Oregon 2024 - Day 3: Redwood National Forest Part 1

 

Oregon 2024 - Day 2: Yo Yo Museum, Long Drive, & Fun Pool

In the morning, we packed back up our car before heading out to the town of Chico.  This is where the Yo-Yo Museum was located. 

It was really smokey when we got to Chico.  We could even smell the smoke in this town.  I think that we were the closest to the fires when we were there.

It took a couple turns around the block to find a parking spot, but then we found one.  We then walked to the museum which was located at the back of a toy store.

Tyler was so excited when we got there.  It was a small space at the back of the store.  They had lots of different yo-yos on display.  They showed the ones that were used by the winners of the latest competitions.  They also had a huge wooden yo-yo that was actually used by a crane to go up and down.  

Tyler was looking at which yo-yo he wanted to buy, and someone came out to help him.  Turns out he was a yo-yo master.  He let Tyler try any of the yo-yos he wanted to and then he even showed him a couple tricks.  It was fun watching them together.

We also bought Tyler a t-shirt and a sticker.  Josh found his souvenir, a harmonica.  It was totally karma because of me laughing at buying Graham a harmonica for his birthday.

We then went and got some lunch at a local restaurant.  It was pretty good food, and I was glad that we went there.  We then got back on the road towards Eurika, CA.

Google Maps had us go a crazy route to our destination.  Maps told us that we would be on the road for like 138 miles.  Every one of those miles were not great.  The road was so curvy, and we had to go so slow.  The first maybe 40 miles we all had good spirits and thought it was an adventure, but after that we got totally over it.  We did find a little place to stop after about 100 miles to go to the bathroom and have a little snack that we shared of a shake and fries.

We then finished our drive of doom and got to our hotel.  It was a nice place, and our room had three separate beds and with Tony and mine bed in its own room.  

After we put our stuff in the room, we all got on our swimsuits and headed to the pool.  The pool actually felt pretty good.  It was half indoor and half outdoor.  It was so cool.  The hot tube felt really good too.  

Tony and I then showered and went and got us all some dinner.  We found that they had a Costco in this town, so we went for Costco food court pizza.  We got to walk around the store while the pizza was cooking.  We even got some ice cream for the kids.

The kids all got showered and changed so they were ready for dinner.  After eating Tony and I went to the grocery store to get food for the next day.  It took a couple tries, but we got all the food that we needed.  We then ended the night relaxing in our room watching some Olympics.  

Oregon 2024 - Day 1: SLC to Auburn, CA

We started our drive nice and early, around 6:30.  We stopped in Magna for some doughnuts before we officially headed out of town.  They were pretty good doughnuts, and everyone enjoyed them.

We then spent the next many hours driving towards California.  Wendy was at Ryan's house and asked us to come there to visit them before we went on to Auburn for the night. 

So, we stopped at Ryan's in Reno, Nevada.  He showed us his house and yard and we met his kids.  It was very nice.  After seeing everything, we then all went to lunch at a Mexican Restaurant.  The food was okay.  It was nice to spend some time getting to know Ryan and his kids a little better.

After we drove to Auburn.  We got all set up in my parents' house before we went to Julie's house.  We checked out her garden and then we went and got some dinner at the pizza place near Julie's work.  We also stopped in the office for some swag, snacks and drinks from Wendy's stash.  

After dinner we went to Averee's work at the Racket Club to give her our leftovers and to walk around the place.  That was fun to see what the Racket Club looks like on the inside.  After that we dropped Julie off at home and then went back to my parents for the night.  It was very nice to have a comfortable place for all of us to stay for the night.

End of July Fun in the Sun

The kids have been wanting to go swimming at the Taylorsville outdoor pool, so we finally made it happen.  We invited Grandma Margie, and she met us there.  

The pool felt so good, and we all had a great time going down the slide, jumping of the diving board, and just playing in the water.

On another day I took the kids to Macey's to get some ice cream cones.  I usually only let the kids get the smaller cones, but the last time we went they got to go up a size and they were all very happy about that.  We have loved going to Macey's for ice cream cones.  It's a good deal on tasty soft served ice cream.

The girls and I went to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Murray outside amphitheater.  We all had a good time but decided that we didn't like that story line so much.  But we love watching live musicals in the outdoor amphitheater. 

We have all been enjoying our summer and are looking forward to our end of summer trip to Oregon.

Tyler and Allie Participate in Sacrament Meeting

Tyler and Allie got to be part of the program in church the Sunday before we left on vacation.  

Tyler volunteered to speak about FSY and Allie got to sing with the Primary.  Tyler did a great job.  I am so proud of him for volunteering to do something he doesn't like to do, but he wants to get better at.  He wrote the talk himself and did a great job.  Allie sang very well, and it was fun that it happened the same day.  Some of my family watched it on the internet and sent me their screen shots.  

Tyler FSY 2024

 Tyler wanted to go to FSY by himself this year.  I was proud of him for being so brave.

Tony and I were able to take him up to the University of Utah after picking up some lunch.

We got him checked in and then we took him to his dorm room.  He had his room all by himself.  One of his roommates was already there, but we didn't meet him.  We then said our goodbyes and wished him luck.

Tony then picked him up bright and early on Saturday morning.  Tyler said that he had a great time and was glad that he went by himself.  He said that the week really strengthened his testimony, and he really enjoyed the people in his group.  I am glad that he had that chance to go again and that he had so much success.