Review: Portland

Chad was in Portland for the month of January doing a rotation.  My plan was going to stay in Utah for the whole month, then fly back to California at the end.  Halfway through the month, however, the boys and I missed him too much so we booked flights and headed up there, instead.

The night before we left I got together with my friend, Annie, whose husband has also done several rotations away.  She asked how long we'd been apart and I told her "only 3 weeks"  She replied "oh, that's not too bad" and I agreed.  It was quiet for a few seconds then we both said, "Isn't it horrible that we consider 3 weeks away not too bad?!"  

It was so good to see Chad.  The first thing Caden said was, "Dad?  Are we going to wrestle tonight?"  Both the boys kept hugging Chad.  It's such a relief to be back with him.  Our family in Utah is always so helpful with the boys--but it's just not like having Chad.

We took advantage of the sunny day and headed to a tram that you ride to see all over the city.  Portland is beautiful, that's for sure.  I couldn't get over how green it is. 

During the week Chad worked every day at the clinic.  My cousin, Jenny, lives in Portland and we got together one day.  Jenny and I are only 6 weeks apart in age and we grew up together as "best cousins" having sleep overs our entire lives.  We drove around downtown Portland while they told me all about life as an Oregonian.  

The next night, we got together again so Chad could get the tour.  It was so much fun to pile into their suburban and hang out.  They took us to the food carts where there is a huge variety of food to choose from.   

The next stop was VooDoo doughnuts.

Chad and Eli

Jenny and I

Chad got the maple bacon and I got the cookies and cream.  Caden went all out with the plain doughnut and chocolate frosting.  Seriously with all the options, he went with that one.

The 17 hour ride home was so beautiful.  Bryce was so tired and I expected him to sleep a majority of the time.  Wrong.  We stopped at a hotel that night and I thought "Bryce is so tired, he'll go right to sleep."  Wrong.  He and Caden figured it was party time to be all together! During the night I knew that Bryce was so tired, I figured he'd sleep in late the next morning.  Wrong.  He was our early wake-up alarm around 5:00.

I knew one of us had to be ready to drive that day so I grabbed Bryce and our swim suits and took him out.  He and I sat in the hot tub until 7:30 when Chad and Caden woke-up and we went to breakfast.  I think Bryce was just wired from the new schedule and so excited to have us all sleep together in the same room.  Other than the no-sleeping, both boys were pretty good in the car--as long as the fruit snacks and crackers were handy, of course.