Oregon Road Trip

On New Year's Day my Dad got really sick. We were supposed to leave for Oregon the next Monday, but we weren't sure if that was still going to happen or not. Thankfully, he was feeling almost 100% better, so we still were able to leave on Monday. 

On the way down, we made great time leaving at 10 am, missing all the city traffic, and finally arrived in Eugene at around 5 pm. We had a wonderful time visiting with Pammy, my great grandma, for the last time. My grandpa (Papa) was there with her.  Pammy had been going through cancer and so the main reason we went to Oregon was so we could have one last visit with her. It was only God's perfect timing because when we saw her, she was up sitting up in the living room with us laughing and talking with us. The next morning, she was unable to get out of bed and never got up since. What great memories we have had with Pammy! She passed away a week ago today and I will miss her very much.

After visiting with them, we continued 45 more minutes south to Eeott & Papa's Farm. We were excited to finally have arrived, and also to get to see our cousin Madison (or Madi), who we hadn't seen in about a year and a half. After chatting for an hour or so, Lillian and I went upstairs to get ready for bed.

It was the next day that Mom, Sören, Lillian, Esther, Madi, and I walked down to say hello to Eeott & Papa's horse, Apache. We fed him and gave him a good brushing. 

Here is a picture of Myself, Lillian, Sören, Esther , and  Madi with him:

We sort of got in a pickle with the cows. We were done with Apache, and we were going to head back to the house when all the cows crowded us into a corner and were mooing---they were hungry and it wasn't time to feed them yet. 

Here they are with Apache sticking his head out of his barn:

I think the cows are telling him, "We want food too!!!" 

***

The rest of the day we just hung out at the farm.  The next day, Mom & Dad went to a retreat down in Ashland. 

Eeott did a little trimming on Lillian & Esther's hair. She did a nice  job. :)

 Sören and Esther were feeling sick, and so while they watched a couple movies, Eeott and Madi taught Lilian and I how to play "Phase 10".  We caught on after a while and it's now my favorite card game. Madi won. :)

Eeott had to go up to Pammy's with Papa the next evening, and
so Madi watched us until Mom & Dad returned. 

The next morning, we all headed up to Eugene to have our Suburban worked on. We tried to brainstorm things to do while it was getting worked on. We decided to go to a Science Museum across the way from the Oregon Ducks Football Stadium. We got there and the only area open that day was for little kids, younger than Esther even. The older kid area was closed. So we left. 

Here is a picture of all of us minus mom by the museum in front of the stadium:

  
We drove across town to a indoor mini golf course. Sören, Esther (with the help of Dad), Lillian, Madi, and I all participated.

On one particular hole, Sören made it in 1 try!!! Great job Buddy!

!

Lillian

Me

Madi

Esther

We headed over to Pammy's and visited with Eeott, Papa, and Dad's cousin Jeff, who was there. Soon after, Mom and Dad left to pick up our Suburban.

Soon after, Papa, Lillian, and Sören left and went back to the farm to feed the animals. Later, Mom, Dad, Esther, Madi, and I drove to the farm.

As soon as we got back to the farm, everyone went inside and Papa left to go back to Pammy's. I had to get something out of the car. "Shh!" Papa exclaimed suddenly. We heard a goat baaing. He told me to come with him down to the goat barn. Thoughts were racing through my mind: Did Chestnut have her baby kid we had been waiting to be be born all week?!?" We heard it again. Yes, it was a baby goat!! I ran back up to the house to tell everyone. I then ran back down to Papa and the goats. With a flashlight in hand, he shined it on the new kid. It was the cutest little thing I ever saw---well, just about. Dad and the kids quietly came down to see. After awhile, they younger kids went back up to the house and went to bed. Dad, Papa, Madi, and I stayed down to make sure the kid would eat from it's mom. After a bit they decided to help him eat because they were worried that he hadn't been eating. It took an hour or so, but finally the trio got him to eat. I watched them. Papa left, and we all headed inside. Dad and Madi had to feed him again early the next morning and that night and so on. That morning we got to see him in the daylight. We discovered that he was a boy, and we named him, "Mario". :) This was because we had been playing Dad's old old video game (that still worked!) from when he was in high school, the past few days. 

Here Mario is...oh, so cute!

A proud new mother with her son :)

Baby Mario 

Auntie Sharon came down to visit that day (I think). We had fun visiting with her and she spent the night.

I am catching up to her in height!

Sören & Dad playing Battleship

Playing the 1989 Super Mario Brothers Video Game :)

Farm People!

The next day, Sunday, we headed up to Eugene once more, with the car packed, to say goodbye to Eeott, Papa, and our final goodbye to Pammy. Auntie Sharon and Madi stayed at the farm to take care of the animals. We stayed an hour or so then started the long drive back to Washington. What a special week it had been!

Eeott rocking Esther