Road Trip

FYI: This is a very LONG post!
So Brad and I decided it was time for our 1st family vacation since having Devin.
We decided to drive to see Brad's mom and then up to my parent's and to see my Grandma then home. It was quite the drive! We drove to Vegas on a Wednesday, then to Lemoor, CA to see Brad's Mom on Thursday. Friday we drove to Eureka, CA, which was the longest and most trying day of all of them. Between my motion sickness, having to climb in and out of the back and 2 very grumpy kids the last 2 hours of driving it was hard to say the least. That day we figured their driving time limit was about 6 1/2 to 7 hours. Since Eureka was 8 hours we did a bit too much. Saturday we spent most of the day at the Redwoods. They were so beautiful and amazing! We did a few hikes and wondering around. Alex thought  they were very big and all other trees after that were stick trees. We wished we would have had more time to spend there, but had to get on the road to my parents house. So that evening we drove up to my parents house in Lincoln City, OR. We spent 4 days relaxing: taking Alex and Devin to the beach, and just hanging out mostly. We did go up to Pacific City to visit the Pelican Bay brewery and visit Haystack rock. If you have ever seen the Goonies it is the same beach/rock that you see at the end of the movie when they come out on the pirate ship. We had lunch and played on the beach for a few hours. On Thursday we left my parents and drove to La Grande, OR. Nothing there that was just the 6 1/2 driving limit. We ate pizza and took off the next morning to see my Grandma in Boise, ID. That drive was only 2 1/2 hours so we checked in early and took Alex and Devin swimming and then vistied my with my Grandma, Aunt and Uncles. It was so nice to see them. And Finally on Saturday we drove home! We had a blast! It was a long trip but definitely needed!
I have to say that both kids did amaxingly well. Alex was perfect most of the time, playing his leapster and watching Scooby, and I was very surprised how well Devin did staring at the back seat, but we hooked up the DVD player for her and she was able to watch Baby Einstein. She did Great!
So that's it. We will see what next year brings for our family vacation.

The Trip! 2500 miles!

Vegas. The Rainforest Cafe at the MGM Grand. We stayed at Treasure Island and walked down. It took us almost an hour to walk a mile! And the kids fell asleep in the process.

Alex riding the monorail back to the see the pirate show and volcano

Devin and Alex had a great time jumping into a pile of pillows in the hotel room

Brad and Alex at Ceasar's Palace

A cool fish tank they had a Ceasar's. We just so happened to be there when they were feeding them. We also watched the animated fountain show. Which Alex thought was very cool.

Eureka, Ca: The Redwoods

Fern Canyon, from Jurassic Park 2. Very cool!

Alex had to pee while we were walking around. Hopefully he will forgive me for posting these pictures one day, but they are just too funny!

Lincoln City, OR

Devin at the Beach for the 1st time!

Alex and My dad collecting rocks

Alex made a friend one day on the beach

One day when the water was really low we were able to get around to another beach. We collected agates and Alex like walking around and looking at the anemones and cave.

4th of July. We watched fireworks on my parents porch for an hour. People were shooting off the artillery shells and made for a pretty cool show! Some of those people had to have spent $1000 on them!

Devin and Daddy watching fireworks

Alex and Brad squishing the anemones.

Devin was exhausted on morning and fell asleep..

Hot Tubbing! Alex and Devin loved swimming!

Haystack Rock

It was pretty windy most of the time so we parked the car on the beach and were shielded from the wind and they kids were able to play and enjoy the beach.

Leaving Lincoln City. Alex was being whiney.

And us!