BACK FROM A SUMMER ROAD TRIP

Bags are unpacked, laundry and ironing done, grocery restocked and slowly adjusting back into our routine after a three week road trip from Arizona, north through Utah, west through Idaho, part of Oregon ending in Washington and then back home the same route. 
Hubby and I had never driven north to Salt Lake City and decided to take that route on our trip to Washington for our annual family reunion.
Taking Hwy 89 through Utah was gorgeous!  Here is a picture of a surprise dam we encountered on the way.

We were able to stop off in Idaho to visit a dear friend, Barb, from high school days.  It had been 10 years since had seen each other and it was such a treat for us to spend a couple hours catching up with her.  An added bonus....her miniature Chihuahua, Honey, had given birth to three puppies just 3 1/2 weeks earlier.

Here we are with mama Honey on the right and one of her daughters from a previous litter on the left.  I was in "doggie heaven!"

We ended up being a day a head of schedule so stopped off at our daughter, Bre's house, spent the night and joined all the family (minus son-in-law, Mike who couldn't arrive for another week) for a day on Lake Washington.

Spent three days in our old hometown of Oak Harbor, WA at my mom's house.  I got to hang out one day at my close friend, Vicki's new decor store, The Rusty Chandelier."  The shop is darling and loaded with great merchandise.  I managed to leave with both arms full of treasures!!

My mom, dear friends Rick & Gloria, Vicki & John and Carolyn & Bob joined us for a yummy dinner on the waterfront in Coupeville. 

Back in Spanaway at Bre & Kyle's house for a couple nights we were invited to my niece, Stacy's new home for a BBQ on her new deck that Jawane was in the process of building. 

Of course we had to fit in a little "Dance Party" on the Wii back at Bre's house.

Then it was time to pack up the three cars, pick up Mike at the airport and head to the ferry landing in downtown Seattle for Ft. Flagler and our family reunion.  Here's Papa and Cole waiting our turn to load onto the ferry.

Mike and Hanna

HMMMmmmmm....this looks like some "goofy" confused driver!   Oh, no it's just silly Kyle.

Here we are at Ft. Flagler and our home away from home for three days....the very old military barracks!

As the family gathers for the weekend, we all had tons of fun around the campfire,

getting headlamps, flashlights and magnifying glasses for exploring,

playing softball,

hanging out with the cousins and great-grandma,

eating lots of good food,

playing bingo,    (Caden was the big winner this year!)

Mike, Stacy and Kyle

Tom running up to pick out his Bingo prize,

eating a morning cinnamon roll,

telling campfire stories,

Bre and Kyle

Tom dancing for us,

Gram & Jenny                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gram Jenny                                                                                                                                                   

flying kites,

wrestling with Papa,

celebrating Hanna's 6th birthday,

Cooper & Sofia learning to blow bubbles,

Caden chasing the deer

VERY INTERESTING...........WHAT IS THIS WE SEE?

and the whole family....well, the ones that could make it this year!

The next week Hubby and I spent playing with our grandsons at the park,

posing for pictures,

listening to Coleman read,

spending the day at the Seattle Zoo,

attending a garden party where Bre sold her handmade headwraps,

and then sadly having to say good bye to our sweet grandsons.

Back on the road we headed south to Forest Grove, Oregon to spend the night with my cousin Mark and his wife Kari and daughter Kelci.  They invited Mark's mom, sister & husband and their two kids and new grandson for a BBQ.

We were thrilled to spend time with all of them after a long separation of about 8+ years.  It was a real treat for us to meet the newest member of the family, Amanda's son, Parker.

The next day we headed to Nampa, Idaho and spent the night with our part-time AZ neighbors, John & Darlene and from there we drove 667 miles to Panguich, Utah and stayed in this wonderful Bed & Breakfast, The Ren Brick Inn.

Our last day was spent taking a tour of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, dinner in Flagstaff, AZ and then home.  We had such a fun time but we were glad to drag out sore bottoms out of our car seats and fall into our own bed that night. 
XOXO Nancy