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Phew! After 18 days on the road, in 9 different states, working, playing, driving, sight-seeing, and spending invaluable time with family, we’re back. Here’s the whirlwind tour, just a few highlights, 2000 photos narrowed down to about 75, with a few of my memories to go along.
The first part of our trip took us up the coast through California and Oregon. You did amazingly well with 10 hour days in the car. I could not have possibly expected more from you. I think I complained more than you did. Not saying you weren’t relieved to get out at the end of the day and ride on the luggage carts. You stayed entertained with books (the interactive books with the sound effects buttons are your favorite), toys, stickers, jewelry and by watching “Doggies” (Lady and the Tramp) at least one or two times every day we were on the road. Usually you didn’t even ask for it until the afternoon though. Pretty amazing. But a definite help in those moments of boredom. Mickey kept you company, and every now and then, just to make sure we were all awake, Daddy would turn his music up really loud which always makes you smile and cover your ears. Daddy knows his way around an audio system. All his cars (and trucks) bump.
The second night we stayed in Newport, Oregon, using up some points at a really nice Best Western right on the beach. Daddy always saves up his hotel points from his business travels so that we can use them together as a family in nice places. We were upgraded to a suite had a really gorgeous view. The entire trip, the first thing you did when we walked into a new hotel room, you’d run over to the phone and “call” Mimi. You missed her. And early the next morning we went for a long walk on the beach to a chunk of dock that floated all the way to US shores from Japan after last year’s devastating tsunami. 
We finished the drive to Washington and spent the following day in Seattle on the waterfront, showing you the sights. Daddy and I used to come here almost every Sunday afternoon to take advantage of the free parking meters, when we lived in Washington. And of course, Momma grew up just a little south of the city, so it’ll always be my urban “home.” Of course, we had to check out the arcade. Daddy won you bunch of tickets and you got to spend them at the counter like a big girl. But your favorite thing was riding the carousel. The one at Fisherman’s Landing is super fast! I was actually kind of nervous you were going to fly off, but you loved it. You rode twice.
The next few days the 2 of us entertained ourselves while Daddy worked. The first day we spent doing laundry in the Extended Stay (such a good helper!) and hitting up the Mukilteo waterfront. The second day, I had big plans for us that you can read about in my last post, but none of it worked out. So after struggling through the rain and bad moods, we ended up back in the room, taking it easy and watching TV. Some of my sweetest and most frustrating memories from the trip were made in these two days. Thank goodness for num-a-nuhs and Doggies (M&Ms and Lady and the Tramp), and that frustrating days can turn out alright and are usually followed by better ones (and this one was.)
We were glad to see the sun come out the following day. Since we had to check out before Daddy was done working, we went to a local park and you picked flowers to your heart’s content. It was a beautiful day and I love the photos I got of you in the beautiful green of the glorious northwest.
After Daddy was released from all his work obligations, we hit the road again and drove all the way to Granny and Grandpa’s house in gorgeous Oroville. We get to visit the town that Daddy grew up in every year. That’s so cool. And even though none of my family is still in Seattle, we still have a reason to go there every year as well. These yearly visits to the great state of Washington are a huge blessing. I’m so glad that Daddy’s job gives us a reason to return to our roots every year, that you get to experience a little bit of where your folks come from.
The first thing you did when we got there was ride in the tractor. You took a lot of tractor rides while we were there. Everybody took turns driving and riding with you in the back. Ganny’s and Pa’s (what you call them) yard it big and beautiful, has glorious grass and a spectacular view. Just as good as any ride at Disneyland for you. It warmed up enough and stopped raining long enough one day for Auntie Steph to get out the sprinklers for you. You weren’t a fan (you have inherited my dislike of cold water.) But you did like running around in your bathing suit, in the grass, getting your hands and feet wet and wiping them all of us.
