DAY 1:
At the airport I looked wistfully at one of our many luggage items, a blue carry-on-sized suitcase, remembering that in 2009 (before kids) it was my one and only bag that I took to Europe for a trip that lasted almost three weeks. Fast-forward to this day, and it was surrounded by five additional suitcases, three backpacks, two carry-on bags, two car seats, and a stroller. Oh, the joys of traveling with children. We experienced many pitying looks from fellow travelers, as well as some sympathetic ones with comments like, "Oh, I remember those days..."
The airport, flight, car rental, and drive to Hood River were all surprisingly uneventful- what a relief. And then we were finally there!
First plane ride all done- a success!
Owen, standing, not walking, on a moving platform at the Portland airport: "I don't want to go fast. I want to go slow." Such a stubborn, stubborn fool.
Auntie- uh, I mean Uncle Matt and Logan
Dinner on our own outdoor patio, just a short drive over the bridge to Washington
DAY 2
Robin and Matt hooked us up when it came to our accommodations. We stayed in our own house, a little condo owned by Matt's dad. It was awesome to have a little place to call our own, and I didn't have to worry that the boys were making too much noise when they woke up so early in the morning. Owen LOVED this place, and kept exclaiming about how much he just loved our little apartment. This is Owen and Logan watching Superhero Squad right after they woke up on our first morning in Oregon.
Look how pleased Logan is, a) because he's proud that he climbed up on the chair by himself, and b) because no one is telling him to get down.
On the agenda for Day 2: the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler Sightseeing Cruise. I thought the boys would be more excited about this boat, but it turns out they just wanted to go inside and eat snacks.
There is a sign that says you will have your picture taken for "security purposes." I think they take your picture just so you'll buy the commemorative photo. Because my dad always does.
Snack time! Now my boys are happy.
This playground was right next to the boat dock, so we had a picnic lunch and the boys played.
After the boat and the park, we visited the Bonneville Fish Hatchery. WTF is a fish hatchery? I still don't really know, but apparently it is a tourist attraction. Like, tour buses go there. I was pleasantly surprised at the pretty scenery (lots of trees, shade, flowers, and ponds) and the fun things to do. You can even feed the baby rainbow trout and they practically jump out of the water trying to grab the food.
Rainbow trout babies
Herman the Sturgeon
Eating dinner at restaurants has lost its appeal when it means I have to drag my two impatient children along. But Hood River apparently appeals to young parents, and when I walked in to this restaurant, Solstice, and saw that we were seated right next to a kids' play area I was immediately relieved. The kids' area didn't exactly prevent meltdowns from both boys, but it helped postpone them long enough to enjoy my delicious pizza and beer.
Logan and Owen, all dressed up and ready to go out to dinner!
Logan, temporarily occupied by toys
Owen's first Etch-a-Sketch experience: when he would shake it to erase the picture, he'd practically whack me in the face with it. Every. Single. Time.
Auntie Robin and Logan
With the beach right across the street from the restaurant, how could we not go splash in the river after dinner?
My two beach boys
Java-Bean!
Before heading home, I HAD to try this little gelato stand right across from the beach. The guy behind the counter seemed semi-amused at my ability (or non-ability?) to pronounce his Italian flavors. A few years ago, when Jeremy and I went to Italy we had gelato every night, and it wasn't until the last night in Cinque Terre that the man scooping my Pistacchio gelato corrected me: "Pis-TOCK-yo, like 'Pinocchio!'" On this night, I was pleased to order the nocciola (hazelnut) and pronounce it correctly. In a related story, Logan is beginning to understand the concept of dessert. We didn't order him any gelato, but he was right there saying, "Please!" to anyone who had a cup and a spoon.
What a little gelato thief
Next time we'll get Logan his own dessert
DAY 3:
Today Logan learned a new word: buh-payne (airplane). And how could he NOT learn that word, with all the planes we saw at the WAAAM Air and Auto Museum?
This was Logan all day: "Buh-payne! Buh-payne!"
Owen: "If I could have any plane, I'd want THAT one." Out of all the planes, life-sized and all, he chose this little tiny red one.
This was the kids' area, where they had things the boys could actually touch and play on. Logan played on EVERYTHING. Owen was being Mr. Mopey McNeeds-a-nap, and wasn't that excited about it.
That may look like a halo over Logan's head, but don't be fooled-- this kid is no angel
We have a train set just like this at home, but this one had airplanes and an airport, too.
Once a month they bring out all the old planes and cars and run them around outside, and this was the day! Owen got to ride in an old car with Jeremy and Grandpa.
DAY 4
The Oregon Zoo started out as the Zoo-with-No-Animals; maybe they were hiding from the heat, which reached over 100 degrees that day. But as the day went on we got to check out a lot of animals we don't have at our own zoo-- cheetahs, rhinoceroses, hippos, and polar bears, to name a few.
We keep commenting on how much Owen has grown lately, but put him up next to a life-size black bear and grizzly bear, and he still just looks like a little pipsqueak.
Owen got to feed nectar to the lorikeets.
All we hear all day [imagine the whiniest voice possible]: "I'm huuuuungry," and "I want a snaaaaaack." Then it's finally lunchtime and they can eat all they want...and they just want to play on this.
Owen now claims to be a "golf professional." Thanks Uncle Matt
for taking him out golfing while we waited for our dinner at the
restaurant overlooking the golf course.
DAY 5
With the past few days so full of activities, we wanted to just take it easy. Plus, it reached 106 degrees. There's not that much you want to do when it's that hot.
Oooohhhhh, this picture is sooooo creepy. What is that little blonde boy doing in the corner? Owen insisted on this outfit today. It "matched." I guess I can see his point- both the shirt and the shorts are blue and green plaid. My fashion lecture that day on matching something patterned with something plain didn't exactly sink in, and I finally decided that if I were to pick my battles, this one didn't matter. And the red and yellow socks are his Flash socks (like the superhero, The Flash), which he chose so he could run really really fast.
A puzzle! There are few activities that are so satisfying when on a family vacation.
DAY 6, aka Don't-Mess-with-Diana Day:
I don't have any photos of the last day of the trip, because I absolutely HATE the last day of any trip. It is pretty much a guarantee that I will be in a bad mood, and chances are there will probably be some tears. Why? So much packing and exhaustion, and I just want to go home. This trip was no different. So instead of dwelling on this, I leave you with this last image of Hood River, one of my favorite photos from the trip, and one captured simply on my iPhone...
