First family vacation: check!

The nice woman who gave us her window seat on the plane-ride home early yesterday morning turned to me as we finally de-boarded and said, "Is your baby always so happy?" After I made out with her right there in the aisle, I said, "Um, yeah, he's usually pretty good." And, folks, he is, he was. Our trip to Portland was lovely. He slept through the majority of both flights, and only awoke long enough to suck down a bottle or two and smile at some strangers. Even the hardened redneck who was our seatmate on the flight out turned to me at one point and said, "Well, my fears were for nothing."

I also did a lot of hand-wringing and panicking for, yes, nothing.

And Portland. Ooooh, Portland. What a ridiculously cool place you are! Not exactly the boring, flat, brown landscape I'm used to. There are mountains and trees and roses and hills and vineyards and beaches and, also, no sales tax. Did you know about this, Internet? You can just waltz into a store anywhere in Oregon and know right away if your debit card will be denied or not! Also, you can't pump your own gas in Oregon. It's kind of cute, in theory. Oh, look, it's raining. I'll just sit in my warm car while this nice attendant takes care of my errands for me. Life is hard in beautiful Portland! But, at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m., when you're already late for your flight and the rental car is on empty and the only on-duty attendant is having an intense conversation with a homeless man, it's far less cute. It's also not cute at all to try to pump it yourself (because the situation was dire!) and being yelled at by some bystander, "YOU'LL GET ARRESTED IF YOU DO THAT!" No one likes to be threatened with arrest that early in the morning. BEFORE CAFFEINE.

Small blemishes, though, in an otherwise perfect city/state.

I have so much more to say about the trip and Kyle's first vacation (he ate sand and snow, on the same trip!) and the friends we watched get married and the friends who let us crash at (and tear apart) their adorable home. I have things to say about the fantastic bloggers I met for dinner on Wednesday night and all the delicious and incredible meals we had during our trip, but I want to wait to say all that until I have pictures uploaded to include. So, be patient with me.

Until then, a brief glimpse into our first family vacation (but not our last, oh no):

 

We were in town for a wedding I was honored to be in (for my college roommate) and on Thursday night, Cherie and I joined the bride at a fun Peruvian tapas bar for her bachelorette soiree, and because Cherie's husband couldn't get out of class, Mike stepped up to watch all three babies while we inadvertently ate cow heart (oh, that's not a euphemism or code, although I WISH IT WERE). This picture captures the scene as we were leaving. Mike with a magazine and a beer. The babies plotting their coup. But, he survived! As did the babies! And we survived digesting heart by downing a bottle (or five) of some tasty Pinot Gris.

Comments

[auntie]

glad you're back! also, glad you loved portland - i grew up about an hour from there and still have relatives in the area so i also have a (free) place to stay when i go to visit. which, come to think of it, i'll be doing in about 2 weeks! yay for vacations!!

also glad that kyle was a dream baby on the plane :)

[Rhi]

You will not get arrested. I think. I actually don't know what happens, but I'm pretty damn sure it doesn't lead to arrest.

(also, LOVED seeing you!! COME BACK SOON!)

[Jen L.]

I'm so glad you had a good trip! Yay, Kyle, for being a good baby. You can't pump your own gas in NJ, either, which used to piss my husband off to no end when we'd drive through there. He also gets angry when the nice people at Publix try to push your grocery cart to the car. Control issues much?

Maybe Mike's onto something. Next time I babysit, perhaps I should break out the Glamour and the Shiraz...

[Gaby]

Oh my gosh, that picture is adorable. It totally looks like Mike is leading a baby seminar! All three look intrigued by his reading material.

Though I must admit to wondering a bit at the message on the tv...WHERE would I better off buying in?! (Ending in a preposition, ftw!)

[Raven]

I think Wills would freak the f out at the thought of being left alone with one stranger baby, let alone 2 plus one of his own; kudos to Mike!

Did you have a Voodoo donut? I'm like obsessed.

[She Likes Purple]

Raven, I wanted to, but I was trying to be somewhat good on my diet while away. Does give me a pretty good excuse to return, though!

[Jess]

Yay! I'm so glad it went well. Though I'm not surprised.

[Cherie]

Yea! We were so happy to have you. It was fun catching up and I'm next time you visit I'm not letting you leave. (but not in that scary, I'm planning on stealing you way)

[Bobbi Janay]

Glad you had a safe journey.

[-R-]

Watching 3 babies at once? He is a braver person than me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the trip! I really want to go to both Portland and Seattle. The farthest north I've ever been on the west coast is San Francisco.

[Kristie]

I have SO MUCH TO SAY. First, that magazine stack I see? Shows how nerdy Mike is. Second, it's a good thing you guys did what the tv said, buying in, you bought good stock it seems. Third, cow heart? My soul died a little. Fourth, I'm so glad it was a great trip, I knew Kyle would be a great traveler, he was destined to be. Lastly, welcome home, did you notice it wasn't NEARLY as hot as it was weeks ago? Texas wanted to be nice to you so you won't leave again for a while.

[kris]

Grinned like a ninny at this vacay report. Loving that you savored the no gas pumping things, just as I did as a young buck in New Jersey. I would hardly roll down my window on cold days. Congrats on a great vacation, lady.

[Mountain Momma]

Just discovered your blog. Purple happens to be my favorite color, and I live in Tahoe City. I'm sure your wedding here was beautiful. Ours was in Homewood, and very drunken as well.

[lindsay]

wow three babies! what a good man.

[elizabethsheryl]

awww im south of portland in medford, oregon. I LOVE ME SOME PORTLAND. We are hoping that my husband can go to OHSU for med school in a year and a half when he applies. cross your fingers!