Three generations of drenched rats

If we had any theme for our trip to Portland it was water.  We threw rocks in the river and saw a waterfall.  We also got to experience God's other water.

On Saturday morning we got up to sunshine.  It was a gorgeous Oregon morning.  We decided to head to the Oregon Zoo to see some animals and to walk around for a bit.  We had plans in the afternoon and decided that some time in the morning, doing something just for Zoe was in order.  Plus she loved the Point Defiance Zoo so we thought we were golden. 

We were!  We dropped off our things in a locker and headed out to see some animals.  We really wanted to see some tigers and elephants.  We got the map and started off toward the Asian Elephants section.  Notice how eager she looks.

On the way we saw two seal lions and a sea otter.  Not to mention an invisible pig.  Can you see him in the picture?  I was there and now can't see him.  They really are invisible.

Since we didn't come to see an animal we didn't even know existed, we decided to head to the elephants.  We felt a little drop of rain, but thought nothing of it.  The sun was shining. 

We were glad we did.  We got to see an elephant, which is my favorite animal ever.  Zoe loved it too.  She kept yelling "rrrreeaaarrrr" like she was one of them.  They stared at us and then went to the pool to water off.

We headed to a little field next to them with statues of animals.  I'm sorry to say, but this is the closest we got to even seeing a hippo.

Because the flood gates of Heaven opened up and we were stuck in a full-on thunder storm.  We ran into a cafe, but the rain never let up.  If you've never been to The Oregon Zoo, then I'll inform you that the elephants are the farthest point from the exit. 

And any shelter. 

We ran over to the sea lions, which were covered.  The rain never let up.  We figured we might as well just run back to the entrance and risk being wet.

At this point it really didn't matter because we had little, black rivers of mascara running down our cheeks that had turned clear. 

That's right, we were so wet our waterproof mascara didn't even stand a chance.  Aren't we lovely? 

About half the way back to the store Zoe saw someone carrying an umbrella.  For the final 500 hours of the jaunt back to the entrance, all we heard was, "there's an umbrella.  We need umbrella.  A blue one!"  It was like she was sent to remind us just how wet we were. 

We made it back to the store and she got her umbrella.  A ladybug one. 

Isn't that the cutest drenched girl with an umbrella? 

We headed back to the hotel for a little recovery and dry clothes. Unfortunately for my mom she stepped in a puddle that went deeper than her foot, she she didn't dry off completely. 

Then it was off to spend time with our people. 

A Waffle No Wait, She's Saying Waterfall

The next stop on the way to Portland involved stretching our legs at Multnomah Falls.

Zoe loved it.  She thought it was "awesome" to see water falling from the top of the mountain.  The whole way to the falls she kept saying "let's do it."  In the picture below, I was blissfully unaware what "let's do it" meant.

Apparently being below the falls wasn't good enough.  We needed to hike up the trail.  While she sat on my shoulders and saw all the leaves.  It's only 0.2 miles to the bridge, but add 32ish pounds on your shoulders and it feels like a hike up Everest.

I had just told her that we couldn't go into the falls.  See how sad she looks?  No going in the river earlier.  No going in the falls now. 

Apparently "let's do it" means swimming in God's pools.  In the middle of October. 

I was able to distract her from her need to dip in the falls with leaves.  They were the size of her head.  We collected several on the hike down. 

She loved them so much she had to sit in a wet pile and play. 

Until we mentioned shopping.  She took the leaf the size of her head and went looking for a shirt to remember our hike.

Since you can't wear your swimming suit!

The Trip Where We Experienced All Kinds of Water.

This weekend my mom, Zoe and I headed out to a wedding in Portland.  Our cousin was getting married on Saturday.  We thought that was a great excuse for a road trip and, what ended up being, packing in almost a dozen people within 48 hours.  We like to stay busy!

The first stop was in Richland so my mom could see her friend Sandy.  They met in high school during their secretarial class.  It has been over 30 years since they've seen each other.

She offered to meet us at a great, local restaurant in Richland called Sterlings.  If you're ever in town, it's a great place for some grub.

Zoe wolfed down a waffle, some ice from her water and a piece of toast.  Then she was ready for a change of scenary.  We headed to the waiting area and saw these.

Zoe had to take a picture of the pumpkins she loved to kiss. 

I preferred a picture of her with the pumpkins.  Well, I love to kiss her, so I see where she gets her picture subjects from.

You can only have so much fun with a pumpkin before you get bored.  Fortunately the restaurant was a block away from some water.  The Columbia River to be exact.

Zoe grabbed her Diego binoculars and we were off.  You never know when you're going to have to rescue a condor or a whale shark in the Tri-Cities.

With the season turning, we had a great view of God's creation.  I think I could've sat there all morning just in awe of His paintbrush. 

A toddler has a different kind of appreciation for His creation.  She preferred to sit on the bench swing and look at all the puppies walking by.

I can only sit and swing and look at puppies for a short time and asked if she wanted to throw rocks in the water.  Zoe wanted to get her swimsuit, get in that big pool and play.  We had a quick lesson on the difference between a pool and a river.  Then we headed down to the water.

