a weekend in and around Portland

First photo is in Mosier, east of Hood river, next is a new hotel in Portland and Chapman Park in downtown Portland, yet another beautiful park!

Horsetail Falls

We went on a little trip up the Columbia River Gorge on a very hot day, about 100 degrees. That's proud Grandma Margaret with Leta and the princess.

cousin Jane helps Tali celebrate her first Birthday!

Wow, she likes cake!

Who could guess this might be the outcome of putting a 12 month old in front of cake? She was not shy about any part of this. We think she had a great day.

Thalia's first Birthday Party!

At first, she was quiet, taking in all the commotion, that's her with her uncle Scott, Leta's brother and his son Andrew. Then, with the cakes prepared, including the Queen's special cupcake in the background, she opened presents. Finally, we sat down for her first taste of vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting. Leta decorated the cakes herself.

Thalia's first Birthday!

We took her to the park for her first swing ride, can you believe it? We haven't had a chance until now! She loved it, after the initial weirdness of it. Her Birthday fell on a Wednesday, so the party with family was planned for the next Saturday.

Tali and me in the park

Now in Irving Park, near the house we're renting. Tali and I just havin' a drink in the park. I did not partake.

An outing in Laurelhurst Park, a particularly beautiful one in a city of very nice parks.

Talking on her bottle

She'll talk on anything. This is our rented house in Portland.

Leta and Thalia flew to Oregon, I drove

The drive was not without its vacuum hose related problems. The mechanics in Wolf Creek, Oregon helped me out and got me on the road, but the car still had no power on hills. There are 8 problematic hills between Wolf Creek and Portland.

Kitty really did not like the ride, but slept a little on the 14 hour journey.