Upstate NY Reunion

The weekend after we returned from Portland Seth and I headed up to NY for a few days.  There was lots of the Coluzzi Family in town as well as a birthday party. 
*Thanks for the photos, Richie!

It was great to have the family together for a few days

Bud, Mark, and Seth

Tory, Mark, Seth, and Chrissy

Fourteen is a fun age :o)

The "sewing room" was turned into a disco party with Karaoke!

Bud and Chrissy take a turn

Grandma with a gun

Happy birthday, Cora!

Back to Portland

By Saturday the party was over.  After cleaning out the fridge (and all those reception snacks that were still hanging around!) and saying goodbyes, we drove back up the way we came.

We made a quick stop at the Peter Skene Ogden Viewpoint just north of Redmond.  Bungee jumping, anyone?

Mt Jefferson, I think.

Seth and I got dropped off at Hawthorne Ave in Portland to do some crazy people watching.  That is a coffee bus. 

One of the local attractions--this guy glistened in the sun.

We met up with Christina and Kevin for a dinner at Waffle Window.

One sweet and one savory!

What better thing to do right before a red-eye flight than to go from Waffle Window to Voodoo Doughnut??  That massive chocolate-glazed-Oreo-covered-peanut butter-drizzled work of art was The Old Dirty Bastard.  Enough sugar for the rest of my life.

Sawyer was all for the M&Ms but Carter wasn't sure what to think, haha!

From doughnut land Seth and I got dropped off at the Portland airport.  It was a great week of catching up with family.  I look forward to the next reunion in 3 years!

Wrapping up Bend

The rest of the week-long reunion was filled with casual gatherings, such as micro-brew hopping in downtown Bend, spending afternoons at "happy hour" with the family (as if there wasn't enough booze already!), and admiring the views of the river. 

Darlene and Francisco joined us for a tour of the Goodies chocolate factory

I couldn't get over the view of the sunrise from the bedroom window

Cute woodsy homes along the morning jogs

Mergansers on the Deschutes River

The view of Oregon from Pilot Butte

Half the fun of these reunions is "Happy Hour," the time when everyone regathers to visit and plan for the next day

Uncle Dennis, Andrew, Darlene, and Uncle Kevin

The Kubb tournament winners!  Somehow the Swedish couple on the left won every single one of our competitive events: the golf tournament, poker night, Kubb, and, though never having swung a bat before, even the batting cage!   I think something is up...

Mom relaxing on the balcony.  I got to try out that hot tub behind her on one of the chillier nights (it got down to 40 degrees a couple times!).

On our last evening the cousins went to a typical Oregon hangout joint: a park-brewery-food truck-live band venue place full of hippies and hipsters. 

My cousins :o)

Like father like son ;o)

Crater Lake

Wednesday was "Day Trip Day".  In other words, Happy Hour was scheduled later than normal so people could go out and take a bigger trip somewhere.  We decided to check out Crater Lake, about 3 hours south of Bend. 

The Pumice Desert just outside of Crater Lake National Park,
where a volcanic eruption years and years ago spewed sediment over the land, leaving it (almost) barren.

Crater Lake!  How incredibly clear and blue.

I love how there is nothing on the water, just a little boat that takes people to Wizard Island.

The deepest lake in the US! It is crazy to think it is just sitting atop this sunken in crater.

We took a drive around the lake to view it from all angles.

Phantom Ship island

No need to go to NZ to experience a beautiful lake!

Reunion Picture Day

Tuesday morning was picture day.  I don't think anyone is a fan of picture day, but at least our matching shirts are especially attractive this year.  :P

Waiting for photos

Here is the group, about 143 of us Landstroms, including 9 visiting from Sweden!  Actually, that is how many made it to the reunion.  There are 221 descendents of Emily and Otto Landstrom (my great-grandparents).  This includes 29 first cousins, 63 second cousins, 55 third cousins, and 63 who wanted to join in because we are awesome (ie. in-laws).  This is an excellent lesson in fecundity.

25 of 29 first cousins, including Dad

Second cousins!  This would be my generation.

Cute little 3rd cousins, which includes Carter and Sawyer (I see some 2nd cousin parents scattered in there...)

Maynard and Melinda's clan! 

Most of my cousins, plus some in-laws ;o) 

The 13th Landstrom Family Reunion in Bend, Oregon

Last week Seth and I returned from the 13th Landstrom Family Reunion in Bend, Oregon.  The last time I was in Oregon I was really little and of course don't remember it at all; I only know I was there because I have pins from Oregon obtained back in the day when I used to collect a pin from every state we drove through.  I was pleasantly surprised at how clean, green, and progressive it is.  Oh, to be back in Oregon!

Seth and I arrived in Portland late Saturday night, met up with Mom, Dad, Andrew, Jen, and the boys, then on Sunday drove south about 3 1/2 hours to Bend.  By the way, the outskirts of Portland have crazy blackberry bushes, just like in Seattle.  We pigged out during the middle of our Sunday morning jog on a huge wall of berries, probably almost 100m long and 3m tall.  I was worried I wouldn't make it back to the hotel with a belly full of berries :P 

Mom was in charge of the opening reception at our resort in Bend.  It went smoothly, though we bought enough snack foods to last several happy hours... Regardless, it was excellent to see everyone that first evening.     

We got to wake up every morning to this gorgeous view overlooking the Deschutes River.  The sound of the river was also delightful!

Heading down to the river on our first morning jog

The running in Bend was dusty but excellent.  In addition to the premier River Trail, smaller single track trails branched off in all directions. 

Spotted along the way.  Deer: make sure to clean up after your pets!

Our first  afternoon was spent with Mom, Dad, Andrew, and Co.  Poor Mom had a bum knee and couldn't go too far.  While she caught up with her books at the Lava Lands Visitor Center, the rest of us walked up Lave Butte to admire the surrounding lava field.

Lava Butte in Lava Lands

Our next stop was the 1 mile long Lava Tube.  Notes to travelers:
1) There is no restroom in the Tube 
2) The final 75 min of the walk are just like the first 15 min 
3) There is no big surprise or reward at the end of the Tube.  Just a crappy sign that simply marks where you turn around and stumble another 45 min in the dark back to your car.
That being said, it was actually a really cool experience and highly recommended!

Descending into the 1 mile long lava tube.  Goodbye daylight!

Sawyer made it to the end of the tube!  After all that hard work the only thing waiting for us was a sign saying to turn around and head back. 

90 min never felt so long...