Granny cut you new roses just about every day. You carried them around, smelled them and then pulled all the petals off of them. And you met your first earthworm! I saw one on the grass after a big rain and we watched him for a long time (got a really cute video of the whole thing too!). He burrowed his way back into the dirt and then stuck his heck back out for you. It was cool. You were too freaked out to touch him, but you did end up giving him “kisses” (from about a foot away) every time you walked by.
Lots of fun to be had inside too. Love that photo of you drinking tea out of your special china set while lounging on your Grandpa recliner. And Auntie bought you a really cute, fun Mr. Potato head tent that you had fun hiding in. We made our yearly visit to Prince’s, the everything store in Oroville (still haven’t found something they don’t sell at least one of), where we picked up a couple fun things including some planes Daddy showed you how to use in the front yard.
We worked on a few projects while we were there too, not without your help. You are a good rock mover, baby, especially with the help of the Dora gloves Auntie got you.
One of the other really neat things about going back to Washington every year is that, when our visit falls during the first week of July, we get to buy and set off fireworks. We don’t get to do that in California. But in green places where there’s lots of rain, it’s still legal. So we visited the fireworks stand and picked out a bunch to supplement the ones that Auntie brought along with her. We ended up putting on a pretty decent show. The first one we tried out on you were the champagne poppers. Neither you, nor Daddy were huge fans of those. Too loud for you (you were scared of the sound and had to cuddle with all of us while watching for the rest of the evening), and Daddy burnt his hand on one. But you did like the pretty ones that weren’t too loud and the parachutes. You stomped on pop its and worked your own sparkler (this year without burning yourself…. phew!) I love the photos Daddy took of you and me sparklering together. 🙂
We took one extra day and drove through Yellowstone on the way home – a fun, last-minute decision. We took you to the highlights and saw what we could see given the insane numbers of tourists taking up every parking spot. You loved the sound of all the thermal activity and frequently pointed at your ears to let us know you were listening.
Of course we had to stop at Old Faithful. It’s where Daddy proposed to Momma all those years ago (I guess 9 years ago, if I’m doing the math right?) The spot is just to the right, up that green hill behind us. I thought we were just hiking. Daddy had the ring in his pocket the entire time. I had no idea. I’ve never been so shocked in my life. There is not a single word of what he said that I remember. But I do remember saying yes! And I’ve never regretted it. Your father is a wonderful man, and I love him very, very much.
We also stopped at the visitor center at Old Faithful to pick up a National Park Passport for you.You’ve already been to several of the national parks, but this was the first time we managed to remember, find a visitor center open, while you were awake, and find a passport in stock. It’s always been something to keep us from buying you one. Finally, we begin your National Park adventure… officially.
Here’s a few more memories from our time in the car. We changed you mainly on the tailgate. I thought about potty training you before we left. This trip is the main reason I decided to wait. Trust me. It’s hard to find a bathroom in the middle of the desert. I would know because I’m pregnant. I can only imagine how fun it would have been with a toddler and a pregnant woman for your father. Anyway, you loved being in the back of the truck. When we stopped, you always asked to get in the back just you could run around for a minute. Also, just a comment on how neat you are. And I mean neat for a toddler. You still make a mess, but it’s a tolerable mess. Most of the time I don’t even put your bib on anymore. You do really well with getting things in your mouth and wiping off your hands and face with a napkin (or twelve, since you seem to think that napkins are one-time-use only.) We even give you ice cream cones in the car. Pretty good! Daddy stops and plays EVERY claw machine we run into. He has you trained well. You won’t walk by one anymore without yelling at us for money (muh-ee). Hehe, it’s funny.
And last, but not least, we drove through Nevada on our way home. We stayed in Mesquite at a pretty nice resort where we went for a late night swim, ate at the Casino buffet and let Daddy put 5 bucks into a slot machine. The next day we drove through Vegas and tracked down the Pawn Stars shop, just to say we’ve seen it.
Road Trip 2012. That’s a wrap! Until next year…