Weekend of FUN!

This past weekend I was able to get away for a little "me" time! I went to Portland to visit my friend Allison who recently moved there. Now the weather was typical "Portland" weather, rainy and cool, but seriously I didn't mind at all. I was expecting that. Allison had a little pocket umbrella for me and we were set to go. I had an amazing time and again I am in awe that some places on this earth are so GREEN!!! and not in an environmentally friendly way, even though Portland is, but that there can be that much foliage and flowers and grass grown all natural without irrigation! Definitely exposing myself how much of an AZ girl I am. But enough of that. Thanks Allison for posting the information from the trip. I was thinking that we did so much I was going to have a hard time remembering what and when. So here is the timeline with photos too! I was so exhausted after returning but seriously rejuvenated after being without babies for 3 days. It was a wonderful break from "real" life, even though Monday was harder than usual! Thanks for being a great host Allison. I had an awesome time. So here goes...

FRIDAY

• Went to lunch at the Elephant Deli, an awesome little deli that had lots of everything that was so yummy and I was served by a man dressed as a woman (I think?)
• Toured the Pittock Mansion

• Visited the Japanese Garden
  
  


• Hopped over to the International Rose Test Garden (it smelled so good here!)

• Went to lunch at Rock Creek Tavern out in the farm land and had the waiter squeeze both of our shoulders.
  


• Stopped at Roloff farm and ate some apples that had dropped from a tree, got a wave from Amy Roloff, purchased a pumpkin, (hanging in the pumpkin patch)

• met Amy Roloff. That's right, we met Amy Roloff and talked with her for a few minutes (the farm was dead when we were there probably due the rain) and got a picture.

• Took a stroll in a park in Hillsboro that pretty much cuts right in the forest and it just off the main highway. It was as though we were transported to an exclusive local. I slipped on a wet bridge and almost and almost gave Allison a heartache!
• Went to a FANTASTIC concert at symphony hall in downtown Porltand where they played the music from Westside Story and had Lang Lang as a guest pianist play a Rachmaninoff concerto
• Dined at Higgins and I had the best food ever, some sort of cod fried or baked and the best sauce. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

SATURDAY

• Ventured to the Alberta Arts district and had an amazing breakfast of rice porridge made with coconut milk and fresh mangos. This was so good and I don't ever think that any rice porrige will ever taste as good.
• Shopped at the Saturday Market in downtown and purchased homemade soaps, fudge, jams, cars for the girls (pink and purple!)
• Visited the world's largest bookstore and I got East of Eden and Of Mice and Men used!
• Walked, walked and did more walking
• Then after all that walking, we went on a walking tour with a local guide where we went to go underground and look at famous tunnel, (me in said tunnell... scared)

• visited the waterfront (me in deep reflection!)
• went to an authentic Chinese medicine doctor shop which smelled really nasty.

• The details are all vague of the tour but it was a fun anyway.
• Drove across the river to Apizza Scholls and waited in line to have the most delicious Cesar salad and pizza. Total wait time approx 1 hr and 2o min-it's really that good. I was starving by the time we were eating and ate the hugest salad all by myself and then three of these gigantic pieces of pizza. The best part is I would do it all the same next time I eat there!

• Went to the Aladdin to listened to a couple blues singers that were just OK
• Drove back to Hillsboro and met up with Blake (Allison's hubby) to see Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist (a late night movie without the worry of a babysitter... amazing!)

SUNDAY

• Woke up and enjoyed some of the yummy peach jam made by Kaylani
• Drove to Cannon Beach and looked at it...really that is all we did-it was cold and rainy. We stopped for steamed milk and one photo!
• Continued to Seaside where Louis & Clark ended their journey and bought salt water taffy at the coolest candy shop ever!

• Went on to Astoria and drove across a very large bridge into Washington to turn around and come back.

• Then visited the farmers market and ate yummy fresh raspberries where I bought Ryan a marshmallow gun and I got my hand massaged by a lotion salesman (I bought the lotion... it really was that good)


• Visited the Asotria column,

• walked up to the Goonie's house

• interacted with some barking sea lions

• Drove to Wakeena Falls

• and Multnomah Falls to see their beauty.

• Ate dinner at Quiznos and then Allison dropped me off at the airport, where the Southwest line was so long. I got a little concerned, but then everyone around me was on the same flight, so we figured it was moving and we had lots of time. I made my flight with tons of time to spare!

Thanks again for a great trip Allison and to Blake for letting me steal her away for the entire weekend! Also Thanks to Ryan for watching the girls and being so wonderful about me having some "me" time. Also, thanks to Erica for watching the girls on Friday while Ryan was at work. It was a great weekend!