappointed that we missed their debut performance, Romeo and Juliet, a few years ago,
but we've watched Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Both were fabulous.

While you are marking things on your calendar...

The Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire is September 19th and 20th.

I'm hoping to make it back for our 3rd year in a row!

Out and About

Guess Where We Will Be Visiting?

Levi and Luke's favorite YouTube video:

More Photos

I know, I know... I've posted a lot of photos lately. I just can't help myself. I really have been doing a few other things around here. We took the boys to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. We visited my favorite spot again. We've been reading. We've been playing in the sprinkler. We've been spending time with my grandparents, visiting from California. I went to book club. Leif had the stomach flu. I got my hair cut. Levi has gone to piano lessons. We're getting ready to go on vacation. We rode on the beautiful carousel in Salem and visited the State Capital. You know, LIFE.

Today, we had a wonderful visit with friends. Lori is up from California with her little guy. I photographed him back in December. Boy howdy, has he grown! And, oh my, is he a doll. I took one look at him when they arrived and told Lori, 'You are going to let me take pictures of him today, right? Right?!' What do you think?

Family