3,640

That's how many miles we traveled in just a week! And what a trip it was. Janette, Sarah and I began our adventure in sunny San Diego, flying from our base at DFW, headed toward Portland, OR. There, we hooked up with Sarah's very cool cousin, Sean (who is my age) so that we could all drive together up to Sarah's (and Sean's) grandparent's home just outside of Polson, Montana.



The scenery was amazing, the time spent with family was awesome, and the trip was spent just breaking away from the hectic lives we've been living for the past I don't know how long. As you can see from the view of the Mission Mountains in Montana, this was just what the doctor ordered for us.

When we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house, I was very overwhelmed, meeting people I had never met before. They swarmed around us like vultures, but they weren't mean at all, and they didn't even seem like they wanted to eat me! Soon enough, I became very comfortable inside this wonderful family and it just felt too cool for words to be a part of it. This is one picture (of many!) that the Lonnevik's took to capture the reunion. Here we are with Grandma and Grandpa -- the grandchildren and their spouses. From left bottom: Mark & Anna (she is one granddaughter), Grandpa, Grandma, Emily (another granddaughter; top row: Lindsay & Darin (grandson and his wife), Sarah and me (of course, Sarah is a granddaughter and I am her spouse), and Sean (grandson).



Aside from staying up late, sleeping-in in the mornings, and drinking lots of beer, we did a lot of fun things! We visited a brewery in Polson (Glacier Brewery), but we also went out on Flathead Lake and went wakeboarding. I tried to get myself up on the wakeboard... and I almost had it about 4 times! Very frustrating, but it doesn't look half bad from the picture. Sean did manage to get himelf up... kudos man! But it was a blast nonetheless, and it was more time with family soaking up the sun.



After the reunion week, Sarah and I, along with Sean and Janette, all headed back to Portland to spend a day and a half in that great city. We ate sushi, drank more beer (of course), and even went to historic Cannon Beach.



Sarah and I are enjoyed ourselves at the Laurelwood Brew Pub. Later on, we went on to karaoke at the Ambassador. Kyle, a guy from Sean's work, met up with us. He did the best karaoke version of "Wonderboy" (Tenacious D) that I've ever heard! Karaoke seemed to be a theme with us this week, as we also hit up the stage when we first arrived to Portland (before the big road trip to Montana). Our post-Montana karaoke stop: Sarah, Kyle and Janette are singing "Bohemiam Rhapsody" together -- and are having quite the time!





I already want to go back... feel the sand between my toes, and spend more time getting to know Sean and the rest of Sarah's family. But, I think that's what I get to look forward to -- many more trips and new relationships that we can carry with us.

I guess sometimes family - and new friends - are like a good beer. You just can't get enough.

So, CHEERS to this family trip and the nearly 4-thousand miles that brough us all a little closer together in a land (at least for Sarah and me) that isn't really close in distance, but is definitely closer in our hearts.