My 33rd Birthday Weekend in Portland!

So as you all know...I left for Portland last Thursday to spend some time with my brother Jared my "bestest friend". It was a hard three month long wait for this trip and I really needed some much needed R&R. You know how trips go though....you never really relax....we were on the go constantly but I like it that way. It was a break from the kids and I am an on the go kind of gal so..... I was in heaven. When I arrived Jared and his friend Joe suprised me by waiting for me in the airport when I arrived. I thought that was sweet because he told me he would just pick me up outside. We then headed to their house and on the way home I enjoyed all the smells of fresh air and loved seeing all the beautiful green vegetation. Portland is one of my favorite places....its just so beautiful! When we arrived home, we decided to go for a walk to the store. And yes......I said walk! I love that Portland is so walkable and that they have neighborhood grocery stores. I love all the stores there too. You can buy yummy fresh foods that you just cant find here. I wandered around in there just looking at everythig for about an hour. I was in food heaven in Zupans Market!
Friday morning I awoke at 4:15 Portland time. What the heck! I just cant sleep in anymore because Im in the habit of getting up every morning at 5:15. I feel great when I do....so I didnt want to get out of habit so I had a lot of late nights and woke up pretty early every morning. That morning we took Joe to work up at the hospital and rode the sky tram, went and saw a mansion on the hill where they had the pitstop for the Amazing Race and then went to my all time favorite store......Trader Joes! Oh how I LOVE that store! Utah really, really needs one here. Everytime I go.... I stock up and this time I took home a cooler FULL of food as one of my luggage peices on the plane. Where else can you find basil pesto chicken sausages, egg white salad, low carb sugar free dark chocolate, honey sesame sticks, better than peanut butter, edamame hummus and all the yummy food finds that I love? I also brought home lots of marinated meats that we can just throw in the oven. Curry Chicken, Carne Asada and lots of other yummy kinds. Oh...and I have to say that Portland changed me. I now will NEVER use plastic bags at the store and bought about 15 reusable bags. NO ONE uses plastic there and it inspired me. I have been wanting to make a change for quite a while now and so when I was there they had lots of cute bags to choose from so I did it...and I feel so GOOD! I have way to many plastic bags in my pantry and I end up just throwing them out. It was just about time I did something about it.


After Trader Joes we did some shopping. I love all the quaint neighboorhoods there so we just walked and shopped. Later that night we met Jared and Joes friends to have dinner at a restaurant where there friend is the chef. The food rocked and the atmosphere was worth every penny. So were all the embarrassing stories I got to tell his friends about Jared. It was priceless.


Saturday morning we took the dogs out to the dog park and then went out on a Jet Boat ride down the Willamette River. THAT was a blast! We sat in the front row and went about 60 miles an hour. They gave us a little tour of the bridges and so on and then the driver would go crazy doing 360's! We got soaked and loved every minute of it. It was a beautful way to see part of the city. There were also alot of skiers and fisherman out on the water. They were catching 8-14 foot stergeions. It was pretty cool seeing them trying to reel these suckers in. We then went up to the falls and we saw some blue herring and some other beautifl birds. It was definitly a high light of the trip. Jareds friends joined us and they were so much fun. They are a fun crowd to be with and I felt like I just fit in perfectly with them.





Later that night we went to DOTTs...a fun, funky whole in the wall with the BEST food ever. We all decided that they must put crack in the food because it was so tasty. I wish I would have had more time to eat there again before I left. Man....I ate some good food..... and what I loved about it was...even though I was on vacation...I ate really healthy food and stayed on track. I love that Portland had healthy otpions no matter where I went to eat. I was proud of myself for eating "clean" the whole time. Oh...that reminds me, we also went to the Farmers Market that morning and bought some fresh veges. I bought the most beautiful basil that I had ever seen and some Morel mushrooms that were the craziest looking things I had ever laid my eyes on. They were 20 dollars a pound but they were so good and meaty and I ate them in my omelet the next few mornings. I love trying new foods. I get all excited when I encounter a new food adventure. I tried some liver pate that was also very good. I also had some fish eggs on my seaweed salad on Sunday. They were good and they popped in your mouth. Kinda fun! What I love about Jared is that he has always introduced new things to me and I appreciate that he brought me out of my food "shell". He was the one who got me to eat Sushi, Indian food and all the things that I now love but at one time was really scared of.





Sunday morning we went to church. I love going to church in new places. The choir sang a song without the piano that had a southern baptist flair. I loved it...it was like nothing Ive ever heard in Sacrament meeting. It brought some pizazz to the meeting. It was fun! We also had a very spiritual experience while there that I will never forget. I am so glad I went and that Jared went with me. I think the Angels in heaven were rejoicing. Later that afternoon we walked around the Pearl District and went into West Elm....one of my faves and then we also went into some other unique stores. We also hit some factory outlets and did some clothes shopping. I got some great deals at the Banana Repulic Outlet. Thats one of my favorite all time stores too. By the end of the day we were pooped! That night we decided to just relax and we went home, cooked dinner, played the Wii and just hung out. It was a perfect ending to a really nice day.


Monday morning on my birthday we went to Trader Joes again so I could stock up and then we ran around to get the kids gifts. Rowan asked for a Super Bouncy Ball like Little Bills and I was extastic when found one. It was huge with green gliter inside. He was so happy when I brought it home. I also bought him a hoppy ball and Lia got a princess wand and a book. Before heading home Jared and Joe took me for Sushi. I LOVE sushi and dont get to eat it very often because Loren loathes it. Eating sushi was on my list of must dos in Portland. After lunch, they took me to the aiport and I headed home. I was sad to leave but happy to have had the oppurtunity to spend some alone time with my brother. The best part of comimg home was seeing how excited the kids were to see me. Lia was so happy and it just melted my heart. They then took me to Z Tejas to get my favoite Jerk Chicken salad and then we took the kids to play in the fountains. After our gateway adventure, we went home and I decided to go for a run. I hadnt exercised for a few days and I havent been able to run for over a month because of my knee. I decide to try and Im pleased to announce that I had my first pain free run. IM BA...C..K! Cant wait to run tomorrow and Saturday! Boy...Ive missed it. It was a great way to end my birthday weekend. I also have to add that at 33...I am in the best shape of my life and it makes me so happy! Loren and I joke that we would have never thought that we would be feeling so great in our 30's. We ran a marathon, we eat like never before and we are active. I am celebrating the fact that I have found peace and strength in my spiritual self as well as in my physical self. I have learned that I can do hard things and I believe in myself. This year is going to be a good one! Bring it on 33!

I just have to add that I have the best husband. He took over with the kids and never complained. My Mom helped on Friday and I know Luanne and Lorens sisters helped out some over the weekend. Loren is so great with the kids and just takes over. He never complaines and the kids just love him to death. They are so lucky! Thanks Loren for a wonderful birthday trip! I cant wait to have some alone time with you in Hawaii! Just two more weeks...and were off....no kids...the sun...the beach ..pineapple and maybe a swim with the dolphins! Boy am I spoiled!