We were back in California with Mr. M’s familia… had another brilliant time eating Thanksgiving dinner (yes, in July), and at our family Luau in honour of Seth’s birthday. All was good until we tried to fly home spending 5 hours in the executive club due to thunderstorms on the Northeast.

Watching dolphins from the beach house

Luau

We’ve returned to find our cat Simon has disappeared (boys are devastated) and a house that feels way too posh indeed, pictures in my next post.

I’m loving all the olympics footage, Numero and I are addicted… come on team GB, AND if you have not already heard we’re expecting another little beauty in 6-7 weeks time… dead excited!

Oregon reminds me a little of Wales for its overcast weather, plants that line the sea bluffs, rugged coastline and its natural beauty. The sea stars here are massive and liter the rock pools along with large sea urchins, crabs and fish, the lush evergreen forests are the perfect and most beautiful backdrop. Before arriving at the coast we spent three nights in Sunriver, a resort in central Oregon where we biked, swam, played tennis and hiked for 4 days. Today we clambered up 111 steps to view the scenery from atop a lighthouse and spied seals, whilst walking on warm, dark volcanic rocks that have been smoothed by a never ending ocean.

Grandma June is overwhelmed by emotion as she watches her grandchildren run in and out of the sea and Granddad is happy to potter around watching wimbledon, the olympic tryouts and tasting the local fresh seafood catch of the day.

Mr M. has been left at home to manage Windyhill’s new kitchen, wood floor and doors install. A new laundry room is replacing the original kitchen and a tiled floor is being laid over the radiant heat entryway. I look forward to meeting him later on this month in San Diego. In the meantime we still have Yellowstone National Park (one of my favourite national parks) to explore and spend some time in Idaho trout fishing.