My 20th High School Reunion and fun in Corvallis in August

The weekend after we got back from Sun River was my 20th high school reunion weekend.  It happened to work out that we were available the weekend of the reunion so I decided to go.  I missed our 10 year reunion last time (I believe we were traveling) so I wanted to go this time.  The event was really well planned out months ahead of time.  There were activities on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the main reunion event on Saturday night.  On Friday they had a tour of our high school with a picnic in our Quad followed by drinks at Sky High Brewery.  I really wanted to see my high school again so we hustled down from the kids' camps (they had to be picked up at 3:15 anyways and were right near the highway).  We of course hit some bad traffic but still made it there within 10 minutes of when we were supposed to.  My mom was nice and picked Lulu up so we didn't have to worry about her.  It was nice to see a familiar face lead the tour-my old high school track coach and PE teacher at Hoover Mr. McKee was now the principal at CV and led the tour.  It was bit weird to see everyone that I hadn't seen in a while since we arrive a bit late.  We did see my friend Kelsey and Olivia latched on to her daughter Emmalynn who we hung out with last summer in Sun River.  The high school did not look all that much different.  The basketball court and gym seemed so much bigger with the bleachers pushed back.  The stage looked the same, the cafeteria looked very similar.  The front of the high school had a face lift and was pushed out a bit but otherwise looked the same.  The quad was the same (which is amazing given all the scary high school shootings and the open ability to get into the school).  We loved our quad in the middle of the high school!  After the tour ended, we got pictures of our kids by the CV Rock and then pictures of all my classmates by the Rock as well.

The kids were trying to open the lockers! 

Front of Crescent Valley

The beloved Quad looked the same

Classmates kids around the famous rock

My classmates around the rock-one of my classmates painted the rock 

After the tour of CV, we headed to Sky High brewery.  We had some reserved seating on the roof top bar of the brewery where they had bean bag tosses.  We didn't bring a picnic to eat at the high school so we got a table downstairs and ate and then headed back up to the roof top.  They had a very tasty Moscow Mule up there.  We headed to CiCi and Baba's house at around 8:30 and the kids were very excited to see their grandparents.  The next day we went to the Benton County Fair.  It was amazing how the fair had not changed much at all.  Olivia was able to go on most of the rides so we bought an all you can ride ride bracelet.  It was very hot but we had fun walking around the fair and doing the rides as it wasn't that crowded.  My parents brought the kids back to the fair later in the evening when we had my reunion event so they got good use out of their ride bracelet.

Both kids loved this ride

Strawberry tilt and whirl

This crazy ride Brandon went upside down on!

Petting a duck after looking at the animals

The main event of the reunion was at 2 Towns Ciderhouse which one of my classmates founded.  Sean and I love 2 towns so we were excited but we were sad to see that they didn't have any of the ciders on draft but was just in cans.  They did have their new hard seltzer water out at least.  The site was really cool, there were several rooms open and the front part of the cider house was open and there was a food truck.  Upstairs they had all of our Senior All Night Party collages we put together.  It was amazing that they saved them all these years!  There were not a lot of my older friends there.  I talked to my old grade school friend Megan for a while and to Kelsey and to several other people.  Sean made friends with another spouse of a classmate there but it was pretty amazing that not that many spouses ended up coming with the people in my class.  We ended up staying most of the time and there was a live DJ and quite a few females dancing out on the dance floor by the end of the night.  We left to Block 15 and had dessert (we were hungry since the food truck was a little lacking in types of food).  Then we headed home and went to bed.

Reunion fun!

Andrea, my friend Kelsey, and I at the reunion

Looking at the collages

The next day there were other reunion items but we decided not to go to them.  My sister, Jasper, and Juniper came down for the day to play.  We celebrated Rachel's birthday early and opened presents, ate ice cream cake, and went to Avery Park to play before Sean and I headed back home for a week without kids (they were staying at my parents for 3 days and Sean's parents for 3 days).

Eating ice cream cake out on CiCi's deck

Lulu and I selfie

Everyone up high on the train!

