In May Kari and River and I took a trip to Oregon. Kari was traveling there to take classes for the birthing classes she teaches. I was tagging along with River to keep her company and so she could still breastfeed River in the mornings.
River did o.k. on the 6 hour airplane ride, but didn't take a nap. This made him cranky the last half hour of the flight, but when you are stuffed on a big 'ole flyin bus there is not much you can do. So we just had to let him cry a bit.
Waiting for the airplane
Asleep on the planeWe arrived in Portland and spent two nights in the city. We made it a point while we were there to eat at some original local restaurants and to do a little sight seeing. We spent the first evening just walking along the river a bit and recovering from flying.
On the River Front in Portland
Sitting in a swanky Portland restaurant
Our hotel room in PortlandThe second day we had what we were told was a west coast staple for breakfast, Voodoo Donuts. I must say, they were pretty magnificent. We bought some groceries for the week and then made our way to the Rose Garden. It was a beautiful place and the roses were just beginning to bloom. It is entirely kept up by volunteers which was very impressive. Then we ate at a haunted pizza shop and went back to our hotel to relax a bit before going to the house of a girl Kari knew from a previous class she had taken. The girl lived right across the river from where we were staying. We had dinner there and she let us borrow a playpen, hiking pack, cooler, and some odds and ends that we couldn't fly with. Their family did a wonderful job of making us feel at home in a strange place. Thank you!!
Voodoo Donunts
Napping
Rose Garden
Smells like Roses
Playing in the fountain
A Haunted Pizza Shop
Looks like a few ghosts eating pizza!
A nap before going out againThe next day we traveled to the Columbia River Gorge, which is where the center was that Kari would be taking her classes. It was a beautiful place with a huge river, tall straight cliffs, beautiful waterfalls and vistas. We drove to an overlook and then checked into our room because her classes began that night.
The Columbia River Gorge
Hiking in the rain.
Bridalveil Falls
When will it stop raining dada?The next 6 days River and I went on a series of adventures. I took him to the Children's Science Museum, hiking in the rain to waterfalls and gorges and up mountains, to the Forestry Museum, and to as many cool, unique restaurants we could find. We spent time napping together in the car, although it was quite a bit harder for me to fall asleep in the car that him. We simply just spent the days together. Kari's classes ran from early in the morning to late into the evening, so I took care of River most of the day. It was my time back with him since I spent so long away from him when I was in the academy. It was wonderful to be with my son again!
It rained every day we were in Oregon. Sometimes all day, sometime just in short spurts. All of the locals we met said that it never rained this many days in a row. I guess we brought the rain with us from Tennessee. At first I fought the rain and wetness. I was mad because every time I would try to go walking with River it would rain on us. Eventually I accepted the rain and being wet and just decided to continue on no matter what. You didn't mind it when you decided in your head to be ok with it. It made it a bit more of an adventure. And River didn't seem to mind being we either.
When Kari was done with classes on the second to last day, we drove back to Portland and spent the evening there. Then the next morning, on the way out of town we went to Voodoo dounuts to finish our trip off right! Well, we thought so at least. When we got to our gate at the airport they told us our flight would be delayed a bit because of a mechanical issue. Then, it was delayed some more. And again some more. And so on and so on. Over 3 hours later they tell us they are just going to board us and fly and basically hope for the best. Yeah....we were thrilled. We missed our connecting flight and had to reschedule. We nearly missed our rescheduled connecting flight, and would have if we didn't run down the terminal in Dallas to our gate. But honestly, it was quite an adventure of a day in itself. River did great, even with all the delays and stress. We made it home alive and the best surprise of the day...our baggage was the first couple of bags out of the carousel! We were sure they wouldn't make it after all of the hooplah with the flights.
It was quite a trip! We had some time in the city, and it was a really cool city! We spent some time in the forest. And it was a very beautiful forest. Kari had a great time in her classes and learned a great deal of things to help her teach her birthing classes. River and I spent some great quality time together and got to explore every day.
Another successful Jenk Adventure!
River asleep and Kari's face of excitement when we find out our plane is delayed even more!
River happy to be home!
Where's the Meerkat, Grandpap?
I can't believe these goats are Mama's favorite!
Grandma and Grandpap bought him a Splash Mat!!
Thanks, Fisher Price!
Wow! That's pretty awesome.
I hate shoes!!
Amanda (Knubbie) and Kari (Puddie) and our little Knoggins!!
Baby Hayes
River was trying to impress his lady
No Diving In The Pool!!!
Do I look crazy to you?
BIG...little
"I found a magic stick!"
Out for a stroll
Wake up!
Watching cartoons....mesmerizing!
Cuddled up! That's what I call a good morning!
Uh Oh! They caught us!
Let's take Chaco for a walk!
Now it's my turn!
River loves watermelon! Really he loves anything he can eat with his hands.
Hat!
A selection from our garden. It has been a lot of hard work this summer!
