Portland, OR August 2009

My dearest friend, Amelia, has been out to visit us from Portland I think every year since we moved back to Montana... not to mention coming out to California and the million road trips to Montana with me before that. Needless to say, we were long over due for a trip out to see her and Sarah, so we made our first significant family road trip out there this summer.

We had the best time, and Owen was such a champ in the car. We were not sure what to expect--I thought he would come to despise the car, but despite significant driving almost every day, he never said a word about it. After we got home he kept asking to go to the beach and to Amelia and Sarah's house... evidently the significant nature of the driving distance didn't ever sink in.

The Portland Zoo was our first venture. Here Owen is adamant that I should not be taking a picture of him, but rather, need to "take a picture of the GIRAFFE!"

...said giraffe.

With that settled, Owen manages to pose for a pic.

We met our friends Taylor and Megan and their little one, Quinn, at the zoo. Unfortunately this was the only family picture of them we managed to take...

Drawing with Auntie Amelia.

Eating ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory... delicious!

We were able to spend quite a bit of time at the coast, staying at Sarah's family's beach house...

...the first day was a little windy!

The beautiful view from the beach house. I love the Oregon coast and how you drive through the trees to see the ocean. Gorgeous.

Owen and Auntie Amelia asleep after watching "Aladdin"--such a classic.

To appreciate the following pictures, you have to know that Owen as a baby was very tactile sensitive. In fact, when we were in California earlier this same summer, Owen did not want one piece of sand to touch his skin... so the following moments brought tears to my eyes...

Making sand castles and knocking them down. What could be more fun?

Someone absolutely adores his father!

"Bury me! Bury me!"

Amelia and Sarah spent a day with Owen, so that Roger and I could go enjoy the outlet malls (which we did). Among other adventures, they took him to the Portland Children's Museum... looking at these pictures, I am guessing it's the most exciting place he went on the trip, which makes it hard to know we missed the fun!

A picture of Owen packed in the car... notice the Ikea purchases that are nearly overtaking him. Thankfully we all made it home safe and sound.

Checking out the train near the fish hatchery in Maupin. Owen is a big fan of trains right now, naturally.

Our last picture before we hit the road back to Montana. This is the incredible view from Amelia's parents' retirement home in Maupin, OR. We ended the trip there, which was difficult since we would have liked to have stayed at least another week!