Portland Vacation

This is Uncle Tina, just for future reference.

I've arrived back home from a wonderful trip--minus flying all three giant legs without Josh of course. Okay, two were giant, and one was full of extra surprises. But that's later.

A couple of things you may notice in this post: Out of order pictures, which happens to drive me nuts, so I hope it doesn't have the same effect on you. I can't seem to get my computer to let me move them around, so I did my best, but I had two camera files I was going off of.

Another thing is notice the pics with City being held--fyi--we're not torturing her, we're really just holding her (although if you notice her daddy in these, you might notice he feels like pics are torture).

July 2, Thurs.

Josh had gotten in late the night before and stayed at his parents but had two early calls so he couldn't pick us up. Like one that started at 5:30am (on vaca remember), made me glad I was a stay-at-home-mom. Josh's Dad came to pick up the girls and me. It was so fun to get to see Josh's family again, everyone but Emily was there already.

Josh's Mom rented a giant van that all but Jenn and her family fit in and we packed up and headed off to the OR coast. I was reminded how much I love that beach!

I loved how the sand felt on my feet, I loved the huge expanse of it and that the girls could run around without too many worries (until I saw jelly fish). Generally I can't stand sand since it's so messy, but it was so great.

After eating on the beach, we loaded up and went to the Tillamook cheese and ice cream factory. One of my new favorite places on earth. I've gone from being a mozerella and cheddar cheese kind of girl to liking a variety of stinky cheeses since living in NY, but I still haven't noticed much difference between the cheddars at the store. Well I have now.

Their cheese was excellent and their ice cream was heavenly. We bought a half gallon of the kind I had on a cone and lugged it back an hour and half home in a cooler. Huckleberry something or other...ahh. I also brought a small hunk of garlic white cheddar back to my parents but forgot it in my suitcase for a few days--and it STILL tasted great. Now that's good cheese.

We at dinner at Jenn's house that night, very yummy and a nice way to wind down. Emily joined us there, complete!

July 1, Wed.

I flew to Oregon early so I could spend the day with one of my dear friends, Tiffany, and her daughter, Erica, Hazel's best friend. I feel like this day needs it's own post so I'll put more up later. Here we are before saying goodbye though.

July 2, Thurs.

Josh had gotten in late the night before and stayed at his parents but had two early calls so he couldn't pick us up. Josh's Dad came to pick up the girls and me. It was so fun to get to see Josh's family again, everyone but Emily was there already.

Josh's Mom rented a giant van that all but Jenn and her family fit in and we packed up and headed off to the OR coast. I was reminded how much I love that beach! Then we went to the cheese factory, sorry about the order.

After eating on the beach, we loaded up and went to the Tillamook cheese and ice cream factory. One of my new favorite places on earth. I've gone from being a mozerella and cheddar cheese kind of girl to liking a variety of stinky cheeses since living in NY, but I still haven't noticed much difference between the cheddars at the store. Well I have now.

Welcome to heaven.

Cutest cow and farmer I ever saw.

Their cheese was excellent and their ice cream was heavenly. We bought a half gallon of the kind I had on a cone and lugged it back an hour and half home in a cooler. Huckleberry something or other...ahh. I also brought a small hunk of garlic white cheddar back to my parents but forgot it in my suitcase for a few days--and it STILL tasted great. Now that's good cheese.

We at dinner at Jenn's house that night, very yummy and a nice way to wind down. Emily joined us there, complete!

July 3, Friday

This was my little Sister Tina's bday. My kids refer to her as "Uncle Tina" or recently just "Uncle." I was called as "Sister Friendly" in my NYC ward and she says she confused it with "Miss Friendly" since my Mom always did. She thought combining the two to "Mister Friendly" was much better, so I warned her then that she would be known as "Uncle" to my children. And so it is.

A short tribute to Uncle: She is one of the most selfless and loving girls you'll ever meet. She loves to party--but not with alcohol or trashy-ness--just good wholesome parties for whatever the occassion may be. She has so much to offer but her most winning attributes are probably just being with her day to day and seeing how she selflessly helps with all the children and is an excellent example of humility. Thanks for being so wonderful Uncle! Uh, forgot about the pic thing, her pic is now at the top of this post. She's actually just started up her own blog which is pretty fun, check her out for a little variety in your day: http://www.flavork.blogspot.com/

***

Back to OR. We hiked Multnomah Falls this day and let me tell you, the falls are much prettier from down below by the shop or on the bridge, there is no good reason to hike up the steep crazy mountain (that they claim is only 1.25 miles???) with a 1 and 2 year old. Isn't this gorgeous?

Esp if you have no back pack and your 1 year old is prone to danger. Look at those wide, scary openings on the bridge over the waterfall. Not a chance we're putting City down here.

Unless you're looking for an excellent workout or exercise in patience, but I wasn't looking for either of these since I planned to run a half marathon the next day and why would I ever sign up for "patience" experiences. It was a beautiful hike up, just not into carrying my tired and wiggly kids up something like that. But beautiful, yes.

We made it to the top! Now how does this compare with the view from below? There really isn't much view is there. Okay, a little one, but this is basically how all of Portland looks, which is pretty awesome.

You couldn't really see this view, I had to lift my camera way out and over other people to get this shot.

Josh, City, Emily, Jenn, Brianna, Brenden. Cool tree roots.

Wonderful helpers on the way down, I love family help! Hazel and Grandma Parker

I loved how comfortable she was on Grandpa Parker's shoulder

After surviving that and making it home, we hurried, cleaned up, and left the 8 grandkids with 3 sisters who babysat for us. It was so fun to get to go out as adults to dinner at Standfords! Josh's Mom and Jenn were the hero's here in getting us babysitters, what a pain, I can't stand finding them for my own kids.

