Eclipse Adventure with Cousins day 2

The day of the Eclipse arrived.  Max and I made breakfast while Rebecca watched kids outside.  Everyone was happy to be spending another day together.  We ate our yummy breakfast and then we realized the eclipse was starting.  We rushed kids outside to the front yard.  pulled out our solar glasses and took our first looks.  

After about 30 seconds the kids where done.  They wanted to go back and play.  I started to panic.  "Oh No."  I thought to myself.  "we drove all this way and my kids aren't interested.  What was I thinking."  I tried to persuade them to stay and watch.  but that didn't last long.  We changed plans.  We moved to the back yard.  The kids could jump on the trampoline and we could watch the eclipse.  A way better idea. 

I enjoyed having to change my camera settings every time I took more pictures because of the constant change of light from the eclipse. 

Jumping from the porch.  

About 10 minutes before totality we moved back to the front yard.  This was a good idea.  We saw crescent shadows and very faint shadow snakes.

what it actually looked like outside right before totality  

Then it happened.  Everyone took off their glasses and was all sighed in amazement.  I even let out a squeal of delight.  I couldn't help myself, what I saw was breathtaking.  My heart pounded and I was so happy to be witnessing this advent with my children.  All now very much amused and invested in our experience.  

We saw birds flying back to their nests.  We saw the North star and a few other stars in the sky.  We saw dusk all around the horizon.  We saw the bead around the outside of the sun. and then we saw the diamond as the sun slowly reappeared. 

Too soon it was all over.  glasses needed to be put back on again and kids started back to the trampoline to continue playing.  

Rebecca captured this sequence of events

Too soon it was time to make lunch.  I went back and forth between the kitchen and the back yard soaking up the rest of the eclipse and taking a few last pictures to remember this significant moment.  

We bought our solar glasses back in May when we where visiting Craters of the Moon National park

A selfie with my science loving Gwenevere

The view in which I watched the eclipse take place.  

After lunch I took my kids back to the bike park.  Max was helping his parents and Rebecca had a sleeping baby so they stayed behind.  The kids rode their bikes around the BMX track while I called james on the phone.  I told him all about our experience and he shared his with us.  He took his patient on a walk outside to watch part of the eclipse and then he watched totality on the TV in another patient's room.  He was happy I was able to go see the eclipse with the kids.  Although I missed him dearly I'm glad I decided to go.  For the past week prior to leaving I was really contemplating staying home.  Now everything was worth it.  The midnight drive, the confusion of decision making, the planning and replanning was not in vain.  We had the best experience thanks to Rebecca and Max.  

We returned back to Rebecca and Max's family's home shortly after 2pm.  I packed the car and we said goodbye.  It was time for us to head to the Oregon coast and begin a new adventure with Auntie Tessha.  it was a bittersweet moment saying goodbye to Rebecca and family.  It was so much fun to spend so much uninterrupted time together but alas it was time.  

We headed out east of Prineville and avoid almost all traffic.  For real.  The road was empty heading to salem Or.  I wanted to take a picture and post my post eclipse traffic on facebook but I had sleeping kids in the car and I didn't want to make any unnecessary stops.  

We arrived in Salem around 4pm.  We stopped at Walmart to pick up some camping essentials like an inflatable mattress. hehehehehe and groceries.

By the time we where done wondering walmart it was dinner time.  So we stopped at carl's jr for french fries and milkshakes.  Did I mention we where on vacation?  heheheheh

We started out towards the coast around 7pm  I needed to make my way up to Nehalem bay before 10pm.  Set up a tent while keeping my kids asleep and get rest.  Because I was very tired.  About half way to the coast I had an epiphany.  I called up Brittany (James' cousin who lives in Tillamook) and practically begged her for permission to sleep on their floor.  She too was super tired from waking up extra early to see the eclipse and after realized what I was asking she agreed to let us spend the night.  

We arrived at Brittany's house around 9pm.  I carried kids inside and laid them down on sleeping bags Brittany already set out for us.  OF course they woke up and where extra excited to be sleeping at their cousin's house. it took another two hours for all three to finally fall back asleep and for me to finally get some rest.  

It was a long fun day.  I hope never to forget.  

