Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Girl Weekend 2014

Last weekend, OJ came with us for a quick road trip down south. It was my cousin Devina's baby shower and OJ was able to come with us - so we made it into an overnighter and booked a hotel in Portland.

Devina is so clever - I knew her decorations would be cute. Love the big chalkboard. Always a sucker for these.

My Aunt Deanna and Aunt Victoria was there - back left. It had been a long time since I'd seen them and they'd both never met Elyse - so that was great! OJ and I loved the simple decorations with blue mason jars, baby's breath and daisies.

This is Devina and her husband, Keith. Full disclosure - I took these pictures off my cousin's FB. I'm actually not very good at snapping pictures at events.

Grandma Debra, Mommy and Baby Tucker - cute.

Love the cupcake display!

 OK - these are just funny. OJ was trying to get a picture of Elyse and I together. These just get sillier and sillier!


OJ says, "Who makes that face?" So funny - when I saw it, I said, "Oh, I totally do all the time!" In Courtney-speak it means something like "noooo way...."

Elyse gets the prize for this one! I'm not sure what that face means!

Kiddos are so great. They make instant friends. These three are all the same age - they romped together and here they are playing ring around the rosie. 


Being puppies.

She zonked out as soon as we left, so we took the scenic route. Stopped for some NYC pizza - so good - and ate it in the car while Elyse snoozed away.

Drove to Multnomah Falls - so pretty!


She woke up just in time!



We checked into our hotel and then headed back out to meet Aunt Victoria for dinner. The Tin Shed Garden Cafe is a DDD and it was amazing. So good. I had a quesadilla with sweet potato, black bean, jalapeno, jack cheese with raspberry jam - dipped in chipotle aioli. It sounds crazy, but it was delish! OJ, Aunt Victoria and Elyse all loved their plates too! OJ ordered an appetizer of artichoke dip and had some potato dish. Aunt Victoria had the sliders and she said the beef was very good. All this and it was Happy Hour too so dinner was super reasonable.

I had to share this picture because OJ thinks it is so funny with the random guy!


It was "so Portland" to see a roller skate wheel when I opened my car door. And yes, I'm the nerd taking a picture of it.

After dinner we went to Salt and Straw for the most delectable ice cream I've ever had. Take the time to click through their link and check out their flavors. I had the Alpine S'mores: graham cracker crumble, marshmallow fluff, freckles of locally roasted chocolate and ribbons of huckleberry jam. OJ had coffee bourborn and Elyse had the "Singing Dog" vanilla. It was so amazing. They are known for their wild flavors like Honey Balsalmic Strawberry with Cracked Pepper and Pear Blue Cheese (which OJ tried and said it was quite good).


It was raining and OJ was laughing that we were using umbrellas - but Elyse thought it was super!


We got back to the hotel and played for an hour in the pool. Showered, got into jammies and the big girls had glasses of Skinny Girl White Cranberry Cosmopolitans (PS: new favorite flavor - dangerous!) This was Elyse and I before we knocked out for the night. Our plans of watching a movie were quickly ended!

In the morning, we headed to a friend's recommendation for breakfast - Gravy. The line was super long so we went to a place across the street instead. It was just okay. But, we did try chicken and waffles for the first time - CHECK!

We headed to Home Goods next. I just love that place and OJ had never been. I got some fun things like serving platters and down pillows for great prices. We went to Lloyd Center and did some brief shopping at Ulta before we headed back on the road. Elyse didn't sleep a wink the entire way home. I slipped into my jammies and a sweatshirt as soon as we got home. After all our stuff was put away, I settled into my rocker to watch Grey's Anatomy with Bill. Elyse put her princess dress on and approximately ten minutes later there was this... Wilson too. I think he missed us.

Sleepy angel.

Such a fun time with our dear friend. Love our girl time, but happy to be home too! OJ, when's our next adventure?

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter 2014

Feeling super grateful after this amazing Easter weekend. Get ready for a picture-packed post. Feel free to scroll quickly if it bores you - I just had a hard time choosing, so decided not to be choosy.

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt:


 






Afterward, we headed to the mall to what I thought was the Living Water Easter Egg Trek... Not exactly, but Hands On Children's Museum and YMCA saved the day by still having a few things to do. We made these paper cones and Elyse was enthralled putting them in this wind tunnel.







It was a rainy, stormy day - fortunately our outdoor egg hunt was early enough to miss all of that. We spent our rainy afternoon preparing for the next day. First stop, egg decorating.










She played hard that night chasing a balloon all over the living room. All fun came to an end quickly when she fell and hit her upper teeth on the base of the ottoman. She was upset all night. But, the Easter Bunny came! And that helped a lot!


Owww, my teeth hurt!

Morning at Grandma Francie's and Papa Fred's for a quick breakfast and egg hunt.

Later, after naptime it was time for more chocolate.



Her teeth were sore enough she had to improvise eating her chocolate.

And, guess who's coming to Easter dinner? All our friends!!!


These guys were cute and LOUD at their table. I am so glad everyone at my table has a three year old too so no feeling like you need to apologize!

The kiddos played hard and the Easter Bunny went to work outside. They were so excited to go hunt!



Elyse's choice of footwear for outside egg hunting - too funny! We were just happy they weren't princess shoes.


Lucien was just hilarious - full speed ahead. He bit it several times in his exuberance - cute kiddo!






Bill helps Ava find an egg - he's shooing Elyse away! Funny stuff.












Ava's run - so precious!


This girl is too darling!



 Ava wanting to go down the slide with the big kids!


"I'll push you, Lucien!!"


Precious girls - we're still working on modesty here.


LOVE.THESE.KIDS.


To cap it off, Shawn, Deanna and I took Lucien and Elyse to see Mr. Peabody and Sherman at the drive-in (Bill had to work in the morning).

The kids were so good! It was a Sunday night so hardly anyone was there. The Moms were in our car and the kiddos and Shawn camped it in the back of the Mazda (as below). They had an Easter raffle and we actually won - Elyse got a big stuffed Easter Bunny and a chocolate bunny too!


Fun weekend - thankful days.

Easter 2013
Easter 2012
Easter 2011

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