To Infinite...AKA Oregon...and Beyond!

 If you ever go on a vacation with us, just note...it is always an adventure. Seriously, have not had a ton of time to get myself back into fast-forward mode, as I call it, let alone, really delve in and cull through all the images & video I took. However, here is a recap of our break with our wonderful friends/second a family, The Phillips.

We left for McMinnville, Oregon, on Saturday April 1. Of course, Google decided to detour us to whatever little town in North Portland to bypass an accident on I-5, which only caused aggravation. We tried finding food  off an exit that was non-existent. Let's just say, this was super annoying. But we managed, arrived, and celebrated with lunch and then the Water Park: Our first stop. 

Because they have an air museum, why not have an air themed waterpark!

We had a cabana with prime viewing of the San Diego State win during the Final Four NCAA Championship

Jax had a blast

The second day we enjoyed the Evergreen Aviation Museum. I have always had a special interest in planes since both my grandpas were Veteran's in the Army Air Forces and Air Force, respectively. This place was pretty cool. It housed many awesome planes from various eras in time. They had a second warehouse museum that housed NASA shuttles and missiles. It was incredible just kind of walking through history. From The Spirit of St. Louis to the Spruce Goose...we had a blast. 

Hanging around downtown McMinnville

Refusing to talk to Ben

Piling on Ben

The stimulator

Phillips in the Cockpit of the Spruce Goose

Maddy in the Cockpit of the Spruce Goose

The Spruce Goose!

Under the Spruce Goose

Inside the Cargo hold of the Spruce Goose

Space Selfies

Checking out the walkway

Ready for flight

Checking out a Vietnam helicopter

Space stimulators!

Cool entrance to the museum 

Girl Strong

Looking up!

Hotel Pool Fun!

The next couple days we ventured to Silver Falls State Park, near Salem. We were so glad the Phillips's got a cabin, because, upon arrival, it snowed. At least 4 inches and an additional 2 overnight. It was a W.T.F. moment, for sure. It was cold, wet, and rainy. But we were comfortable sleeping in the van, cooking and eating in the cabin, and playing in the yuck and muck. Honestly, it was not at all terrible. In two days time, we did 2 amazing hikes to the South Falls and North Falls, where we were able to walk underneath the falls, just like in Iceland. 

They had a nice lodge nestled at the main lot, so we warmed up and checked it out. We spent our afternoons, between rain showers, playing cards, the kids on technology with games and movies, and then outside creating a bridge across the creek nearby. We played "Pass the Spoon" to the ultimate storyteller, Maddy scared the poop out of me by making me think someone/something was at the window, idiots pulled up in the middle of the night and were loud as f*** next to us, Jax set off the car horn twice (as we joked earlier that day there is always someone who sets their car alarm off in the middle of night---it was us), great foods, drinks, company, wet shoes, and fun. Oh, and pesky raccoons that acted nutty. And of course, the Swedish Chef made an impromptu visit the majority of the time, between Nikki and I. 

Maddy: "Let's recreate the Iceland Pic" Here we are: 4 years later. 

Wine Time! Oh, and cards. :)

Hiking the North Falls Canyon Trail 

We aren't really sure what the "4" stands for, but all the cool kids are doing it, so....

When Steve stole Maddy's phone...

And took pictures of us all. 

These kids of mine. 

Birthday Cake celebration for Jax.

Underneath the North Falls Waterfall. 

River Trails

Viktor with the story spoon

Viktor and Jax

Comfortably storytelling. 

Mealtime!

Bunk time

Game time

Adults playing Farkle

Maddy loved doting on Viktor: He loved being doted on by Maddy. 

Our crew, and, typical Jax fashion...

Sitting around warming up after Day One of hiking

Walking behind waterfalls is the coolest!

South Falls

Hiking buddies

Mid-South Falls

Steve behind the falls

Our happy fire. 

Yeah: snow...cold. 

You know those pictures: Expectation vs. Reality. This was our "Expectation" or driving to Silver Falls. Reality was snow. 

Learning Skip Bo. 

Because she was singing to the songs we were jammin' to. 

And because she is super weird...J/K just silly. 

Checking the route on the map

Moss Tunnels

Mossy trails: True PNW Style. 

PNW kids in true fashion. Gotta love them!

Trail buddies!

This waterfall reminded of a dragon's eye. 

Viktor and Maddy

 The latter part of trek was spent in Portland, because it rained Thursday. We hoteled it, swam in the icy cold hotel pool, and enjoyed the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Super cool Marvel Exhibit, and fun IMAX experience about dinosaurs in the Antarctic. We also ate at an amazing Hawaiian Restaurant near the Hollywood District: OMG soooo good!!

Chill Time 

How a flea would hop onto an animal. 

Captain Marvel

Groot Bust

Captain Marvel's actual costume

Checking out Chris Evans cool Captain America Costume

Falcon and Winter Soldier Costumes

I love you, 3000

To know Chris Hemsworth touched that lovely hammer....*sigh*

Trying to be stronger than Hulk

Peace out

Sending out his on web vibes

Bunny ears to Black Panther

Black Panther Crouch

Chillaxin' with The Thing. 

The last leg of our trip was relatively dry/misty. The Phillips crew headed back home, but The Schroe-dawg Quad continued their spring break adventure to Ft. Stevens State Park for the last leg of their trip. We explored Seaside, and checked out their small Aquarium. Brad has a thing for Aquariums, so that was super fun. We saw baby skates (stingrays) in their eggs, baby starfish that were just so stinking cute, several Pacific Octopi, as well as very sociable harbor seals that enjoyed being fed some stinky fish. 

We explored the Campground, which was really fun. There is an old shipwreck on the beach, which, at low tide, you could easily go up to. We missed low tide, so we had some fun wave running by the wreck itself. We hiked to the Historic site where the bunkers were, which was pretty fun to explore. However, on our way back, we had a bit too close of an encounter with a mama elk, who was not letting these boys by on their bikes. Obviously, she was protecting a youngster, so she had the right to act the way she was. Lucky for us, we bypassed her and the rest of the herd downing in the trees, and got back to camp safely. Maddy and I later encountered her, again, when we attempted a bike ride, that ended up being a mistake in the wind, rain, and cold. Maddy slammed on her brakes, as Mama Cow was right in the way. 

We made the best of those two nights as a family. Had a wonderful site that kept us pretty much sheltered from wind and rain, so our fire was never dull. We loved listening to the frogs cacophony at night time, a chorus that rocked me to sleep each night. The elk joined our campsite, once again, the following morning, but didn't cause as much of a stir as the day before. 

Overall, it was a wet, cold, fun camping experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. Much needed reboot to finish out our busy year. 

The elk at camping Easter Sunday

Super stoked to try chopping wood

Frog eyes

Lounging watching a movie, keeping dry

Our close elk encounter: the boys we helped were directly in front of us.

: 

This herd was up at the bunkers. 

Hiding to scare Maddy and Brad. 

Banana slugs love the rain

Van life

My silly boo

Baby Sea Stars!

Feeding the harbor seals

One of the Octopi

I just loved them. 

Maddy and Papa walking along the trail

My lens was a bit dirty and wet: disregard the splotches in the clouds. 

Jax was excited to put his headlamp to good use.

Another Octopus 

Sand Dune King

Jax and Iredale

Last, but not least, Jax turned 7 the Monday after break. He is super stoked to have his friends over for his birthday. So, cheers to Jax!

Until next time....