Oregon
So, um, did I mention I turned 35? No?? It must have slipped my mind. I wake up and wonder where all the years have gone…getting old is not fun.
But to make it better J took Madeline & me to Oregon for a long weekend. Since January, J has been pushing through 3 grad classes (he passed all three with flying colors, may I add) and he hasn’t had much spare time to do fun stuff. But after he turned in all his papers and finals on Friday, we headed to Portland on Saturday – I think he needed the vacation as much as I did!
We really liked Portland – it’s much more walkable than Seattle, plus the light rail is super easy to use, especially with a stroller. We made a point of stopping in Powell’s Books and that place is incredibly incredibly huge. Perhaps if I didn’t have a very active toddler I’m chasing every second, I would have enjoyed spending more time there. As it was, I didn’t feel I got to appreciate it. I read somewhere it’s the largest bookstore in North America and I don’t doubt it – even the map of the store was confusing to me!!
The weather was beautiful on Saturday- we found fun shops to poke in, amazing cupcakes at Cupcake Jones (seriously, a cupcake stuffed with mint choclate filling? TO DIE FOR.), and a fun playground for Madeline while we finished our cupcake…we had a really great dinner at Deschutes Brewery. J particularly enjoyed the beer sampler. 
Sunday found us driving to Springfield to visit J’s Aunt Doris & Uncle Jay – he hadn’t been to visit them in many years, so it was wonderful for us to get to spend some time in their home, enjoying their hospitality. Madeline knows sweet grandparents when she sees them – she was hugging & kissing them both by the time we left. Thanks to them both for a lovely meal & visit!
Monday we decided to see the Columbia River Gorge before we headed home – Wow! We drove all the way to the Bonneville Dam and visited the fish hatchery there, too. Absolutely worth seeing. Here we are at Multnomah Falls
You can see all the pictures from our weekend here.
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:02 am
Happy birthday! Looks like a wonderful trip. Cupcakes…yummm.
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Happy Belated Birthday! I’m looking down the barrel at 35, and can’t believe it. Not that I’m down on getting older, I just seriously don’t feel almost-35-years-old. Insane!
And so glad you enjoyed Portland! It is one of our all-time favorite places on the planet. We’ve been two times for anniversary trips and just adore it. I have a ton of good crafty pals there, and Chris and I joke that we’d move there in a New York second if we weren’t so spoiled by living close to family here in Austin. It’s a great place!
Gorgeous pictures – thanks for sharing.