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

A week of clues!

 This is what I consider a game of catch up! Starting on the 18th as I packed up to go visit with my mom. Tuesday I opened another clue that corresponds to our Road Trip Rules 101! We always have to have a Cosmo to read aloud in the car! We have SO much fun laughing at all the craziness! Current Deduction: Undetermined... other than we have to spend time traveling.

June 18th - Cosmo

Wednesday I opened strawberry lemonade air fresheners. My thoughts on this were hilarious! I haven't hid the fact that I don't really want to ruin the surprise so I end up trying to come up with deductions that are SO out of the box that they'd never be the truth. Current Deduction: We're going to Red Robin for Strawberry Lemonade...No that doesn't work... Oh, I know, we're going someplace that smells really bad and need to bring our own air fresheners!

June 19th - Strawberry Lemonade Car Air Fresheners

This one leaves me a little perplexed when it comes to a witty comment. It's just a true statement. Current Deduction: We're driving to our destination.

June 20th - Road Trip Experts card

Friday I opened a rockin' pair of spectacles. I'm quite excited to find my friends matching pairs so we can all rock them waterside (I don't know the water source). Em of course promptly informed me that she has coordinating pairs for Jess and herself! Current deduction: We're going to a tropical bird sanctuary.

June 21st - Awesome Parrot Spectacles 

 Saturday, a day I would spend almost entirely outdoors, I opened the best protection a friend could provide! Current deduction: We're driving to the SUN! YAY for being the first best friends to drive to outer space together! Man I have the best friends!

June 22nd - Coppertone Sport Lip Balm SPF 30! 

I got my swim trunks, I got my flippee floppies! Current deduction: We're goin' on a boat!

June 23rd - Flip Flops!

This one... well it doesn't really give me any hint as to where we may be going, but it's my favorite clue I've opened so far! Jessica and her family introduced me to letterboxing and it has been quite a game changer in my life. I have spent many a quality hours with my mom, gramma and even Melanie letterboxing! I have SO many memories when it comes to various stamps! Current deduction: Someplace amazingly awesome!

June 24th - Letterbox

A Contradiction!

 Today I opened "June 17th" written by who I assume to be Jess. (based on expert handwriting analysis.)

 It was a beautifully wrapped "box" and envelope. Lifting it out of the basket was a little easier said than done, but I only dropped the "box" once. Now once I had the "box" in my hand I knew that I was holding some kind of soda can, it helped that they were upside down.

Once I had them open I revised my list of things I "know" to be true. I "know" the following to be true:

1. I cannot take my brand new 29'' spinner I bought for my overseas trip.
2. I need a swimsuit.
3. We'll be gone for a week.
4. I have the items for one of the top "Road Trip Rules 101" Cheeze-its and Pepsi!

**My current deduction: We're taking the Weasely's flying car to Hogwarts! You guys are going to make me a wizard so I can apparate home!

Photos, Photos, Photos!!!

Yesterday Jessica came up and instead of doing CityScape we spent the morning and afternoon scrapping! It was a blast to get some things finished that I've spent the last few gatherings working on. I'm still one layout away from being completely done with the project, but only because I came across the photos later!

After scrapping, we had plans to meet up with Emily and Shelley for a best friends photo shoot! We met at George Fox and I was presented with my basket of clues. See the girls thought it would be really fun for me to open a clue each day about our trip! So here's my basket with all my clues!

 There was one package that I got to open before we started off on our photo shoot. It was necklaces that Em had made for us! How special to have such a treasure to keep with me. It's an infinity symbol and three beads, two amethyst and one opal representing all three of us!

 Here are a couple of previews from our AWESOME photo shoot! It was so much fun spending the evening with these ladies and Shelley as well!

 I love these two ladies SO much and I can't wait for our trip!

It's a Surprise!

I've always loved being surprise, but people around me have never been good at it. I always know about it ahead of time. Well this one started out without any knowledge on my part. Jess and Em were planning on whisking me away for my 30th birthday. Well... they were until I told them I was leaving the country. They decided to spill the beans and then change the surprise to something this summer instead. This means that I know the surprise is coming and even have the time set aside. In the few times we've hung out since I found out about the surprise I've listened to my friends talk about our trip without really talking about our trip. Here's what I know:

1. I cannot take my brand new 29'' spinner I bought for my overseas trip.
2. I need a swimsuit.
3. We'll be gone for a week.

That's not much to know, but Emily did say that if I could fit in my big suitcase it might save money, this leads me to think that we're flying somewhere... but where we might be flying to? I have no idea!