Oregon, Washington, and Idaho

The month of May has been a month of vacation.  

On April 30 we traveled to Oregon to visit my parents and siblings, and of course Hippo's cousins Buddy and Sambo.  We stayed at my sister's brand new, and absolutely gorgeous and perfect, house.  

Friday May 1st the family traveled, caravan style, to Seattle where we attended a Seattle Mariner's baseball game.  All professional sports teams have theme nights and this game's theme was, "We Are Family," honoring families touched by adoption.  It was a special experience to support Buddy and Sambo and my sister and brother-in-law.  

Hippo was ready, but no fly balls came our way

It was also very cool to bring Hippo to a place, Safeco Field, which is home to many of my favorite childhood memories.  

*Sniff* *Sniff*  Unfortunately Ken Griffey Jr. had the night off .  *Sniff*  *Sniff*

We spent the weekend in Seattle, enjoying Pike's Street Market, ferry rides, and fried fish.

Ferry Ride in Puget Sound--Hippo really liked it

Back in Oregon a few days later Hippo and I were able to visit my elderly and ailing grandma Hazel.  As difficult it is to see her health declining it was touching to see her eyes brighten when the kids came into the room.

While in Oregon we also visited a Wildlife Refuse near my sister's house where we saw a Bald Eagle! amongst other beautiful birds (pointed out, very expertly, by Hippo's five year-old cousin Buddy); ate at my favorite restaurant in the entire world (if you can call it that, it is a sandwich bar at the local butcher in the town I grew up); explored my mom's extraordinary garden (Hippo eating dirt and stones); worked out at my sister's five star athletic club (where I was politely offered a drink of water by an immaculately dressed man pushing a cart full of H2O); had a family dinner where my brother treated us to his culinary expertise (which included pizza and cheesecake...could it get any better than that?); and spent some precious time with my life long friend (and luckily cousin), Brandy.

Hippo very much enjoyed his cousins.  Can't you tell?

***

Though we forgot our camera, last weekend we spent at L's family property in Mink Creek, ID. I used to think Idaho was a ridiculous piece of US property, only good for the 75 MPH freeway speed limits.  Despite the horrid name, Mink Creek has changed my mind completely and has become one of my favorite places in the world.  The quiet nature of this little foothill town (where cell service is impossible for at least 15 miles) is incredible.  The river boasts world class fly fishing and in the summer it is an unbeatable float.  There are canyons to explore on foot or ATVs.  There's an ice cave where in the dead of summer it's still icy, even when it's 100+ degrees Fahrenheit outside.  The wildlife is close by--we've seen owls, eagles and hawks (once saw one nab a fish out of a pond 100 yards in front of us), moose, deer, etc.  

Going to Idaho also means playing the Idaho State Lotto!  

The trip went well, despite it starting off with a family feud and me battling a sinus infection.  L and his brother began remodeling the bathroom in the old homestead only to discover five layers of flooring!  What a chore!  Hippo had fun but got pretty tired of hanging with the girls. When he would get restless his Uncle Bear would carry him around (Uncle Bear is a 300+ lb football lineman) and say, "We're doing man stuff" which absolutely delighted Hippo.  

We've got some special plans this week too.  Tuesday night is the Taylor Swift concert that we are attending with all of L's sisters.  Then Wednesday is L's 30th birthday.   L's birthday always marks the advent of my favorite time of the year.  As I enjoy the outdoors and heat my blogging may get more sporadic than usual.