Forgive some out-of-order blog posting since I’m finally getting around to writing about the rest of our Bend vacation last week.  Sigh… we just got home a few days ago but it seems so long ago already.

Anyway, here’s to some reminiscing of a really nice week away with the family.  Since we’ve had kids vacations have been fun but not really all that… relaxing.  Our week in Bend was actually relaxing, which was a lovely, lovely change of pace.

So what did we do?  We went for a lot of hikes/walks/strolls and a couple of bike rides.  I loved the bike ride – the kids, well… not so much.  Poor little Sam had a hard time with his helmet so we ultimately took it off.  By the time we got back to the house he had fallen asleep with a little pout on his face.  We were able to bribe Clare through the trip with snacks.  Note to self: next time we take a bike ride load up on pita chips and grapes to pacify the troops.

Yes, if you are counting we have 6 adults, 2 children and 4 dogs.  I’m pretty sure it took us twice as long to actually get  here than we spent hiking.

Clare’s favorite part of hiking was walking Pat and Dave’s little dog Chloe.  She was the perfect speed for our little dog walker.

Mostly there was a lot of playing.  Clare and Sam playing on the floor, wrestling with kids, posing them in cute places (exhibit a: baby in a laundry basket), and just generally enjoying each other in a way that seems harder when there is work to do, emails to reply to, bathrooms to clean, and lawns to mow.  It was, exactly, what a relaxing vacation should be.  (I’m missing it a little – can you tell?)