Road trip!
As a result of buying our kidhauler, we needed to get rid of a car. I think 4 vehicles for 2 drivers is a little excessive, no? After pondering what car to sell, we decided that the Altima was the one to go. Thankfully, Ryan's dad was interested in it. The problem, he lives in Washington. Our solution, take a road trip! Although the thought of taking an 18+ hour drive with 2 kids did not seem like a super idea, we devised a plan and had a fantastic time!
Our plan was to stop and visit friends along the way and instead of driving during the day, we spent the day hanging out and playing before getting on the road around 3 or 4pm when the kids were nice and tired. The boys slept for a few hours, we'd stop for dinner, they'd watch a movie, we'd make a pit stop to put on pj's, then a couple of hours later we'd arrive at our destination after the kids had already fallen asleep. The boys didn't have a single issue in the car. It probably only felt like a few hour drive to them!
Friday, July 23rd, we loaded up the car and attacked the longest leg of the trip - San Diego to Stockton. We visited with Jeff, Zoey, and the Blob for a day and a half. It was so nice to see them! We went wine tasting at Viaggio Winery, which had a beautiful garden on the river. We greatly enjoyed our bottle of wine, picnic, and putting our feet in the river. The funniest part of the visit was when Jacob saw the delta from Jeff's property and excitedly exclaimed, "Look Daddy! Chocolate water!"
After we said goodbye to the Merrills, we headed over to Folsom to visit with the Holcomb family. All five kids had a great time playing together in the very fun playroom. We walked to the park behind their house and picked blackberries, grapes, and mulberries along the way. Jacob and Ethan thought that it was so much fun to pick your own food! Plus, they were so yummy!
We joined the Holcombs for a BBQ at the park with Stevie's soccer team
Jacob and Naya had a great time pretending to be asleep in their sleeping bags and flashlights
Sadly, our visit with the Holcombs was too short, but we had to get back on the road. Next stop: Ashland, OR. By pure coincidence, Tita and Lito were in Northern California on a road trip of their own and joined us in Ashland. Jacob and Ethan thought it was great to see them so far from home. We all spent the day in Lithia Park, where we saw a doe and two fawns - up close and personal.
Then, we cooled off in the creek. It was so beautiful. So much greenery and old cobblestone bridges and steps. We took a stroll in the Railroad District surrounding the park and had lunch. Then, we headed back to the creek. Yes, it was that much fun!
Lito was pushing Ethan in the swings and he fell asleep! I'd never seen Ethan do that! Lito made a soft bed for Ethan to take a nap in under a tree.
After all our fun in Ashland, we finally reached our end destination - Camas, WA! We took a tour of the Bonneville Dam and saw the fish ladder. Seeing all those huge salmon made Ryan very hungry!
After visiting the dam, we headed to Multnomah Falls. It was so beautiful! We all hiked to the bridge to get an even better view. Unfortunatly, Ethan wasn't feeling well so Meme Beckie, Ethan and I stayed at the bottom while Grandpa Gary, Tita, Lito, Ryan, and Jacob climbed all the way to the top of the falls. Apparently the view was awesome from there, but I had the camera with me, so we didn't capture the view.
My parents left the following day, but we stayed an extra 3 days before flying home. We went to the park with Meme and Grandpa Gary, went for walks, and enjoyed playing with the train table in the bagel shop. On our last day, we had a nice visit with Uncle Mark and Teresa. Then, we all went to the Farmer's Market/Hawaiian Dance Festival.
The fruit and veggies all looked so good. We bought a little snack of boysenberries. They were so yummy! Jacob and Ethan had both hands shoveling in the berries to their mouths. It was a competition to see who ate more. The women at the booth thought they were so funny, they gave us raspberries and blueberries too. Notice the berry stains on the boy's mouth.
After a week of fun, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to Meme and Grandpa Gary and head home. Jacob was so pooped, that he fell asleep on the first leg of our flight home.
Then, Ethan fell asleep on the second leg.
San Diego!
