Oregon 2018

Tyler and I took a quick trip to Portland and the Oregon Coast this last weekend. Our kids were out of school on Spring Break. We didn't do a family trip because most of our kids were busy with work and even Bryn started Track during spring break so it wasn't ideal for a big family trip. But...Tyler and I were able to head out for a weekend getaway!! Kind of an early anniversary celebration. Our anniversary is in a few weeks. We left super early in the morning on Friday and came back home late on Sunday night. It actually worked out perfectly. We had a blast!!

It is always so fun to head out on a road trip!!

We brought our cargo trailer so that it could also be a buying trip for Sisters Creed. Farm Chicks is coming up fast. I am so glad that we brought it because we found some awesome furniture pieces and a bunch of other great things for the show. I am so excited!!

Once we got into town we headed straight to IKEA. I had a list of things that I needed to get for our house and I also needed to pick up four big rugs for our booth for Sisters Creed. It is always fun to meander through IKEA and to stop and eat those delicious pink cream cakes with marzipan. I love them!!

Then we stopped at a few more of our favorite haunts to look for furniture and vintage items. We found a bunch more things. It really turned out to be a great buying trip for Sisters Creed!!

Then we checked into our hotel and relaxed!! This trip we didn't have a big itinerary like we usually do. We had already done most of our buying and had found a ton of things prior to checking into our hotel. Unheard of!! So it was really nice to just be able to relax and to do what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it. The weather was beautiful. Sunny and in the 70s. It was fantastic!!

For dinner Tyler had one request...Chinese food. We do not have good Chinese food here in Spokane. It is awful and we have tried every single place possible. I really miss the days of living in Salt Lake and where we had awesome Chinese delivery. We found a Chinese restaurant that had been highly recommended in Beaverton and we crossed our fingers that it would be good. Wow....it was absolutely amazing. We gorged. We had two appetizers and two huge entrees and we were in food heaven. It was so good!! In fact it was so delicious that we ate Chinese food twice while we were in town!! After our late dinner we headed back to our hotel and slept in late the next morning! Delightful.

So happy to have eaten the best Chinese food that I have had in years...and so stuffed!!

We have a favorite french bakery/restaurant that we love in Portland and we were so excited to see that they had opened another location right near our hotel. We headed over for breakfast. You cannot believe how amazing the bread, pastries, croissants, macarons, tarts, and cakes are. We had to have some of each!!

The passion fruit macarons are my very favorite things!! I cleaned them out two days in a row. We also discovered a few new favorites....their purple cake that was a coconut cake with passion fruit filling and lime mousse covered in a black currant glaze. It was amazing!! And...then we discovered the chocolate and almond croissants. The world's best croissants that were stuffed full of BOTH chocolate AND marzipan. OH.MY.GOODNESS!! We went back for those two days in a row too!!



After that we decided to head to the coast. The weather had turned rainy and windy. There were reports of high winds at the ocean but we were undaunted. We headed for the beach with our rain gear ready to go.



First we went to Seaside. There were so many cute shops and places to see but the rain was really coming down and the streets were super crowded with people. We went shopping at the outlets and Tyler was really hoping to find some awesome Helly Hansen gear but they didn't have anything good in his size. Too bad. Then we decided to drive on to Cannon Beach. By the time we got there the rain and wind were unbelievable. The winds were over 50 miles per hour.



Before we went out on the beach we stopped at one of our favorite places to get some lunch while we watched the storm and the sea rage outside the windows.

Nothing like a some delicious clam chowder on a cold and rainy day...and incredible seafood too!

And then we went out on the beach:

We weren't the only crazy ones out there either!! Despite the terrible weather it was still stunningly beautiful!

Just a *little bit* windy!! :)

Then we decided to go check out the old abandoned Terrible Tilly Lighthouse aka the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse but a tree had come down and they closed off the road so we decided to go see an old shipwreck instead. The remains of the Peter Iredale are 100 + years old. It was built in 1890 and ran aground in 1906. 112 years ago.

