Here we GO again!

Finally, I am getting back into the swing... it's been quite a while since the last post, but decided to get started... many adventures have come and gone. I will highlight a few here...

After surviving St. Patty's Day (well, that WAS the last post) the Spring was rather quiet... we were basically working on the art studio, celebrating Brody's 3rd birthday and Cooper's 1st and getting ready for our big trip, 'out west'... a wonderful trip visiting family and friends along the way - thank goodness(!) or else we'd not had such great places to stay!

The studio, with 'a lot of help from our friends' has come along nicely and is almost finished. Michael has done a beautiful job on it.

Brody and Cooper continue to grow and become beautiful little people, both VERY much little boys, but also very sweet and cuddly!

I'll add PHOTOS as I write this.

Our driving trip, The West Coast Swing, began the 19th of August with a stay in Sonoma, CA for Caity Johnson's wedding...an incredible setting a such a lovely gathering! Afterwards, we headed north to Eugene, OR and visited the Markstroms...spending a couple of days out at the Pacific Coast watching the sun rise or set over the ocean and listening to the waves crash - we could even 'feel' them from our beach bungalow! We continued north to Portland having lunch with a friend, and then on to Seattle where we stayed for 4 great days with my nephew and niece... touring the town and visiting Vashon Island. They were very gracious hosts! While there, we also got see Michael's cousins and Uncle Vic - THAT was a fun couple of days... it was just so nice to spend time eating, visiting, eating, talking about 'old' times and new and not having to hurry away... we felt very lucky. The pace was perfect! Checking our AAA trip tick and directions from my nephew, we headed out early one morning to catch the ferry and drive on to Canada... we spent three days in Victoria (oh my, WHAT a beautiful area... we did not want to leave Buchart Gardens!)) and then drove on around the island(5 hours) to Ucluelet on the Pacific Coast and spent another 4 days there - more incredible scenery; ocean, boulders, boats, and walks through the rain forest...and as the song says, the beat goes on..... it just got better and better. Even though I caught a minor cold, I could not stop - there was just too much to do, to see, to experience... we had never walked through a rain forest before with the sun sifting through the trees and leaves to shine down onto the tiniest leaves and berries...dripping with beads of rain water.... and it wasn't 'raining'... amazing. My nephew was right - it is one of the most beautiful places, ever....

Leaving there, we next drove to catch the ferry to Vancouver, visiting Stanley Park and spending the night in a nice little place with a restaurant. It was only the second time that we had to stay in a 'regular' motel... the next morning, the rain had come, only the second time really.... but wasn't bad as we sat at the border to re-enter the US. The Peace Arch struck us as SO very important as we waited there. We felt very united; very connected, hoping that everyone might feel that need; for peace...

And the beat goes on, the dance of the drive continued, swinging south...

On into Washington again and over to Ephrata to visit the McGuffies, eating some great food, traveling to MORE breathtaking sights(ah, the Columbia River sights!) and enjoying even more good conversation.

We left Ephrata and traveled into ID, to Nampa, a little city near Boise. Once again, a fun and lively visit with the Flemings - they live on a mini farm with great mountains in the distance, horses and a brave dog, Coulee - for the dam, of course!

We had been on the road 3 1/2 weeks - it was time to head home.... but for one important stop...

We had started this fabulous trip in Las Vegas with the Wards and we intended to finish there as well. So, Tues., we left early for our longest drive yet - 12 hours! We were pooped, but got there, in time for dinner and wonderful hugs from Cooper before he went to bed... AND then we got to spend the WHOLE day with him on Weds... WHAT a very good way to finish up our West Coast Swing adventure!

After a 4 week, truly engaging, enjoyable trip, full of beauty, friendship, love, audio books AND car picnics, it was VERY nice to drive into our driveway and sleep in OUR bed, that night!