Roadtrippin' with Gramma!

6/27

6/27

What an amazing trip! Gramma surprised me at almost every turn! Starting with holding a giant purple starfish in Newport! A local crabber had caught this guy in one of his crab pots!  Gramma willingly let this guy put the starfish in her hand to pose for a picture! We spent the evening wandering around the Newport Historic Bay Front and had dinner at Mo's.

6/28 Day 2

Day two brought crazy shenanigans at the Wax Works museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and the Undersea Gardens. For places so cheesy, we had a blast! We made it all the way down to Coos Bay!

6/29 Day 3

6/29 Day 3

Day 3 we stopped at the Prehistoric Gardens, but decided that we'd much rather keep going to get to the Trees of Mystery faster! We did take the time to snap a pic by my favorite Dino! Mr. Rex! He was awfully photogenic, big toothy grin the whole time! We made it all the way to Klamath, CA on day 3 and found a room at the Lighthouse Inn. The desk attendant was a hoot and had Gramma and I sharing looks the entire time we were talking to him. We did look at like three rooms before we made our decision and dinner was just as bad. We walked out of the first restaurant as they didn't have anything on their menu that appealed to Gramma or me. We ended up eating at a steakhouse, I ordered a salad and potato and Gramma the Shrimp Louie! Great dinner!

6/30 Day 4

6/30 Day 4

Day 4 we got up and headed further south to see the Trees of Mystery. It was the first I'd actually driven through the redwoods and I was so amazed by the difference between the types of forests. Once we got there I was floored by the giant Paul Bunyan and Babe!  Paul was hilarious! My favorite was when he told a kid that he was a "violent, violent child!" for stomping on ants! That or when he made a comment about Babe enjoying what an adult girl was doing to his balls. We had a great time walking through the Trees of Mystery and hearing Paul Bunyan's tale! 

7/1 Day 5

7/1 Day 5

Day 5 we started back up the coast because it was so hot in the valley. We stopped at Cape Blanco and man was it windy! We decided to do the lighthouse tour and Gramma climbed all the way to the top! I was so proud of her! We got to hear all about the history of lighthouses and how the Lighthouse Keepers got their supplies and took care of the lights. The Cape Blanco Lighthouse is one where the keeper lived in a separate house with his family. The first women keeper was a woman who took over after her husband passes away. Too bad it was such a foggy day!


Day 6 we headed for home. The whole trip we had wanted to see a sunset and weren't able to. Either due to being tired or due to the weather. So the last day we stopped at Cannon Beach, got some food and settled in to watch the sunset. As soon as it dipped below the horizon we headed for the car and I took us home in record time!


I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to take this trip with Gramma. She has been such an important part of my life and I honestly don't know where I'd be without her. We've had our ups and downs, but overall I have learned so much in my time living with her. Leaving her and this house feels like leaving a piece of me behind and while I don't like that idea, I look forward to what my future may bring.

Beautiful

 Yesterday I found out that I was called beautiful by someone who has never told me to my face. It's not that I don't think he believes it, just that I don't remember every being called beautiful. Cute, pretty or nice if I've dressed up, but beautiful isn't a word I would have EVER used to describe myself. We're also referring to someone who forgets how easily words can cut a person down, especially when unintentional. There were other things said that were a contradiction to what I believed he thought and felt.

I love my dad, and I know that he's proud of me and that he loves me. It's just nice to hear the things that he's willing to express to others, even if he's unable to express them to me. Today I feel like a more beautiful me for knowing what I now know. I love you daddy!

To Bend and Back

6/19 Mirror Pond 

Last month I also took a week and went to visit my mom in Bend. We had so many ideas of things to do and I was super excited for all the fun plans. I got there late the 18th and we started our "trip" with manis and pedis! It was VERY overpriced, but enjoyable nonetheless. The next day we... well we tried to find some caves, but it didn't go quite as planned. 

After the caves we headed to the market and mom showed me the pond that the Deschutes brewery named their Mirror Pond IPA after. I snapped this shot as we were walking by.

6/20 Balancing Rocks

The next day we headed out for a horse back ride, I somehow didn't end up with any of those photos, but we had a blast anyway! After our ride we headed to the Balancing Rocks. The signs are no longer posted as vandals were destroying 20,000 years of mother natures hard work. Mom had been here as a child so it was kinda cool to see. Though I would have loved seeing it even more if I'd beat the fire that destroyed the fire which used to keep the Balancing Rocks from easy view. 