We stopped to walk down to the beach to check it out. The rain was torrential. The wind was so strong that I could barely walk and the sand was flying everywhere. Tyler got out of the car and got right back in and said that he was done. Not me. I struggled down to the beach to get a better look.

Trying to get closer to the wreckage I had to walk sideways and the wind was blowing me so hard and the waves were crashing over my feet. I couldn't see anything due to the blowing sand and rain. I barely got this picture and this video. It was bedlam!!

And then...the true *excitement* began!! I got lost!! And... I blame Tyler!!

Next are a series of videos from my Instastories with my attempts to explain what happened... to our children:















Okay...so probably not the best idea to be out hiking around on the beach in a raging storm. Somehow I got *blown* farther down the beach than I thought I was and literally couldn't remember which bluff I had come down from. Plus...Tyler took off to a different location although he claims he could see me the whole time. Yeah, right. I started climbing back up to the bluff that I thought I had come down from and the wind was so strong that I could barely move let alone make it up to the top. I was starting to panic at that point. Plus, it also seemed like going back up was a lot steeper than it was coming down. Which was true because I was in the wrong location. Then when I got to the top and saw that there was no Tyler and that it looked completely different from where I previously had been and I couldn't see anything that looked familiar...true panic set in. I was trying to figure out my location but with the crazy wind, rain, and blowing sand I couldn't see anything!! I tried to use my phone to call Tyler but my screen was wet and my fingers were wet and so my iphone wouldn't work. As I was stumbling aimlessly around in full panic mode...Tyler came racing up the bluff to my rescue. He claims that he always knew where I was...but he looked very relieved to see me!! I was BEYOND happy to see him!! Life is always an adventure!!

After my traumatic experience we looked around Cannon Beach for awhile and then went back to Seaside to do some more shopping.

Look what else we saw... I don't know if you can handle the excitement of this:



Later that evening we drove back to our hotel and ate Chinese food again only this time...IN OUR BED!! It was awesome!! A perfect ending to an exciting day!!

The next morning we had plans to meet up with my cousin Paul and his family. So, of course, we got up early and went back to our favorite french bakery for more treats to take to Paul and Whitney's and to get some for the road. Ha ha!! Paul and Whitney are a lot of fun and we try to see them every time we are in town. Last year when we were in town Whitney was pregnant and so this time we got to meet cute little Quinn. I have been dying to get my hands on her!! She is adorable and kissable and darling Zoey is the cutest big sister ever!! We got in a lot of snuggles and kisses on those juicy baby cheeks!!

Quinn is just the absolute sweetest and she let us hold and maul her and kiss and kiss and kiss her cheeks. Oh man, babies are the sweetest!! Zoey entertained us and was a pure delight as always and Paul and Whitney fed us well!!

It really doesn't get better than having a cousin who is a professional chef and who cooks for you!!

We had the most delicious brunch with corned beef hash, eggs, fruit, and filled croissants. It was so nice to visit with them and to pretty much laugh the entire time!!

That afternoon we did a little bit more shopping on our way out of Portland and out of Oregon as we headed home to our kids. When we pulled into the driveway at around 9 pm even Reilly was there. She was spending the night. It is always fun to head out of town and it is always so nice to return home...especially to kids who seemed genuinely happy to see us!! It was such a great weekend and a great end to Spring Break!!

Spring Break 2017

Spring Break 2017

Portland: Day 1 and 2

We had an awesome spring break!! We took the kids and went to Portland and the Oregon Coast. Tyler and I absolutely love that area and it was fun to share it with our children. The one downside was that Reilly was supposed to come with us but ended up not being able to take off that much time. That was a real bummer since the whole reason that we were going to Portland was because she wanted to check out the city and see if that might be a place where she would like to live someday. She loves the rain and the PNW weather. She is eager to get back to her cozy rainy days. So funny.

