Normally on these visits back to the States, we base ourselves out of Roseburg and do whatever trips we’re going to do from there. After all, my parents AND Lori’s parents still live there, in the same houses and same neighborhood they’ve lived in for the past thirty years.
This year’s a bit different. We flew from Mexico into Seattle, and will be returning from the Bay Area. We’re covering the 850 miles in between in a little over four weeks.
Roseburg is smack dab in the middle, geographically and time-wise. We’ll spend about two weeks total in town with a camping trip with my parents in the middle.
Then, we’ll head south to visit my grandmother and her husband, aunts and uncles, and two close friends before heading back to Puerto Vallarta.
It’s been a nice change of pace so far, and a heck of a lot less driving than usual. That means more time hanging out with people we definitely don’t get enough time with during the rest of the year.
I couldn’t count the number of times Riley, in particular, did the “Loop Trail” with Poppi this year. He’s hooked.
Sampling Poppi’s wine grapes. Baco Noir. The boys approve of the varietal.
Helping Grammy with a bit of work in the garden. There’s always something that needs tending around the yard, and Noe’s happy to help.
Storytime with Poppi and Sushicat.
A morning at Wildlife Safari, a drive-through game park just outside of town. It’s become something of an annual tradition with Nanny and Poppi. We never know what we’re going to see at the Safari.
Seems we’ve got a thick blanket of smoke from wildfires in the region, which is also becoming an annual tradition, unfortunately.
The upside is that it’s keeping the temperature down today, meaning more animals out and about.
Feeding the birds with Nanny.
The boys’ third Easter egg hunt this year!? Lucky boys!
Visiting Discovery Garden has become a tradition with Grammy and Mommy over the years as well. Roseburg has more parks than you’d expect for a town of 25,000, many of them well designed and maintained.
Noe’s oasis-away-from-home.
Checking out the construction down the road. Noe’s into all things building at the moment.
There isn’t a whole lot these days, not like when I was Noe’s age. But you can usually find some project going on.
Ford’s Pond in neighboring Sutherlin is a nice, flat loop around an old log pond turned wetlands.
It’s usually brown and scrubby when we visit and there’s lots of poison oak to watch out for, but it’s a pleasant way to spend an hour or two outside with the boys.
It’s that time of year again. Time for Noe and Riley’s annual combined birthday fiesta with all four grandparents.
Grampy’s hard at work grilling up his famous barbecue chicken wings.
This is when the boys get to open a little something from the grandparents for their special day. Noe’s birthday is in June and Riley’s is in October, so usually this falls right smack in the middle.
We got Noe a mask and snorkel for his birthday this year in Sayulita. It was a cheap set that I bought at a local pharmacy that I hoped would do the trick until I could find something better. The mask didn’t really seal properly and the snorkel was a joke.
When I saw this new set (and the accompanying reviews), I knew it was exactly what we were looking for.
Chacala, the town in Mexico that we’re moving to next, is reported to have even better snorkeling than Sayulita, and a small cove perfect for kids. Plus, we’ll have a small swimming pool!
Noe’s chomping at the bit to give his new snorkeling gear a whirl, but unless he’s planning on braving the chilly waters of the Oregon Coast, that won’t be for a couple of weeks.
Now, on to the water balloon death match portion of the festivities.
This year’s birthday fiesta was extra special because Noe and Riley got to share their special day with Great Grandma K., who turns 93 years young later in the week.
That Sunday, we did something we hadn’t been able to do in nearly three years – attend a church service at Grammy and Grampy’s church (which also happens to be the church Lori and I were married in).
After years of watching in eager anticipation, Noe finally realized his dream of playing hand bells.
Sorry Noe, they’re just too big for the suitcase. But they’ll be waiting here for you next year.
