Our trip to Oregon

I've been meaning to get this post up, but it's felt like a crazy couple weeks. At this point I'd usually say screw it and just direct everyone to the flickr stream (which is public and can be found here), but I really want this trip to be documented, in some way, for Kyle. And for us when we forget everything we did. So, next month? (Parenthood is good for the soul, bad for the brain.)

First, the vacation was planned because one of my very best friends, Lauren, was getting married (to this guy), and she asked me to be a bridesmaid. (She was one of mine.) I would have gone, regardless. Wild horses and all. But, I'm never one for quick trips or jam-packed weekend getaways. I usually try to extend vacations as long as I can, so we made this into a family getaway.

We booked our flights to Portland for late Tuesday night, in hopes Kyle's first flight would be late enough for him to snooze through most of it. I should say that prepping for this trip sent me into a state of ANXIOUS! and NERVOUS! and SNAPS EASILY AT HER HUSBAND! So much to pack, remember, print out, carry on, etc. (If anyone is interested, I'm happy to talk another time about flying with a baby: what to have, what isn't needed, how much vodka is too much vodka to drink before boarding. Let me know.) As soon as we stepped foot into the airport, though, the anxiety melted. We were doing this together, and it would be fine. We did what we had to, apologized to those unfortunate enough to get stuck behind us in the security line and acted totally clueless so every AA employee would take pity on us. Turns out, acting clueless is brilliant. The flight out was pretty much bump-free.

We landed, picked up our rental car and headed out to Cherie's adorable house, where we were staying for the week. We got in late, and both our hosts had to work the next day, so we all headed straight to bed. We had a pack-and-play set up in another room from us for Kyle, and I was a little worried the new scenery would throw him. He continually likes to make me look uptight and paranoid. He was fine that night, and he woke up about the same time he always does. He basically gave the time change his middle finger.

Wednesday morning, we were lazying around Cherie's house, letting her twin boys and Kyle play together and chomp on each other's toes and such. Once Cherie headed off to work, we packed up and headed a couple hours west to the Oregon coast. 

Easily, one of the prettiest drives I've ever taken. Thankfully, Kyle has always been good in the car. Even when he wasn't particularly good anywhere else, he'd fall quickly to sleep as soon as the ignition turned on. He (so far) hasn't out grown that. He didn't make a peep the entire two-hour drive.

Once we got to Cannon Beach, we parked, packed up and headed for the sand and surf.

Taking Kyle to the Pacific Ocean was a dream of mine. He loved the sand. The freezing cold ocean water wasn't as easy to sell to him.

 

He thought the sand running through Mike's hands was awesome.

Mike stripped him down to his onesie, so he could play in the sand better.

Because he was sitting up so well, I said to Mike, "Take your hands away so I can get a good shot of him in the sand for the first time! He'll be fiiiiiiiine."

Again, for those who missed it yesterday. I think it's still funny the second view or 7,000th.

 

And here Mike is scooping out sand from every crevice on our poor boy's face. Kyle didn't even cry. He just looked at us like, "WHAT. THE. FUCK."

After that, we picked up pounds of saltwater taffy and had lunch at a cute little grill on the main road in town.

It was a quick trip, and we were back in the car and heading toward Portland just hours after arriving, but exploring more gives us reason to go back.

Oh, and here's a beach family photo with really unprepared and inappropriately dressed tourists!

That night, Mike watched all three boys for about an hour so Cherie and I could meet Rhi and Kerri for dinner/drinks at Deschutes in downtown Portland. (The house-baked pretzel and accompanying white cheddar dipping sauce was borderline orgasmic.) Funny enough, Cherie (who I met in college) and Rhiannon used to work together. Again, small world. I was a little nervous about meeting these two bloggers, because, well, I think they're pretty awesome. (Although we'd already kinda/sorta met at BlogHer 08). But we laughed and talked and talked and laughed, and it was so nice. I can't wait to see both of them again at BlogHer 2010 or in Portland the next time I visit.

The next day, we tried our best to get up early and head out to Mt. Hood.

It was another day full of driving, and another day full of Kyle sleeping through pretty scenic views. Ungrateful child.

Once we got up the mountain, we ate lunch at the buffet at Timberline Lodge, and then made the stroller prove it was worth all the money it cost.

 

I love how unsuspecting Kyle is in this photo. He's just enjoying the view, along for the ride, "Oh, look at that chipmunk. My, we're picking up speed."

There was still some snow, so we got to introduce Kyle to sand, surf and snow all in the same visit. He was much more impressed with the sand.

 

He enjoyed himself when we weren't shoving his feet into cold, wet mush.

 

Aww.

 

We tuckered him out and he slept while we looked at the gift shops and walked around some more.

