A Weekend Jaunt

A Conversation with Lucy:

"Mom, guess what?!  I got into that choir!"

"Huh?  You got into what choir?"

"You know, the All-State Honor Choir!  The one I told you about!"

(Look of intense concentration)

"Mom, don't you remember?"

"Umm, vaguely."

"So anyway, I'm the only one from my school who got in, so you'll need to drive me to Portland on Valentine's Day and it will be for 3 days and......."

Lesson learned:  I need to listen more closely.

But since Lucy would need to be transported to Portland anyway, we decided to make a family trip of it.

I'd heard Portland was for foodies and we weren't disappointed.

First, I give you.....

The Waffle Window

It's literally a hole-in-the-wall place--a window cut into the side of a building, where they serve every type of waffle your heart may desire.  

The 2 general categories were sweet or savory.  Clearly the kids went for the sweet.  I had "The 3 B's Waffle" with bacon, basil and brie.   What a way to start the day.

Then it was off to the Portland Zoo,

where the main attraction was Lily, the new baby elephant.....possibly the cutest thing ever.

After lunch at the Tabor Food Cart, home of the original Schnitzelwich, I'm surprised Lyle was able to move at Rose Garden park.  He later said that the first bite of this Czech specialty was his favorite food of the trip.  The last bite was his least favorite.  We didn't even eat dinner--still stuffed.

The next day we enjoyed our trip to OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, where Rose had a hair-raising experience with static electricity.   For dinner that night, we went to The Lemongrass Thai Restaurant, where I learned that I can't categorically state that I dislike tofu.   So delicious.

On Sunday morning, we looked up a local church and when we saw it,  wondered if GPS had led us astray.

When you see an LDS church, you generally know it's an LDS church.  This gorgeous building was constructed in the 1920's and inside it featured amazing woodwork, antique light fixtures, and leaded glass windows.  

Apparently it also once had an elevated podium, accessed by stairs, raised high above the congregation, throne-like seats for the bishopric, and a military mural depicting various ward members fighting in World War I.  In the chapel.

For all its quirkiness though, it still had the exact same blue-flowered couch, letting us know that we were indeed in the right place.

We rounded out the trip with a tour through the Pittock Mansion, and a visit to a park with a playground built on top of a dormant volcano, causing the kids a bit of concern.  They walked lightly and kept on the edge of their swings, just in case circumstances might necessitate a quick exit.

We met back up with Lucy at her concert on Sunday afternoon.  It was amazing.

All in all, I'm glad I was only half listening when she told me about this opportunity.  I might have encouraged her to let that pass by, missing out on a fantastic vacation.  

Sometimes it's better to not over-think things.

P.S. The towel dilemma has been solved and we're just waiting on the delivery of specialty hinges for the cabinet doors and then the kid's bathroom will be DONE!