We were also super lucky that Kameron ended up being able to go as well. (My whole spring break plan nearly unraveled.) I am a big proponent of kids working in high school but I also have to say that it is super annoying as well. Planning events and trips and all kinds of things becomes so much more complicated. But...having raised one child to be financially independent I think that high school jobs are worth the irritation. That said...Kameron had a heck of a time trying to get his few shifts covered. He only works three days a week and he got everything covered except one. He eventually did get all of his shifts covered but it was literally down to late the night before we were leaving.

We drove and brought my Sisters Creed utility trailer with us because it was also a buying trip. I am really glad that we brought it because I found some great stuff and needed the trailer to lug it all back home. Time to get ready for Farm Chicks. Exciting and stressful. We also brought Bryn's Flat Stanley for some exciting Oregon adventures. Ha ha!


First stop: Multnomah Falls

It doesn't matter how many times I come here it is always breathtakingly beautiful. I love that as we get closer and closer all the little water falls start appearing. It reminds me of driving through Provo Canyon and seeing all of the little waterfalls near Bridal Veil Falls. When I was a kid my school bus would go up the canyon and turn around at the entrance to Sundance and then go back down the canyon to Orem to school. I loved seeing those little waterfalls every day and I named them all. :)

The kids were impressed as well. That whole area looks like it is right out of a fairy tale. The moss covered trees, the rocks, the bridge, the water... it is pretty magical.

Up on the bridge

Ailey is smiling but TRUST ME it was no easy feat getting her to step foot on that bridge. It took a lot of coaxing and she moved very slowly and inch by inch until she got to the center of the bridge. She was teary the whole way, BUT, she did it!! The center of the bridge was as far as she would go and the minute this picture was over she ran off that thing as fast as she could!! But we were super proud of her for doing it despite her terror of bridges and heights.

Our first item of business upon reaching Portland was FOOD!

We ate at our favorite place and what is always our first stop...Cafe Yumm. You really haven't lived until you have had their famous Yumm bowl. That sauce!! It is so divine. They have the best vegetarian food and all the non vegetarians love it too. Their tofu and tempeh skewers are so good!!

Then we checked into our hotel. We were staying at super nice hotel that we got a good deal on. Very glam. Plus it had room service. I am a hotel snob. I love a nice hotel!! It had a great gym, pool, and restaurant. The only thing that was missing from the pool area was a hot tub. What?! That is a favorite for me after a long busy day of sight seeing. We had a suite and Tyler and I had our own bedroom which made for a much better family vacation!! It was so nice for the kids to have their own area and for us to have ours.

The next day we were up bright and early and after a delicious breakfast we were ready to hit the town. We had a big list of all the things that we wanted to see and do.

Downtown Portland is so awesome!! So much to do and see. All the food trucks and stores and people. It was great! Kam tried to go to Voodoo Donuts three different times and at two different locations and there was always a huge line. (I don't think their donuts are that great.) Blue Star Donuts was on my list and both locations we went to had huge lines there too. By the time we got in all the donuts were sold out. Irritating. So nary a donut was eaten in Portland but not for lack of trying.

On Tyler and Kameron's list was checking out several shooting locations for the TV show Grimm. They are big fans. (Reilly too.) Kameron was pretty stoked to drive around and see where they did a lot of the filming.

The house from Grimm.

Super fan getting his pics and snaps!

Then it was off to Whole Foods for some snacks. Wow. I am a fan. I really wish we had one here in Spokane.

The next stop was on the girls (and my) list!! Book lovers that we are... it was The Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden. We are big Beverly Cleary fans at our house. I grew up loving not just her kids books but her teen books too.

The girls with Ramona!

Henry Huggins!

Ribsy!

The sculpture garden is in Grant Park...Beverly Cleary's old stomping grounds. Many of her books have settings inspired by this park, school, and neighborhood. It looks just how I pictured it in her books.

