OurLittleMcFamily.com

The best way to dig out the root of a tree is by cutting off the branches first.
Unless you want the tree to fall on top of you!!!

Yay, for chainsaws!

Labor Day Weekend 2010 found us at Zion National Park on our very first backpacking trip–with the ninos. We have waited two years to be able to go, and the two littles are finally big enough to fit into backpacking packs. Each nino carried his or her own water, clothes, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. Each of them also helped to carry parts of the two tents, food, and cooking items. Actually, my pack was the lightest it has ever been due to this help. I am thinking this is totally the way to go! :)

Adam and I slipped out of our tent the next morning for a quiet sunrise together:

So we only went a whopping four miles round trip. But for the kids’ first time out, it was a huge success. We have The Grand Canyon’s North Rim on our October docket. We are going to try for five miles this time.

Need I say anything??? Totally AMAZING!

We are so glad we took this side trip on our way home from vacation. We have wanted to visit Yosemite for years. Our day trip drive-thru confirmed that we must go back and explore this American Gem for our next family vacation! The little speck of a rock in between our heads below is Half Dome. It was much more majestic in person.

On the way home we thought we would take the long way (not on purpose–teehee). We ended up in the middle of Nowhere Cali/Nevada. We climbed some amazing passes and found some amazing views, but we were a bit worried about our gas and bathroom needs. The roads were pretty windy for a few hours, and we were all feeling a little queezy. The craziest part of the drive was when we came to a one-lane road on the windy pass. That’s how narrow and curvy the roads were.

Good thing I have such amiable children, and an adventurous husband. They kept my annoyance at bay. :)

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma McCracken
Redding, CA
August 2010

We were met with a delicious dinner, delightful smiles, and crafts galore from grandma and grandpa. They were so excited for us to arrive, and we were so excited to finally be there. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the ninos and these particular greats. We will cherish this long awaited memory for a really long time.

Mt. Shasta

Such a pretty drive from Portland to Redding. It doesn’t get much prettier!

Farewell, lovely beach house. You served us well.I will not miss your four flights of stairs. I will not miss your drunken neighbors. I will not miss the sand in my clothes and shoes and hair.
But I WILL miss:
*Double Boggle! (the word game we made up during our trip…mind-blowing nerdy word snob game of champions, totally addicting)
*Walks on the beach!
*Adam totally unplugged for a week! (well, mostly)
*Bonfires galore!
*Games until 1:00 a.m.!
*Midnight runs for ice cream!
*Funland!
*The Outlet Mall!
*Family and cousins and all around fun!

Here’s what the kids think about our trip:

Day hike to Cape Falcon.

Super troopers, all the way to the end. And check out that view!!!

I will always be in love with the Oregon Coast. There is nothing like it. The kids also did a lot of biking with their daddy while on vacation.

My favorite childhood memories lay along Broadway Street and the Promenade, in Seaside. It is the best little beach town!

Bumper Cars and Tilt-o-Whirls:

The Arcade and Ice Cream Shops:

And we can’t forget Pig-n-Pancake:

The ninos started building their own little traditions and memories in the same little town, on the same little street. Mucho Joy!

While staying in Seaside, we took a day trip to Tillamook, OR for the “cheese tour.”

The drive had spectacular views:

There were cows and cheese aplenty:

And the ice cream was to die for:

Actually, Tillamook ice cream is my most favorite ice cream on the planet.
And the cheese is my family’s favorite–although I (the cheese hater) would know nothing about that.

Here’s the caravan of cars, bike racks and all, as we headed to Seaside, OR.
Our beach house was only steps from the water.

Adam and Papa Penning broke out the kites within an hour of arriving.

I think there was a total of 10 kites up at one time, all from our band of littles.
A great beginning to a great week at the beach.
FAMILY VACATION 2010