Our First House Guest!

My sister Mary was the first person to come visit us in Oregon now that we actually have room for visitors! She came for several days in mid August, and we had such a great time. We ran all over the place and had picnic lunches at the park, shopped the outlets and finally found berries at the farmers' market after a long, somewhat disappointing quest, went out to the coast, drove through Portland and went hiking in The Gorge -- it was a whirlwind, blast of a few days!

The best part of Mary's visit was the news she gave me right after I picked her up from the airport . . . she and her hubbie Scott ("Louie") are expecting their first baby in March! I was the first of all my sisters to find out about Baby "Raffi," which is what they're calling him/her for now because of all of the baby giraffe decor and clothes they've fallen in love with. He/she could not be a more fortunate baby -- he/she (which we won't know 'til Baby Raffi's born . . . it's killing me!) will have the best parents ever! Mary is truly remarkable with children, and Eliot had an absolute ball with his Aunt Mar Mar, who's much more of a natural when it comes to interacting with little ones!

We are so grateful you came to see us, Mar! And hopefully these highlights will tempt more of you to come visit us!

Eliot with his buddy Aunt Mary. Eliot could not get enough of his Aunt Mar Mar. He especially loved playing with her in "his corner" at the house every morning after breakfast. We sure missed her the morning after she left!

"Hands in the air for Aunt Mar Mar!" Eliot practicing the trick his Uncle Louie (Mary's husband) taught him back in Utah. Unfortunately, Louie couldn't make this trip because of work, but we're so grateful he was willing to share Mary (and Baby Raffi!) with us for several days. We had a great time!

A sweet moment before the trauma. On Mary's first afternoon here, we went down to the Riverfront Park and had a picnic, played on the playground and then took Eliot for a ride on the carousel. I figured he likes the bouncy horse at his grandma and grandpa's house, so he might really like the carousel. Well, he did . . . until it started! The lights, music, and up-and-down was a little too much for him, and he started bawling! Poor Mary had to try to calm him down until it stopped. Good idea . . . sad ending!

One of the lighthouses in Newport. We stopped here and had a picnic lunch before heading off to the aquarium.

"Swimmin' with the fishies." We took a trip to Newport, where they have a nice marine life aquarium. Here, Eliot and Grant are inside a display where you can put your heads into a glass inset of one of the huge fish tanks so it looks like you're in with the fish! Eliot thought it was pretty cool, but I think Grant had the best time of all of us!

Grant touching a Manta Ray (kind of like a sting ray, which we also touched) at the aquarium.

A shot of one of the super-cool jellyfish exhibits (yes, they're real!).

Beautiful Multnomah Falls, just outside of Portland, on your way into the Columbia River Gorge. We had driven by the falls lots of times before this trip with Mary, but never got out to hike! It was so gorgeous!

Grant and Eliot at Multnomah Falls.

Mary and Me at the falls. Mar, you were one serious trooper letting us haul you all over Oregon!

Mary and me at the outlets in Woodburn. The flowers were amazing!!