California

Luke and I were able to take a trip to Disneyland this last week. We were celebrating Luke's birthday and our 3rd anniversary. It was so good to get away and enjoy some warmer weather while it was snowing at home in Oregon.

Day 1 of our trip was spent packing and getting last minute errands done (oil change, bank run, dinner, and some time with Rachel's sister, Heather, as she searched, tried on, and found, her wedding dress) before finally heading south around five in the evening. We arrived at our first hotel in Yreka, CA around 11pm

Day 2, Luke's birthday, was spent entirely in the car driving to Anaheim, CA to check in to our hotel for the next few days. Pretty uneventful day, just slightly stressful as we got into LA and experienced California driving in full force.

Day 3 We enjoyed a very full day at Disneyland. Riding as many rides as we could and walking around to different attractions. I think our favorite ride together was Pirates of the Caribbean, Luke's favorite of the day was Space Mountain, and mine...well, I couldn't really pick a favorite. I really was just thankful for time with Luke doing fun things and having sun on my face. :) We took a short break from Disneyland at lunch to visit a friend of mine, Angela (along with her son and niece), at Rainforest Cafe. Good times.

Day 4: It was time for California Adventure. After the full day at Disneyland, we took our time wandering around. With it being Tuesday, a lot of the extra attractions were closed, but we were still able to enjoy California Screamin',  Mickey's Fun Wheel, and a few others. Luke went on California Screamin' a couple times, did you know that if you're a single rider you can go in through the exit and skip the entire line (you get a special ticket from the employee that stands at the exit)? That was nice to find out, we were able to bypass a lot of the 40min waits that way. :)

Day 5 We left Disneyland behind and drive north to San Francisco. Arriving around the time of rush hour traffic, we decided to stop and walk along Fisherman's Wharf. I got a wonderful clam chowder bowl for dinner at Boudin Bakery, while Luke tried out their grilled cheese. It was a nice unexpected stop along the way, with some interesting, and also strange, sites to see.

Day 6 Our last day on the road. We drove Hwy 101 north through the Red Wood National Forest, and saw quite a few elk along the way. It was a very wet and rainy drive home, but we made it safe and sound back to the little apartment in Yamhill.

We're so happy we were able to spend the time away. It's always a little bitter-sweat coming home from vacation though and back to reality. It's so much fun making memories and exploring new places. Thank you to all of you who prayed for us as we drove. We are very blessed to have you in our lives.