Simply the BEST!

Simply put...Summer is the best time of year.  It is a full 2 months that I get to spend with my sweet son and wonderful hubby.  It's a time to be with family and friends...the joy of life!  It's a time we can relax and just be.  And yet, even though I have more free time I have been lacking on the blog time!  So this blog entry is going to SLAM you with pictures!  ENJOY!

For the 4th of July we were able to spend the entire week at my parent's house.  Dalton loved spending time with Grammy and Poppi, along with Auntie Niki, Uncle Greg, and Kellyn.  My dad had recently finished making a bocce ball court in the front yard.  It looks great!  The surface is authentic, made of crushed shells.  Dad is constantly grooming it to create the perfect playing field.  Lots of family fun!  Kellyn and Dalton enjoyed the fun, playing with us and playing with the hose. Dalton was so excited to spray his auntie!

 We attended our first High Sierra Music Festival, with Annika, Greg and Kellyn, which was surprisingly family friendly and very enjoyable.  (Of course we only were there for a few hours and there is NO way I would be camping there for the weekend!)  Yes, there was a fair share of "interesting" people, but there was also quite a few "normal" people too!  We LOVED listening to Rebelution, a great reggae group from Santa Barbara.  Dalton spent the evening enjoying the music and dancing around.  In fact he didn't want to leave at 9:30 pm, he was still dancing!

It wouldn't be the 4th of July if we didn't go to the Meadow Valley parade!  Last minute, Dad decided to enter with his spiffed up 4 wheeler.  Kellyn didn't have a choice!:)  Travis, Mom, Dalton and I biked to the Manchester's house to enjoy the parade from their lawn with neighbors and friends.  Dalton enjoyed the parade but was NOT so thrilled with the noise at times so Trav comforted him.  The lollipops thrown to the kiddies did the trick!

A highlight of the trip for Travis was a hike with my dad up to Dad's grandfather's cabin site above Rich Bar, down the Feather River Canyon.  They hiked in 90+ degree heat up the mountain.  In the 1960s the Forest Service demanded that my great grandfather tear down his home, which was a nice 4 bedroom, 2 bath house he built himself...SUCH A SHAME!  It sure would be an interesting historical place if they had left it alone.  Today, the only remaining evidence of his house is the beautiful rock chimney.  My dad has some wonderful memories and stories to share about spending time at his grandpa's place. 

Here's some photos of what the house looked like...

By the end of the week, Dalton still didn't want to go...In fact the morning we were about to leave he walked over to the side of the house, where the fence is to the MV Post Office, and said "I don't want to leave...I want to get the mail."  He also just can't get enough of the shopping cart, which my sister and I played with when we were his age.

 With kisses and hugs from Grammy and Poppi we had to head home, but will visit soon!

 A couple week's later my awesome neice, Kellyn came to visit, one of my favorite times of summer!  It is such a special time for all of us!  I get to take her school clothes shopping which is always such fun for the two of us!  We spend time swimming and have made it a tradition to go to Santa Cruz every summer with her too. 

 During the week it was the Tour de France, like father, like son is all I have to say!

 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk fun!  A favorite always is riding the beautiful carousel.

 Like mother, like son...Eat the chocolate!

After a wonderful week together, Kellyn went back home and we hit the road for a roadtrip to Oregon! 

On our way, we stopped at Crater Lake...

and stayed at a small mountain lake, Lake Odell, OR.  Then it was off to The Dalles, OR to visit Elena, Dave and Maisie Bandel Ramirez!  We relaxed the first day and were so happy to be there!  The next day, our other dear friends, Melissa, Matt and their kiddos, Finn and baby Penelope arrived!  We all had such fun together and made wonderful memories.  We went to the river and soaked up the sun.  Dalton for whatever reason did NOT want to walk on the sand...weirdo!  But had a blast anyway...as Elena and Maisie cozied up.

 Penelope Harris...seriously one of the best babies I have met!  She is such a happy baby!  Course I am sure her parents have a lot to do with that too!:)

 Danno, the dog, Travis, Dalton, Dave, Finn, Maisie and Melissa on the riverbank.

 Finn and Matt having fun building a castle.

 Dalton considering if he wants to join in.

Dalton chowing down on lunch.  He ate a whole sandwich! and was keeping a close eye on the pretzels.

 Maisie and Dalton...two great pals!

 Matt and Dave shoot the breeze

 Dalton discovers that Penelope is a real baby! 

 Oooohhh...her toes!

 Dalton loving Penelope...very gently.

 "I touched her face!"

 Melissa and Finn bury Maisie!

 The expression says it all!  I LOVE Finn...he is such fun and so spunky!

  The gang enjoying the sun and shade.

 The Columbia River

 One happy kiddo!

 Travis trying to lure Dalton into the water.

 Mr. Serious

 Mr. Silly

  Another day we went to the pool to play.  The kids again had a blast!

 The happy Harris Family

 Kisses!

 Snacks anyone?!?

 Peaceful Penelope

After naps we headed to the fair outside of Hood River.  A highlight...the tasty Mexican food.  To top that off, watching Finn and Dalton play with the sheep and goats!  They were egging each other on, talking to the goats, and hugging each other.  What great buddies!  Only wish we could have playdates like that all the time!

 "You touch him!"
"No! You touch him!"  Pretty sure that's the conversation Dalton and Finn were having amongst all their giggles and squeals!

 "Ok...I'm gonna touch the sheep!"

The last morning we walked downtown to get some grub and headed over to enjoy the Farmer's Market.  The boys enjoyed the playground, despite the heat, while Elena and Dave played.

Before we knew it we had to hit the road:( BUT we had the most amazing vacation and feel so blessed to have such awesome friends! 
MORE PHOTOS from our trip to Oregon off of Trav's camera will be posted soon:)  Bye for now!

We are off to visit my parents this week and looking forward to more fun and taking advantage of every last minute of summer vacation!