One Epically LONG roadtrip

We started out our biggest summer trip last Thursday when we dropped the dogs off at the boarder and headed out bright and early.  Our first planned stop was the waterslides in Redding and the boys were super jazzed when we got there.  We had a few pit stops along the way, including a side of the road potty stop complete with a buffalo sighting!  The two hour break at the water park was just what we needed to rally through the rest of the drive and finish up our day in Grant's Pass.  Uncle Sam joined us for dinner and the night (including swimming) and a delish breakfast the next day...note, yummy yelp reviewed food was a true staple of this road trip!  We headed out the next morning and went about 3 hours before coming to wild bird sanctuary of sorts which was a perfect one hour destination stop to stretch our legs.  The last leg of our driving journey that day ended when we arrived in Portland and unpacked for a few days.  The hotel wasn't quite what it appeared to be online, but it was perfect none the less.  We hit up a Nelson sister family party to celebrate Vince and Chelsea's upcoming wedding and then Daddy hit up the local steakhouse for what he claims was a phenominal dinner.  We played at the most awesome Children's Museum and enjoyed an authentically loving and intentional wedding with all of Daddy's extended Nelson family.  The boys loved exploring the woods and playing with second cousins they rarely see.  Apparently the weather was exceptionally warm while we were there, but Daddy and I are almost positive we could move to Portland tomorrow and be happy.  The next morning we headed out for part two of our vacation and enjoyed a VERY scenic trip across Oregon to Bend.  I am pretty sure I have NEVER seen that many trees in such a dense area, it blew my mind.  After a quick lunch stop at Spork, we were off to the Santopadres and SUNRIVER!!!!  First stop, the SHARC!  Sunriver did not disappoint this year and as nervous as Heather and I were about all of us sharing one house, it worked out perfectly and I think everyone had a blast...especially the mommies and daddies when we were able to kick back in the hot tub or play cards after bedtime!  We had some firsts this year including riding the ponies (only Wesley and Emmeline did it) and family rafting down the river.  We were the absolute two dead last boats to arrive, but with only one paddler (thanks dads!) we still managed to have a blast!  Wesley had a run in with the largest horse I've ever seen and he learned you can't feed grass to a huge horse with a closed fist.  Wyatt rode the train 8 times, we all played mini golf, and mommy left with a coveted hydro flask...Daddy even found time one morning to bike to the golf course and get a round in before we all went swimming.  We ended our stay with a family fishing trip at East Lake- I think Daddy was hoping it would be a little better fishing, but the littles had fun swimming in the ice cold water and Emmeline enjoyed reeling in five fish that day.  We made it home with only one stop in Dunsimar for dinner and tucked everyone in around 9:30 Thursday night!  We made it through leg two of the journey and with time for one quick round a dishes and laundry, we were back on the road at 10 am Friday morning!  We headed off to Carmel to hit up Dennis the Menace Park, the beach, and the aquarium.  I think we can all agree that the trip was a blast but everyone was slowly losing steam and kiddos trying to rally after a week and half on the road can lead to some meltdowns in restaurants or pools or parks....The Medinas joined us for our weekend away and watched our kiddos so we could celebrate Jerod and Courtney's wedding that my dad was officiating over and my uncle was DJing.  We got to hang with Mark and Katie and my parents and have a nice mommy and daddy date night.  Gigi and Papa met us at the aquarium the next day (what a nice break that is for me when they're around!!) and then we headed home....after 11 days of almost pain free driving, we sat in traffic for more than half our drive home.  I can only hope the garlic festival is actually that  great that people aren't disappointed after the drive!  After a dinner by In-N-Out and a reunion with our pups, we all headed to bed with happy hearts full of memories and bodies ready to sleep in our own beds! With seven weeks left until baby #3 comes, I think it's safe to say, we'll be staying close to home now...expect for our last little adventure to Yosemite next month, heaven help me now!