Eclipse adventure with Cousins Day 1

We headed out on our adventure Saturday night around 9pm.  A half an hour into our drive I started questioning why I decided to leave Saturday night instead of sunday morning after a full night sleep.  Then I reminded myself the drive would be nicer with the kids sleeping and we may be able to make it to church if we wanted to.  Then we continued on.  Despite my tired eyes the drive went smoothly.  The traffic was busier than normal but not crazy.  We made it to portland around midnight.  My GPS was asking up so I pulled over and called James to confirm directions.  

After passing Mt.  Hood I was feeling kinda tired so a pulled over to rest for a bit.   the night sky was breathtaking.  No moon to dim the brightness of the stars.  No towns or city light pollution to interfere with the view.  It was beautiful.  I said a quick prayer of thanksgiving and closed my eyes.  A moment later Everett woke up.  He looked out at the stars and said  "WOW!  Is that all our universe?"  I chuckled at his expression and confirmed that this was some but not all of our universe.   Then I shared a short testimony about God's creations and told Everett I needed to sleep a bit before we continued driving.

Everett was quiet for a few minutes and then told me he was ready for me to keep driving.  I chucked and new I wouldn't be sleeping while he was awake.  I started up the car and we continued our drive to Prineville OR.  

We arrived around 3am in the morning.  Rebecca had already set up beds for us and we quickly got cozy and went to sleep.  

Around 8am in the morning I got a text from Max saying that church was canceled.  I was a bit relieved and tried to go back to sleep.  The kids where up and ready to play with cousins soon after getting the text.  We spend the day just hanging out and playing.  It was nice to visit with Rebecca and watch the cute kids play together.  

   

the trampoline was a favorite place to hangout

picking apples

Gwenevere watching Edmond and rubbing Auntie Rebecca's feet.  

Everett found a lion mask

Max's parents live in Prineville so we got to spend time with them.  Edmund thinks they are pretty special people.  So do I.

Rebecca made a wonderful picnic dinner for everyone to enjoy at the park. 

Grandma Baertlein's little dog chloe was a favorite among the girls.  

We decided to attempt a cousin picture.  But someone wasn't interested.  It was fun to watch and I'm not going to force my kids to take pictures so this was the best we got.  I LOVE IT.

Grandma and Grandpa Baertlein gave the boys some bubbles.  It was a huge hit and fun to play with.

Gwenevere just doing her Mama duties.  This makes me want to have another kids.  

Charlie needed a timeout and the whole gain decided to join him.  

Grace was able to sneak in some baby time when Gwenevere wasn't looking. 

Prineville is a beautiful little town and I am in love it everything about it.  I can't wait to go back and visit.

After our picnic we wandered over to the BMX track.  I got giddy with excitement.  I love biking and I was so excited to share my love with my kids.  Luckily enough I had brought the kids bikes on our adventure.  We did a little biking after Rebecca and Max left.

Gwenevere

Grace and Everett

Crossing the bridge

We arrived back in time for bathtime and bedtime.  We all slept soundly and excited to see the eclipse in the morning.

random happiness (August 12-18)

In between big adventures we had lots of little adventures. 

Grace, Gwenevere and I attended a glow in the dark skating party.  And now I want to go to the skating rink everyday.

 When I was a teenager I'd daydream about my future family.  I always imagined i'd adopt an african american boy.  Growing up changed me.  I'm worried about cultural barriers, the difficulties of adopting an older child, the impact it might have on my family and the whole white privilege part.  But the longing and dream is still rooted deep in my heart.   McKay has given me a chance to see what my life could include.   I love her family as my own.  There are moments in our play that still my heart and make me hope I may someday overcome my fears and follow my dreams.

Having a 6 year old again is pretty awesome.  One day I was overwhelmed and trying to get the house put back together before James got home.  Grace walked in from playing outside and asked to help me do the dishes.  She was so excited to help.  

Sometimes you just want to play in peace and quiet.  

My moment of inner peace

On Wednesday we decided to take a trip to home depot and pick up a few things we needed for the siding project.  Going to Home Depot with kids can be stressful but we try to make it fun for them so they aren't complaining the whole time.  

 It was going so smoothly until Everett got his finger stuck under the cart wheel.  We ended up going to the Seattle Children's Urgent care across the street from home depot.  Two hours later we found out Everett had broken his middle finger.  They cauterized two of his finger nails to help relieve the pressure from underneath.  And it helped as soon as the pressure was released his pain went down dramatically.

The day before Grace's birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Cox took Grace on a birthday date.  This was a big deal because last year Grace decided she didn't want a date.  When I first brought up the idea Grace said no, but then she thought about it for a while and decided she'd go.

