…And Lebanon
Part of those seven weeks in the Portland area were (of course) spent in Lebanon where some of my family lives. So, here is the rest of the time we spent in the Lebanon area…
It was so nice to spend a lot of quality time with my parents who we don’t get to see often enough. Also, we got to spend a lot of time with my nephew Joe, his wife Taryn, and their cuties Taiya, Tenley, and Dodge. Joe and Taryn had us over for dinner a couple times, met us out for dinner a couple times, came over to visit at my mom’s, played some games with us, and we just had the best time getting to see them so much!
Joe and Taryn’s Dog Remy is clearly not spoiled at all 
My stepdad Ron, or ‘Papa’ to these kiddos, takes them fishing often. Mike and I joined one morning and it was fun watching them catch some fish (they throw them back).
On August 8 we had a big family gathering at my parents’ house. My mom and Ron’s house is the home base for our family, it’s where we all get together when we are able to. In addition to the Lebanon area family: My dad and stepmom Laurie were up from CA, and my aunt and cousins from Vancouver WA came down too. Also, two of our boys and our daughter-in-law were able to make it down too!
It was so great to spend a day all together! Alex was the only one missing, sadly, but he had to work so he could leave on his vacation in a couple days, so we understood. I didn’t get a lot of pix that day, but here are some…
Mom and Stepmom 
Dodge with “Grandpa Dad” 
Dodge with Grandma Laurie 
Some of the “kids” hanging out
We don’t see my niece Breanne often enough, and it’s always to nice when we can. She has FOUR kiddos now. Wow. Baby Kamaya was almost three weeks old when we got to meet her here. So sweet… there is nothing like a newborn!
Kaedyn and Kashton 
Kionna and Kamaya 
Me, Breanne, and Kamaya 
My mom meeting Kamaya 
Me and Kamaya becoming best friends!
Vlade LOVES walking in the Pioneer Cemetery next to my parents’ house
We were able to spend a weekend camping with Joe and his fam at John Neal Memorial Park in Lyons. It was fun to spend a whole weekend together even if it was over 100 degrees and we did not have hookups to run the AC. Thankfully, there was a river to cool off in!
Tenley and Dodge 
Joe, Mike, and Dodge 
Mike, living his best life! 
Pretty view, and little Tenley off on her own 
Me and Joe 
A couple of Joe and Taryn’s friends joined too, here they are “floating” to cool off
Best friends with matching life jackets
Father and Son 
Mike and Dodge played a LOT of cornhole 
These two besties had a lot of fun wrestling 
Dodge told Mike he would make him the PERFECT s’more… and you can see he was taking s’more-making very seriously.
Well, when he was making Mike’s the marshmallow fell into the fire. Oops!
So, Tenley said, “I’ll make you the perfect s’more, MIke!”
Here is the very rare photo of Mike eating a s’more, because when cuties like these guys make you something, you enjoy it, even if it’s not your thing
With the hot temps and the lack of hookups, we couldn’t bring the cats with us camping that weekend. So, they stayed with their grandparents… my mom and Ron. 🙂
The week before we went camping with Joe and Fam, we stayed inside my parents’ with the cats so they could get used to it with us. And let my parents get used to the bratties too.
This was their first time staying outside of the RV since we left Detroit, and they did well. Vlade loved having a whole house to sniff and look for trouble in… and new windows to gaze out of. Patsy wasn’t so sure, but found her spot in the bed we had stayed in and had lots of nap time.
My parents enjoyed the kitties there to entertain them!
Patsy hid for a while when we first brought her in, but not for too long, thankfully 
Vlade napping with stuffies 
My beautiful girl 
Keeping an eye on the neighborhood 
They made this their bed while we were there, and felt right at home
One night in Lebanon Dodge decided to stay the night with us. It was the beginning of the Perseid meteor shower so we sat out in our zero gravity chairs to watch. It was very disappointing ultimately… mom and I saw one shooting star.
Dodge got really sleepy, and fell right to sleep in the most uncomfortable position. Kids are weird.
Mike and I went to a park in Lebanon to enjoy some live music they have weekly during the summer.
My mom, daughter-in-law and I decided to have a ladies’ day. We got pedicures (this was about three weeks before my Portland pedicure…no, I do not usually do these high maintenance things, especially right in a row.. but I guess I was feeling fancy ;)), went to lunch, and did some shopping.
It was a great day and I am so happy we did it!
Some more random pix from Lebanon…
Joe is a helpful grandson, working on the car for his grandparents 
Ron took us on a drive up in the hills around Lebanon
I know I covered this in the last post, but again it was SO GREAT to get a full seven weeks to visit so many of the folks we love most. We really had a lot of fun and got to catch up more than usual (when we’re just there a week and rushing around to see everyone as much as we can).
We love you all, thanks for putting up with us!
I am so thankful that we got to spend so much time together. It was so much fun. Really loved that Patsy and Blade were at home here. 🐾 We loved it! Great memories. This blog is great!! Thanks for doing it!!
We are too. It was so great! And Patsy and Vlade loved getting to stay there.
Looks like you are enjoying your adventures!
We are! Thanks!