Memorial Day Weekend, Part Dos

As I mentioned below, Cam and I made a hurried 4-day trek up to Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA for a much needed trip to visit a few friends and a whole lot of family! We also learned a few interesting things along the way...

Driving to the El Paso airport on Friday morning before the sun came out, we noted the temperature gauge in the truck read: 65 deg F. Upon landing in Portland, our pilot cheerfully announced that we arrived into overcast skies with scatter showers and a high of 55 deg F. Welcome home!

We spent the day on Friday with Cam's dad, which included a "quick" trip south (Thanks, Portland traffic!) to the Shane Company for a few ring cleanings and inspections, before finally heading home to Vancouver (with a quick pit stop at the original Burgerville! YUM!) In all our driving around that afternoon, all I could do was marvel at how green and lush everything was. I had forgotten how I missed seeing an actual river every day or looking out a window at a hillside covered in green trees or how beautifully colorful spring flowers can be!

After a short nap for all of us, we rendezvoused at the FABULOUS Dragon King Chinese Restaurant in Hazel Dell with some great friends from high school: Kevin, Wes and Ben. Dinner was as deliciously greasy as we remembered it and it was great to catch up with old friends!

Despite the fact that Wes attended Eastern Washington University (located approximately 70 miles north of WSU), he was kind enough to bring us a baby present - a little stuffed HUSKY! Wes decided the dog was the cutest one in Toys R' Us and therefore, we couldn't live without it. (ATTN All Coug Friends: We need a little stuffed COUG to teach our kid the difference between GOOD and EVIL...)

On Saturday, we spent the entire day with Cam's brother, Jason, and his family. We did a little shopping with the girls (Kristy, Angie-the-S-I-L, and Alyssa-the-niece) headed to JoAnn Fabrics, while the boys (Cam, Jason, and Andrew-the-nephew) dinked around Sportsman's Warehouse; we played a few games, including chess, 4-player chess and Life!

Before long, it was time to pack up and head to Cam's grandparents' house for a "surprise" Baby Shower/Family Gathering. There was, as usual, WAAAAY too much food, great company, and a wonderful slew of games to play. Angie did an amazing job as Baby Shower hostess, entertaining us with the "Candy-Bar/Dirty Diaper Game" (FYI - Bruce, the stepfather-in-law and Angie's dad can gut a fish with the best of them, but couldn't stomach being in the same room with "dirty" diapers. Wussies!!!), a super cute "Match Game" and "The Price is Right". Thanks, Angie for all your hard work! We had sooooo much fun!!!

Enjoying our Baby Shower

Angie, the beautiful hostess of The Match Game
Doesn't she look like Vanna White?

Very Studious Participants in The Price is Right
(L to R) Karen (Angie's mom), Andrew (nephew), Sarah (sis), Dave (dad), Tish (Dave's girlfriend)

On Sunday, my parents graciously drove the 3 1/2 hours west from West Richland to visit with us in Vancouver. The four of us had an early breakfast at a favorite greasy spoon before making the rounds to see old Leber family friends. We stopped by our old neighborhood to visit the Barkers (our "upstairs" neighbors) to catch up ... and spy on our old house. We trekked out to Battle Ground for a BBQ in our honor at our "Aunt" Jan and "Uncle" Ron's house, where we were joined by our other GREAT family friends, Dave and Helen Alt and their son, David and his family. It was wonderful to spend some time with people who watched my brothers and me grow up.

I'm so glad that my parents were able to drive over to see us. I talk to one of them at least 3 times a week, but I had forgotten how much I missed seeing my parents in the flesh ... especially since moving to El Paso and not being able to make quick trips to and fro across Washington.

Parents- and Grandparents-To-Be

With "Uncle" Ronnie (AKA The Sugar Booger Man) and Jan

More old family friends, the Alts

Sunday night found us back in Oregon at Cam's mom's house for another BBQ. We were joined by Cam's sister, Sarah, her boyfriend, and Jason, Angie and the kids. We had such fun eating MORE, playing cut-throat Team Sequence and spending more time with family.

The Smith Siblings

Nuttiness runs in the family?
(with our niece and nephew)

Unfortunately, our trip was a short one and as always, there is never enough time to see everyone we hoped we could. Thankfully, we're planning another trip north for the Great Baby Tour of 2010. Look for our tour dates around the end of November, early December.

Until then: Thanks a million to all the family members that made our trip a success!