Sun River fun in July

We left for Sun River on Sunday July 5th with the intention of getting to our rental house by around 4:00 PM when we could check in.  Well, things took longer to get packed and the kids slept in because we had stayed up so late the night before.  Long story short, we were not all packed and ready to go until 12:30 PM and then we had quite a few stops we had to make on the way down that added time.  We were down to a 1/4 tank of gas when we were doing our last errand on our way down (at the Video game store so Sean could get a game he wanted), when we pulled into the gas station to fill up.  It was a sweltering hot day at around 100-102 degrees and the car had been idling for a bit before hand as we were running errands.  The gas attendant put the nozzle in the gas tank and tried to fill it and the gas kept coming out.  He couldn't get it to work and Sean couldn't get it to work.  It was very puzzling and perturbing since we knew we could not make it to Bend on only a 1/4 tank of gas.  I started calling all the dealerships around us and we headed down to the Honda dealership to only be told that they could put us in a loaner car but they would not be able to look at the car until Monday.  It was a Sunday afternoon the day after a holiday and no one was around.  We tried to get the gas filled again at a 76 (again but a different one than the first) and again it would not work. We tried having it sit in the shade for 30 minutes and trying again and it still would not work. Sean even bought a gas tank and tried to manually fill it and it would not work. At this point, the kids were getting antsy and cranky and it was already 3:30 PM (after we left at 12:30 PM) and we were going to go home since there was nothing we could do.  We were all sad that we couldn't leave that afternoon and I was dreading getting up early to go to the Subaru dealership the next day to deal with this.  I suggested we try another gas station before we leave (not a 76) and we pulled into a new Fred Meyer Gas Station. I said a quick prayer as the gas attendant started the gas and lo and behold it was a miracle, the gas started going in and was able to make it past the valve that had been pushing it out.  Sean did some research and apparently the Subarus can act up like this when it is really hot out.  I have since filled it up multiple times and have not had this problem (although I do plan on getting the car checked out).

With a full tank of gas, we finally were on our way at about 3:45 PM (way later than I had wanted).  The ride over to Sun River was uneventful although the kids were tired and cranky (from staying up late on the 4th of July the night before and from having little nap in the car).  We stopped at a fun little Mexican restaurant in Sisters on our way for dinner.  The kids were happy to get some food in them and to be out of the car and able to run around the restaurant.  Sean and I were happy to get some margaritas!  We finally got to our rental home by 7:45 PM.  We were very happy with the home and the location (it was off of a busy road down a nice culd-a-sac) and was fairly quiet.  There was also a bike path directly behind our house which made it very easy to get places by bike.  We were 0.5 miles away from the huge outdoor pool/indoor pool complex SHARC and a full mile away from the Sun River village.  The house came equipped with about 8 bikes and there was a Lightning McQueen bike that fit Brandon perfectly with training wheels.  We rented a double bike tag along trailer for Olivia that attached to our bike and she seemed to enjoy riding along with us although she would rather be out riding herself (if she could do it I could tell).  The house had three bedrooms with two of the bedrooms having king beds and then one bedroom had two sets of bunk beds.  Brandon enjoyed having his bunk bed room and then Olivia slept in the master closet (quite big and quiet in there in her pack n play).  We had a extra bedroom for my parents when they came and stayed for nights.

Finally got there!

Trying on the bike helmets

 

Running at night after we finally got there

The first day was Olivia's actual birthday, we rode our bikes into the village and had breakfast at our favorite Lava Bakery place.  We let the kids have a birthday celebratory donut for breakfast.  They have awesome donuts and good breakfast sandwiches/burritos there.  We rented the bike trailer for Olivia and let the kids go on the village train and do the bounce house.  Then we came back and Sean and Brandon went swimming while Olivia and I napped.  Olivia and I tried to go swimming at the SHARC but on our way it began raining.  We ended up swimming at the indoor pool which the kids liked a lot as well.  That night we went into Bend and ate at a local brewery that was recommended to us.  The food was excellent (Sean and I had pizza) and the beers were also excellent.  We did a quick trip to Fred Meyer to stock up for the week and then headed back home.

Birthday donut

Having fun on the Sun River train

Lunch time out on the deck

Eating some snacks

Swim time!

Starting to get used to the water

Waiting for brother to go down the slide

Swimming along

Swimming!

