Halloweeners

We had a nice Halloween day with friends and family. Miriam found, unwrapped and ate her first Twizzler. We are hoping her candy tastes evolve eventually.

Early in the day, the suspense building

 Dorothy Gale - she LOVES the shoes

 (Slightly) Cuter than Judy Garland

 I wish I always looked this intriguing

 Tim rushing to finish the roof on workshop, 

crazed maniac style and more frightening than a goblin

Road Trip, Part 1: Portland to Palm Springs

Twenty-seven hundred miles round-trip. Eleven days. Family, friends, food, beer and unbelievably beautiful weather and scenery. I feel sorry for people who live anywhere other than the Pacific coast. No offense.

I-5, Northern California, Mt. Shasta Overlook.

 Mt. Shasta and UFO.

 A stopover in Sacramento to see family.

Lunch at Rubicon Brewing Co.

Miriam's aunt Maureen and Grandad D.

Hometown, Riverside, CA. 

Best grinders on the planet at D'Elias Grinders.

 San Diego, Sail Bay. 

This playground was right on the bay.

Not too shabby.

View from aunt and uncle's house.

Sail Bay, San Diego. 

 Lunch at Pacific Beach Brewing.

 This was shopping at its best.

Pangaea, San Diego.

 Sillyness.

 Miriam, Mom and 3 of her brothers (Bob, Larry, Tom).

Yogurt-a-holic.

 A fine road stop.

Soft serve at Stagecoach Inn.

Road from San Diego to Palm Springs.

 Glorious sunshine in Palm Springs.

(Admittedly, Miriam and I were overheating.)

 Palms and swings.

 Mom, me, Mimma.

 The coolest house ever.

My nana lived here for many years (next to Sonny Bono!).

Palm Springs.

 Dad, Mim, Aunt Sue, Cousin Jenni,

me, Aunt Maria, cousin Meghan, Bode.

 I do so love the way the desert looks.

 Getting ready for Aunt Sue's birthday party

at Las Casuelas, Palm Springs.

 Pretty aunt Sue (can you believe she's 60??)

 with Mim.

Queen Baby, adored by all. 

 Red velvet cupcake, anyone?

 Satisfied.

 Uncle Steve (with wife Carol), Aunt Maria, 

Aunt Sue, mom and dad.

Then we headed north...

Family (Reunited and it feels so good)

Lots of family made their way to Portland this summer. Tim's brother and his family came from the far reaches of the U.S. (AKA South Florida). A slew of family came from Sacramento and Stockton including Tim's sister (and her hubby and kids), dad, cousin Angela (with beau Kaleb), Aunt Joanne (and Uncle Ralph), and cousin Pat. Tim's cousin Katie and her husband came down from Tacoma. Tim also has lots of family (Kofflers and Remenars) just north across the river in Vancouver that we also reunited with.
We had a birthday party; pedaled to beer; held multiple BBQs; went to music in the park, museums and the zoo. It was nice just to BE together. A fine reunion indeed.

 Dennis (Tim's brother) and Olivia (Dennis's daughter)

 Kyle's (Dennis's son) 6th Birthday Pool Party

 Miriam's Cousins, Olivia (3 years) and Jillian (7 years)

 Tim and his dad (Dennis)

 Cousins Ratty (Pat, Dennis, Angela, Maureen and Tim)

 Tim's Aunt Joan (Koffler)

 Miriam and ALL of her cousins
(from both sides of the family)

Left to right: Aidan Bartko, Miriam Lynch, Kyle Lynch,

Owen Purk, Jillian Purk, Olivia Lynch

The Crew

 Tim's Aunt Joanne and Uncle Ralph and Cousin Katie

 Soraia and Dennis Lynch

 Dennis, Steve and Maureen poolside

 Tim,  dad and brother

 Love bug comin' at ya!

Glad to have each other

Happy trails...

Early Summer Mimz

Hi!

A morning jaunt out to Dabney State Recreation Area, a really nice spot on the Sandy River

Fashionista

Another excellent visit from the Olympia Crew
(Clio and Dario)

Metzler Park: a fun overnight camping adventure with Uncle Mike, Aunt Dre and Cousin Aidan. We roasted marshmallows, threw the football around, splashed in the creek. Aidan nicknamed Miriam's baby doll "creepy baby".

Post-bathtime on a warm day

She whirls and twirls