The Oregon Zoo is even more fantastic than when I was growing up.  We had a wonderful time this last Sunday on our family outing there.  But it almost wasn’t!

We packed a lunch and headed to church (well, I packed us lunches!!) As the closing song started we headed downstairs and collected Vienna, then off to the zoo.  Vienna and I were quite excited.  Sam and Ziva just seemed to be along for the ride… ha ha ha…

Driving along Hwy 26, I see all these signs “Zoo parking full, use satellite parking”  Oh great, just what I was afraid of… crowds.  I prefer doing things on weekdays for this very reason, but I should have expected it… it was a gorgeous day and there is a new baby elephant to be viewed (he’s 5 weeks old).

So we go over to the satellite parking and see the line of people loading up on the buses…with kids… and strollers… and we think…85 degrees today, no a/c on bus’ Long line, or long time sitting on bus waiting to go… no thanks.  Sam and I decided that we’ll go hunt the main lot and if we can’t find something we’ll go home, Sam will work and we’ll go back on Monday.
We twirl around for a few mintues and realize its hopless and are getting ready to leave… two gals are walking back to their truck and say “next row” So we go to the next row… “oh shoot, sorry next row” she says, but we figure someone else is going to beat us too it… but we get over there and the other car passed them and we pull right in!! PTL!!  wahoo, we have a parking spot!
So we pull out the blanket and have a parkinglot picnic right there,  pack that back up, pulled out the stroller and packed that and off we went.

The gate was a SWARM of people!  This gentlman, with this crazy cool handlebar mustache got in front of us.  As we near the gate he turns to us and asks if we have a Zoo Pass.  No? Well, i think I get two adults with me for free, and your kids are free… so I’ll take you in!!!  PTL for ticket angels!! It’s ten bucks a piece to get into the zoo now a days! and on our budget, every little bit counts!! Since I packed our lunches, and brought in with me a jug of frozen water for cold drinks all day and snacks, the whole day was free for us!! such a blessing!!  

We had a GLORIOUS time.  We were there from about 1pm to closing at 5pm.   Ziva’s having a rough day… so i’ll post a part two later this evening if I get a chance.  Can’t seem to be on the computer much today, my baby needs held (and I have sooo much to get done I should probably do the laundry and such if she does quiet down!!)

So, we’ve restarted potty training.  Vienna was doing fantastic at 15 moths.  Eight times in a row “mommy, potty” and every time BINGO! Probably because she was getting a UTI and it hurt to pee. Now we’re at 28 months, and just starting again… arrggg… the deal is, pee in the chair and you get a candy corn.  Apparently my daughter is VERY motivated by candy corn… because we’ve been on the potty chair no less than15 times today.  That’s like three times an hour since this whole thing started.  She’s “earned” two candy corn… well, three, but yeah, I don’t think she really “earned” that one.  She has now decided she can take her own diaper off… which she did… and sat down… with a “sticky deposit” attached… So… I got to clean up poop AND reward her for it… yeah, makes me laugh now… not so funny at the time… i sure hope this isn’t too long of a process!!  She has surgery on Friday to fix her reflux issue… I’m wondering if this is going to help with potty training, or set us back… hummm…. time will tell

The Final Countdown

Thursday we had planned as a shopping day, we hung around the house in the morning and Jill read Vienna books. We were tired!! Our plan was to have Abby’s pizza for lunch at my parents house.  I LOVE ABBY’S!!  Linguisa in particular! So we had pizza then we were off to the Outlet Mall with our mom’s.  Friday we had intended to go to Silver Creek Falls, but found ourselves happy to stay home and rest and hang out with the family before they had to leave on Saturday.  Aunt Beth took us all out to lunch and we had a lovely time before heading home to let Jill get packed.

On Saturday we returned them to the airport bright and early!  Vienna went with us, and cried when they left.  She’s a bit confused, she thinks that they too went across the ocean like Auntie Es.

Later that morning our friend Jen (aka BJ Bear) came to visit us!!  She was in Canby for a family wedding (she lives in Colorado so we don’t see her much) and she got to meet Ziva and play once again with Vienna.


It was a short visit as she had to get back to the wedding… humm… I never fed her lunch… yikes! I hope she wasn’t hungry! She came about eleven and had to head out at about two thirty… adn I know she was called away from the wedding because her dad was not doing well (he had been quite ill, but he’s recovering now PTL!)

So, today I find myself recovering… mainly recovered, and a little bored! (Well, at least Vienna comes by it honestly!) Yesterday was a major shopping/grocery day (thankfully once again mom took the girls!) And I did some Christmas shopping (i have to get a box in the mail to our overseas family SOON!)  We went to Good Will with my mom, and it seems like every time we go there now I feel dizzy! Something about their new building… I thought it was just from being pregnant… maybe Sam installed something there trying to keep me out of there… not gonna work, but nice try! ha ha ha

Well, that’s it folks.  I started this post at 8am this morning, and am just now finishing at 4pm… ahhh the life of a mom! (and fly killer… I lost track when I got to 60 over the last two days!!! YEP 60!!!)
I’d best sign off and get dressed as we are having dinner at our friends house this evening.
hope you survived… I mean, enjoyed this post!!

