Oregon Vacation: Part 1

Saturday, July 17

Natalie still loves taking the selfies with my phone - sometimes they include the dogs!

Saturday, July 17

My bff's youngest. Another pic. Shared the first one here.

Sunday, July 18

The first kitty on our vacation edition of "Tour of Cats." We came to see her newest addition, Munchkin, but she was feeling under the weather. This is Nutmeg who graced us with her presence. Usually she's hiding from company. 

This is a picture I "stole" (asked if I could use) of Munchkin. Feeling much better now. We briefly saw her during our visit. 

Wednesday, July 21

The usual view I had of Natalie and McKayla. Alivia spent all her time with Roselyn, my brother's 8 year old daughter. 

Thursday, July 22

McKayla seems to be the cat whisperer. She's always loving on them! This is Smokey, our friend Tabi's "barn cat" (just means he is an outdoor cat who is responsible for keeping the mouse population down around her property)

Thursday, July 22

Natalie not amused with mom taking pictures of her. I think this one just shows how freaking long her legs have gotten! 

Thursday, July 22

And Smokey just being a cat. He was so freaking friendly! 

Saturday, July 24

My father in law's cat Kit. Not so friendly (she's an only child with a single dad :P) but super playful

Saturday, July 24

She has two kinks in her tail which makes it look almost curly lol. 

Saturday, July 24

Stephen took us by this cool totem on our way home from his dad's place. I had to stop and snap a picture. 

Going to stop there for now. Will add more pictures (and stories) later this week (maybe next) 
 

WW: Round Trip, Favorite Desert, Awesome Quotes

Linking up with Mama Kat for writers workshop, just trying to flex those writing muscles so I don't loose them! If you want more info (or to read other people's writing), click the box at the bottom of this post. 

You have received a free round trip flight to anywhere in the world, but you to fly somewhere you’ve never been before. Where do you go? 

Well, I would buy my roundtrip ticket to somewhere like Naples, Italy then make a road trip around the countries and then back in time to fly home. Here are just a few things I would LOVE to see/do on my tour: 

• Lay on the beach in Naples
• Rome: see the colosseum 
• Take a boat tour of the canals of Venice
• Visit the Mauthausen Memorial in Austria 
• beer in Germany (not sure where...)
• Amsterdam: visit the Secret Annex where Ann Frank hid during WWII
• Spend a day in London just seeing the sights (including Highgate Cemetary) 
• Visit  Dublin Ireland for a day (including the Dublin Castle)
• Spend a day (and NIGHT) in Paris and see "all the sights"
• Madrid: Museo Nacional del Prado (big ole museum!) 
• Walk La Rambla in Barcelona 
• See Athens, Greece 
• Return to Naples to go home.  

It's going to have to be a LONG trip. I guess I better start saving. 

Write about your favorite dessert.

Lets be honest, if you know me, you know I LOVE the sweets. So, a favorite dessert is hard to pick but there is one that brings up the most memories for me. It is something my aunt has made for family gatherings for YEARS. Earlier this summer, she posted just this: 

And I KNEW What she was making!!! We call this "tastes like almond Roca" but it is also known as "Christmas Crack." The name tells you JUST what it is and it is AMAZING! 

Source

If you want to make some, here is a recipe. Not completely sure this is what my aunt uses, but it looks pretty close. =) 

Share a favorite quote you came across recently!

I have four that I've shared on my facebook lately and one from a devotional I just read. Here is the one from my devotional: 

I shared it along with this verse: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 NIV. 

And the facebook ones: 

I guess only the first and last ones are quotes, but the other two are simply amazing things just to read. 

The Great American Eclipse

A big huge shout out to my auntie Analise, she took these photos from her backyard in Lebanon, Oregon.  

I just cannot get over how incredible these pictures are. Thank you for sharing!

Dinner Dates!

While on vacation I have been blessed to get to go out on a number of dinner dates. Tuesday night our whole little family got to go out with my auntie Analise (auntie "Lease" to the girls) and my grandpa (Opa to the girls). The girls weren't quiet, but it was an enjoyable dinner and pie date!

Then on Wednesday night I decided that mommy needed to have her "date" without the kiddos. I got to meet up with my good friend Wayne who I haven't seen in more years then I want to admit. I somehow managed to mess up the time and arrived an hour early. I didn't mind too much because it gave me time for a walk around the state capitol. At sixish it was finally time for dinner! We enjoyed some pitas (my first time there!) and talked for more then an hour. It was amazing to catch up with him. We have been friends for most of my life. In fact, we were both thinking and can't remember a time before we were friends. I can promise you it won't be years before I see this guy again!

My final dinner date was with my sister, her bestie and my good friend Stephen. Colleen wanted to treat me to dinner, so I let her. =)

On the left is my sister in the back and Maranda up front and on the right
I'm in the back and Stephen up front

Day 10

Today I am actually posting from my computer again (versus my phone!) So, you get more writing. I got this picture this weekend, we went to visit my grandma and aunt (grandpa was at work). We are trying to get more visits in before we leave. My family really does love my kids. =)

This is the best picture we got (actually from auntie's camera!) But I just love that all the girls have their toys and everyone is smiling (ish- silly Liv!) =) I have to add the "funny" name that she ended up with. Her name is Analise (pronounced Anna-lease, so the girls call her "auntie Lease!" ROFL! =)