RoadTrip Homeward - Houston to Portland

We've only shared this with a few and have kept our news offline for the past month. Mainly because it was a lot to process and a lot going on too. The second week of July Mike came home to tell me that he had been laid off. What news considering we moving to Houston in large part due to this job! So, we had to think fast, we weren't really settled in Houston. In fact, with the job gone and the disappointments with family we decided quickly that it was time to move on. We actually consider moving to several places but in the end decided that in the meantime we would move back to Portland for family support. We had an revelation - stuff doesn't matter and so we sold 2/3rds of it. Exciting!

We embarked on road trip #2 with the kids, this time moving back to Portland from Houston. We decided not to pull a trailer so we could enjoy a stress free drive. Driving 40 hours with 2 toddler already has enough work tied to it. And we had a blast - seriously made some great memories.

Both kids did pretty well in the car. We stopped only to fill up for gas and pick up food. Jack peed in the potty chair and we built a play areas/sleep spot in the back of the Armada.
Day 1: Houston to Oklahoma City.

Our first stop was Oklahoma City where we stayed a week with Gran. The kids went to the zoo, played outside a lot more than usual and got some of their energy out (which was just replenished in full by the next day of course). Great memories and good relaxing fun with Gran.

 Jack got new spiderman shoes, raincoat and umbrella which he calls his spiderman costume. I guess he is getting ready for the Portland winter of rain. But honestly he is obsessed with Spiderman now.
Day 2: Oklahoma City to Gainsville, NM


We drove through 12 hours of desert between Oklahoma City and Grants, Arizona. Deserted beauty.

We passed the largest cross in the US (19 stories tall) somewhere in Texas.

We stopped for lunch in Albuquerque NM for lunch as the Standard Diner where Guy Fieri filmed an episode of Diners, Drive In's and Dives - one of our favorite shows. And the food was good.

Day 3: Gainsville to Grand Canyon

Then it was off to the Grand Canyon where we got to experience one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. We felt the vertigo and also the panic of watching 2 toddlers walk the trails around the southern rim. What a view though. Absolutely breathtaking divine wonder.

 The sunset was unreal.

Jack with daddy asking" Daddy, what is this place?" Daddy would say "this is God's place"

Trails around the canyon was full of wild flowers and wild elk.

 

The campsite at the Grand Canyon was full of wild yet friendly elk. The kids could stand just 10 feet away and watch them quietly without them bolting away. What a sight after Jack had been talking about animals all the way into the park.

Although the kids didn't sleep in the tent, they sure had fun playing in it. They slept in the back of the Armada with a bed of feather blankets and pillows. Pretty sweet.

 We roasted marshmallows and tried making smores too. By the end of the night the kids were filthy dirty but had enjoyed the dirt, sticky gooey goodness of our treats and smelled like campfire.

Day 4: Grand Canyon to Las Vegas

After our first great outdoor adventures we heading west along I-40 stopping at Hoover Dam. This was an amazing man made side and although our stop was brief we saw it. 

What a change between the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas where we stopped overnight. We stayed at New York, New York and saw briefly some of the strip.

The only pictures I took were at the Bellagio where we went to the buffet (2nd best in Vegas). Ameile loved the entrance ceiling where glass flowers hung to welcome you in.

Not sure what to say about Vegas except that trunking around with 2 toddlers made us feel like the major minority. We actually got comments from people saying, I can't believe you brought your kids. To which we commented to each other that we COULD believe it. They are our lives - oh and by the way we are on a family road trip and are here for less than 24 hours! Ha. The city was a good quick stop. Don't see myself going back. Sorry if you like Vegas. 

Day 5: Las Vagas to McAurther- Burney Memorial Park, Northern California
We drove 7 hours through Death Valley - which was exactly that, dry, desserted 2 lane road. Blaa.
After driving through Volcanic National Park, Northern Californal, we stayed between there and Mt Shasta East side at McArthur Burney Falls in a small cabin. We had a campfire and enjoyed the stars.

In the morning (it was 42 degrees) and we hiked up a short trail to the Falls. They were the most spectacular falls I have seen. 1 large falls with dozens of small falls along a long stretch of cliff.

After almost 10 days on the road (including our stay in OK) we decided to call it quits and high tail it to Sandy Oregon to relax with my parents. Just in time to catch the tail end of summer we reached what I call a little slice of heaven on earth - KnollCrest Gardens.

