Vancouver Vacation

We went to my hometown Vancouver, Washington to visit my parents for our vacation this summer!

It has been a couple of years since we had been there, so it was time.

I also had a 20 year high school reunion . . . which I was really nervous about . . . 

It takes us about 12 hours to drive there from our home in Utah.

We just drove it all in one day.  I've decided I prefer to just have one "bad day".

We drove in on a Saturday.  So Sunday, we went to church with my parents who still live in the same ward as they did while I was growing up.  The ward isn't the same anymore since boundaries have changed, people move . . . a lot happens in 20 years.  But it was fun to see a few familiar faces.

There are a few things that I like to do every time we come.  

One of them is to visit Multnomah Falls.

It is a hike that is not too hard for the kids, but then still has a beautiful payoff at the end.

After hiking, we always go to Cascade Locks to eat the flavor burst ice cream cones from the Eastwind Drive.  This time, after eating our cones, we hung out for a little while at Marine Park which is near there.  Such nice weather and the kids had a great time.


Ben and I were married in August . . . 15 years ago!

We were on this vacation over our anniversary.  

So on our anniversary, we took Abby over to the Portland Temple to do baptisms.

And then Ben and I did a few sealings.

My mom brought the other kids to meet us there when we were done.

It was so fun to walk out of the temple, and see our kids, and be able to walk around with them.

We showed them around the grounds and took them to the Visitor's Center as well.

My parents completed the day with a salmon dinner and special anniversary cake . . . which I should have gotten a picture of.  Actually, I think Ben has one that I can add later :)

Our next adventure was Seaside, Oregon!

I love the coast.

And the day went, the weather was perfect.

It was hot enough for the kids to want to swim and play in the sand.

We flew kites and had a picnic. 

It was one of those "perfect" days.

At first I was planning on renting what I call a "sand bike".  

I actually don't know what they are really called, but they are those low seated, three wheeled bikes.

But then the girls saw these bikes that the whole family could fit on at the same time.

So we ended up in one of these!

Ummm, it was more of a workout than Ben and I thought it would be.

More for Ben than me.  Sometimes I didn't have to pedal because the kids wanted to :)

There are a lot of hills . . . 

But so much fun.

We ate salt water taffy while we were riding around, and then once we were done went to get an "elephant ear" . . . which I highly recommend.

We visited OMSI this year.  

Gwen and Austin had no recollection of visiting it in past years.

It was awesome.

We ran from Washington to Oregon!

My dad, me, Halle and Gwen ran across the I-205 bridge that goes across the Columbia River.

It was awesome.

Ben met Halle and Gwen on the Oregon side so that they wouldn't have to run back too :)

My dad and I ran the whole thing :)

And then to the event that had me nervous all week!

My 20 year high school reunion.

I am not sure why I was nervous. 

 I either was going to see people I knew or I wasn't.

It turned out to be really fun!

I remembered a lot more people than I thought I would.  (name tags help)

And I ended up staying much longer than the 1 hour rule I gave to myself :)

There are many people that I really wish would have been there, but it was still fun and interesting to see people from my past and talk to them about what they are doing now. 

It was funny to find that with some people that I talked with at the reunion . . . THAT conversation turned out to be the longest conversation I had ever had with that person.  

Overall . . . a good experience and I'm glad I went :)

And then it was time to go home:(

Summer is officially over.