A fun weekend Getaway

Dan & I were able to go to Portland, with my Mom and Dad this weekend for a much needed vacation. We had a great time! The main event of the weekend was seeing the musical "The Color Purple". Which was awesome! I've been wanting to see it since it first came to Broadway.

Going on trips with my parents is a ton of fun. I love going out of town with them, hanging out as friends. We always have a great time together. My dad is always teased about planning vacations and trips around the "FOOD". Where to eat, what to eat, when to eat and and how much can we EAT? This works out great for me because eating, and food are sadly my middle name. YUM! So all new years resolutions were off for this weekend. It seemed silly for New Years to be on a Thursday this year because I'm pretty sure it has to be a Monday to start on a new weight loss goal.

So... let the over eating begin!

The trip started off with a bang. We stopped in Boardman for lunch at the "World's Famous" Bozo Burger. Greasy burgers, fries, and Milk Shakes Gallore. (Kind of like Miner's.) I had my favorite, a grilled cheese sandwich and tator tots.

We had my little sister Megan in the car on the way up because she was hitching a ride to the Portland Airport, on her way back to Utah after her Christmas break. By the time we got her dropped off at the airport it was time to get checked in at the Hotel, grab some dinner, and get onto our play.

I really liked this musical. It had a great message about self worth, self respect, and knowing that God really is being mindful of our lives, no matter how bad things may seem. The movie the Color Purple was pretty serious and a little dark but the musical was altered a little and had tons of light hearted and funny moments. I just can't say enough about their voices, AMAZING, I loved the music!

When with my dad in Portland, a mandatory trip to Safeway must be made to purchase GooGooCluster, Lucerene Brand IceCream. (No substitutes or other brands will do) This is an after show dessert tradition for him. We never worry about getting lost in the big city while trying to find a Safeway because he has it flagged as a favorite place on his GPS . So a star will show on the screen whenever we are driving in Portland in the vicinity of the Safeway.

The next morning we got up, ate breakfast at the hotel and then headed off to tour the Pittock Mansion. From the mansion the view was amazing. On a clear day you can see all of Portland and 5 mountains in the cascade range. This mansion was built in 1909-1914 by Henry and Georgiana Pittock. Henry & Georgiana were pioneers that arrived to Oregon "barefoot and penniless" in 1853. Henry made his money in the Oregonian Newspaper, real estate, sheep ranching, silver mining, and the pulp and paper industry. The couple only lived in the house for 5 years while in their seventies and eighties, but 4 generations of family enjoyed it after they had passed away.

It was really awesome to see the architecture and to see how innovative they were in the 1900. They had something similar to a central vacuum system installed in their house. Henry also had a glass shower that held the steam in and several spray heads coming out all over the ceiling and walls to hit his body from every angle, to help with his arthritis. Fireplace in every room. Walk in closets. Pool table and game rooms. Huge pantry and walk in freezer. Ect. I guess people in those days dreamed of and enjoyed the same luxuries we have today. 

After the mansion it was off to the mall and an outlet mall for a little shopping.

Probably the most traditional part of going to Portland with my parents is stopping on the way home, for dinner, in Hood River, at Pietro's Pizza. Taco Pizza is the family favorite. We had a Pietro's pizza in Kennewick when I was little and our family visited it often. That is when getting taco pizza became a family tradition . Now that a "true" taco pizza is in short supply in the Tri Cities, the Pietro's Pizza in Hood River is hit everytime we are passing through.

While leaving the restaurant, all of the snow on the ground was to much to resist. So we ended the weekend with a little snowball fight. For the record, my dad threw the first snowball, which splattered square in the back of the head. Since paybacks are fair game I tried returning the favor. But to each of my 5 missed throws he beaned me with another. I guess he's a better dodger than I am or I just have really bad aim. 

I decided to let him think that I had given up and he won. As he went to his side of the car I slipped a few snowballs in my sweatshirt and got in. I thought I would have a better chance of hitting my target when it was seat belted in the front seat, one foot away from me with both hands on the wheel. So as we got on the road I nearly caused an accident by shoving all of the snow I had down the back of his shirt. Super Funny. Justice was served. 

I thought that would be the end of it, until my dad pulled the car over to shake all of the snow out of his shirt and then load up with more snow to white wash me with while I was trapped in the back seat. It was a flurry of snow and body parts as he flew over the back seat to cream me. I was worried that all of the wrestling and rough housing might give him a heart attack, 

so I let him win :)