(Brace yourself for a picture and word overload)
The end of April, yes I know it has been awhile, a month to the day actually, Sawyer and I flew to Oregon. Well my Mom flew with us and we met my younger sisters in Oregon for a week of fun in our old stomping grounds. I was really worried about flying with my little buddy but he did excellent on the flight. We flew into Portland, which is an amazing city. Everything is so green but of course it was spring and the Pacific Northwest. We decided to head over to Multnomah Falls when we landed because the next day was supposed to be non-stop showers. When we left the city it was nice and sunny when we got to the falls a complete downpour. I was really bummed we didn't get to hike up to the falls but I guess I will just have to go back sometime. The next day we went to the Portland Temple. It is amazing inside. When we were younger we used to be in the Portland Temple district but then we got the Medford Temple and only had to drive an hour instead of 6, which was such a blessing.
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| The cutest little Post Office |
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| Watching movies |
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| I want one of these trees in my yard. It was like a flower garden on a tree. So beautiful. |
After the temple ate at Chipotle, which is in Utah but I have never been able to convince Travis to stop at one. It was a really good burrito. I highly suggest the place. We started out long trip down to Southern Oregon after lunch. We stopped in Rice Hill to get ice cream, which my old cross country coach used to do for us when we ran up in Eugene. The place hasn't changed a bit in all these years. Sawyer really liked his "cream" and it was a good break for him. We got to Medford in time for dinner. It was nice to be in a city we were familiar with again. It has changed a lot for me, but not so much for my younger sisters since they lived there longer. It is still one of my favorite places. We ate at an amazing pizza place, the Kaleidoscope, I may have the name wrong. It was weird being back there compared to Utah with Sawyer and being pregnant. There are not a lot of ladies in my situation but in Utah you can't go anywhere without running into another pregnant lady.
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| Sawyer thought Grandma needed to wake up so he poked her in the eye. Typically Sawyer. |
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| He thought he was pretty funny. |
Friday we headed down to Yreka. We wanted to catch some of our old teachers and coaches at the annual Lion's Track Meet. This meet was huge when I was in school. It was fun to see the athletes and compare where I would have placed. We walked around the old school and saw all the changes as well. It was weird being back because all of the teachers had changed, a lot had retired. I loved my teachers at YHS. They were amazing. I always count my lucky stars, especially while in college, that I had such great teachers. We ate at my favorite Mexican Restaurant of all time, Casa Ramos. It is worth a stop if you are ever traveling through Yreka.
Saturday we went out to Greenhorn park. They have really changed the park since I was there. We used to run cross country out there and do a lot, I mean a lot of work outs there too. It was nice that they have a paved trail around the whole thing so I could walk with my stroller. Sawyer enjoyed throwing rocks into the pond/lake. The geese were less than friendly but I didn't expect anything different. We headed back up to Medford to go to the temple there as well. We went out to eat afterwards with some family friends. It was fun but Sawyer had had enough that day and was a little crazy. After dinner we met up with my long time friend Jodie. It was nice to talk with her and see how she was doing. Sawyer had fun with her little girl and her dogs until the dog jumped on him and knocked him down. We all thought it was hilarious but Sawyer was a little frightened and it was only a weiner dog.
Sunday it was nice to go to our old ward. Again though the ward has changed so much since I left. There were a few people who knew and remembered me but not many. It was fun to see all the little kids that had grown up, also sad at the same time. Where did time go? Am I really this old? I took Sawyer to nursery but he wouldn't get down and play with the kids. He finally decided about 5 minutes before church was out the kids were okay to play with and got down. Then he was upset when the other kids started leaving.
When my sisters and mom finished visiting with people we headed out to our old house up at Iron Gate Reservoir. We totally did not take full advantage of living on a lake. I loved living there even if it was so far from town. It was fun going back and walking around the compound and remembering, like when Krista crashed on her bike and I had to carry her up the hill because her knee was bleeding profusly, or floating down the river, playing at the old school house, the list goes on and on. After we visited the compound we went up to Copco Lake, which is just up the road a little into cougar country. That fact always scared me while growing up, that a cougar could be stalking me- you may think I am over reacting but there are a lot of cougars there I have seen their kills, and I have seen a lot of them. We headed back to Yreka to the Andrus' for dinner. They fixed an amazing meal. Sawyer loved playing with their kids, and I was more than grateful to let somebody else entertain the little guy.
