What a way to end our summer. We spent a week in Eugene, Oregon (home of the University of Oregon) with the McCoy's and it was such a refreshing and relaxing time to be together as family! These cousins are some happy "ducks," as you can see!
We attended Mass at the Newman Center on campus where Sarah's family is very active in the music ministry. We loved seeing them in action! Bronius joined on violin and Dominic served as an altar sever. It made my heart so happy! My brother in law Josh didn't make it in many pictures because when he wasn't working, he had an awful cold!
Board game central!
My sister Sarah INSISTED that we enjoy wine country to the fullest during our visit. We were happy to oblige! Iris winery was my second favorite of the four we visited.
This is the view from the summit of Spencer's Butte, the highest point in Eugene. The first time I made it to the top of this as an unpracticed hiker, there were no stairs. It was a smooth trail the whole way up until the top - when it became a spiky crown of perilous rocks. This time around, steps had been carved out of the rock - which made the ascent much more bearable! Jonas made it to the top with us, despite my many "check ins" with him to see if he wanted to go back down. He'd sit and take a break and then say "Mommy, I want to make it to the top." His tenacity was so motivating!
It would be a grievous error for me not to mention our TWO trips to Off the Waffle. The boys went sweet this time, the WORKS. Chocolate sauce, whipped cream, strawberries, nutella. I went savory and had "goat in the headlights," on Sarah's recommendation. Goat cheese, basil, poached egg and avocado.... oh my stars. I was glad I had hiked enough to earn it!
I love food. It's just true.
We also spent a lot of time at the Eugene Public Library, which is an AMAZING place. Three stories and so much to do! The boys loved the Makers Lab where they had some hands-on time with robotics, 3-D printing and more highly technical things which I know nothing about.
We also loved our time at Skinner's Butte park. It is an incredible place, with a butte you can climb, an adorable park for the kids that is a scaled down model of the city of Eugene, a rose garden and more!
Here we are at the Planetarium near campus, where we enjoyed a special presentation about the upcoming solar eclipse! Parts of Oregon were in the path of totality, but we were going back to Texas right before so we missed the big show in the sky!
Here is a moment I caught of Jonas in the sunlight, on the trails of Sweet Creek Falls. He was such a trooper! When we hiked in Oregon 3 years ago, we often had to split the group up so Jonas wouldn't tucker out/get hurt! But he did EVERYTHING everyone else did and we were so proud of him!
We weren't able to take some of the day trips we had planned due to the smoke from the wild fires, it made the air unsafe to breathe. But it hardly felt like a sacrifice...with views LIKE THIS....
Milo's dune
Our day trip to Heceta Head, on the coast of Oregon. We like to stop at this sand dune which is oddly enough, behind a grocery store on the way to the coast! We slid, we rolled, we got sand under our fingernails and in our ears....it was a full immersion experience. We also purchased our eclipse viewing glasses at the store on the way out...which would come in handy for a few days later.
This is a cave at Heceta Head. I loved hiding in here while the kids played and listening to the echoes of the waves crashing from within. What a unique experience. I adopted it as my Mom Cave. Too bad it's thousands of miles away!!!
Dominic's cove
My amazing big sister Sarah, who works harder than anyone I know, at homeschooling her 3 children and creating a beautiful life for her family. She entertained guests ALL summer and we were the second to the last of the groups of visitors. But we felt like the only ones! ;) Love you, sis.
Abelone winery, where we enjoyed a flight of wine while the kids played. Abelone was my third favorite winery experience, if I had to rate them. King Estate was my fourth. But only because it was too fancy for my taste. ;) Getting THIS picture of the boys was good, though!
On our last day, we explored downtown Eugene on foot and ate at Eugene Electric, a clever little place that was converted from old train cars. I could write a song about the caprese sandwich I ate there.
On our last day, we visited Sarver winery, which is everyone's favorite. The views are breath taking, the wine is full of spirit, there is live music and a super fun crowd of people who love to dance and bring picnics......and they serve amazing appetizers! I highly recommend the chocolate-dipped shortbread! (and have seconds, too!)
Josh is back! Yay!
We are so grateful to have ended summer on such a pleasant note. A week of restoration in nature with family was just what we needed to take on a new school year! Can't wait to go back!
most of the photo credits: Sarah McCoy on her amazing camera
some of the photo credits: Me on my iPhone
