Day 24 : Oliverio Campout, Day Two

{ Friday, 07 August 2009 }

{ NOTE: This post still-in-progress }

We woke up Friday morning to the same weather: cold, gray and cloudy. We always go river rafting down the Rogue River on Friday but since the temperature stayed at sixty four degrees we abandoned the idea and spent the day hanging out in and around camp. Some of the cousins ventured down the hill and into the lake, which - from what I heard - was colder than the air. During the morning Allan took Gian for a bike ride, the kids hung out with grandma and we all just lazed around.

GRAY CLOUDS GO AWAY

LOOK CLOSELY; WHERE'S GIAN?

LOOK AT GIAN'S SMILE
{ while i was hyperventilating through the view finder }

MAILE ON CRUISE CONTROL

GIAN, WRONG TRICYCLE

HA, GRANDPA MATCHES THE HAMMOCK

Okay, I must clarify these next few frames. Auntie Evan went camera crazy and made all the cousins pose for her so she could take momentos back with her to the Big Island. We BPs had the bright idea of staging our photo shoot. Auntie Evan was supposed to capture us in mid-air but when I looked through the film I discovered that when she pressed the silver button she was always two seconds too late. No offense, Auntie Evan, we love what you took! Good thing Celeste was there to capture it. { NOTE: I still have to upload her photos. }

THIS SET : SEAN

THIS SET : STILL SEAN

THIS SET : TIE BETWEEN SEAN AND DEUCE

THIS SET : BRANDON

THIS SET : FIVE WAY TIE BETWEEN SEAN, DEUCE, CHRIS, BRANDON AND ATELEI

THIS SET : SEAN

THIS SET : DEUCE AND ATELEI

Let's tally up the score : Sean, 5; Deuce, 3; Atelei and Brandon, 2; Chris, I; Jenn, 0. I know, I cannot pose save for my signature pose.

Day 23 : Oliverio Campout, First Day

{ Thursday, 06 August 2009 }

I could honestly admit that last year's Oliverio campout was the Worst.Campout.Of.My.Life. Gian, age one at the time, never stopped crying. He refused to be held by anyone save for grandpa Edgar and me; he didn't like the cold lake water; he abhorred bathing in the shower. It didn't help that Medford was having a nasty heat stroke that week and we all were sweating bullets. Those three days - to date - were the longest days of my life as a mother. Every night after I put Gian to bed, I would crawl onto my mattress and cry. I never made it to the nightly s'mores, the cousin conversations, the late night runs to Medford. All my thoughts were centered around one sentence, "When will this end?". It was awful.

You can say I was a bit trepidacious about camping this year because I hadn't still gotten over the fiasco of the year before. Granted, Allan would be joining us on this end of the trip so I wouldn't be completely alone. But still... our little boy can be clingy. Praise the Good Lord that Gian was a complete angel! He laughed, played with his aunties and uncles, went "swimming" and charmed the hearts of his grandmas and grandpas. It was a complete 180 from last year and I can honestly say that Oliverio Campout of 2009 is my favorite campout so far.

DRIVING TO MEDFORD

THE GRAY, ANGRY SKIES GREETED US ALL DAY THURSDAY

THE AC { AWESOME COUSINS } TRYING TO STAY WARM

LET'S GO FOR A WALK, GIRLS!

IT WAS SO COLD THAT ALL WE COULD DO IS SIT AROUND THE FIRE

NO CAL AND PORTLAND TRANSPLANTS

REASON #274 WHY I LOVE CAMPING

EVENING WORSHIP
{ sean is trying to read something for the crowd }

Despite the frigid air, the occasional drizzle and Mr. Sun hiding behind the clouds we managed to have fun reconnecting with everyone. It's been over six years since the BPs were complete so this year's campout is especially special. Stay tuned for classic Brat Patrolesque poses, river rafting and good ol' fashion fun.

Day 22 : P-Town!

{ Wednesday, 05 August 2009 }

{ My sisters gave me a deadline to finish the last six days of our RV trip so I'm buckling down and plowing through it. Cafe Latte, please! }

Jessica, Atelei's good friend from LLA, visited us this morning and spent the day as our resident tour guide through this beautiful, green city. Did I mention she graced us with Krispy Kreme donuts? Yum yum. Our theme for visiting the major US cities is: Public Transportation is our Friend. Portland was no exception.

WHERE ARE YOU, LITTLE GIAN?

YAY, ANOTHER TRAIN!

WHY ARE THE BFFs ON THE PHONE?

KALE'A IS MORE INTERESTED IN THE CHANGING VIEWS

THE MONINGKA GIRLS

The train dropped us off at City Center, which - as the name suggests - is Portland's center of town. We heard about the food carts stationed through out the city, so in keeping with our food tour, Jessica led us to them.

ANTHROPOLOGIE ALWAYS HAS SUCH LOVELY WINDOW DISPLAYS

WE ALL MATCH TODAY

IT'S LIKE LITTLE NEW YORK

YAY, WE FOUND IT!

While Brandon, mom, Jessica and I bought Korean food, Atelei and Christine ran across the street for some crepes. The keikis always love eating al fresco so when the food arrived they chowed down to the point that Brandon had to buy another Bulgoki.

ONE OF ATELEI'S SIGNATURE POSES

TIME TO EAT! { maile is our foodie; she'll try anything }

HONESTLY, THIS KOREAN BBQ TASTED BETTER THAN SOME OF THE ENTREES I ATE IN DC!

After lunch we walked back to City Center. While en route I was hungry for dessert - ice cream, to be exact - and low and behold! Ben and Jerry's was only a hop, skip and jump away. Yay!

YOU SCREAM, I SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!
{ but auntie jenn screams the loudest }

We boarded the train and Uncle Greg picked us up from the station near his house for dinner. I wish we had taken photos of the keikis running buck wild through their ranch style house, practicing their free throws and cooing at the fishes but alas, we were too thrilled to finally have dinner in a relaxed manner surrounded by loving family. Uncle Greg and Auntie Esther, we appreciate your hospitality and love. After twenty two days on the road it was so nice to kick back, eat a hearty meal and talk stories with you.

At around nine in the evening Atelei, Jessica and Jason walked through the doors. Maile was so excited to see Uncle Jason that she twirled around the kitchen, lifted her shirt and beamed at him. We left the Nakashimas house late with our bellies full and our hearts overflowing. It's nice to know that in less than twenty-four hours we will reunite with the Oliverio family at our annual campout. Exciting times are ahead!