6/21 Lava River Cave

Thursday was an exciting day in the Lava River Cave and the High Desert Museum. The Lava River Cave was a blast and so was the museum. I never would have thought it would be so much fun, but I wish we would have started our day just a little earlier. We walked all the way to the end of the cave where there are signs that say that they had to close the last 500 feet due to severe injury and the bat population.

The High Desert Museuem was really cool, I didn't really have any idea what to expect. I think my favorite part was making up a story about the model mill for mom! Or the Otters... or the stagecoach... lol I don't know it was all cool!

6/22 Fort Klamath

The next day we got up early and headed to Klamath Falls to pick Brett up. It was a crazy long drive, but we finally made it and headed out to find some cool stuff to do! We poked around Fort Klamath, the best part being snapping Brett's picture as he was coming out of the jail! It's a great picture and my favorite from the batch.

6/22 Collier Memorial State Park

After Fort Klamath we hit some other places, but the best stop of the day was Collier Memorial State Park. This cabin was built by a pioneer who was killed before he had the chance to finish the building process! I think it's pretty neat that they left it in progress so that we could see not only how they were built, but also how dangerous things could be in those times. 

6/22 Collier Memorial State Park

I had a great trip with my mom and with Brett. Leaving them is going to be hard, but since we don't see each other often I feel as if things with them aren't really going to change all that much. It doesn't mean that I love them any less, I just have a different relationship with them. With mom it's a I can call anytime, ask anything relationship, and that works for me! Brett, well I've spent so much of my life taking care of him that I treasure him and want nothing but the best for him. I know that he's upset by my leaving, but I know that someday he'll understand that it's time that I do what's best for me. I love you both so much! 

6/22 Collier Memorial State Park

The Museum That Doesn't ACT like a Museum

Erickah, Cha-Cha & Ava @ The Museum

A month ago I  took my two favorite young ladies to one of their favorite places. I took Erickah a couple of years ago and it's all she's talked about since! Unfortunately Curious George had moved on and was replaced with some dino replicas (Not nearly as cool and interactive as CG). We had a great day playing and taking turns picking what areas we wanted to play in and even lost a tooth to start us off. 

These ladies are the best nieces an aunt could ask for as far as I'm concerned and their dad is doing a pretty great job raising them on his own. I don't see them nearly enough, but that doesn't diminish the amount of love I have for them. 

They are at the perfect ages and I'm a little saddened to think that I won't get to see Ava start kindergarten or watch Erickah overcome her roadblocks with reading. My little girls could quite possibly be 7 & 10 the next time I see them face to face. I'll miss my little girls, but can't wait to share my adventures with them!

Ava & Cha-Cha @ The Portland Children's Museum 

Erickah & Cha-Cha

Erickah & Ava @ The Portland Children's Museum

38 Days

I have just 38 days left until the day that they will likely be calling me half-way around the world. I'm sitting here tonight and while I should be going to bed, I just felt like I needed to write first. All because of wanting to update my facebook status. I have 38 days left and 18 of those are filled with plans with various people.

7 amazing, fun filled days with the two best friends a girl could ask for! BTW, we're going to sunny San Diego! I'm so excited to get in the car with those two! I will try to post the last of the clues tomorrow!

1 day celebrating not only graduating from Concordia University's Graduate School with a 4.0, but also the fact that I'm leaving for the next three years. Hopefully I'll have an abundance of family and friends surrounding me.

1 day floatin' down the river with my brother, his wife, and son as well as my mom. It's been a couple of years since I last ventured out with my brother, but this time I'll make sure I buy the spendy sunscreen that can be used in the water.

1 day spent with a friend who I would have died to have met earlier in life. I can't believe that when I come back she'll be a momma and her baby with be almost 3 years old.

2 days spent with my life long mentor going through classroom stuff to help me be ready for those first days of school. I'm so blessed to have her in my life. She is the reason I became a teacher. If it weren't for her I don't think I would have worked much at all this last school year. She's come through for me time and time again. Starting when I was just 10 years old.

? Time spent with a friend who is always there for me unconditionally it seems. He changed a part of me that has made me a much stronger and more independent person. His ability to make me feel better is something that has gotten me through some very tough times the last three years. (Wow, I can't believe that it's been almost 3 years!!!)

? days spent with my dad. These aren't included in my count because they're much harder to come by. Though I can't wait to go fly kites on Sunday!

This is not to discount the last two trips I took. 6 days with Gramma along 101, the Redwoods and various coastal towns. 6 days with Mom in Bend, exploring all over, 1 of which in Klamath Falls with Brett.

My time left in the states is slipping by quickly. I can't believe that we started at 16 weeks and now we're down to less than 6. If you're reading my blog, please comment, it'd be nice to know who's reading, just say hi! You could even email me, cnstars23@gmail.com