Recent Adventures

The past few weeks have been busy here in Houston and we've told Jack a lot when he is going somewhere new that it is an adventure. He likes that.


Mike took Jack to his first major league baseball game at Minute Maid Stadium to watch the Astros. All he talked about for the next few days was soda and popcorn and the guy who hit the ball.

Daddy Date.

Our next adventure was Austin Texas where we tagged along with dad for a work trip. We loved the vibe in Austin and the food scene reminded us of Portland. He ate at the carts that were strangely situated behind old "Hawthorn" like houses along the downtown scene. Jack's first cart experience was a success.

We showed up on Congress St. after a long walk to experience a huge classic car parade. It could not have been better timing. Home Slice pizza was delicious and cheap and the mexican joint across the street had great margaritas.

Our view from Mike's bro's new pad was great for us, a little scary for the kids. We were reminded why traveling with kids can be so challenging (small spaces + breakables + no toys = no fun for kids or parents. Thankfully, we took lots of walks instead of vegging.

Rural Texas is charming and the drive between Austin and Houston is one to be enjoyed. Nothing but small 1 horse towns, tons of wild flowers and wide open space. 

EASTER

I am late on posting photos from Easter Sunday but better late than never? Easter afternoon with the cousins.

Hunting for Easter Eggs

We had to point out the eggs to Amelie at first but once she caught on she was on a roll.

Decorating Easter Eggs.

Nan our new Nanny

For the past few weeks we've been adjusting to a new nanny. Her name is Wanalee and we call her Nan for short. She is from Thailand and has been an Au Pair for 2 other families before in the US before us. Finding childcare is always my job and I've embraced it despite how difficult it is to do. In January we knew we had to find a new caregiver so I signed up for care.com. I will say that the site made it much easier to find people. But it didn't eliminate the flakes or the drama completely. But Nan is wonderful and with all the option out there we feel we found a loving, energetic and caring nanny.

They obvious have a lot of fun during the day and I continue to thank God that I can be so close to them. Working from home in this season of life has been such a blessing.

Jack is turning 3 in just a couple weeks. He has developed so much, singing his ABC's, counting, memory games and just communicating better. He takes a little interest in coloring and painting but prefers to play make believe with his Toy Story figures or his many animals.

Jack continues to love the Zoo. It's his favorite place to go and often when we are leaving the house he will say "We're going to the zoo!" even when we are not.

Jack is starting to ask "Why Mommy" which is that dreaded question. It is normally when I am saying no to his request and I respond with "please say, ok mommy". It usually works.

 Amelie is getting to be such a big girl. Quickly approaching 2! Part of being a little sister means getting to learn lots from her big brother but still getting the benefits of being "the baby".

Amelie says little words like "Apple, Please, Bye, Cracker, Blankie and Poo Poo". She has this darling little way about her words. She looks at you shyly and says "Pease" (ie. Please).

She has had a harder time adjusting to Nan. She normally gets really clingy and whinny when Nan comes in the morning. I have to sneak away but thankfully the kids don't come looking for me once I've left for my office to go to work.

It is a little hard no matter how you look at it to intrust your kids to someone else's charge when you are still around. But I am thankful that I feel completely comfortable with it.

Last weekend the sweetest thing happened. Nan told me she was getting married. I knew that she had this planned from when we hired her but the actual date got picked a couple days before. Her husband is a sweet guy, a teacher and a native to Houston. They met while she was working for another family and they dated for over a year before getting engaged. As Nan was telling me about the date and her plans to get married at the courthouse she asked me to be her "best friend". I translated this to her to mean her maid of honor. I wholeheartedly agreed and went to house before hand to do her hair and make up. It was a treasured moment.

I think it is safe to say that we have bonded with Nan. She is a wonderful Nanny and I hope she will stay with us for the long run. She lives in the city where Mike works and really hopes that in September when our lease is up, that we will move to be closer. I hope we do.

Tis the season for - taking family photos? I guess so because it seems like everyone has. And I love it!

Enjoy the simplicities of the season my friends. Eat, laugh, celebrate Jesus and spend time together. We send our love and warmest thoughts to all our friends all over the country this Christmas.

XOXO - Jen