Oregon trip (random pics.)...

On October 18th, we lost someone very dear to us. My Aunt Mary (mom's sister) passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. My mom was able to be in Oregon with her for the last month or so while she was on hospice. My aunt and uncle have served the role as grandparents for all of us...providing some of my siblings with a place to live, supporting us through every stage in our lives, letting us spend summers with them and taking us on vacation, not to mention spoiling us as grandparents tend to do. Not only is she my aunt, but she is Zack's Great Grandma (Jess' grandma). She will be deeply missed.

Due to the loss of Aunt Mary, Rich took 6 days off of work and we took a trip to Salem, Oregon to be with our family and attend the funeral services. Let me just say, we have an incredible family and we were so blessed to be able to be there.

Jess flew in from Oklahoma...boy have we missed her.

My boys in their suits, ready for the "celebration of life". What a good life it was, too.


For about 4 nights, we shared our hotel room with my sister Kate and Mom...both of whom snore like you wouldn't believe! Thank the Lord for the invention of earplugs!

Resting in the hotel while Zacky napped.

Zack and Uncle Gub (mom's brother from Montana)


The best entertainment ever - - the bathroom mirror in our hotel. We called his reflection his "Baby Friend".

"Don't sass me, Baby Friend!"

"Hey! There you are!"

Unfortunately, the 24th (the day of the viewing/rosary at the chapel) was my 27th birthday. It was a pretty emotional day, but I got the best birthday present ever...Zack went for a walk with my sister Kate and collected two handfuls of leaves for me for my birthday present. It was so sweet! He was pretty reluctant to actually GIVE them to me though :)

We had a nice BIG room for Zack to run.

The wake at my cousin Dave and Sylvia's house.


Laying on the hotel bed cracking himself up.


"Give your Baby Friend kisses, Zacky!"