September Update: 10 Favorite Photos from Eugene

At the beginning of September, we traveled to Eugene, Oregon to visit with Sean's parents, a trip that was long overdue. We had a great time; the trip was packed with fun outings and celebrations. Sadly, on the very last day, on the very last outing, we lost our camera that contained the photos for the whole trip. Luckily Sean's dad had been snapping photos throughout the trip, so there was a record of the events. From those, here are the 10 best photos that show the highlights of the trip. For a look at the whole photo album, click here.

Auric found his reflection on the outside of garbage can at the Logan airport.

Auric sitting in Grandma and Grandpa's dishwasher.

Climbing Mt. Pisgah, Auric on my back and Thora on Sean's shoulders

Auric celebrated his first birthday on the trip. We spent that day exploring the Oregon coast and eating dinner in Newport, OR, at of all places, the surprisingly family-friendly Rogue Brewery. Before heading out, Auric got to open some presents.

I think he forgot to hold up what he wants to show us.

Once we got to the coast, we were all wowed by the blue skies and warm air. We relished in this experience playing in the sand and running from the cold waves.

At a cove, overlooked by a lighthouse.

It was here that we brought out the cupcakes that we'd bought in Eugene. (We'd asked for the icing to be put on the side, and Thora and I enjoyed decorating them ourselves.) We sang Auric "Happy Birthday" and we all enjoyed a cupcake before getting back in the car and heading further up the coast. We stopped at a few more scenic lookouts, one that, at low-tide, revealed star fish and anemones, and had a large rock covered in seals lying in the sun and some splashing in the water.

Chocolate-covered Auric, after his birthday cupcake

The following day was Sean's birthday. Here he is cutting his birthday apple pie.

It was on this trip that we also spent two evenings at the nearby swim/splash park where Thora, Sean, Auric, and Brian swam. There was a large, twisty slide that Thora loved, a wave pool that was less of a hit, and a lap pool where Thora practiced her doggie paddle without any flotation aid. She can swim by herself now! And while photos and video of this happening at the swim park is lost with the camera, here is a video of it at our neighborhood pool on the last day before it closed. (The water pools in her swim bottoms and has to be emptied each time she gets out of the water--hence the partial disrobing each time.)