Choo Choo

While in Oregon, We took a ride on an old time steam powered train.

This was was permanently parked.

It took us along the pacific coast to Rockaway Beach, OR.
Mason's fear of loud noise was tested, but he broke out of it, and enjoyed the ride with us! Beautiful!

Took a break before heading back and played on the beach.

The boys first time.

The Scene

Oregon in nutshell… Green Green Green.

Stuff in stories I tell ya. Myths here in Arizona.

We think flagstaff is green, but nothing campared the Tillamook County.

I have dreams about our home in Mooresville, and sometimes feel like I made them up because its been so long. This place reminded me a ton of North Carolina and the Smokey Mountains. These should be called the Smokey Mountains.

We stayed on a quaint little farm on the Jacobs property most of the time. There was a camp fire that roared 24/7 all week long. Fishing and animals! Benjamin LOVED the cows, every time we drove by a pasture, he’d wave his hand and say “hi, hi, hi” in the sweetest little voice and giggle to himself. Mason conquered his fear of horses by petting one! The boys went to a local petting zoo and saw those animals. I’ll have to get the pictures from their papa.

The beaches were foggy and mysterious looking. The high all week was about 68 degrees, so needless to say, the only people in the ocean were children, who seem to have no care about the temperature of the water or their wet clothing.

We went to see the Octupus tree, recommened by Lauren Jacob, and it was so neat. 

On the same path there was an old lighthouse. 

The fog was super thick and I got some amazing pictures that, dare I say, were very “Forks” like… 

I also captured a picture of what I SWEAR was the exact same rock that Ariel perched herself in the Little Mermaid.

The Jacobs built their home with their own hands, and it was stunning, along with the stunning view below from their cabin like home nestled in the mountain. I can’t believe that I didn’t take a picture of it, but I did get one of their barn.

AIRPLANE!

I was so so so very nervous of Mason's first flight.

I was afraid it was going to be the first fright or 2 in a week. I got a lot of positive feedback from those I expressed my concerns to about this issue, and it eased my thoughts slightly. We arrived to the airport, everything went perfect! Mason was stoked to get to fly in a plane, our flight was on time, and we had no turbulence what-so-ever. Mason played his new Vtech game while Ben was ancy in Sterling lap. It was a total relief!

Me on the other hand, dislike flying, I am claustrophobic and get all hot and ancy myself. I toke some Dramamine and it helped to calm my nerves, but I was oh so glad to be on the ground and to exit the plane.With such a great experience the first time, of course comes the hard part.

Leaving Vacation.

Arriving to the Portland airport, we see that our plane is 30 minutes behind. No biggie. Come to 20 minutes before departure and they tell us that they are doing a plane swap and we won't be leaving for another additional hour and thirty minutes. Imagine us with a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old waiting in the airport longer than liked, to sit on a plane for almost 3 hrs… we had to get creative. I let Benjamin flirt with some high school girls and Mason was glued to his video game! Hey at least its educational with Buzz and Woody along to play! It worked. Went smoothly with a couple of "Can we get on the plane yet?" from Mason and Benjamin trying to press the associates computer keys. They were well behaved. Walked in our door about 1215ish and were so happy to be back on our pillow top again. Boys as well.

7.22.10

Gratefuls
1. for inspiration for my newest project
2. hubs making dinner while I put it together
3. for going to bed early!

lesson:
Amanda posted this, and it touched me deeply.
Simple words...
"Good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

7.21.10 learned and known

Grateful for...
1. Vacation being less than 72 hrs away!
2. The weather today... Love it.
3. Comedy that comes with being at the MVD....

Lesson:
will be a long one today. Since I'm sitting here and have no where to go...
Curious as to why I am better at lists written on paper and not on my smartphone....
Here is a list of things that I've either learned, have known, or am coming to accept about myself... I'd do a positive vs negative, but some of these could be either/or or be both. You decided, they are just me.

I am...
Quick to trust
Quick to connect
Quick to forgive
Slow at letting go
Quick to look for change
Slow at doing the laundry
jealous at times
Appreciate the small things
Home body

Mimi sent this to me today... Words of wisdom

"Reading this is a magazine "love yourself. focus on the positives of my figure like how strong my legs are& how they've carried Me across so many finish lines"
Amen sista
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

7.20.10

Never too late.

Grateful for...
1. Dads advice on calling to see if there were any cancellations on the only direct flights to OR. Got a new flight! Now we only have a 2.5 hr flight, instead of the connecting, and Mason will join us!
2. Not stepping on that Scorpion I found in the kitchen last night. Freeeaaky. I've seen a scorpion take down a 6 yr old for 2 days, glad that my boys didn't find it first.
3. My 3 blessings...

Lesson:
Don't sweat the small stuff, it may be causing you more stress than you need. Eliminate the stress by contentment with things that will never change or move no matter how hard you try. Somethings just don't take well to adversity.

7.19.10

Grateful for...

1. Full tank of gas.

2. Beautiful Necklace my mom gave me this weekend. It had one of my first lesson/quote on it "Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever"

3. Papa taking Mason up to Oregon in the car, instead of stressing about the the connecting flight, and Mason having a panic attack and us being stranded in Oakland.

Lesson:

Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn. -Miguel de Cervantes