We had to stop at Dairy Queen on the way down the mountain, OF COURSE, and got home in time so I could get cute for Lauren's bachelorette dinner.

We left Mike like this:

 

Babysitting all three babies, with a magazine, a beer and a slice of pizza. He's so level-headed and not-easily-stressable, it amazes me. He even said he was still open to having another baby one day when we got home, which was the real test of how the night went.

The dinner was at Andina, a funky little Peruvian tapas bar downtown. We had a private room, which kept the restaurant noise out. We ordered fantastic local wine and ate off a pre-decided tasting menu. Everything was delicious, except the beef hearts. Those I could have done without.

Friday, we were a bit lazier. We had lunch with Cherie and met her lovely co-workers. Kyle tried to impress the ladies by throwing up all over their office. On the way to the car, Mike said to him, "One day, pretty girls won't think throwing up on their floor is cute. Keep that in mind." Later that day we also took in the Portland Rose Gardens and Japanese Gardens.

That night, Lauren and Evan hosted their rehearsal dinner at Old Town Pizza Company, which was ridiculously good, and I convinced myself it would have been rude not to eat the pizza, so I had three slices. Kyle flirted his way around the room, and we left right before he had a pre-bed meltdown.

Cherie and I spent most of Saturday morning/afternoon helping Lauren get ready and getting pretty ourselves. We headed out to Vista Hills Vineyards, where the wedding was, late afternoon for finishing touches and pictures. The view was OK. I mean, it wasn't bad or anything.

 

MY GOD, WHY DO I LIVE IN TEXAS?

Funny enough, Cherie, Lauren and I all met in Texas and, yet, all got married somewhere on the west coast (California and Oregon). Also, we all put our bridesmaids in brown (Cherie's ladies; mine). 

Anyway, the bride was stunning too.

 

We drank and danced and ate and drank and danced a lot at the reception, so it shocked everyone (myself included) when we actually got up and made our 6 a.m. flight the next day.

We got home and spent most of Sunday afternoon in bed, thankful Mike's mom was willing to watch our kid, so we could sleep off some of the jet lag and sadness from having to leave such good memories behind us.

It was a beautiful trip in a beautiful city with beautiful friends and family.

Comments

[Natalie]

Sounds like you had an awesome trip! I love Lauren's dress. Kyle face planting the sand is so funny. You should blow it up and have it framed to show all his future girlfriends!

[Kaleigha]

We JUST went to a wedding at that exact vineyard!

[Kaleigha]

Also, the face down photo of Kyle, ADORABLE.

[C @ Kid Things]

The face-plant in the sand? STILL FUNNY.

[Corina]

Ditto the love on the Kyle face plant! I grew up on the Oregon coast (Newport) and though I've lived in many places since, Portland is still one of my favorite cities. I love hearing that other people love it as much as I do :) Hope you and the family get many more chances to go back and explore.

[Kristina]

Seriously, your kid could not get any cuter. And that face in the sand pic is absolutely priceless, I am still laughing!

[Jess]

This trip sounds like such fun! But I'm stuck on how gorgeous your wedding dress was. I don't know how I missed it before, because I've seen your wedding photos before, but in that photo of you and Lauren, I noticed just how gorgeous it is. What brand is it? (And yes I'm just nosy as I never plan to need a wedding dress again.)

[Jennie]

It was amazing!

[Rhi]

Old Town Pizza? HAUNTED!
(but, delicious!)

[ElizabethSheryl]

I absolutely adore Oregon, I'm so glad I moved here. Yesterday in my backyard (which has a creek running through it) there was a deer and her two babies drinking water and hanging out, and the babies started to nurse on her! It was so cute, and everytime I miss my family, I think - but its LAS VEGAS. IT'S 114 degrees outside- and I usually get over it. :p

It seems like you guys had a really good trip, and I love the picture after the snow, he has SUCH a cute smile on his face.

[Katie]

Yes, please do write a post on flying with a baby! Jon is already planning our first vacation post baby and I need to know that it is possible!

[Kristen]

Funniest picture ever. Even the second time. I love Oregon. We went for a weekend and it was amazing. I'm glad you had a good first flight experience. We did too. Now, I'm not looking forward to it because she wants to walk and will. not. sit. down. ugh.

[Cora]

I LOVE the face plant in the sand picture. It is so funny. And yet so cute! I would TOTALLY have taken that picture too! Ha!

And yes, PLEASE write about flying with Kyle. I'm taking my first flight solo with my four month old next week and I am FREAKING OUT about it. I'd love to hear more about your experience!

Your trip looks like it was awesome. So jealous!

[Jane]

Love the face-plant photo. :) We were at the same beach 7 years ago when our friends got married in Portland.