And the fun continues

Jim and I at Vista House.

We had lots of fun Monday with Ashleigh driving up the gorge and spending some time in Hood River. Ashleigh got a super cool hula hoop at a lovely little toy store, we had an awesome lunch at Full Sail, and made a U of M contact for Ashleigh with the head of the Chamber of Commerce. Come to find out she is from Napoleon MI. She told Ashleigh to keep in touch and if anything in her area comes up she would be sure to let her know. All this from just seeing her Alumni plate holder in the parking lot.

We just received a phone call from Leatherman and will be going on the tour tomorrow. We have to leave the hotel by 8:00 to make all the connections and walk 1 mile to be sure we are there by 10:00. Hopefully we will be able to find our way back to Ashleigh's in time to help her fix dinner for the house.

Thursday we are renting a car and heading to the coast for the day and then on to watch Ashleigh in her fencing class.

The Flowers are Blooming

Everywhere you look the flowers are blooming and the buds are swelling. All the splashes of color are a welcome reminder spring is here. We spent a busy day today. We went to the Saturday Artisan Market which is held under a bridge - thankfully since it was raining. From there we rode the lite rail out to the Expo Center for the Better Living Show and learned a lot of new things about sustainable living. I did have a problem with a plumbing display that had tootsie roll as its give aways in the bowl of a toilet, however it did not stop me from taking one!

We then met Ashleigh after work and she and I enjoyed going to Twisted, her favorite yarn shop. Jim did not enjoy that adventure all that much! We are meeting Ashleigh and Kyle at a favorite Thai restaurant for dinner a little later. Tomorrow Ashleigh is coming in for brunch and then Monday we will go to the gorge. We are keeping busy.

We arrived in Portland

So we are in Portland now. Have not seen Ashleigh yet but are planning on having dinner together tonight. I am pretty sure we were one of the last flights out of Denver yesterday. After sitting on the runway for over an hour and watching the horizontal snow blowing by the window and the 3/4 " ice build up on the wing I was wishing I were anyplace else. Once in the air the flight was uneventful and we arrived in Portland only 90 minutes late. Since Jim's luggage stayed in Denver and mine apparently never left Detroit we jumped on the TriMet light rail and zoomed to within 5 blocks of the hotel.

We love the light rail. It is so nice. This morning we did the very redneck thing and rode to the end of the line just to see what we could see. We were actually headed to the Japanese Garden but it started to rain and we thought the garden would be farther along late next week and so changed course. I wish we had a reliable mass transit in our area.

Ashleigh did not mince any words when she said it was gray in Portland. At any time it looks like rain. But the flowers are blooming and the grass is really green. AND there is no snow in the forecast this weekend like I see on the Manchester weather so we must be in the right spot!!!

Oh yes, and our luggage arrived so we have clean clothes and deoderant.

Mckenna On The Move

Well I thought I should make the big announcement that Mckenna has reached a whole new stage of her life. She is now crawling every where and very fast may I add. I think we all wish for them to move and get a little more independent as first time parents but then when that actually happens we try to figure out how to keep them in one place. My Mom always told me to be careful what I wish for and that sure is the truth! But I am so proud of Mckenna! I am starting to feel kinda old cause I catch myself saying "she is growing up so fast" with a little sadness in my voice and I am use to hearing people say that about me growing up it's just a change, but I love being a Mommy!

I Heard Spring Peepers

So Gus and I went for a walk at the Conservatory down the road Wednesday morning. He had a great time chasing deer, jumping in puddles, and looking for the geese who were honking like crazy down by the river. This picture was taken just before he decided the water further out in the river would be better and jumped in. Luckily he had about a mile walk back to the car to dry off. The spring peepers were out in full force which they hadn't been the day before and the skunk cabbage is just breaking ground.

After I don't know how long the trim is finally done in the mud room. Here Jim is trying to figure out how to fit the molding into the small space between the door and the wall. It looks so much better and I have to believe it was a good feeling to draw a line through this task on the ole "honey do list".

Mckenna

Here are a bunch of pics to keep everyone up to date!

Do you have a life?

So, I am beginning to feel like the blog is my own personal journal. Don't any of the rest of you have ANYthing happening in your life?

We are starting to think seriously about our trip to visit Ashleigh in Portland. We have decided not to rent a car and use the public transportation system as much as possible. There are a few things we want to do that may require a one day rental if Ashleigh's car is not available but I am thinking we can do without. One of the things I thought would be fun was a visit to the Leatherman Tool factory for their tour. Imagine my surprise when I found out they only give one tour a week and only 10 people per tour. We are on a wait list but the first opening was the last Wednesday of May. Seems like they might want to add a tour or two.

We are planning on attending the Better Living Show the first weekend we are there. Jim has never been to something like that and I am sure he will find it very enlightening I will be interested to see how it differs from Greenfest which Ashleigh and I attended in Chicago last year. We are also planning on going to the zoo, science museum, several of the local parks and hiking in the Columbia Gorge as well as just exploring the area. I am excited that we are staying so close to the Powell Book Store - reported to be the largest book store in the US. Jim is not so excited about that but he will survive.

Mckenna visited last night and had fun showing us all her new tricks. She is very mobile now. Almost crawling and pulling herself up to the furniture. She loves to play peak-a-boo and watch Gus fetch the ball.

Have a great week.

Almost Spring?!?

My sheets are on the line blowing in the breezes, the windows are all wide open, the temp's are headed into the 60's today and the birds are singing. Gus was very intrigued by several flocks of honking geese flying overhead. You could see the wheels turning trying to figure out how to get to them.

I am so anxious for warmer weather. This winter has seemed particularly long and hard.