Can't you just see Ramona out on the playground looking for worm engagement rings? :)

Flat Stanley was a fan!

We drove up and down Klickitat Street and later in the day drove around the Yamhill area. It was awesome!

(When we first moved to Spokane... the area that we moved to looked just like what I imagined the neighborhood from Beverly Cleary's books to look like. We rented a house off of Grand that was about two blocks from Jefferson Elementary where Reilly went to kindergarten. I remember when we pulled up and were unloading our moving van it was raining and I looked around at our neighborhood and at the tree lined streets and I said to Tyler, "We've moved to Klickitat street!" It was so charming and nostalgic and so different from our neighborhood in Utah.  Kameron and I would walk Reilly to and from school every day and her little school looked just like the school I imagined from the books. We even had our own Henry Huggins. There was a 6th grade boy, TJ, who was in our ward and who was a crossing guard. He used to wear a long yellow slicker in the rain and was always stopping to talk to Reilly while she tromped and splashed in her rain boots. (Something we never had a use for until we moved to Washington.) She thought that TJ was just wonderful and had a huge crush on him. When we read the Ramona books together and were first introduced to Henry; Reilly said..."He's just like my TJ!!" :)  (How is Reilly already 20? Those days don't seem that long ago.)

For lunch we hit our favorite french bakery. We had croque monsieur sandwiches with delicious french greens salads, filled croissants, pastries, and macarons. This place has the absolute best macarons that I have ever had. My very favorite flavor is the passion fruit and the black currant is a close second. We enjoyed every delicious morsel and bought more treats to take back to our hotel.

Then it was off to see more sites from Grimm and beautiful Mt. Tabor. Mt. Tabor Park sits right on top of an extinct volcano right in the middle of Portland. It is pretty awesome. We were more than ready after our decadent lunch to get out and hike to the top and enjoy the view. It was so pretty!

Bryn and Flat Stanley

Ailey...and Kam in the background. :)

Right after he ran up and scared the heck out of her!! Ha ha!

There were some enormous trees up on top! Perfect for playing in.

View of the city

I think this is one of my very favorite pictures from the trip. #reality  Rarely was everyone happy at the same time!! This was Ailey's turn. This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it.

But there was a lot of this too!

Such posers!! Kam was having none of that. 

Bryn and Flat Stanley near the cross section cutaway of the cinder cone.

After all that walking we were ready for some ice cream. Salt and Straw was a madhouse so we picked another ice cream place downtown and it was delicious.

Then we were off to see the Portland Temple:

My kids love to visit the Temple in whatever city that we are in. They love to take pictures and the three older kids all have a temple picture collection...pictures they have taken of all of the temples that they have been to. They were thrilled to add another temple to their collection.

It was so beautiful to walk around the temple grounds, contemplate the words that we had heard at General Conference, look at all the beautiful flowers and blossoms (that still isn't happening here in Spokane), and to feel the peace of those grounds.

Kam lining up his perfect shot of the temple. He really did take some amazing pictures!! Ailey too.

Then we had to run to IKEA before they closed. This was our one opportunity to go. I found a bunch of things that I needed and a bunch of things that I didn't know that I needed. :) We did find some gorgeous new bedding for our bed. I can't wait to paint our bedroom and do a little makeover in there!

Because it was so late and the kids were starving we just ate dinner at IKEA. Wouldn't you know that on the drive home when we were asking the kids what their favorite meal was...both Ailey and Bryn said DINNER AT IKEA!! Good grief. So much for cultivating sophisticated palates. Kids do love a buffet! (I love their pink raspberry and marzipan cream cakes.)

On our drive back to the hotel that night we drove around downtown Portland which is absolutely dreamy with the water, bridges, lights, tunnels, boats etc at night. The kids were in awe. It is such a beautiful skyline day or night. I really hope that one of our children move here some day so that Tyler and I can visit a lot!

Next Up: Day 3