Final Full Day in Sunriver

A few shots of the happy dogs in our presence.  This was the first year that Bogey didn't come with us.  We miss that dog.  But, Travis and Steph felt like handling a baby was enough of a challenge without throwing in the needs of their beagle.  Understandable.  I had in my mind that perhaps this would be the last year of trying to take Sydney as she is quite the nightmare on long trips these days in the vehicle (she chewed through the brand new carrier we purchased on the way over), but then you see her in the snow, having the time of her life, and think there's no way we could leave her behind.

Baxter is SO cuddly....

I think Sydney is trying to make snow angels.

With every year that passes, the kids do a better and better job of packing, keeping themselves occupied and happy, - and this year they even learned how to put their dishes directly in the dishwasher!  We complained about the amount of stuff Mikayla insists on packing - such as these "school supplies" - but, when they pull them all out, you can't help but appreciate the fun of it and how much joy it brings them.  (You should have seen the girls' room though - at any given point during the week, it was ransacked with Barbies galore - and clothes and other toys covering every inch of carpet.  Needless to say, Michele and I found ourselves better off if we just didn't go upstairs to check it out...)

The hot tub was a source of fun too...I think the boys, at one point, spent two hours straight in the hot tub.  We kind of like it when they aren't there (at least as a group) when we are....they kind of disrupt the Kindle reading retreat we set ourselves up to have.

This was where John spent a good chunk of his time.  I think, at this point, he was working on next year's "Mens' Round-Up" graphics.  We had just finished watching "Men in Black 3" when this pic was taken.

A collection of the plethora of homemade cookies/treats we had waiting right outside the kitchen door for us.  While we did our best at plowing through them, we still ended up tossing out a ton.

Can you believe this pantry?  I am really very content with our little home in Eugene.  I think it is pretty ideal for our family.  But, I will admit that there's always a bit of a letdown coming home after staying at such a grand location for a week.  Between this pantry, the gourmet kitchen, the hot tub, the walk in closet in our room, the jacuzzi tub in the large bathroom, the double set of ovens, the laundry room....(I think you get my drift)...well, it takes a while to settle back in to reality upon return.

The boys, letting off a little steam and cabin fever....the dogs wanted so badly to be brought into the mix.