Spring 2013 Oregon Trip

 I'm behind again! :( I know I said Jake's 2-year-old post would be coming soon and I almost decided to just skip ahead to the present, but I know that at a later time I will probably want to look back at these, so please forgive me for the next few belated posts.

At the end of February, we took a 3-day trip down to see the relatives. We stopped at the Gilbert House as we have done so often during the last year, enjoying the benefits of our Museum of Flight membership to the very last day before it expired! :) I'd given the kids the choice of going to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) or the Gilbert Discovery Village. The latter won hand's down with all three. As much as they enjoyed OMSI when we went a few months ago, I think that the calmer, laid-back atmosphere and the smaller size of the Gilbert House is more appealing to the younger crowd.

I always enjoy staring out the windows at the lovely view of the Willamette River. :)

We were blessed with mostly dry weather while we were on the farm. It was still cool, but spring was in the air and Abby and I were excited to spot little daisies growing in the field.

One time, the kids wandered out of my sight and I found them climbing on the bales of hay. :)

Aunt Sandi always makes our stay pleasant and enjoyable, but it's her extra touches that make us feel especially welcome. For instance, on Ben's bed (a mattress on the floor), she always displays several tractor magazines because she knows how much he enjoys looking through them. On this trip and with no prompting, Ben ran straight into the guest room, looked at his bed, excitedly exclaimed about "his" tractor magazines and settled right down to read. :)

In a funny coincidence of schedules, my brother had to travel down to Coos Bay, OR on business and so stopped by the farm for a couple hours (after visiting Grandma). He'd brought his son and the kids thought it was so funny to play with their Olympia cousin at Uncle Paul's and Aunt Sandi's in Oregon.

The annual Valentine's Day party that my Aunt Sandi has hosted for the past eight years for her nieces and their kids (we've been going since Abby was born) had to be postponed and so we celebrated a Valentine's/Spring party. The postponement allowed for more outside play and the big boy cousins had quite a time exploring and even found some old deer skulls and antlers that they were quite proud of. Farm boys all the way. ;o)

My cousin Jayne and her youngest Tabitha.

As always, we also enjoyed several visits with my Grandma in the nursing home. She continues to deteriorate in health, which is always hard to see. Her hands have become so gnarled with arthritis that she can no longer even feed herself, her speech is becoming more slurred and harder to understand, and she spends most of her days lying in bed or in her recliner in a great deal of pain. We were glad to be able to brighten her days at least for a bit; I only wished we lived closer so that we could visit even more.

On the way back home to WA, we stopped to visit a dear friend who now lives in Vancouver. Jean was my primary department Sunday School teacher when I was a kid, but I've always considered her my friend too and not just my mom's. :) We spent some time at her house and then all of us had dinner at Wendy's before we continued on our way. Our visits together are always filled with much laughter and this time was no exception. (I unfortunately forgot to take any pictures!)

I've grown up with so many special people in my life and it's always a blessing to me to pass on these relationships to my kids and watch them grow to love and be loved by these people too.