Family Vacation Day 3

Friday, August 13, 2010
Dear Max,
Today we spent the morning in McMinnville. They have opened a large aerospace museum that is the new home to the spruce goose. We ate our blue and blackberries for breakfast and then headed out to the museum.

Our family took over the breakfast "nook" at the hotel.

I must say that the Evergreen Aerospace Museum was one of the most enjoyable museums I have been to. It is 3 huge buildings and it is not over crowded, it really felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, yet their were lots of people there. Lot's of great activities for the kids, yet plenty for the adults. We also got to see the Hubble movie in 3D. It was amazing.

The boys with the museum "golf cart"

Daddy and Max on the "hover craft simulator"

You think your such a big kid. It's funny, you always call Natalie, Baby Natalie, we are always reminding you that your only 5 months older.

Daniel in his own airplane

Natalie behind the wheel of the helicopter

Daddy trying to operate the flight simulator.

This is Max heaven! Lot's of buttons to push.

Our family with the astronauts

Riding the airplane ride. You loved it. You are such a big boy! It is crazy to think that you could be all by yourself on this ride. Mommy and Daddy behind the gate while you went up and down and all around.

Natalie hopped in for a ride for a bit, but she didn't last long. Flight is not her friend.

Out she goes!

Then if this museum wasn't cool enough - they even had a playground! Of course you were in heaven on the swings


Your swing partner, Natalie


Now, this is who should normally fit into the slide...

Not this! That's right, Uncle Geary went down the twisty tube slide. I was sure we were going to have to call the jaws of life to get him out. I was impressed he made it!

After the museum we drove to Amity, we visited a monastery there, where the monks make fudge. Yup, you heard me right. We went to Amity for Monk Chocolate. As we drove on the grounds their was a sign that asked that we respect their vow of silence. That is when we made the decision to keep you kiddos in the car and the adults would trade off turns going in for some fudge.

I snuck this picture while I was waiting in the car with you kiddo's.

Some of the grounds

Very peaceful and beautiful. And the fudge was great too!
You never know what your going to find in backwoods Oregon!

We then started on our little drive out to Lincoln City, Oregon. That is where we are staying the night. On our drive, we saw amazing countryside, including lots of Christmas tree farms and vineyards, it was gorgeous!

Christmas Tree Farm

The country side of Oregon

We arrived in Lincoln City, one of my favorite places. Our hotel was amazing. Right on the beach, and I mean that literally. Look at the view from our balcony.

Papa with the grand kids

Look - this is the view standing on the sand. See Grammie standing on the balcony. We had the two rooms on the right. It was so amazing. We figured that no restaurant could give us a view half as decent as what we could get here, so we spent our evening roaming the beach, watching the sunset and then getting take out from our favorite seaside restaurant Mo's. The best clam chowder! And who knew... you love clam chowder. I swear you have such an advanced pallet.

That is one happy Papa...The view, the grand kids. What more could a Papa ask for?

You taking in the view from the balcony

Uncle Geary and Daniel

Mommy, Max and Daddy putting our feet in the pacific.

Daniel and Uncle Geary doing experiments in the sand

Our family on Lincoln City Beach

You and Papa sharing a laugh

Look at Daniels beach chair made out of sand... so cool!

Natalie enjoying the sunset

This is the good life, freshly bathed, jammies and a bottle watching the sunset. This stuff only happens in the movie's!

So beautiful!

Good Bye Sun! We will see you in the morning!

Family Vacation Day 1 and 2

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 & Thursday, August 12, 2010
Dear Max,
Wow, what a week it has been! We just returned from our family vacation to Oregon. I will admit, I was pulling for Hawaii or Alaska, but after our trip, I'm so glad we went to Oregon. It was so beautiful and the perfect retreat from the heat back home. Here is a run down of our vacation....

Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Today we flew into Portland, Oregon. It's never good to start off your trip with a 2 and 1/2 hour delay, but at least we were together. Aunt Jali, Uncle Geary, Daniel and Natalie had met up with Papa, Grammie, Daddy you and I so all 9 of us got to wait together in the airport for our flight. The good thing about having a late flight, all the babies slept! We arrived late to our hotel, and were glad that we had chose to stay the Airport Embassy Suite, we were literally 3 minutes from our hotel.

Thursday, August 12, 2010
We woke up and enjoyed the full breakfast that embassy suites offers, one of my favorite things about staying at embassy's. We then headed into down town Portland for our city tour. Now in true Page fashion we didn't do just any city tour. We took our city tour by jet boat! In my opinion, the only way to go. By the end of the 3 hour jet boat ride, even you could say clearly... Hang on, Hang on, Hang on! We got to see the city and learn about the culture while having a crazy ride down the river doing 360's, how great is that! Oh and we put Gramie and Papa on the ends so they got soaked and we stayed relatively dry.