Olivia on the dino bones

Sunriver fun Summer 2019

This summer we went to Sun River a week later in July.  I thought it would be easier with Olivia and Addie's birthday parties to go a week later in July and I was really glad we did go a week later because the week before it was unseasonably cold and even rained.  We left for Sun River on Saturday July 20th.  We were actually fairly well organized this time and were able to leave by noon (would have left earlier if I didn't have problems uploading photos to my flash drive that I wanted to take on the trip and blog about).  We made it to Keizer where we got some lunch and then made it to the Bend and had an early dinner at 10 Barrels Brewery.  We were able to eat outside with Lulu and even ran into our friend Brendan's cousin Porter and his labradoodle Dude!  After that we hit up Fred Meyer where we left the kids and the dog in the car and got our grocery shopping (always challenging to get groceries for a week with the aim of not having to go to the super expensive Sun River grocery store).  We made it back from shopping and go to our house around 8:00 PM and then unloaded the car.  After that we had to go into the hot tub of course!  Then we got the kids to bed and sat outside the new patio furniture in the rental and drank a glass of wine and looked at the pretty Bend stars.

Eating at 10 Barrels-food and beer were yummy

Lulu and I at 10 Barrels 

Push pop fun in the hot tub!

We spent Sunday morning hanging out at the house.  The kids and I made their bath bomb kit from Christmas which was fun but got everywhere.  The bath bombs were not easy to make.  We rode our bikes to Fort Rock Park and I walked with Lulu.  Lulu did not do too well in the heat and the elevation and was panting a lot.  Then we ate lunch and headed to the SHARC for the afternoon.  It was pretty crowded but the kids had a lot of fun swimming.  My favorite place was the Lazy River.  They changed the height requirement for the non-tube slide and Olivia was able to go down that which was fun.  We had a yummy steak dinner at home and rode bikes in the neighborhood and went in our hot tub.

Lulu loving her first summer vacation in Sun River

Lulu watching us play the new table tennis in the garage

Riding to Fort Rock Park

The tire swing is the best!

Heading back home from Fort Rock Park

Lazy River fun!

Sun bathing!

Eating dinner out on the deck

Lulu sure wanted some steak

On Monday our good friends the Mowery's were up in Black Butte with their family and they came down to Sun River for the day.  Sean and I got up and did our work out and then I made pancakes.  The Mowery's got to our house at around 10:00 AM.  The kids played together and then got into the hot tub.  After we finished with the hot tub we headed to the SHARC pool where the kids had fun playing most of the afternoon.  We got lunch at the SHARC which the kids loved too.  We headed back to our house and the kids spent more time in the hot tub and then we made dinner.  We had hamburgers and then after the Mowery's left the kids and I went on a long bike ride.  We ended the night with a fun game of our new game called Unstable Unicorns.  It was the perfect way to end such a fun day with our friends.

Hot tub fun in the morning 

Friends in the hot tub 

Olivia and Addie doing the logs 

Daddy and Olivia having fun

Brandon doing the rope logs

Crazy tarzan boys

He made it!

Olivia and Addie jumping from log to log

She made it across!

Taking a break in the baby area watching Luke

Lulu on the deck

Hot tubbing in the afternoon after pool time

Besties eating dinner outside 

The kiddos having hamburgers

Evening bike ride 

Our evening bike ride ended up being a bit longer than we expected

Love these beautiful sunsets

Sweet Lulu 

Fun new Unstable Unicorns game

On Tuesday my mom was coming in the evening until Thursday afternoon.  It was also supposed to be really crowded at the SHARC due to a Summer Festival on Wednesday so we decided to spend the day at the SHARC on Tuesday and then go to Sparks Lake on a hike with my mom on Wednesday.  We lazed around in the morning and Olivia and I made her Pom Pom purse she got for her birthday.  We headed to the SHARC after lunch in the early afternoon and spent most of our afternoon there.  We decided to go into the Village for dinner at Sun River Brewery.  The kids got to go to the Toy Store and pick out a toy-Brandon got 2 Beanie Boos (Sun River has the best collections of Beanie Boos) and Olivia got 1 Beanie Boo and one sand making bottle kit.  We had a yummy dinner per usual at Sun River Brewery.  Then we headed home and waited for CiCi to come.  We rode bikes in our neighborhood and I walked Lulu and then we saw CiCi's car.  The kids were so excited to see her!  We ended up riding bikes to this fast little hill near Fort Rock Park and I walked Lulu and then we headed back and went into the hot tub.  After that we got the kids to bed and it was really nice spending some time with my mom.

Olivia and I dressed in our matching pineapple dresses for dinner-how fun!

Diva pose!