Birthday girl

Didn't want her picture taken

2!

Yummy beer samples and pizza

The next day we woke up to a bright and sunny day and headed straight for the SHARC pool.  Brandon was quite comfortable in the pool (with his floaty arms) and he enjoyed going down the little tube slide and playing on the logs and the Shark.  Olivia liked the toddler pool area and she also liked swimming with mommy and daddy in the deep parts of the pool.  CiCi and Baba came that afternoon and it was nice to have time with them.  We hung around the house while the kids napped and watched some Flip or Flop HGTV shows.  Then we went out to dinner at Sun River Brewery which was really good.  We stopped at the Fort Rock park nearby and the kids had a blast there.  The kids enjoyed riding their bikes to the park which was only a 10 minute bike ride. 

On Wednesday we took the kids to the SHARC pool again in the morning.  Then we came back to the house and had naps and the kids had a fun tea party with CiCi (which has become quite the tradition).  We went on a fun bike ride and Brandon became quite adept at riding his bike.  Sean and I had an early dinner to celebrate our anniversary at South Bend Bistro.  It was so nice to be able to have some adult time and be able to eat just the two of us.  They had yummy cocktails and the food was excellent.  We also went over to Sun River Brewery to have a night cap.

Happy 9th Anniversary to us!

Yummy cocktail

Fort Rock park

The next day was Thursday and CiCi and Baba were set to go home around noon.  We made a yummy breakfast of banana pancakes and then rode bikes over to Fort Rock Park where the kids had fun playing.  We tried to go to the SHARC pool but it was closed due to lightning in the vicinity so we ended up going into Bend for the afternoon.  Before heading into Bend though we got a snack, Goody's icecream!  This is a icecream shop in Sun River that makes their own icecream and it is very yummy.  I ended up getting a marionberry icecream and cookies and cream on a cone.  The kids love the Pirate Ship Park (actually called Columbia Park) in Bend.  Its a park that is shaped like a giant pirate ship.  There is also a really fun long slide that takes you down to the riverbank where you can walk along the river and watch people float down it.  The kids had a blast at the park and Brandon made some new friends to play with.  After the park we headed to Mill District shopping area where we went shopping at GAP and the Duck store.  We then headed back home.

Icecream at Goody's

Swinging at Columbia Park

Looking through the spy glass

Brandon having fun

Swinging

Going down the twisty slide

Columbia Park is on the river

Fun looking at the river

Watching the people float on by on the river

My little hiker

We love Columbia Park

Friday was our last full day at Sun River.  We were said that our trip was coming to a close.  The weather was kind of crummy and started raining and thundering at around 11:30 AM.  This time we were quick and went and got passes so we could go swimming at least in the indoor pool.  We had fun in the indoor pool and then they opened up the outdoor pool again and it was freezing but Brandon still wanted to swim in it (it was realy like 70 degrees but felt really cold with no sun).  We came back home eventually and the kids discovered the hot tub with me.  Liv loved eating popsicles and sticking her feet in the hot tub.  She was in heaven!  Even B tolerated the hot tub pretty well.  I figured out how to turn the dial down into the mid 90s and they both really enjoyed it then . After naps we headed back to the SHARC dispute the ominious thunder clouds and it not being super warm it did not lightning again and we were able to enjoy the pool for quite some time.  It was hard to get the kids to finally leave at 7:15 PM to go home for dinner.  We came home and ate some more popsicles and enjoyed the hot tub which had cooled off more. 

Popsicles in the hot tub

Yum a lolly pop from Goody's

Pretty comfortable in the water now

Playing with Daddy in the pool

Brandon all ready to win

Swimming fun

Eating a lolly pop

Popiscles in the hot tub our favorite

Swimming fun

Playing in the fountains

Jumping in the fountains

Having fun!

Favorite thing ever popsicles in the hot tub and not messy!

Silly kids!

We packed up on Saturday which is never fun  when you have been at one place for almost a week.  We got the car all loaded up and we promised the kids we would stop at the Pirate Park on the way out.  We let them play for about an hour and run out some steam and then we headed home.  The car ride home was not very fun (Brandon had to go to the bathroom twice) but we made it home by around 4:00 PM on Saturday which was nice because we had a full day to unpack and get ready for the work week.  We had such a fun time again as a family and are excited for our trip next year already.