Monday morning we headed back up to Medford. We had to stop at Great Harvest and get their delicious fruit bars. They sell them at our Great Harvest but they just aren't the same. We also visited the Mall before heading over to the coast. We didn't go their very often while living out there which is a real shame because it is gorgeous. While on the way there we saw some elk. Sawyer was so excited. I was well shocked. I thought they were more of a intermountain west animal but alas I was wrong, which doesn't happen often, j/k. We ended up at Reedsport OR. There was a lighthouse we wanted to go see and of course the ocean. It was freezing at the coast, definitely not your sunny ocean scene. On our way out of Reedsport we got pulled over. Seriously, Mr. Cop get a life. We weren't doing anything wrong, I have no idea why he decided to pull us over. We headed up the coast to New Port where our hotel was. It was a nice scenic drive up the coast. We asked the front desk attendant what a good seafood place was in town. He directed us to a place that was well, less than what we were hoping for. It was fresh but not worth the money. Oh well.
Tuesday we headed to Cape Perpetua. It was a very pretty area. From a vantage point there you can see 30 miles of coast line which apparently is the most coast line visible in one spot. We hiked around to some tide pools. Sawyer and I didn't venture too far out because well I have a giant belly and am really off balance and 2, Sawyer and the ocean don't mix. We had a fun time exploring though. We took the little umbrella stroller places it shouldn't have ever been but it was great to not have to carry the little man. He really enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and having a stick to play with as well. He did so well for being cooped up in a car so much.
We asked at the visitor center where a great place to get some seafood was and this time we were not disappointed. We ate in Yachats at a place called, Luna Sea Fish House. It had some amazing chowder and some amazing fish and chips. It may been small in size but it was worth the stop. We headed to a long stretch of beach after we ate to walk off some food. We stopped at the Beachside State Park. It was fun to walk on the sand and run a bit. The ocean was raging in the distance but the surf didn't some up to far. Sawyer got all excited about throwing a rock into the ocean. Aunt Vanessa took him out there but when the water came it scared him. He kept the little rock though all day long, he even put it in his pocket. He wouldn't let us put him down after he thought the ocean was after him. We headed back to the big city after the beach. We wanted to hit up some outlet malls in Woodburn area before heading back to Portland. The drive was spectacular again. Coming from Utah the greenness of everything is amazing. We shopped for a while before heading to the Cheesecake Factory. As always, it didn't disappoint us, well poor Krista had a cross contamination and ended up sick. She has a nut allergy and apparently somehow a nut or nut residue was left on her salad. We don't know, all we know is she got sick. Poor girl.
The next morning was crazy, which repacking our bags, eating breakfast and making it to the airport. As my mom and I were going through security we heard, "Final boarding call for Salt Lake". What that heck? Our plan wasn't supposed to leave until 1:20 and it was 12:00. We barely made our flight, good thing I checked a bag so they knew we were coming. They were calling our name at the gate. It was a little embarrassing but oh well people were pretty forgiving for a pregnant lady with a child. This time flying Sawyer got his own seat a little boy sat in front of us. It was pleasant flight home.
At the airport my wonderful husband greeted us with flowers and a balloon for Sawyer. Sawyer was so happy to see his dad. It was nice to be back too. All in all though, it was an amazing vacation and we had a lot of fun. Thanks Vanessa, Krista, and my Mom for all the help, and thanks to Travis for letting us leave him for a week.
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| If you look closely you can see how strong the wind in normally, all of the trees are slanted. |
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| Don't worry there was not a cliff under this fence Sawyer just wanted to see the ocean |
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| "Big Splash" |
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| I love Aunt Nessa |
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| Sawyer was such a good sleeper for us the whole time. Apparently this night he got tired of waiting for us to go to bed and covered his head for some peace and quiet. |