The kids watching morning cartoons while we get ready for our day

One of my favorite places, these homes were built literally on the water.

Papa enjoying the scenery

Portland

Max and Mommy

We went up to Willamette Falls

And even went into the lock system

After out tour of Portland we headed down to Sherwood, OR to see our dear friend Elder Jaden Cox, who is currently serving a mission in Oregon. Sherwood was only about 20 minutes outside of Portland. It was so perfect, he and his companion had taken a split p-day so they could spend some time with us. We met them at their apartment and decided to head out for some dinner at the outback. The outback didn't open until 4, so we swung into McDonalds and let the kids eat, so when we got to the outback we put all the kids at one end of the table, with the DVD player playing cars and all the adults at the other end. It was perfect, you were all fed, so you weren't hungry and the movie kept you all captivated for an hour so we could visit and get caught up. Elder Cox is doing so well. He couldn't believe how big you had gotten. I told him that when he gets home you will suddenly say, so this is Elder Cox that I pray for each night. After dinner we went to one of the members home that has this huge blueberry orchard, they let us go and pick blueberries. Which Uncle Geary was THRILLED about. Uncle Geary served his mission in Oregon and that is one thing he remembers is how much he loved eating fresh blue and blackberries. It was really funny, we were taking our time picking the berries and visiting, suddenly Papa comes around the corner and asks, how is your picking going? And holds up his gallon zip lock bag that is chucked full. You couldn't even fill a snack size zip lock with what I had collected! It was a great laugh and a lot of fun hanging out in the orchard.

Papa, Mommy, Elder Cox, Daddy, Natalie, Aunt Jali, Uncle Geary and Elder Wilde
not pictured and asleep in the van: you, Daniel and Grammie

Papa with his HUGE bag of blueberries

Daddy was really getting into it!

Uncle Geary, Aunt Jali and Mommy

Mommy with Elder Cox. So good to see him!

We then headed into McMinnville for the night. Now this is an interesting town... we stayed in a clean but "seedy" hotel. Not a lot of options here. Can't wait to tell you about more adventures tomorrow.

Joy

Thursday, August 5, 2010
Dear Max,
Joy is driving home from work and spotting your daddy's truck up ahead. As I caught up with daddy I noticed that he had already picked you up from school. You ask why I noticed? I saw him playing peek a boo with you at the stop light. Now that is pure joy! Seeing the loves of your life enjoying a simple moment while driving home from work and school. I'm a lucky mommy and wife!

Back up to St. George

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Dear Max,

Just one week later and we are back up in St. George. We went up Friday night, arrived late, but worth the drive so we could spend some extra time with family on Saturday. Saturday morning we went to visit Grandma Trenholm. You love spending time with Grandma Trenholm, she always has a treat or stuffed animal she has been saving for you. She is always thinking of you. She loves to hear you sing songs and just watch you run and giggle. You love all the gadgets that you can touch and play with. Not always the best activity!

Grandma Trenholm giving the doggie kisses


Max with Grandma Trenholm


Laughing with Grandma Trenholm

After visiting with Grandma Trenholm we headed up to Pine Valley for Kamryn Leavitts birthday party. We made a quick stop at the Pine Valley cemetery where my Grandma and Grandpa Snow are buried. This is the first time you have been to their graveside. I love telling you stories about your Grandma and Grandpa Snow. I'm positive all your silly faces are a direct result from hanging out with Grandpa Snow in heaven, and your sweet and mischievous smile, yeah that's definitely from Grandma Snow. I love having such strong heritage and so glad that you get to carry that heritage on. We have a pioneer spirit about us thanks to our sturdy stock!

Our Family


Max

At the party you chose to hang out with the wise, young spirited men. I have a feeling I know why you are drawn to them, you are one at heart for certain. It is so interesting to me.


Max, Papa and Papa Rogers



Sitting on the porch enjoying some lemon aide


You did love all the open space to run and play, once we taught you how to jump over the ditch instead of tripping on it every time you when by. I must say you are a quick learner, once taught.


Leaving the party with you two besties. Max, you are an amazing little boy! Let's be honest, you just got two grown men to hold hands with you! They love you so much.


You are wise Max, these two Papa's could teach you all you would need to know in the world. At least 90%, maybe your daddy and I along with all the others that love you could make up the rest. That's how amazing these two men are! You are very lucky.