We recently returned from a wonderful 13-day road trip up north to visit my (Jamie's) brother, sister-in-law, nephew Clark, and new niece, Emmy. We spent four nights, and three full days in Lassen Volcanic National Park on the way up. The kids had a chance to earn their Junior Ranger badges (not an easy task in LVNP), attending a 2-hour Jr. Ranger program where they learned all about different types of volcanoes in the park and did some science experiments as well as playing some games to help learn the information! We hiked around Manzanita Lake one day and down into Bumpass Hell another (a trail covered partially in snow, but descending into a "warm" area of geothermal features, not unlike parts of Yellowstone, like steam vents, mudpots, and bubbling streams). We had yummy soft-serve ice cream every afternoon at the general store, and a campfire most nights! Once again, Isaiah did great, sleeping wonderfully in his pack-n-play in the tent.
We spent four nights, and three full days in Portland with my brother's family, returning to the Children's Museum to play (our kids love that place), visiting downtown (Powell's books, food carts for lunch, and Pioneer Square), as well as the zoo and a water/splash park. It was great to hold my new niece and let the kids enjoy some "cousin" time.
On the way back we spent three nights, and two full days in Redwood National Park. While enjoying the MUCH cooler weather (mid-60s, mist and clouds) we explored the shoreline for starfish, mussels, crabs and more, drove and hiked through giant redwoods, saw wild elk, hikes through coastal forests to a waterfall, and the kids earned their Jr. Ranger badges as well.
To break up the 10 hour drive home from Redwood NP we drove halfway, sleeping in a hotel in Ukiah our final night, then drove the rest a second day, stopping halfway in Oakland for lunch and a couple hours at the zoo. It was a great trip, seeing so much natural beauty and getting some good family time! Thank you to those of you that were praying for us while we were gone (both for safety and for Isaiah's stress levels). We noticed he was having a hard time the last 2-3 days, and had a hard time sleeping for 2 nights after coming home, but he is back on a good schedule now, sleeping, eating, and not doing any more of his nervous habits. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!
Some of you may have seen some photos that I posted on my Facebook page. Of course, I can't post any pictures of Isaiah online. I did, however, download the pictures that included Isaiah (from both this road trip and our camping trip the weekend after school got out) into an album on Photobucket HERE. You will need a password to access these photos, so email me if you would like to see them.
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