Vacation Part II - Chelan

Chelan was the second half of our 11 day vacation in August. This is now the third summer that the Western boys & their families gather together. It varies who can make it year to year & this was our first time at Robin's (Chris' wonderful new wife) family cabin right on Lake Chelan. It was great to be right on the lake! This year we had 5 families with a total of 10 adults & 6 kids.

We were in or around the water all day, every day!

Definitely the cutest kids on the lake.

We had one really bad night when these came through...

But fortunately Chris & Robin were equipped with a dozen different coffees for us to try, with Robin choosing the coffee for her family's new hotel in Leavenworth. Much hilarity over the taste tests ensued, but we like to think we helped pick the best coffee.

Amidst it all, we got some time to relax too -- sitting on the porch in the evenings, watching the sunset, telling stories & laughing. The ladies even went wine tasting at a winery just up the road. We had a lovely afternoon sitting in the sunshine, sipping wine & visiting. I really enjoyed this time we had to connect as friends, without our husbands or kids.

We're already looking forward to next summer's weekend with this fantastic crew!

Vacation Part I - Bend

Seven days in Bend, Oregon.

Spectacular scenery & awesome bike rides.

Blake's first time at Phil's Trailhead!

 Cameron mountain biked for the first time -- he did so great!

Relaxing, playing, eating, hiking with wonderful friends.

Bend Brew Fest & lots of local breweries.
Levi completed the Bend Trail of Ales -- visiting 10 breweries.
Favorites: Crux & Good Times.

Good times.

We're back!

The bags are unpacked, bikes & gear all back in the garage, & most of the laundry is done. We were gone for 11 days -- a week in Bend & 4 days on the shores of Lake Chelan. I just read an article about traveling with kids. "With little kids, you take trips, not vacations." While I totally understand that now, I think we did pretty well -- we each got in good mountain biking, time with friends, & even perhaps a little relaxing (after Blake was in bed). Of course, it only gets more chaotic from here, as the little man gets older.

This week back has been busy, catching up & my work steadily getting busier with the high season in this biz quickly approaching. Every week brings reoccurring realizations of how hard it is to work full time, raise a child, keep a household, & squeeze in time to maintain/nurture myself & my relationships. And I have a flexible work schedule & a wonderful grandma-nanny who comes to my house! Suffice to say, there are breakdown moments, & each one brings new respect & awe (& disbelief) for my friends, family & the millions of other women (& their families) who struggle every day to get everything done & still retain their sanity.

In the chaos, let's not forget to reach out & support one another. I am so incredibly thankful for the people in my life who support me with early morning runs & afternoon bike rides, coffee chats & dinner dates, babysitting & play dates, kitchen cleaning & garden maintenance, quick visits & bouldering sessions, & so many other ways.

And especially for my husband, who gets to live with me & my breakdowns, & constantly provides support & solutions, even when I think I don't want them.

34/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

33/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Tired

Someone has been rising early & not napping well.

Which results in this...

 Thankfully, we have kitties to provide distraction.

Bawling to smiling in 30 seconds, with just the flick of an orange tail.

 

Weekend

Happy for a weekend at home, we did some visiting, tamed the garden jungle, took turns mountain biking, went to church & did some cleaning. But we know you're all really here to see what Blake did...

He got acquainted with Uncle Travi & met a bunch of the Selland family (7 of the 13 kids from his generation!). He also checked if mom's mountain bike was too big (it is) & hung out with Calvin while mom & dad did some work.

 Hope you all had a great weekend!

Around here...

Everything is a car, to be pushed around the whole house.

 And we love practicing to walk!

Loon Lake

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."