We spent hours finding a "good one" and chucking it into the pool river. 

That was until grandma and Sandy came to get us.  It was time to head onto the next leg of our trip.  The waterfall.

Mainly how you can't actually get in it, but you can get some pretty cool leaves.

I should get hit more often

A couple weeks ago I was in a minor car accident.  I took my car to the shop yesterday for a new bumper.  The lady from the car rental place came to pick me up.  I got one of these to drive.

I am in love. 

I also secretly wish to get hit more often if these are the rides the insurance companies are going to give me. 

They are rushing together

N just started his sixth quarter of school.  For the previous five he's been asked to join the Ima Really Smarta Fraternity.  Okay, I'm not sure that's really their name, but it sounds good.  He gets an official letter after each quarter.  Because he's not sure if they host Mt. Dew keggers, he's been reluctant to join.

Instead he studies.  I'm really proud of how much time he devotes to school work.  I think it's safe to say he's spent more time in the last 6ish quarter than he did his entire high school career.  He's actually working toward being the President of Ima Really Smarta Fraternity.  Then he could determine exactly how many Mt. Dew keggers they would host.  I think his plans also include jackets with cool symbols and perhaps a motorcycle gang. 

In addition to the high ambitions of being a fraternity President, he's also a mentor to Zoe.  This weekend he was doing his 712th assignment when Zoe mentioned she wanted to "work too" at the table.

She's in the creative arts program and the future President of the Ima Really Smarta Sorority. 

She wanted to name me Elvisah

Everyone has two parents.  Sometimes, if the child is fortunate, they have more than just their two parents that love them.  I'm one of those fortunate people.  Most of my family is of no blood relation to me.  They are my family by my design. 

One of those people is Lily.  She is like an honorary mom to me.  Growing up she was our roommate, but the relationship is much more than that.  When I was little she was simply "bud".  Which is the best way to describe our relationship.  She was my buddy.  She taught me the fun of being in a car and going down a hill really fast until you lost your tummy.  She taught me how to throw a softball.  She was my leader in youth group.  Her personality complimented my mom.

I got the best of having two parents, even if it wasn't considered "the norm."  Lily brought a carefree-ness to life.  She was my ally when my mom insisted we stop at another fabric store on any road trip.  Consequently, both Lily and I have been bitten by the quilting bug.  She used to make me a single serving of cookie dough when I needed a sugar fix.  It is still, to this day, one of my fondest memories from my childhood.  She'd make a little batch of cookie dough.  We'd split it.  Then she'd watch Grease with me for the 700th time.  Or, if it was August, an Elvis movie marathon!

Today is her birthday.  I'm All Shook Up about it.

I hope it's full of Blue Suede Shoes, a Hunk-a-Burning Love from all your friends and family, and maybe a Teddy Bear that hopefully the Post Office didn't mark Return to Sender. 

You have been a part of my life since the day it started and I'm forever grateful.  I know there were times I felt like I was T-R-O-U-B-L-E, but you continued to Love Me Tender.  Thank you for being my Mom2 all these years.  My life was truly blessed by you. 

Don't forget to Rock-A-Hula Baby today.  You're only the speed limit once!  Love you!

I no longer have an excuse

They say that daughters will eventually turn into their mothers.  That never really bothered me because I think my mom is totally cool.  I actually wished I was more like her.

I always equated with being like her to her personality.  She's compassionate so I hoped I would one day be compassionate too.  I never thought it would translate into hobbies or interests.

But it has my friends, it has.

My mom is a closet home ec teacher.  It was actually her desire to be a home ec teacher at one point.  She loves to sew, quilt and anything crafty.  While I was growing up I had no desire whatsoever to do anything crafty.  I think part of it was so I wouldn't be like my mom, but also because she's so good at it that I always knew I'd never be able to be that good.  I picked tap dancing (something she'd never try) and called it good.

Then 2009 happened.  I'm turning into my mother.

For my birthday she bought me a new sewing machine.  You would've thought I had won the lotto.  I was jumping and at a loss for words.  There may have even been a tear of joy.  We've been doing so much sewing and quilting this year, she thought I could use an upgrade.

Because I am truly enjoying all things sewing related, I knew I needed to get serious about my new hobby.  I needed to embrace the fact that I'm becoming my mother in the course of 9 months.

So I organized a closet in our house.  It's my new craft space.  Everything is portable.  I have a table that fits under the bed in that room and a chair that I can wheel in whenever the hum of the machine calls out to me. 

Isn't it so pretty...

and clean...

and magical...

and functional?

I love it.  Sometimes I walk into that room and just stare at it.  It completes a piece of my soul that I have been ignoring for too long.

I even took space behind the door for my cutting mats.

I'm secretly hoping we get another 77 inches of snow.  I'm wishing for that reason to have time cooped up in the house with nothing to do but create.

Now my mom and I can quilt at my house too.  We've both got grand ideas for this closet of mine.

I couldn't think of a better reason to spend time with my clone.