I HEART PORTLAND!!!

I love going home. Portland, Oregon is the most amazing city ever. The month of August is warm and beautiful. I never have wanted to move back since moving away from there 3 years ago. However, this trip I was reminded of how much I love the Northwest. Friday night I got in and met my good friend and her new baby for dinner. Saturday morning I woke up early and went for a run. Stepping outside was so amazing. Fresh air, sunny, a nice breeze,etc. Running in Portland was so fun... as I was running up a trail I smelled blackberries and had to stop to eat a few. Lots of hills and things to look at. It was the best run I've had in a long time. Mom and I got ready after that and met my good friend Summer and her new baby Paxton down in Portland for some shopping. Tracie and Eliza joined us as well. Then we went to Macaroni Grill for a yummy lunch. Mom and I went home and relaxed then decided we needed to get out so we got ready and went downtown to Pioneer Place to the Italian Festival. Kind of fun to watch the grape stomp competition. Then we headed to NW 23rd for a yummy dinner outside at Thaiphoon. Sunday morning I got up and headed to Battle Ground (where i grew up) to see my favorite family in the whole world. THE BENNETTS.My friend Arianne joined me. I have not seen them in forever and spending an hour in half with them was just not enough. : ) Then I had dinner with my friend Summer and her family and got to get lots of Paxton cuddles in. Headed back to my moms and hung out a while before having to go to the airport and head back here to Arizona where it is hot and I am sweaty all the time. So much fun to be home. I don't know if I can imagine myself living anywhere else then Portland. IT truly is the best city!


My good friend Tracie and I at Red Robin
My mom and Eliza (Tracie's new little one)
My good friend Summer, and her new baby Paxton and I at Macaroni Grill
Eliza's outfit was so cute I wanted it in my size.
Paxton is too cute!
Mom and I headed down to Portland for the Italian Festival and then to dinner at Thaiphoon.
Little sister(Zoey) and I

Overnight with the Niece and Nephews.....

Elle, Shelby, and Cooper at Chili's
Jack and I at Chili's ( I look sick and nasty... got off work late and no time to pretty myself)
The kids at Chuck E. Cheese
Jack
Jack
Cooper (crazy hair - I know)
Cooper and Jack on the roller coaster ride

The other day my brother in law called and asked if I could watch the kids Friday overnight so he could surprise my sister with an overnight trip. I of course agreed because they are so much fun to play with and... i had no other plans. I invited my cousin Shelby who just moved here and is a junior in high school if she wanted to go to dinner with us and play. So... I ended up getting off work late and got to my sisters a little later then planned. We loaded up and headed to Chili's. Kids were insanely crazy and funny. With Shelby and I around they figured they could do whatever they wanted. We headed back to their place and pretty much went to bed. I was up early with the kids. We went swimming all morning then had to take Shelby home so I decided to take the kids somewhere fun. We headed to Chuck E.Cheese. Now this place on a Saturday is insanely crazy. It was fun chasing them around and seeing how excited they were to play the games though. Elle went for the games that gave her tickets and Cooper and Jack stuck with the rides. It was fun to spend time with them. : ) They are the cutest kids!

Birthday Time : Hanging With My Cousins

The night before Brannie's bday I hid myself in my room blowing up tons of balloons. When she went to bed I decorated the hall outside her bedroom with balloons, a banner, and a necklace with a pin that said "It's my birthday today" .
My Grandpa Smith and Cousin getting ready to blow out the candles
Brannie, my cousins baby Cayden, and me
Kirk, Whitney, and I in the back of the family ride
Bran and I modeling our sexy bowling shoes
The Girls: Brannigan, Whitney, Breanne, Shelby, and I at the bowling alley
The Boys: Michael, Kirk, and Kyle
Team: Brannigan, Whitney, Kyle, and I.
Brannigan, Shelby, and I leaving the bowling alley
Bahama Buck's : All of us except for Whitney who is snapping the photo.


So.....Friday August 8th was my Grandpa Smith's and cousin Brannigan's bday. My aunt Patty had a family barbecue and then we had planned a night of bowling with all of our cousins that live here. We loaded up in the family car and headed to the bowling alley. It was pretty fun. I have to say I "suck" at bowling but I hit over 115 on all 3 games. I got several compliments on my nice form. Thanks to my private bowling lessons I can bowl an ok game now. : ). We bowled for a few hours then headed to Bahama Bucks. I think that's what it's called. It's a shaved ice place. They had so many flavors to choose from. I went with a sugar - free pina colada and after about 5 bites tossed it in the trash. No thanks to sugar free shaved ice again.. EVER! Nastiest after taste ever. It was a fun night.