Riding near our house

Silly Lulu on the table

Brandon, mommy and Lulu selfie 

Bike riding to the fun hill near the park

Evening bike ride

On Wednesday it was slightly cooler and we decided to hike to Sparks Lake again (we did the same hike last year and the kids had a blast).  The hike is about 3 miles and through some lava fields and old growth trees. There are cool views of Mt. Bachelor and the Sisters Mountains and of course of Sparks Lake.  The Lake is really fun to swim as well.  We decided to bring a picnic which I got all ready and then we headed out late morning.  We had a fun hike although Lulu acted like she was going to die (not sure if she was out of shape from her recent spay or if the altitude got to her).  We finally made it to the lake and got so many pretty pictures of our hike!  After we got to the lake, the kids and Lulu went swimming and we had our picnic.  After that we headed back to our house rested for a bit and then headed into Bend where we went shopping at the Outlets for a bit before going to dinner at 900 Wall.  900 Wall was super good and very good cocktails with hard alcohol they made themselves.  We had a very good dinner and then headed home to spend time in the hot tub before going to bed.  We had fun sitting out again on the patio furniture after the kids went to bed and drinking a glass of wine.

Lulu and Olivia having fun on the hike

Walking on the Sparks Lake trail 

Olivia and I by the start of the lake

Family shot with Mt. Bachelor in the background

Hard to get everyone looking including Lulu

Brandon and Sean amongst the lava rocks

Beautiful view of the lake with the lava rocks nearby

Olivia was a great little hiker

Walking with CiCi on the path

Shot with Olivia by the lake

Brandon and I near the lake

Love this sweet boy

Lulu liked looking at the lake

The kids by Sparks Lake-the hike was much better this year-no whining!

Family shot by the lake we weren't quite ready

Olivia has a funny diva pose going on but at least we are all looking at the camera

Beautiful Sparks lake

Our little diva by the lake

Almost to the lake to go swimming!

CiCi, Olivia, and Brandon by the lake

Picnics by the lake are the best 

The kids and Lulu loved the lake water 

Such pretty views from the lake 

Olivia got quite far

Having a blast!

Olivia's mad face!

Brandon's strange face

Lulu loved the water and got in pretty deep

Favorite picture of Lulu at the lake

Olivia's little devilish face 

Sitting with CiCi and drying off

On Thursday we woke up and the kids played several games with CiCi while Sean and I did our workout.  Then we went on a fun bike ride and my mom and I took Lulu on a walk.  After that my mom had to leave to head back to Corvallis and we ate lunch and then headed to the SHARC for an afternoon of swimming.  We had tacos for dinner and our house and then headed to the rock climbing park near the SHARC for some rock climbing after dinner.  Olivia made it up so high!  After that we headed to Goody's for some ice cream for dessert and then we headed home to go in the hot tub and to play Unstable Unicorns.  A very fun day!

Swimming with Daddy

Crashing into the logs

Olivia was a great swimmer this year

Jumping from log to log

When it was low enough she started hanging by the rope

She loved the ropes-reminded her of the bars

She made it across!

On Friday we spent the morning hanging out and packing up so it would be less crazy the next day when we had to leave.   We headed to the SHARC again after lunch and spent the afternoon there.  We let the kids get smoothies which they enjoyed.  We were a bit sunned out so did not stay quite as long as we planned.  We headed to Bend in the early evening to go to Worthy Brewery before it got too crowded.  Sean and I had fun having a beer sample and Lulu liked being able to come with us.  We tried to go to a park near the Deschutes River but they were having the Balloon Festival so we just headed back to Sun River to go in the hot tub and play some Unstable Unicorns.  We did watch 2 more episodes of Stranger Things season 3 too which was fun.

Smoothie time!

Daddy got a beer

Olivia was upset about something

If looks could kill....

Beer tasting at Worthy Brewery 

Lulu had fun at Worthy's too!

A tired pup on the way home

The next day Sean and I did our workout and then we finished packing up and headed out.  We were sad our vacation was over but felt like we had a great time and a week was perfect.  We were excited to get home.  We stopped off at our favorite breakfast spot in Bend-McKay's Cottage and then were on our way and home by 4:30 PM.  Such a fun vacation and we are already looking forward to coming back next year!

Silly faces at breakfast-Olivia loved that blueberry muffin

Brandon's silly face 

A perfect breakfast to end our fun trip