Trip back...

The trip back to Oregon was a lot different this time around! For one, we had the freedom to stop and stay in a hotel, which was nice break in the 26+ hrs. of driving! We stopped in Vail, CO at the park where Chris proposed and of course, got some more pics in the same exact spot.

This time we BOTH had rings!! :-)

It looks a lot different without all the snow, but it is still a beautiful spot. We can't wait to take our kids there someday to play... but until that point, we'll just play on the playground!!



And just to prove that I DID drive at one point... as small as the time might have been... here is me somewhere in Utah...

We made it to Portland around 5ish, just in time to drop the rental car off. And the average person would probably find a comfy couch to crash on, but not us... we headed to the mall and Target and started spending some of our gift cards!! We don't have the ability to spend them back in Port Angeles, so we had to take advantage of the city while we could! When we did finally make it back to Port Angeles, I took full advantage of crashing on a comfy couch while Chris put together his new surround sound stereo system.

Family time...

Once the reception was over, the Timken family all headed back to the hotel for some pizza and pool action!! The pool was a little too cold for me, but the hot tub felt pretty fabulous!!!














And then later that night, Chris and I met up with the Copeland cousins down at the Q for a beer or two... where we also ran into all my college girls, which presented one last picture opportunity for the weekend!!! (Violet, you were definitely missed, my friend!!!)


Sunday morning, we got up early and headed to the hotel one more time for brunch with the Timken crew before everyone headed their separate ways. I have the best family in the world...



















This sign was too funny NOT to take a picture of!! Only in Hays, KS... then again, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw something like this in Port Angeles, too!! Haha!!!

Complimentary cleaning station... can't get much better than that!! Haha!!!

It's been awhile since all of us Copeland cousins have been together... unfortunately, we were missing Stephen. But I was thankful for the opportunity to get one last picture with Grandma and Grandpa in the house we all grew up playing in. They recently moved into a smaller apartment, which is definitely a good thing... and they're apartment is super cool, and a lot closer to mom & dad's, which is nice! I just wish Stephen was there to be with us, too!!

Wedding Reception #3

My folks hosted a wonderful wedding reception in Hays, which was a HUGE reunion... it was SO cool!! I absolutely loved having all my families mixed together! God blessed us with beautiful weather, so the outside venue worked out perfectly! We had a family luncheon before the reception started, and it was probably one of my favorite moments of the weekend to have my family in a huge circle... Copelands, Bruces/Lindbergs and Timkens. My Grandpa blessed the food (which I partly got on video) and then in true Lindberg style, my cousin Ron started us all singing Grace. It was beautiful! I tried getting that on video, too, but my stupid camera ran out of memory. Ugh! But it was a wonderful afternoon... in addition to all the family, friends from my childhood, high school, college, and church family all showed up to say HI and help us celebrate... it was awesome!!! God has truly put some wonderful people in my life over the past 32 yrs, and I couldn't be more grateful!!

By merely reading the card, I knew exactly what treasure would be wrapped up in the following gift. I just laughed, as Chris anxiously opened the gift to see the family heirloom that awaited...

This "price-less" gift has been passed around the family for YEARS in our white elephant exchanges. My cousin Mason was the last to receive the treasure, and apparently when they found it during their last move, they felt it was the perfect wedding gift!!! So now I have about 3.5 more years to figure out what artistic contribution Chris and I can make to the pitcher, just in time for Mason's graduation gift in 2013!! LOL!!!