There and back again

As much as I would like to hit the pause button on these long days of peach picking and late afternoon napping, time simply refuses to cooperate.  With only weeks to go until reality officially rears its unwelcomed head I need to record all the ins and outs of the past few months.  June went by in a blur and Ben's family filled up many of our July weeks.  Here's the long and short of it.
When they arrived the first order of business was to acquire proper transportation.

Hello Megavan

Then we decided to tour some of the natural wonders of Portland such as Mount Hood and Ben and Jerry's

 Once we felt we had sufficiently maxed out on beauty and calories we made a beeline for Redding where the important business of making it to In-N-Out prevailed over all rational decisions and posted speed limits.

 After picking up the rest of our brood we spent the remainder of our vacation arguing over why every minute couldn't be spent at the pool.  Not that I blame them.  Especially with a rockin daddy who picks up the slack while mama naps poolside.

 Choices...choices.  After weeks in hotels I think my kids were a little confused over how to open a box of cereal and why once opened it looked nothing like the rainbow of artificial coloring they had consumed for the past 18 mornings.  I simply opened my eyes, realized there were not well dressed staff tending to my every need and went back to bed.  

The conditions were pretty rough

 Life with all girl cousins

 The ferry to San Francisco was definitely a highlight.  I just wish that after eight visits to such an amazing city that I could manage to get beyond the touristy strip.  Someday San Francisco!  Cool restaurants, Golden Gate park, exploratorium, Heath pottery classes...I am coming for you.

 Man that boy can make you smile  He is joy on two skinny legs.

 We didn't actually ride the trolley but we faked it really well

 My two live for these reunited moments all year

 Fancied up and ready to party

 Celebrating 102 years with her great grandkids...so glad great is naturally in the title since they spent the rest of the afternoon nailing the sweet chinese church kids at an impromptu game of dodgeball...
in the sanctuary.

 Dreaming of one last hit

Goodbye San Francisco

 We opted out of Disneyland this year for a trip to the historic redwoods.  I've got to admit that I thought it might be a little lame.  I mean really, they're trees.  We've all seen the pictures of the 30 people wrapped around one.  But there are no words for the beauty there.  You just have to see it to believe it.  Every single one is like a story with all these ins and outs and surprises.  These five kids have seen some pretty impressive nature in their short lifetimes and they were awestruck.

 Then we shacked up at the fanciest beach motel we could find which also happened to be a casino.  It had a fantastic sunset view and a wonky shower complete with a two foot high shower head and a large plastic loveseat.  So we either got the room designed for the eighty or four year olds.  Either way the kids were thrilled.  I found it a little strange to have to sit on the floor to wash my hair but the gift shop was stocked with wolf shirts and indian whistles so I figured it was a win win.

we love tidepools

 And look who came home with us!
Amarie:  "Mommy dere's a human in my potet (pocket)!"
Jennie:  "Ok honey."
Amarie: "Is movin on me!"
Jennie:  "Ok, honey."
Amarie:  "Yook!  I call him Dorge (George)."
Turned out to be a hermit crab that had made the journey from the coast to our driveway.  We tried to keep him alive but apparently they don't like to live in plastic cups with no salt water.  I'm guessing the constant harassment didn't help either.

 And after a few days at Chez Hsieh we ventured north to Seattle for some sights and a little celebrating.

Somehow our 5 kids became 10 which necessitated each and every technological device to complete a meal

 I was happy to sneak off with my three to see the beautiful architecture at the Seattle public library.  We could have stayed there all day.  Happy place times four.

Gotta do it

Celebrating Jennie's 40th birthday with amazing Thai food.  So good.  I am still dreaming about this chicken dish that was wrapped up in some kind of husk.  I would drive up to Seattle just for that chicken.  Ok back to the birthday.  She was totally surprised and giggled like the 13 year old that she looks like she is.  Does that make sense?  It's late.  She is such an awesome bonus sister and I am thankful to have her in my corner, especially when it comes to the joys and woes of marrying Hsieh men.  Bears season anyone?

