Oregon

We took the family to Oregon to visit my dad. He can't travel due to his late stage Parkinsons and he has never seen the boys or Madison. So we packed up and flew out there. Although I dreaded the thought of all of the kids on an airplane, they did fairly well. Everytime I go to Oregon, I realize how much I miss it!! I LOVE Oregon. It is SO beautiful!! LOVE the mountains, LOVE the trees, etc....it was good to be back for a little while.  I am so thankful we were able to go and see my dad and spend so much time with him!

Rainy, foggy, morning in Portland. (typical winter morning which soon turned to sunshine!)

yep, were in Oregon!

took a quick stop at Oregon State University. GO BEAVS!!

driving down to Medford. Isn't it beautiful?!?

LOVE all the moutains and valleys!

approaching Medford

that is Jaylynn (cousin) eating ice cream in dad's room

Madison, meeting her grandpa. She was so sweet. She would walk next to the wheelchair holding his hand.



we had all 4 kids sleeping in the same room. They did ok, but the first one awake would wake up the other 3. This is how I found Madison one morning. The girl really needs to be in gymnastics!



One day we went out to the ranch. (aunt and uncle live there. As a child my dad lived there for a short time also). This is the road (almost like a really long driveway) to the ranch.

The ranch.

The kids loved it! Ellie said she wanted to live there. Now that is a girl after my own heart!!

Madison was fascinated by the horses.

Feeding the horses. Connor loved it, Zander was scared to death. It was funny, whatever Connor liked Zander didn't and vice versa. They are total opposites! :)

Zander refused to be put down.

Madison going in for a closer look.

Connor was terrified of this and refused to ride in it. The other kids loved it.

Madison insisted on driving :)



The kids ran and ran and rolled around. They LOVED it!



There was a playground across the street from my dad's so we took dad out and he got to watch the kids playing. He really enjoyed seeing them interact on the playground. Their faces tell how much fun they had!

All the kids gathered around grandpa.

One afternoon, we went out to a cousin's ranch. They have lots of cows and horses (and 4 big dogs) Yep, that was Zander's worst nightmare come true :) However the other kids had so much fun. Connor is throwing food at the cows.

Madison was fascinated by all the big animals.

Zander wanted to be with his brother and sisters (maybe to get away from the dogs :)) but everytime a cow would move he would start screaming.

Love Connor's face
 (i didn't realize that the camera was on the wrong setting at the time :( so some photos are really washed out)

Zander is watching them to make sure they keep their distance :)

Madison wanted to feed them.

One of the cows started moving. I think the picture says it all.

And, of course, a visit is not complete until a climb up the hay pile.
It was pretty high. I am actually standing on a level of hay myself.

I think Zander liked it-no cows, horses, or dogs up there :)