Eagle Crest ~ 2013

We all look forward to our annual summer trip over to Eagle Crest.  We usually go towards the end of August, so it's a great way to cap off our summer.  This year more than ever before, I felt like our time was so relaxing and rejuvenating.  Our life is often hectic and rushed, so to be able to just relax and be together felt like a true gift!  The way the juniper smell welcomes us, the deer that we see throughout the day, the constant sun and warm weather and just the slower paced days, it was a slice of heaven!  I love that the kids are in play clothes, hair usually askew or in a swim suit begging to go to the pool.  Everything about our trip is laid back and I love it!  It's always fun to be with family and this type of trip is so conducive to a big family gathering.  Our days were lazy, mostly filled with outdoor activities and our evenings always included a big dinner together. It is the perfect ways to spend a few summer days and we are so grateful for the opportunity to go each year with Kyle's parents.

Kennedy was Auntie Val's shadow for most of the trip!  She sure loves her auntie!

loves her daddy, too!

and this was an hour of my afternoon ~ pure heaven!

Grandma arranged to take Carter golfing one afternoon.  He was so excited!  They had a great time together on the Challenge course.  Grandma commented that Carter played well and also had very good manners (music to my mama ears!)

my little man is growing up so fast!

Brady is quite the little golfer, too!  The kids took advantage of the grassy area behind our condo and played throughout the evening!

my boys.  my loves.

I know I have said it before, but it's worth repeating ~ I love that the kids have cousins close to them in age.  They always have so much fun together! 

Brady can't get enough of Carter and Kennedy and they are so sweet to him, as well.

love this free spirited one.  

love to see her running free, laughing from her toes, living and loving.

There were a few fawns outside one morning.  Carter was able to get fairly close and take a few pictures.  

It never gets old seeing deer up close and this is another thing that I love about Eagle Crest.

a few of Carter's pictures

Papa took the littles up to feed the horses ~ Kennedy was a little timid but still managed to give the horse a couple of carrots.

Brady was happy to give the horse a snack!

The weather was a little cooler on my last day but we still made a trip to the pool.  I absolutely love this picture of Brady ~ he was so happy!  Kyle is such a great uncle!

Carter doing a cannon ball!

Kennedy with a diving assist

Unfortunately, I had to go home a few days early so that I could go to work but the kids and Kyle stayed and enjoyed the weekend.  Ken and Diane were headed to a wedding, so I was able to bum a ride back to Portland.  It worked out nicely but I was sad to have to leave.

The kids on a hike

Brady feeding the ducks

a very happy girl!

And a very happy time at Eagle Crest this year!

Eagle Crest - a little horsing around

We decided that this year Carter was old enough to try horse back riding during our trip to Eagle Crest.  As a child, Kyle looked forward to his ride each year and was always a highlight of his time there.  Thankfully the stables offered pony rides for Kennedy, so she didn't feel left out.  They were both very excited at the prospect but were a little nervous once we got there.

Getting ready for her ride

We had a lovely cowboy, Jose, who took great care of the kids.  He was kind and soft spoken and had been riding horses his whole life.

Up in the saddle and ready to ride

Kennedy got to ride Princess, a 37 year old mare

She was slow and tired and perfect for our little one.

This kid holding the rope was a doll, he told us all about the horse and was very sweet with Kennedy

Kennedy and Daddy watching Carter

Almost his turn

Carter rode Rocky, a gentle horse who was used to being lead.

As he got on his horse, he looked and me and said, "Mama, I don't think I want to do this any more."  Sorry, Buddy, it's a little late.  I tried to encourage and reassure him.

Our guide, Jose, helped Carter along and kept him close. 

For the first half of the ride, Jose held onto the rope attached to Carter's horse.  He asked a few times if Carter would like to ride on his own and each time Carter answered no.  Then, about half way into our ride, Carter asked to go solo.  I was so proud of him.  He was very brave and very serious about riding correctly.

It had been quite some time since I had been on a horse and it was a lot of fun.  I rode Cayenne, who liked to rub up against trees.  Super.

All smiles!

Our horses trotted for a few steps as we arrived in the pasture, and Carter thought it was the coolest.

What a fun adventure!

Eagle Crest 2012

Our annual trip to Eagle Crest got off to a rocky start...Kennedy wasn't feeling well when we left and got sick during the drive over.  It was not a pleasant 30 minutes for any of us!  She was running a fever and threw up again throughout the night.  Suffice it to say it wasn't a restful night.  Carter woke up the following morning, also feeling sick, running a fever and throwing up.  They both napped and we just laid low our first day.  Thankfully it was just a 24 hour bug and both were feeling much better the next day.  The sun was shining, we were with family and once the kids were back to themselves, we had a wonderful vacation.

Our condo was on the 6th hole, which made for a perfect play space in the evenings.  A little kite flying, a lot of running, some golf, football and soccer.

I love the smell of central Oregon - I think it's the juniper, but I'm not sure - it just smells good.  Fresh and clean, it smells like vacation!

Wherever Carter and Kennedy were, Brady was a few steps behind.  He loves his cousins and did his best to keep up with the big kids.

Practicing some putting

Our littlest golfer - it's just a matter of time before he's swinging away, too.

Lots of time for bike rides

There are a lot of hills throughout the resort, but Carter did well and enjoyed the freedom of riding.

Kennedy and Brady preferred to catch a ride with Kyle

One morning, when the boys were out golfing, Kennedy and I took a long walk with Auntie Val and Brady.  We walked all the way to the coffee shop and then stopped to feed the ducks.

The deer are so domesticated and will get very close.  Each day we were fortunate enough to see a few, munching on the grass.

Harry Potter even joined us for dinner

While the adults were downstairs preparing dinner, Carter used the markers and drew himself a lightning bolt scar.

(This is Carter's latest obsession and it's kind of all consuming.  He is constantly listening to the books on tape and we have been plodding along with the fifth book this summer.  He loves the first few movies and is already talking about visiting Harry Potter land for his 10th birthday.)

Carter loved the opportunity to golf several times and then practiced in the evenings, too.

He's really improving but has a hard time understanding why every shot isn't perfect.  He got a little down when he wasn't putting well.  He's a perfectionist in the making, I'm afraid.

Lots of time to be outside, playing and climbing rocks

Brady loved the swings!

So did Sis

Carter must be awfully sweet because the mosquitoes ate him alive!  

The par-3 course that they tried, outside of Redmond, wasn't well maintained and had a ton of bugs.  They only played 10 holes because they were getting bit so badly.  Carter's arms and legs were covered in bites!

This is how we like to vacation, doesn't he look relaxed?

Golfing with Papa

My sweet boy, six years old and getting so big.

Setting off for our hike...

There is a wonderful trail that winds along the river.  The views are gorgeous and we had fun just ambling along.  The kids skipped rocks, 

climbed trees, 

and even humored me with a few pictures.

A very nice, older gentleman stopped and offered to take a photo of the four of us. 

Such a thoughtful gesture and one that I happily accepted.

We rode our bikes out to feed the horses.

And of course, we did lots of swimming!

I want to add that one afternoon, while the boys were golfing, I swam with Kennedy for a couple of hours.  We played and splashed and she had me treading water for ages as she jumped into the deep end, over and over!

Once everyone was feeling healthy, it turned out to be a very relaxing and fun few days.  I love this annual trip and am thankful that our kids get to experience this type of vacation.