Ta Ta for now from me and my girls!

 

Wednesday: The “tour”. Timberline, Multnomah Falls, Crown Point and McMenemin’s Edgfield
Wednesday was the tour! We drove from the valley, up to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood, down over to the Gorge at Hood River and on down to Multnomah Falls and Crown Point, before having dinner at Edgefield and heading home to the valley.  At this point Jill is seeing almost as much of Oregon as Sam has (next trip Jilly we’ll get you out to Bend, then you can have seen MORE than Sam unless we get him up to the lodge by then!) It was a fabulous trip (Thanks to Craig for suggesting it!) It was a perfect day for this trip… absolutely gorgeous!! 


I myself hadn’t been to Timberline Lodge in MANY years.  And in the years that I went to ski there I only went into the day lodge, so it was a treat for me to visit there again.  It’s an absolutly beautiful Lodge / Hotel.  This is the view out behind the Lodge.  Ziva was enjoying the sun! So was I because it was warm but not too hot!
Here’s a link to he history of the lodge and why it’s so beautiful: http://www.timberlinelodge.com/lodging/explore_the_lodge.php


Unfortunately for us, the area where the flags are is the best viewing area and it was close that day for renovatios (it’s a great view down the mountain). But we had an ok view from the Day Lodge while we had our packed lunches.
The outside and aerial views of the Loges were used in the movie “The Shining” and we found this nod to the film inside the lodge:



There is a tiny bar in the Lodge that’s only open in the evenings.  It’s my favorite thing in the Lodge that I’m aware of… isn’t this door fabulous?  It’s only about as tall as Gaby.

I just love Gothic design.
In due time we were headed back down the mountain. It was about 5pm and Jill leans over to me and says, “well, it’s after 5pm, I guess I can turn my phone off” her mom had been giving her a bad time about having her phone on her whole vacation (what Aunt Beth didn’t know was that Jill was expecting a call about a job she interviewed for just before coming to Oregon).  Not 15 minutes later her message notice sounded (Jill had put the phone on vibrate and missed the call) it was the job… SHE GOT IT!!!  We were so excited, she was cut off as we went through a cell hole so we pulled over for her to finish (I should have known better!!) and then she was able to call and rejoice with her friends and siblings as we made the drive to Multnomah Falls!  It was quite perfect timing (as she was calling her siblings I called Sam and had him fly down to Safeway and get a cake!! it’s nice having a second language at hand!!)

Multnomah was busy… it almost always is.  Mom, Gaby and Jill hiked up  to the bridge (you can make them out…white, red, red, on the right of the bridge there)

Aunt Ruthann and I stayed below while I fed Ziva (who was such a trooper the whole time!!)


Aunt Ruthann missed her chior practice at church so that we could go to Crown Point.  A TOTAL must see if you ask me!! Such a beautiful place to marvel at God’s creation and see the border between Oregon and Washington.



Bummer for the haze, but still worth it.  The building (I didn’t upload the photo here) is a 1920’s beauty, just a small carriage stop, but I love the building as much as the view!! Jill was very glad we went. Thanks for the sacrifice Aunt Ruthann!!!

Then we were off to McMenamin’s Edgefield where we stumbled upon the Half St. Patrick’s Day Celebration complete with bagpipes, i can’t stand bagpipes!
But dinner was good and mom gave them a tour of the estate while I once again fed Ziva McMenamin’s is one of those MUST do’s in Oregon… and there are enough sites to choose from, so no excuses if you visit the valley!!  We headed to my parents house where Sam, Dad and Vienna were waiting with the surprise cake for Jill!

It was late, and all were tired, so after cake we went home to crash!!

Tuesday…. The Oregon Coast

Tuesday was the Coast!!  We love the Oregon Coast, and any first time visitor has to be taken there if there is time!! 

Time for another coffee break??  I thought so!

Here in the valley that Tuesday it was 83 degrees at the time I called Sam.  It was only 52 degrees where we were at Rock Creek in Lincoln City. Just an hour and a half away!

But I have to tell you, as cold as it was, it was a welcome break from the valley heat!  The only downer was all the fog!

this is the beach over by Dory Cove, but the View from Cape Fowl Weather is usually breathtaking, but this day you couldn’t see but ten feet of water looking strait down from the 500 foot cliff! (Hence no photo from there!)  but it was wonderful all the same!

I had a great time showing Jill around anyway, and mom even sat in the van (between casino’s which is what the “sisters” really went to the beach to do!) while Jill and I went out on the beach so that she could put her feet in the Pacific Ocean!  With as cold as the water is, it’s a wonder she still has her feet intact! ha ha ha  It was a great day!  On the way back from the coast we stopped at the casino to have dinner with “the sisters” (our mom’s and Aunt Ruthann) and Uncle Jim.  The buffet was HUGE!!  and thankfully bought some new pants for the day so they weren’t tight!! (I should have lost some weight since delivery, which i have, but i’m still not back into my ‘regular’ pants!  Jill took some time to play the machines while I found a quiet corner to nurse Ziva and hang out in front of a fire so she could have some kick time.  Only Aunt Beth came out ahead (she always seems to win!!)

Jill and I had made such great plans that “the sisters” decided to join us the next day was well!