Lakeview Trip: First Rodeo and Parade

Labor Day weekend we had a wonderful trip to my hometown of Lakeview. But first we stopped at Dufur to watch one of Caleb’s football games. The boys had a blast (especially thanks to the new footballs Grandma DiDi got them)! Sammy loves his Daddy! Such a precious picture of Sam

Deedo is so patient with Seth and Sam, and wrestled and walked around them on his shoulders all night.

The next morning after the game, we drove down to Lakeview. It was very nice to be home. My dad told me that he thinks it’s funny that I walk around “making sure everything is in its place.” I told him that I’m not doing that—I’m just remembering and enjoying my childhood home (I lived in the same house my whole life). Anyways, it was just the relaxing trip we needed with lots of rest and nothing to do. Ben’s been so busy building the shed in the evenings after work that sometimes we don’t get much time just to sit and rest together. It was quite wonderful.

This trip to Lakeview, Sammy and Seth also got to do many fun “firsts”. They went into my parents’ hot tub for their first time, on carnival rides for the first time, went to their first rodeo, and their first parade. It was a blast to experience all these things with them! They can’t decide which was their favorite activity, but are playing lots of pretend rodeo. They’ve had their cowboy hats on, riding on their wooden rocking horse, using their football pads as a lasso, and been catching baby steers. Somebody (I’m blaming Uncle Tom), encouraged them to say that the “cowgirls" were their favorite thing at the rodeo…so now they’re always pretending to be cowgirls. Oh boy. Reading with Grandma in the mornings from her special Grandma book (Seth, Sam)

First time in hot tub! So excited! (Sam, Seth)

Seth holds his tongue out when he’s concentrating, just like me! First carnival rides

Spoiled with candy by the grandparents Baby Jack, the boys’ second cousin. We got to spend lots of time with him, which was very special! At the parade (Sam, Seth)

The boys warmed up real quick to getting candy off the street, especially Sam  Waving at the parade

Sam, Seth with all their spoils; Caitlin and Jack

Second cousins: Sam, Jack, Seth

I always dread the return trip of at least 6 hours from Lakeview to Portland with 2 three year olds. This trip did not disappoint in its awfulness. All the “traveling home Labor Day traffic” was limited to only one lane going on through the tunnel on hwy 58, which amounted to MILES upon MILES of completely stopped traffic. It was as far as the eye can see in front and behind us. Thankfully Ben would take the boys out to walk and play on the side of the road while I rolled the car at 2 miles/hour down the road. It took us an hour and a half to get through the tunnel. In the end, the trip home took NINE hours. Completely brutal. On the bright side, Seth and Sam talked to one another THE WHOLE way from Eugene to Portland. Seriously without stopping or asking Ben and I anything. Just talking. It was hilarious.

The awful traffic documented