Our Trip to Oregon August 2016

Our whole family together for a few days at Rockaway Beach, Oregon

We left on an early morning flight Friday the 12th.  Jonathan's good buddy Murray drove us to the airport.  Our nice neighbors took care of the chickens, ducks, and cats while we were gone.  We owe them big.

In Portland we rented a car and drove straight to Eldon & Janeil's in Corvallis.  We could not resist picking blackberries, even in the sweltering heat.  Jonathan made two pies from them, and they were about the best he ever made, even if he says so himself.

Jessica drove to Corvallis with Quin and Ammon.  Yay! We finally got to meet our 7 week-old grandson. Velvet was there with Grace, Laura, and Kate.  Brenda's family was there, Berkeley & Meagan, Grant & Ruth, and Jason & Isa were there for supper.

Meeting Ammon

That evening we all went to spread Carl's ashes in McDonald forest.  We met Ken's family there and hiked in to a beautiful, predetermined spot. Grant read some of Carl's poems.  We stopped at nearby Locke Cemetery to see family headstones.

Grace, Kate, Velvet, Laura at MacDonald Forest

Isa and Jason
We're so glad Isa came to meet our family.

After spending the night at the Brewsters in Springfield we met everyone at Avery Park in Corvallis for Carl's celebration of life.  Brenda and Sheryl sang a nice song.  Grant, Velvet, and Brenda gave moving talks.  Sheryl shared a few of Carl's poems.  Neil shared some poems, one from great grandma Kezia.  Brenda sang a few more songs and then we had open microphone.  Jason, Curtis, Jonathan, Mike Andrus, Carl's friends, and Janeil all shared some thoughts and memories.  We laughed through our tears.  Everyone had a good visit and plenty to eat.

Ruth and Velvet

Teen cousins - Sam, Curtis, Erik

We caravanned with the Brewster's and Goodwin's from the park to the coast.  It was a long drive, mostly north.  We stopped at the Tillamook cheese factory, which was a bust because it was crazy crowded, like Paris on new year's eve.  Instead of waiting in a long line for ice cream cones, we bought some half gallons to eat at the resort.

Rockaway Beach was an awesome location for the family reunion.  Eldon and Janeil rented some large beach houses for us all to stay in at Harbor Villa Resort.  It was nicer than Camp Alpine in some ways--lots of bedrooms and two large rooms for meals and games and a grassy backyard for the little kids to run around in. It was a short walk to the beach, where Grandpa Jonathan went with Quin a few times, and everyone else went to walk along the shore or play in the sand.

Grandpa Dodge and Ammon

Jessica and Quin enjoying some beach time

Quin LOVED running through the shallow water at Rockaway Beach

Quin playing with second cousins

Sunday morning we went to church.  At least half the people there were tourists.  That afternoon most of the group went on a "short" hike that turned into at least 4 miles round trip, and very steep.  We loved it, although Sheryl was not wearing her new hiking shoes, and Jessica was busy with Ammon.  Grandpa Jonathan stayed back with Jessica and Ammon, and by gum we all reached the top where the view was AMAZING.  This is where Jeff Goodwin proposed to Stephanie, so they were excited to show it to their kids. To top it all off, there were some German tourists there.  They took our picture.  The name of this place is Neah-Kah-Nie, which is easy to remember because it sounds like 'neocon' with an 'e' at the end.

Beautiful view of Northern Oregon coastline

Isa, Jason, Jessica

After a (late) salmon supper there was a fireside where Berkeley & Meagan Andrus and Zachary Olsen told about their recent missions.  Jason and Isa made everyone customized milk shakes.

The newlyweds - Meagan and Berkeley

We took turns making meals for the whole group.  Trevor made a marvelous Mexican Lasagna.

Jason skim boarding

That afternoon our whole group went on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad ride to Garibaldi, after which Jason, Trevor, and Curtis played on the Andruses boogie boards and skim boards.  It was as much fun to watch them get in and out of the wetsuit as to play in the water.  Thanks to Mike and Sam Andrus for making that fun.

