Oh my, this post has been weeks in the making. Mostly because there are a million pictures to sift through plus is it just me or is posting pictures on blogger in the right order a TREMENDOUS pain?!?!!! Is there an easier way? Please tell me ...
Anyway ...
Here's the van, all loaded up, Jeff's masterpiece. Friday night we drove to Redding and spent the night there. Grandma Joan came with us in the van -- we appreciated her amazing skill at entertaining a needy 3.5yo girl.
Ben went spazzo at the hotel. He's crazy about maps and went running back and forth between our two rooms, pointing to the maps on the backs of the doors. To make matters worse, we forgot to pack Melatonin so he was revving high until 10:30pm.
Saturday we continued our drive to Sunriver by way of Crater Lake National Park. Wow! Another amazing natural beauty (the lake, I mean):
My point and shoot pictures don't do it justice, of course. The Rim village was very crowded (I forget how crowded National Parks get), but Jeff selected a hiking spot and off we went to earn a different view of the lake from a less populated point.
On the way up, Eliza had a potty emergency. Kind of indelicate to put this picture here, but Grandma and I were quite amazed by her ability to just "let it go" behind a rock. Must have really been an emergency.
While Grandma and I tried to coax Eliza to take a few more steps up the mountain, Ben led Jeff and Ethan up at full tilt. They reached the fire lookout with no camera, so here's a view of them on the way down instead.
The view at the top would have looked something like this, but from a higher vantage point.
And then it was on to SUNRIVER!!!!
Saturday night: move in and pizza
Sunday: church in Bend, games, bike rides
Monday morning: the traditional Monday morning bike ride to the Village for donuts and hot chocolate. But this time, after
years of patronage, we were in for a rather unpleasant shock. The Hot Lava Bakery had new owners who somehow thought that the Sunriver public would like donuts that are BAKED, not fried. Are you KIDDING ME?!?!? Needless to say, they were disgusting. Sophie was sad:
Eliza didn't really care because she likes to just eat the frosting off the top anyway.
We did not return to the bakery for the rest of the week. Goodbye Hot Lava. Hope you realize your terrible mistake before next year.
Ben (aka Violet Beauregarde), on the slide at Fort Rock Park:
Tuesday afternoon all 15 of us piled into two rafts and did the 6 mile float down the Deschutes river. It's a calm, peaceful ride (well, the river is calm and peaceful) and breathtaking scenery. Some tried the rope swing, Alan and Jason jumped off the bridge (remember - the jump spot is 3 feet to the right of the NO JUMPING sign). We didn't see river otters this year, nor learn a peeing-on-the-wall song, but it was a memorable ride nonetheless.
Wednesday, Jeff went on a full day rafting trip on the Umpqua river with Jason, Amy, Maddie, Sophie, and Alan and Eli. They loved the scenery and the class 3 and 4 rapids. While they were gone we went to the stables for Eliza's annual pony ride. She fell asleep in the afternoon so Ethan, Ben and I snuck in a swim at the North Pool too.
Some of the most fun for the Smith family was had on the golf course. There's a nine hole putting green on the river at the Meadows golf course. Have I mentioned yet the beautiful scenery?
Would you dare go up against these two? This is my favorite picture from the trip:
After golfing and lunch, we rode out to the airport to see Grandma Joan and Maddie take off in the glider. The airplane pulls the glider up and away (3500 feet up) and then releases it. The pilot then soars the glider back. It was such fun to watch from the ground, but surely even more fun (and beautiful) from the glider.
Ben has a "thing" for golf right now, thanks to the Webkinz mini-golf game. So after putting 9 holes then watching the glider ride, he and I went back to the golf course to play the "back nine." Since there really were only 9 holes, I had to convince him to repeat the same 9 holes for the "back nine." He solved the problem by starting with hole nine so that then hole 1 would be 11, hole 2 would be 12, etc...
Thursday's busy day continued at the South Pool. Here's Livvy coming off the big waterslide! She's growing up :)
We ate a LOT of great food at Sunriver. Here's Jason and Alan making omelettes for dinner. Nice kitchen at this place. We were definitely spoiled staying at the Woods and Irons Lodge.
Eliza, Ethan and Sophie dining at the enormous dining table at which all 15 people could sit and eat together.
On the last day I convinced the whole clan to take the dirt ride out to Benham Falls together. I think that everyone enjoyed the ride, and certainly the destination.
Me with mom and sis:
My brother and Drew:
By the way, I rode the whole week with Ben on a trail-a-bike behind me. I tired everyone with my comments of how tiring it was. I don't know what we'll do next year - he'll be too big for the trail-a-bike but probably not trustworthy enough for independent riding on the trails. A tandem maybe?
Friday evening Amy led us on a river ride. I thought I was too tired to go on another long ride, but am so glad we went. It's my favorite ride in Sunriver at the best time of day -- twilight. Of course the final destination was GOODY'S!
The Hiatt Family:
Heather and Eli:
On the morning of departure, Ben culminated his week's work with a HIGH SCORE on the mini-golf arcade game.
The whole family before leaving Sunriver:
So what do you think, should we go back again next summer?
I'm with you, Maddie :)
Just when I thought I couldn't find something to read to Ben that would one-up Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I remembered Shel Silverstein.
