Oregon Jan 2013

We went to Oregon for one weekend (Jan 10-13).  Just Weston, Quincy and me.  It was so nice to get away for a little bit. The day we left it starting snowing, and we actually had to sit in the plane for an hour and a half at the SLC airport.  By the time we landed in Oregon it was pretty late, but we were still able to drive to the coast and begin our vacation.  

Quincy loved climbing in the suitcase.  He did these several times, while we were packing and several times in our room.  

The view from our room. 

In the morning we were able to sit and enjoy our breakfast and the view.  

On Friday we went on a short hike to the "Secret Cove"  It was a bit cool, but it was still a very enjoyable hike.  

All Quincy had to do was relax and enjoy nature.  

We made it to the top and decided not to climb down into the cove, since it was close to Quincy's nap time and because the climb down to the cove was pretty steep and I was a little worried.  

But we were able to get some good pictures.  

We had hoped to get back to the car before Quincy's nap, but I guess he was just too comfortable.  

Then on Saturday we went out to eat at a restaurant.  Weston ordered a yummy bowl of clam chowder.  Something that he never gets at home, since I don't cook sea food.     

Then after lunch we went for a walk on the beach.  

I wrote a little message for Weston on the beach and I added a heart shaped rock.   

Once again Quincy was just too comfortable and he decided to take another nap.  

The only family shot that we took.  

Then on Sunday we drove first to Beaverton to meet up with my old BYU roommate, Amber and her family.  We were able have a delicious Sunday dinner and catch up with one another.  

On Monday we flew back to Utah and we were greeted with more snow.  

It was a wonderful getaway.  Long enough that I was able to relax, but I was ready to come home as I had started to miss Hunter and Walter.  

So Long Farwell

I know that these posts about our trip to Austria are super long and it has been a while since my last post, but I really want to finish blogging about it. Also I'm trying to limit the pictures that I post, believe it or not we took over four hundred pictures during this vacation. So I'm sorry but this is going to be a really long post, but it will be the last one about our trip to Austria.

So on Wednesday we decided to visit a small town named Murau. It's a town that many tourists probably don't stop in, but it has some hidden treasures. We spent the afternoon walking and hiking up to see the town's small church and taking in the beauty of the country side. Though it was not a busy day for us, it was still very special. I think that often when we vacation we are so busy seeing the famous sites that we forget the beauties that every day has to offer.



In front of the small church

Little town of Murau

On Thursday we went to Vienna. Vienna is a more modern town then Salzburg and so much bigger. I think it would have taken us a couple of days to explore all of Vienna, but we only had one day. It was a four hour drive to Vienna and from the moment we got there we were on the go. We went to two palaces and one church.

The Imperial Palace-Hofburg, it was huge. I think that one whole day could have been spent just at the Imperial Palace, that is if your three and one year old allow it. There were tons of museums that you could see and a butterfly house and the Spanish riding school. We did get to see the Crown Jewels.

The roof of St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Schonbrunn Palace- This is a picture that we took of the outside, I don't even think that you can see Sharman and me standing in the middle of the staircase. This was the palace that the royal family used as their summer residence.

Can you imagine this as your summer home?

On Friday we went to Castle Hohenwerfen. It a 900 year old castle. We took a tour through the castle and we saw the weapons collection and a birds of prey demonstration.

Our tour guide ringing the bell

Hunter in the weapon collection room, with my listening device (for the tour). Somehow on every tour that we went on Hunter ended up with my listening device. So I think he knows more about Austria then I do.

Sharman and Mac guiding Walter. (I just think that this picture is super cute)

Castle Hohenwerfen

On the last day of our trip we drove into Germany and went to the Eagle's Nest. Weston has read a lot of books about World War II and really wanted to see it. And I must admit that once we got to the top it was beautiful.





I just love this picture of Hunter.

Well that is the end of our trip. I hope you enjoyed all the pictures.

Mashville

Weston had a week of vacation time that had to be spent before the end of March so we went to "Mashville, Tennessee" (that's how Hunter says it). We had a great time and were able to relax and just have fun as a family. We stayed at the Wyndham Resort; it was like a small apartment, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small dining/living room and kitchen. We had so much fun with the kids.





On Sunday after church we went to the Botanical Gardens in the Grand Old Opry. This is the only family picture we got during the whole trip. The gardens were beautiful. This is my favorite picture of the kids in the gardens with the waterfall behind them.

Then on Monday we went to visit the house of Andrew Jackson. Unfortunately it was a really cold day and Hunter was not impressed with the house especially since he couldn't touch anything. Fortunately that night for our Family Home Evening activity we went swimming at the indoor pool that was part of our hotel. Hunter loves swimming, the water was a bit too cold for Walter, but I got a couple of cute pictures of him sitting pool side.

On Tuesday we went to Mammoth Caves. I think that was our favorite. The kids did awesome. It was the shortest tour only one hour, but it was perfect for Hunter and Walter, especially since we forgot to bring the baby carrier so Weston held Walter the whole time. By the end all Walter wanted to do was get down and crawl.

Cave Crickets- Not my favorite

Then on Thursday we went to the Nashville Zoo.

It was a great break and we left relaxed and happy and dreaming about the next time we could go on a family vacation.

Hunter's Song

Last night on our drive to Tennessee we were listening to the radio, trying to find a station. We landed on Delilah. (Not Weston's favorite) So we were listening to people call in when a women called in and said she was in the car with her seven year old named Hunter. Well our Hunter quickly responded that, "I'm not seven I'm two". The lady asked Delilah to play a song for her son, who loves listening to the show. So Delilah picked the song Delilah. We asked Hunter who's song it was and he said, "My song" and then at the end he said, "that was a good song, it's my song"