Almost home...

Hard to believe but we are finally on the way home. Not that all of us wanted to leave....we didn't!

Last night I was packing things and Patrick asked what I was doing. I said I was packing because we were going home. He says, "I don't want to go home. I want to live here." I agree!

We had such a good time with family. We stayed at Harold's cousin's house in Salem, OR. Terri and John are such fabulous people and we love to be with them. :) We had stayed with them two years ago when Kassandra has graduated...only that time we had a super quick trip. This time we took a week so we could enjoy the time.

Also at Terri's house were her brothers Rocky & Jerry. I remember Jerry from the last visit and I love him to bits. He is sooo funny and just a real nice guy. We started back right where we left off two years ago!

This is the first time the kids and I have met Rocky. He is fantastic! Ryan hit it off with him immediatly...without even having to talk to each other first. They have a special bond due to being so much alike. It is so great.


We also met Rocky & Jerry's significant others. Both are great and we had fun with them.



Jessica became a near permant fixture at Aunt Pat's house. That's where the horses are...lol :) Terry's daughter, Melissa, also lives with Aunt Pat and Jessica fit in great with her. They spent a couple nights watching horse shows and just talking. Jessica has an open invitation to go back and stay with them anytime. If she wasn't leaving for my mom's house in two weeks I would have left her there for a week :)



We also had great fun with John & Terri's daughter, Kimi. She is so outgoing and social. Reminds me a lot of my sister. She loves kids and it was evident when she offered to go swimming with Autumn & Patrick in their COLD swimming pool at 8:30PM!! She also had a karoke night with everyone one night. It was so much fun.

All the kids enjoyed being able to be outside and playing. Ryan loved the trampoline. I can see we are going to have to get one as it was very theraputic for him. I also enjoyed sitting outside and enjoying the greenery and beautiful weather. Reminded me of home (minnesota).

It was so hard to leave the lush green and tall trees and come back into the dry, dead desert.

We'll go back soon....