THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS
2014
We all planned to meet in Portland for Thanksgiving week this year for a holiday vacation together because it is not "our" year to have Joe/Christin and Nick/Nicki home for Christmas. The more I considered that, and when I found out Mitch had to work the evening shift on Thanksgiving, I had an idea- "Lets celebrate Thanksgiving on Sunday and Christmas on Thanksgiving morning!"
And it worked :D
Joe and Christin arrived Friday night and got early dibs on holding little Ruby (now 4 weeks old). Em arrived the next morning from Philippines via San Fransisco and Seattle. Kevin and I (and 5 checked bags of luggage-it's Christmas!) were last to appear that Saturday afternoon. We went directly to the beautiful VRBO house in Mt. Tabor neighborhood to drop off our things. Actually, Kevin added the 5th bag because he was bound and determined to bring his October and Christmas beers for the kids to taste. We also packed smoked pork for sandwiches, pumpkin bread, granola, gifts, and wrapping paper. Ruby's toys jingled as we almost ran down the concourse ("almost" is impossible when you have more rolling bags than hands…let just say I kicked it ahead of me as I walked)
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| The VRBO was a beautiful 3 bedroom 3 bath home with a theatre room in the basement and fireplace in the living room. I really got lucky. |
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| Ruby arrives and shows her Husker spirit on Sunday-our Thanksgiving Day |
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| Happy little turkey bottom……she's such a sweetie! |
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| Ruby generally snuggled into Nick's jacket in her Ergo carrier this week! |
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| We walked one block to Mt. Tabor Park and headed up "the steps" (there were two more sets ahead!) for the beautiful views of Portland. Joe and Christin jogged here every day. |
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| Listening to Uncle Mitch |
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| Torrey made a delicious apple cocktail for us |
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| She looks teeny with Joe |
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| These two talked for about 40 minutes while we played games in the other room |
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| "Tell me more about buttery bread stuffing..." |
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| Jeff joined us for our early Thanksgiving. Board games filled the afternoon as the turkey took more than an hour longer than expected…. that has never happened to us! |
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| Christin and Ruby |
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| Monday morning--the sunrise view from my bedroom--Mt Hood is in the distance |
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| The east side of our room was all windows and this wonderful private porch |
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| Nicki has decorated Ruby's room with a little line of dresses |
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| Ruby has so many expressions! |
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| After exploring Alberta arts district and the Mississippi shopping area Monday, we stopped at Eclipse Brewery for a local cheese plate and beer samplers (to reward Joe for shopping). |
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One morning started at Blue Star Donuts where we also had a tasting sampler--we will always remember that Emily thought a baker's dozen was 7……Joe had a similar look on his face when she said that too, but here he is just ruining my shot! :D The donuts start with a brioche dough and then they get creative…raspberry basil to name one!
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| Off to the coast-here we are at Ecola (named Ikoli or "whale")State Park-it was cold, wet and windy! The view was gorgeous -we also saw the lighthouse but it wouldn't photograph due to the mist. |
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| This is Emily looking out over the misty foggy ocean..she happens to be reading Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca, so thats perfect! |
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| Once again, as with so many trips--I am wearing every layer I brought and the raincoat is borrowed from Torrey. We bought more layers at Columbia outlet the next day :D |
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| I love the rock formations-I think "Haystack" is behind me...but everything was foggy! |
After this, we tucked into a cozy restaurant with potbelly stove fireplace and had crab sandwiches. On the drive home we stopped at Tillamook cheese factory to check it out.
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| Five of us took a "falls tour" led by Mitch. Here we are at Multnomah Falls Lodge |
On Wednesday we took the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway with the beautiful expansive river to our left and the forests and falls on our right. Mitch said it best when he described the road "like something from a car commercial"--a ribbon of road winding through impeccable beauty.
Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls
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| Literally at the park entrance, Multnomah Falls is huge, high (620 foot drop), loud and misty--you definitely get the whole experience! |
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| I did say 620 foot drop |
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| Green on green on green--mystical forest! |
We continued down the road to Oneonta, Horsetail and Elowah Falls. So gorgeous! After getting Mitch back for the evening shift, we did some power shopping at the Columbia outlet store. Ruby took the day off to just be a cozy baby and it gave Kevin a chance to accompany Nicki to an appointment. Everyone was happy.
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Look at her intensity as she supports her head :D
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Thanksgiving Day……
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| It sure looks like Christmas morning (although the turkey trot race was going down our street!) | | | |
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| Giving her the lowdown on Santa |
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| Aunt Christin and Uncle Joe brought a bathtub fishing toy (of course!) |
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| Merry First Christmas, Ruby Noelle |
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| These two loved their Eric Carle PJ's for Ruby (thank you Andrea) and I happened to find 2 styles in adult sizes. Nicki has The Very Hungry Caterpillar and, well you can see the tall giraffe above. |  | | | | |
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| Alert and listening to Daddy tell her about our "Christmas" walk to another beautiful park |
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Merry Christmas 2014
(Mitch is off to work!) What, no raincoats? Thats a first! |
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| Reason for the season :D |
On Friday, our last full day with Joe and Christin, we hiked Forest Park (that 5,000 square foot urban forest I mentioned in my October post) and took the hike straight up the switchback ridges to Pittock Mansion. It was misty and then really started to rain. We had our Columbia layers on in full force, but got very soggy shoes and pants! The view of Portland from the top (the mansion grounds) was remarkable despite the rain :D
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| This was no walk in the park…we just kept climbing and switching back up the steep hill-and trying to overcome a fear of steep edges (doesn't everybody hate the thought of going over?) |
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| Adorable energetic parents |
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| At the top--I wish you could see the view of Portland behind us! |
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| Ruby did it too :D |
Pittock Mansion Hike
That night we dropped in to Rogue Brewery and enjoyed a few flights of beer with dinner. Little Ruby hung in there and after her tearful car trip, Nick and Nicki needed a taster or two themselves. They have been so patient packing her up for these outings and/or taking turns with her and we owe them a big thank you for their adaptability this week!
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| Mitch and Torrey |
Saturday found us heading to an "Etsy" area of town to do some shopping. Emily read that one building alone held 33 Etsy crafters' work--we had fun checking out the crafts and the vintage and custom clothes.
Etsy Downtown
We ended the night with a movie "Interstellar" which of course had the theme a "father's love literally saves the world", but Nick felt awful that on his first solo outing from Nicki and Ruby, Ruby had a tearful time of it at home. She is nearing five weeks and i just read that this could happen at predictable cycles ("wonder weeks")..so all will be well soon I am sure.
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| Sweetness |
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| Bicycle legs to help her tummy feel better |
Determined not to have my own "tearful time of it" we bid them all goodbye on Sunday morning after 8 fabulous happy days together. These comings and goings will happen so often that I promised myself to smile through it (and get home to FaceTime :D)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
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“I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year"
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