Jacob was a great helper. Look at all of those bags and car seats. Yes, it was all in the Altima :)
Our plan was to stop and visit friends along the way and instead of driving during the day, we spent the day hanging out and playing before getting on the road around 3 or 4pm when the kids were nice and tired. The boys slept for a few hours, we'd stop for dinner, they'd watch a movie, we'd make a pit stop to put on pj's, then a couple of hours later we'd arrive at our destination after the kids had already fallen asleep. The boys didn't have a single issue in the car. It probably only felt like a few hour drive to them!
Friday, July 23rd, we loaded up the car and attacked the longest leg of the trip - San Diego to Stockton. We visited with Jeff, Zoey, and the Blob for a day and a half. It was so nice to see them! We went wine tasting at Viaggio Winery, which had a beautiful garden on the river. We greatly enjoyed our bottle of wine, picnic, and putting our feet in the river. The funniest part of the visit was when Jacob saw the delta from Jeff's property and excitedly exclaimed, "Look Daddy! Chocolate water!"
The Merrill and Walker Gang
Rock Band was a very fun game!
The (big) boys stayed up way past their bed time playing.
Rock Band was a very fun game!The (big) boys stayed up way past their bed time playing.
After we said goodbye to the Merrills, we headed over to Folsom to visit with the Holcomb family. All five kids had a great time playing together in the very fun playroom. We walked to the park behind their house and picked blackberries, grapes, and mulberries along the way. Jacob and Ethan thought that it was so much fun to pick your own food! Plus, they were so yummy!Ethan loved riding the horse
We joined the Holcombs for a BBQ at the park with Stevie's soccer team
Jacob and Naya had a great time pretending to be asleep in their sleeping bags and flashlights
Sadly, our visit with the Holcombs was too short, but we had to get back on the road. Next stop: Ashland, OR. By pure coincidence, Tita and Lito were in Northern California on a road trip of their own and joined us in Ashland. Jacob and Ethan thought it was great to see them so far from home. We all spent the day in Lithia Park, where we saw a doe and two fawns - up close and personal.
Then, we cooled off in the creek. It was so beautiful. So much greenery and old cobblestone bridges and steps. We took a stroll in the Railroad District surrounding the park and had lunch. Then, we headed back to the creek. Yes, it was that much fun!
Lito was pushing Ethan in the swings and he fell asleep! I'd never seen Ethan do that! Lito made a soft bed for Ethan to take a nap in under a tree.
After all our fun in Ashland, we finally reached our end destination - Camas, WA! We took a tour of the Bonneville Dam and saw the fish ladder. Seeing all those huge salmon made Ryan very hungry!
After visiting the dam, we headed to Multnomah Falls. It was so beautiful! We all hiked to the bridge to get an even better view. Unfortunatly, Ethan wasn't feeling well so Meme Beckie, Ethan and I stayed at the bottom while Grandpa Gary, Tita, Lito, Ryan, and Jacob climbed all the way to the top of the falls. Apparently the view was awesome from there, but I had the camera with me, so we didn't capture the view.
My parents left the following day, but we stayed an extra 3 days before flying home. We went to the park with Meme and Grandpa Gary, went for walks, and enjoyed playing with the train table in the bagel shop. On our last day, we had a nice visit with Uncle Mark and Teresa. Then, we all went to the Farmer's Market/Hawaiian Dance Festival.
The fruit and veggies all looked so good. We bought a little snack of boysenberries. They were so yummy! Jacob and Ethan had both hands shoveling in the berries to their mouths. It was a competition to see who ate more. The women at the booth thought they were so funny, they gave us raspberries and blueberries too. Notice the berry stains on the boy's mouth.
After a week of fun, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to Meme and Grandpa Gary and head home. Jacob was so pooped, that he fell asleep on the first leg of our flight home. 
Then, Ethan fell asleep on the second leg.
San Diego!
Jacob was a great helper. Look at all of those bags and car seats. Yes, it was all in the Altima :)
posted by Berenice at
9:30 PM
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