East Coast adventure 2014...

I'll eventually write up a few blog posts about our amazing trip to NJ/NY, August 6 - 18th. 

Awesome time with family & friends!!!

Our 2nd family, the Janduras!!!  We stayed with them, except the two nights we were in NYC.
I wish we didn't live so far away!!!

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Yeah...we made it to San Diego...

1,131 miles and a day and half later, we have ARRIVED!

The cousins are all happy....can't wait Disneyland, California Adventure and spending two nights at the Grand Californian are first up over the next few days!










































































Jack has just a few Legos...

Mt. Hood Railroad...

Why I smiled today...My niece and nephew got to experience snow fall for the first time EVER! They are both from SoCal and it started snowing on the way up from Hood River to Parkdale. While we were at Parkdale for an hour stop, it REALLY started coming down. The kiddos got to experience the white stuff coming down hard...they were very excited and VERY cold!

The weather was SO wacky today...pouring down rain during the drive to and from Hood River...snow in the hills, sunshine and more rain!

I also got a picture of the Cirque du Soleil tent that is all set-up. Can't wait to see the latest production later this month with my mom & dad.

Mother's Days past...

Last year we were fortunate enough to be visiting my folks in Hawaii. Charlie's b-day also fell on Mother's Day last year.

Victor, Charlie & I spent that day driving around the island of Oahu, while my poor dad was having another emergency eye surgery.

What great memories of that trip we have and what a wonderful way to spend my 3rd year as a mommy!



















Mother's Day 2007...This is what Charlie (well, Victor) made for me...LOVE IT! Unfortunately no photos of Charlie & I together that day. Proof though that REAL MEN do go to JoAnns and make gifts for their wives!



















Charlie & I on Mother's Day 2006. She was born on Thursday night and we both got to go home on Mother's Day that year. Best Mother's Day ever for me!

What an amazing 3 years this has been...hard to believe my baby will officially be three on Monday! Love you pud!

Sunday fun in Seattle...

Boy did we luck out big time this weekend with the weather in Seattle. It only seemed to rain at night and it was gorgeous today on the drive home.

Why I smiled today...More fun with the family while getting fish thrown at us!

















One of the World Famous Fish Mongers at Pike Place Market.

She likes sleeping in hotels...

Our room has one king sized bed and a couch. We convinced Charlie last night that the couch was really her "big girl bed" at the hotel.

She was a very good girl today. Only a couple of tired/crying scenes, that didn't last too long and she LOVED hanging out with her cousins yesterday and can't wait to see C & M today!

Seattle or bust...

Why I smiled today...Three little cousins that got along wonderfully today!!!

Victor, Charlie & I had an uneventful, no-rain, drive up to Seattle today. After leaving our stuff at the hotel, we met up with Nana, Papa, Tim, Kel, Jack & Kay near the big mall in downtown Seattle.

After a yummy Mexican lunch, we started walking towards the pier. We stopped off at the original Starbucks, walked thru part of Pike Street Market, then down to the ferry terminal to walk-on to the Bainbridge Island Ferry.

When we got back to Seattle (about 75 minutes later) it had started to rain and we caught two taxis back to our hotel. We ended the evening in Papa & Nana's hotel room eating Subway and playing an hour or so worth of "Eye Spy".

Charlie had 2 big firsts today. Her first hotel stay and her first taxi ride...

We're back....

We had a safe flight back to Portland today. Had to post this photo that one of the very nice flight attendants took of us...They were nice enough to change our seats to 12D, E, F so we could sit together...the IRONY...both the folks at the gate and TWO of the flight attendants didn't realize UNTIL WE WERE TAXING TO TAKE OFF, that they'd put us (with a child seat) in front of an exit row. We knew we couldn't be in the exit row, we didn't know we couldn't have a child seat in front of an exit row. So, about 1 minute before we were to take off, the 3rd flight attendant realized (called the captain) and they stopped the plane. The 3 of us, along with the 3 folks in front of us got to all get up, played musical seats and then we were able to take off...blagh! Lesson learned...We still made it home ahead of schedule and our luggage made it too!

We had a WONDERFUL time in Arizona with Papa/Nana Cina and Great Nana Charlotte!!!

IN-N-OUT BURGER...

Spent a long day in the car driving to Dateland, AZ....not much there (except for really great Date Shakes)....Drove back and spent some time at Great Grandma's house. Then we decided to try out the brand new IN-N-OUT BURGER in Casa Grande. Grandma & Great Grandma had never had never been before. I think they both liked it...Little Charlotte enjoyed the stickers!

No photos today...lots of driving...we are winding down our visit and will be flying home to Portland tomorrow...We've had a wonderful time! Thank you Papa & Nana Cina for taking such great care of us and little Charlotte while we were here! ;-)

Casa Grande National Monument...

Arizona skylines & a road runner...

After we left Eloy, we headed out for a drive south of town...not a cloud in the sky today...just beautiful!!! Fortunately Charlotte fell asleep for about 90 minutes and got a nice little rest while we drove out in the Arizona country side...