And finally one last shot of the littles who's preschool humor made us laugh every day of our wild journey.  

Another year of memorable travels.  Did I mention next summer we're going to China? 

Dun! Dun! Duuuun!

Rookies

We seem to be having a hard time finding our Independence Day rhythm these past few years.  Growing up our family went to New York for weeks on end and celebrated the 4th on the 3rd with fireworks, a beach full of cousins, s'mores, sparklers, half drunk cans of soda, angry grandparents swearing about said half drunk cans of soda, and a ring of fire around the lake.  It was just what we did.  No decisions had to be made or flags bought.  Now we wake up at home or in California or in Chicago and never seem to know what to do.  Neighborhood kids walk by with red, white and blue hair accessories and I'm like, "Man I thought we had a red ponytail holder in here somewhere!  Just wear something festive honey."
All we have are a few random strings of patriotism to our credit.  There was the year my Dad wrote out liturgy in five parts, the year we went to the parade and left halfway through because it was hot, the year we decided to fly back home and told the kids, "nobody gets to see fireworks from this far up!"....including us as it turned out, and lately the year where we buy fireworks at 4 pm and are in bed by 9.  Maybe I should come up with a theme and invite people over but dang it we need some good old fashioned traditions around here.  I don't care if its baking lasagna and singing the national anthem.  Just something.  Otherwise our kids are going to grow up saying, "I don't think my parents celebrate the 4th of July.  I kind of remember sitting on a lawn chair in our driveway....uhhhh."
Something has to be done.

She's totally on to our lameness.

 The entertainment

 He brought out his C.A. suit unprompted, making our neighbors believe we were at least a little prepared

 Even superheros need a snuggle

The big finale...

I'm not joking

volcano alley

One of our summer goals was to take advantage of some of the beautiful hikes near our house.  Our kiddos are finally getting old enough to log a few more miles on the trail and our expert in- house researcher knows how to navigate us to the lesser known destinations.  Read:  After entering the forest, drive two miles down an unmarked gravel road and park after the second pothole just past the tree with six branches pointing east.  

 We actually encountered neither salmon or huckleberrys but dang its a cute sign.

 The backpack was only necessary for about one mile.  We are sooooo close to having two independent hikers. 

 Tia is a trooper on our slow paced adventures...and she even found owl pellets!

Little man needed lots of encouragement (let's count to 100!, let's sing Down By The Bay (a thousand times), let's play I Spy!, etc. etc. etc., go see if you can catch up to Daddy!) 

 Sisters

 contemplating the beauty

 I could have photographed these two all day

 Gettin fancy with the bokeh

 Mountain warrier

 Mt. Jefferson

 and Helens peeked through the clouds

The pictures don't really capture the awe of climbing out of the woods and into the mountaintops but man, these views are my love language.  Like a fairy's door hinged to the King's grandest gate... a simple reminder that I am His.   

Color Monday

We got so lucky to hit the kite festival, and a surprise appearance by the sunshine at our beach trip with the girlies.  A break from routine, some time to explore my creative side, and 360 degrees of beauty made for the perfect day.

getaway

The girls managed to sneak off for a few days to celebrate Miss Christy's birthday.  The weather was cool and cloudy but the fireplace was cozy and the pool was open until midnight and the only item on the agenda was to make one special auntie feel loved.

 Sending us off with a group shot

 Carbo loading at the Otis cafe

 It didn't take mom long to find her happy place

 Hunting for treasure at low tide

 love... 

 times two

classic

 hot tub laugh track while playing truth or dare

Ava: Dare

Mama: Oh I've got a good one.  You have to go potty in the boys bathroom.

Ava:  No! I would get in trouble.

Mama:  No you wouldn't.  It would just be embarrassing.

Ava:  Yeah...they would think I couldn't read.

 sun break selfie

Cutie and the kite

I think I took over fifty pictures of kites.  Oh don't worry there will be a post devoted just to their beautiful colors.  Somewhere between slow fresh food cooking and lounging in the porch swing, random pics have topped my list of summer favorites. 

Here's to birthdays and beach days and awesome sisters!  

*Clink*