While Grace was with Grandma and Grandpa I had an extra seat in my car and Everett had been asking for weeks to go to the zoo.  We called up Everett's friend Huco and headed off to the zoo.  Watching these two together is just so fun.  Gwenevere tagged along and we all had a good time.

I just love how big Everett is getting.  I can't believe he'll be 4 in a few weeks

Even though we celebrated Grace's birthday a week before we saved some of her birthday gifts for her actual birthday.  but after a fun day with Grandparents and a cousin birthday party to go to the actual day of her birthday.  We decided to open her presents a day early.  

New ballet shoes and a leotard. 

I had my camera on the wrong settings but I just had to keep these pictures anyway. 

"A ballerina bun, please."

tiptoes and dreams of real ballerina shoes someday.  

It turns out something happened to Grace while she was on her Grandparents date.  She came home and clang to me.  When I asked her about her date she immediately closed up and refused to talk.   Grandma and Grandpa shared their version of the day's events.  It sounded perfect.  I wonder what happened that made it so she wouldn't talk to me about her day.    I gave it a few days and asked again.  Still no comment.  Then it occurred to me to me to ask if she would want another Grandparent date.  Maybe it wasn't the date maybe something else was making her shut down and not talk.  Maybe I was asking the wrong questions.

It hurt a little bit to hear her response.  

"Do you want to go on another Date with Grandma and Grandpa sometime?"

"No".  and then a quick change of subject by her part to move forward.

She still won't talk about it but I hope to someday hear her side of the story.  It may just be a little thing what was said but whatever it was I wish I knew.  

But I don't want to end on a sad note so one more note.  

All week I tossed and debated where and when I'd go to central Oregon for the eclipse.  I had made plans to visit Stephanie and her family (James cousin) but a week before the eclipse she told me that they would be staying at their house (10 minutes from totality) because traffic would be a nightmare.  She was right I-5 would be a nightmare.  but I couldn't put my heart into driving 3 hours two days before the eclipse to just be 10 minutes short of totality.  James told me to go to Idaho Falls.  My parents live there and i'd be in the line of totality.  I loved this idea but I had plans to meet my sister on the Oregon coast the day after the eclipse and if I was going to make the drive to Idaho I wanted to stay for longer than a weekend.

Then while visiting my brother Will for Taylor's birthday party he told me his plans.  He was going to drive down Sunday night in the middle of the night.  He was going to go through central washington and take the back roads.  He wasn't going to go as south as madrid where most of central Oregon congestion was.  I thought he was brilliant and asked to tag along.  He said I could and gave me his detail maps to the forest service road and all.

I came home and told James about my plans.  He suggested I contact Rebecca and find out if she'd be in central Oregon that way if worse came to worse I could meet up with her and sleep for a few hours before driving to the coast.

I contact Rebecca and she said she'd be south of Madrid we where welcomed to contact her if we needed anything.

When I told James the good news he suggested I just go stay with her.  That way I could go down earlier and not do 24 hours awake.  Besides he had a siding project he wanted to work on and if I was gone with the kids it would be easier.

I asked Rebecca if we could stay with her.  She said yes and James ready to send me out the door.  but  I wasn't ready to leave just yet.  I ended up spending all friday and Saturday at home.

I found a daybed I wanted for the kids room and contacted the guy.  It was still available so James went with me to get a new bed for the kids.  We also contacted a person about taking our bunkbeds.  She was super excited for the offer and had her husband come pick it up.
 It turned out to be a good thing I stayed home an extra day, in between all the bed swapping, James ended up needing my help to put the new siding on the house.   I was so happy I could help him with the project.  I wish we got a picture of us working together but, alas.


The siding went up fast and smoothly.  We ended up being two boards short for finishing. But we needed to put new windows in the bathrooms so we had time to look for more siding.  Around 4 pm James put away his tools and helped me load up my car.  He packed all my camping stuff and helped me go grocery shopping.  (more on the eclipse adventure to come)

The beginning stage.  I never got a picture of the all we had accomplished. 

 Friday also became a friend swap day.  Benjamin came to play with Gwenevere and Grace went to play with Adelaide.

I just love their friendship.  

 Before driving away off on our eclipse adventure, I took a picture of our house.   Hopefully in a few weeks we'll be painting our little home and bringing new life to her appearance.  I wanted to capture her beauty as is, and to thank her for the blessings that have come from living here.

She's beautiful just the way she is