Brynlee and I got to fly back to the mainland for two reunions in August. Everyone would have come except the first reunion started on my girls 1st day of school. If it had been any other week, I would have probably had them miss, but I didn't want them to have to be new kids twice in one year.
I was going to rent a car, but my mom had a better plan. She met us in Seattle and drove us down to Portland. We got to hang out with her extra time-it was so great! Thank you, Mom! I didn't take any pictures though. :(
The reunion began in Portland at the fabulous Jensen House. I spent 1st-3rd grade in Portland while my dad was in chiropractic school and that is when we met the Jensen Family. Since we had moved away from all of our family, we quickly adopted them. They were much too young to be adopted grandparents, so we decided they could be our Aunt and Uncle. (I still refer to them as Aunt Judie and Uncle Norm.) I have so many fun childhood memories with them-and lucky for me, some great ones in adulthood too.
Unfortunately, our camera batteries were dead and I was too lazy to go buy more so I didn't take any pictures with my camera. :( Fortunately I was able to pirate some pictures that Melinda posted on her blog so I at least have a few pictures to document the trip. So any Joneses (or Bowmans) that have reunion pictures I could have-I'd love for you to email them to me. Until then, this is all I have.
We started out on the Oregon coast at a KOA campground by Fort Stevens. It was perfect! The weather was awesome-not hot or rainy. Yay! The Jensen's let Brynlee and me camp out with them in their trailer (THANK YOU!). We had a blast!
The only downside to the reunion was that Mike and the girls had to miss it. Everything we did, I wished they were there and thought about how much they would have loved whatever we were doing. Next time I think the reunion will be earlier in the summer so the whole family can come.
There are tons of bike trails so we were able to explore all over and ride down to the beach. Dale and Melinda have a training tandom bike attachment for Caloway and he requested that I ride with him. It takes some getting used to with 35-40lbs trailing behind. That was my first time riding a bike like that so we were pretty wobbly to being with. On the ride home, the final stretch was a big hill before crossing the street into the campground. By big I mean-needing to stand and pump like crazy even without extra weight in the back. So, I can barely breathe and in between breaths am encouraging Cal to pump his legs and help me. From the back I hear, "Aunt Trina, do you like red?" My response, "Yeah, (pant pant) red's great! (pant pant) Now pump your legs!" It was pretty funny! I just love him to pieces!
Grandpa, Bryn and Jake. I must say although it is the same ocean, the beaches are MUCH different than the ones I'm used to now! No swim suits for us!
Me n' Bryn - she's been a real mama's girl (at home) and so taking her to (I hate to say it) strangers didn't help that. She was pretty sad anytime anyone else tried to hold her for about 3 days. Not only was it exhausting being the only one she wanted, but it made me really sad that my family is strangers to her. I wasn't worried about Whitney and Kenna forgetting people, but it makes me sad to think it will be a few years before Bryn really knows our families.
Dale and Melinda moved to Idaho when Cal was only 6 months old and so we really got to share him. I LOVED it! Cal and I have a special relationship. We were so excited when I was prego with Bryn that now we would be able to share her too. There was a lot of family craziness when Bryn was born that didn't allow Melinda to be over to our house much and then we moved to Hawaii. So the sharing plan was foiled. Melinda spent a lot of time getting her fill of Bryn time. (And giving me a break! Thanks!)
The KOA had some playgrounds and Bryn LOVED the swings! I love that what little hair she does have is blowing in the wind-straight up! Camping with an almost walker is tricky-she didn't want to be held all the time, but I didn't want her to be down crawling around in the dirt.
Savanna and I spent a lot of time together at both reunions. On the way from Portland to the coast, she came with Grandma, Bryn and me so we could look for a baptism dress pattern and material. She was a trooper keeping Bryn entertained. She was an awesome helper with Bryn the whole week. It was fun to get to spend so much time with her.
One of the days, all the girls went to the outlet mall to shop. Lynette found this sassy hat for Bryn! So cute!
After Oregon we headed to Washington to Ensign Ranch in Cle Elum for my Grandpa Bowman's 80th birthday party. I have the best grandparents ever! I feel so blessed to have spent so much time with them as I grew up and have continued to be able to see them. I love it that my girls really know their great grandparents.
After several tearful goodbyes drawn out over two days, we were headed back home again. I'm pretty sure the girls missed Bryn more than they missed me! Mike picked us up from the airport and Bryn wouldn't even go to him. It even took some time for her to warm up to Daddy!
I caught Grandma being silly with the kids. We don't steal her camera often enough so that she is in the pictures. When I saw them playing I knew it needed to be documented. I'm not even sure what started it. Grandma would do something silly and then everyone would erupt in laughter. Then each of the kids would take a turn-it was so cute to watch them enjoying each other so much. I love seeing how intent the kids are on her. Laughter is such a beautiful and refreshing sound!
The whole crew (minus Kev's family and Mike and the girls) the day we broke camp and headed to Washington. Kevin and Brittney and their boys met us at the Bowman reunion.
The whole Bowman group. Some of my Grandpa's siblings and their families were able to come too. It's been a long time since I've seen some of them!
This is my "Twin Cousin" Alain. She is just a little younger than I am. People have gotten us mixed up since we were little. They moved to Ephrata a year or two before we moved away and it was so fun to live close again. Alain, Lynette and I spent a lot of time together. We have many fun memories together, from telling scary stories and blond jokes at her house in Quincy to sunburns in Montana to girls camp and the mile-swim. Fun times!
Once upon a time, this "little" girl was 6 months old and I began babysitting her (I was 12). I loved it! Babysitting full-time in the summers and occasionally through the school year. Betty, Madi's mom, was like another mom to me and we became really good friends. They were my favorite family to babysit. Before my family moved to Montana, when Madi was three, our house sold but the business hadn't yet, so I moved in with her family. Madi and I shared a room and I often brought her along with me: to HS sporting events, the park, even on a few dates. It was an emotional day for both of us when I moved my things out of her room. She asked where I was going and I reminded her that I was moving to Montana. With tears in her little eyes she said, "But Trina, I don't want you to move far, far away!" It broke my heart!