Trevor boogie boarding

Monday evening was the talent show, which was surprisingly short, so Jonathan was invited to talk about being prepared and stuff.  It was a great chance for doom and gloom in front of a microphone, explaining how the criminal banking system works.  Trevor played the harmonica, and Jason sang as he played the guitar (sounded pretty good this time).  That night we played board games with Trevor.

The "Ungame"

Tuesday morning, after Jonathan played with Quin on the beach one last time, we packed up and drove to Cape Meares with the Brewster's.  Jason and Isa were to meet us there, but there was a delay and no mobile phone service, so we missed them.  They spent the night in Bend on their way back to Utah.  On the way they unofficially announced their engagement (or was it that they announced their unofficial engagement?).  Anyway, Jonathan was THRILLED and unofficially told everyone he saw for the next several days.

Back in Springfield... Wednesday began with a shopping trip to BiMart and SuperEvilEmpire.  Jessica and Sheryl got new clothes, and Jonathan bought things to update Michael and Jessica's 3-day kits.  Later that day we went to Splash, a big indoor wave pool.  Grandpa Jonathan stayed in the the old fogey chairs with Ammon while everyone else had a blast swimming, especially Quin.  That evening, Michael took Trevor and Curtis to a Star Trek movie, which they all enjoyed.

Thursday morning was Jonathan's "vacation moment"  as he took Quin in a jogging stroller for a jog.  Then we all walked to a park and let Quin play.  After that we walked to Cafe Yumm for lunch.  Jessica and Sheryl canned pears while Jonathan worked on the 3-day kits (driving everyone NUTS in the process) and Michael played video games with Trevor and Curtis.

Friday we drove to Portland and went to OMSI.  For everyone except Quin, it was old hat.  But Quin was so excited he practically did summersaults in the rubber ball pen.  That made it fun.  Later that hot day was Berkeley and Meagan's wedding reception.  It was in a nice building at a park in Hillsboro.  They served ice cream sundaes and every topping imaginable. Grandpa Jonathan hung out with Quin at a nearby playground, and helped with Ammon a while too.  It was awesome.

Grandma and Quin finding all the letters

Brenda and bridesmaids enjoying Sundaes

 We spent that night with our good friends the Sorensen's, who live in Hillsboro.  Unfortunately Bob was gone on a business trip, so he and Jonathan did not get to stay up late laughing and dooming.  But Pam shared a good dose of doom with us, so it was all good.

with Pam Sorensen

Saturday morning we stopped at the Andruses.  It was difficult to say goodbye.  Then we stopped at the rental house in Lebanon and finally met Katie.  She has done wonders with the house and yard.  That night, back in Springfield, Jonathan & Sheryl watched Quin and Ammon (we watched the Lego movie) while Michael & Jessica went on a real date.  After that we played the game Splendor.

Saying a tearful goodbye to Brenda

Sunday morning Eldon and Janeil stopped in before church.  At church Michael gave Ammon his baby blessing.  After that we had a big party with Michael's family who were there for the blessing.  It was great to see everyone.  Kind of odd sharing Quin and Ammon with another set of grandparents because we love those little boys so much, but it is good.  It is all part of the plan.

Ammon and Great Gma on blessing day

Mother-daughter moment

After the Brewster clan left, we went for a walk along the McKenzie River (where Jonathan jogged with Quin).  It was beautiful, and there were a few blackberries left on the bushes.  That night we feasted on Jessica's amazing curry chicken, and we played Splendor where Jessica won and Jonathan actually enjoyed it this time.  Then came the very difficult goodbye and the drive to Corvallis to spend the night with Eldon and Janeil.  "Why are we always living in the wrong place?!?!  Why don't we just move back?"

Monday was filled with travel back to New Hampshire, the cats, the chickens, the ducks, and the nice neighbors who took care of everything while we were gone.