After dinner one car headed to Moonstruck for chocolate shakes. They give you a free sample of their chocolates when you're there too--and those babies run $2-4 EACH!!!!! The shakes, ahh, what can you say about them? I moan with happiness every sip I take. If you're ever in Portland, just GO.

We unwound that night by playing ROOK. His family has a different way of playing and I LOVE it. I am addicted to that game, it's so fun. I just wish we had more people in this house so we could play it more than just when we're visiting them. Maybe I will have more kids afterall.

I like this pic of Josh. It captures a true expression of carrying City up a mountain and her not wanting to leave the water at the end.

Back to the day before.

I loved how the sand felt on my feet, I loved the huge expanse of it and that the girls could run around without too many worries (until I saw jelly fish). Generally I can't stand sand since it's so messy, but it was so great.

Hazel is really into "working out" whenever and wherever, I think it's hysterical and I'm incredibly proud. There are no boundaries to where she does it and she's very creative about how she uses regular every day things to "work out," like the magazine rack in the checkout line, shelves in the store, she can really work with any object. And she knows her terms too and she'll show you.

July 4, Sat.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

To say I was disappointed to find out the night before that registration was full for the Sauvie Island Half Marathon would be a small understatement. I'd been training hard for it but I didn't sign up earlier due to scheduling confusion. I'd been getting up at 5:30/6am and running during the week so I didn't have to submit my kids to the jogger as much and I'd done a 14er trying to get ready for it too. Ahhh! I was so excited to PR because it was said to be a fast course as well as beautiful. Maybe later.

Instead I ran 12 with Emily which was a good substitution. How convenient to be with a family where I could've probably asked any to go and had a partner on that long of a run. She's great to talk to and it made the miles pass quickly.

Here is Momma Parker making a patriotic and delicious cake--and pre-dinner too to go along with her flag ceremony!!! Now this really is a holiday!

Josh with all his trophies his mom has held on to. Apparently he tossed them without even showing them to me. And to think I could've had a little Joshy trophy case! At least I've got the trophy husband still.

Back at the beach. I loved City's bed head hair this day.

A PERFECT day for the beach.

I had to overcome my dislike of sand and kids here, reallyjust cringing at first as mine got it everywhere, I just can't stand the cleanup and it seems that the sand finds a way into your life weeks later.

I got over it and loved it, isn't this beautiful??

Hazel's become quite the cherry lover, along with me (eating them as I type). Her favorite sweatshirt is now best friends with her favorite cherry juice.

This is just how she is all the time, I love it! She's just grabbing at life!

They rock my world.

So does he. :)

Sometimes I rock my own.

This is a little dance I did with my freshman roommies. So sorry you can't see the whole thing, it's really remarkable.

Wrestling match #9,827,587,298,562,749,603.

Ethan brought his girlfriend to a family reunion. I'm not saying anything. Not here anyway:).

Okay, I will say one thing. I went to hang out with Josh's family once when we were dating too.
That's all.

On our way home from our run, we saw a cute little neighborhood kids parade so we went and got the kids and had them join the last few minutes. I love things like that!

Hazel seemed to as well so it's weird she's been bringing this up lately:

Hazel: The Fourth of July Parade, I didn't like it!

Me: Why?

Hazel: There were too many people.

I felt bad for her after this, but it was just weird since she seemed to have a lot of fun.

I love the dude in the skirt.

After naps, the kids played in the water outside and then had BBQ and fireworks with pyro Josh to light them all.

This is Annika, who always looks happy.

Fishing for water.

Nicole with her great sidewalk art.

City's favorite pastime, drinking dirty water.

But hey, do what makes you feel good right? Look at how happy she is now:).

This was us getting ready for a little patriotic flag ceremony. This is Jenn and Stan, I love how great Stan looks in his hat and glasses, he totally looks like a buff cowboy/military dude--which makes sense since he was in the military. I could never pull that off. Or maybe I could--I'm the cool one in the hat in the background.

Mark and Elisa. Mark was mad he didn't get a headband and Elisa is rubbing it in.

Aren't they cute little flag-bearers?

This is Devon, and he is seriously hilarious. You should see our family pictures we had taken there, he has such great poses. And the kid is also seriously ripped. If that link doesn't work, here is the photog's blog.

I love how serene she is here, I think she looks really pretty too:).

It looks like she's guarding her milk, and I think she is. She doesn't let things go easily, I love this pic.

I love how this shows the sweetness of Hazel. She has a heart of gold and this sort of captures that. She's taking the ceremony seriously, and considering it's about our country, I'm pretty proud of her.

The groupies. Thanks to his mom for buying a huge mass of shirts for us too! What a pain coordinating sizes.

She really is a very happy girl, she just doesn't like to be held much, esp for pics, she can just sense the camera coming out.

I love it when you try to get all the kids smiling. This is pretty good.

Josh could only get the camera to do a 2-second wait and so he was running into most of the pictures, it only shows a little here.

Here's pyro Josh doing all the fireworks, which were actually pretty impressive for backyard ones.

I just love this pic though because everyone has a totally deadpan face as if they were staring at a blank wall. Sorry you can't see the expressions better! I can't say that I would expect anything different, maybe if it was a few, but it did take a while so I can't blame them, I think I was sort of laughing just because I was watching everyone, otherwise I would've probably had a straight face too.

Enjoying the delicious strawberry pies!

July 5, Sunday

Packed up, said goodbyes, kissed Joshy and off we went to the airport at 8:30am for a very very long day ahead (I was scheduled to arrive in Ohio at 10:30pm but got home that night after midnight Ohio time).