More Blossom Festival Pics

The Hood River Blossom Festival

Going to the Blossom Festival has been something I have wanted to do for years. Every year around February or March I remind myself that I want to do it and then April comes and goes and I remember usually a weekend too late that I wanted to go. Last year I took no chances. I sent myself a flag from work that would pop up and remind me two weeks before it took place. One small hitch. Steve went out of town:( I had to find someone who would be willing to drive to Hood River with me AND be willing to stop at all the fun locations. I didn't have to look far. My friend and co-worker, Cindy, quickly agreed to go. What made it more entertaining was that her husband, John, was also out of town. So it was just the gals driving around for the entire day eating, buying flowers, petting a variety of animals, and also sneaking in a stop to Multnomah Falls. If you have ever been to the Blossom Festival you know what you are in for. It is a 45 mile loop taking you from nursery to bakery to Alpaca farm. It was wonderful. Our first stop was at the Pansy Party where they sold, what else, Pansy's. Thousands of them. Along with a variety of other native grown plants. From there we stopped at this bakery where the hand pies came up a bit short in flavor but the cookies were delicious. There was a lavender farm that did not meet our expectations but the Alpaca Farm made up for it in leaps and bounds. When you first pull up you park in front of the nursery. There waiting for us was a mamma and a two day old Alpaca. SO CUTE! Just a quick walk up the drive way brings you to the Junior section. There were about 25 Alpacas all under a year old. Once they are sheared for the summer they are sent down the hill to live with the adults. I kept telling Cindy that I needed to learn how to knit so I could make an Alpaca wool blanket. The baby Alpaca wool is the softest wool around. After leaving there we stopped at an antique store that had nothing in the way of cool collectables but it did have a cute collection of pygmy goats. They wanted to eat and we had nothing to give so they tried to settle for Cindy's wedding ring. Good thing that sucker is insured! From there it was a long drive around the outskirts of Hood River. We stopped occasionally to take a picture or talk to the locals but our next big stop was to eat pulled pork at one of the country stores. This place was so good I have thought about taking Steve back just for lunch some weekend. Cindy and I had a great time and we are already planning next years trip with the little peanut in tow.

All my bags are packed....

Steve left this morning for a quick trip to Baltimore. The wonderful people at the USGS bought him a brand spankin new MAC Book Pro under the condition that he is at their beck and call for all things Pod/Webcast. It is a pretty sweet deal considering he gets to travel to different offices and he gets entertainment while on the plane. No he is not flying with Tony Stark, I just mean that he can use his new laptop for pretty much anything. The bummer is that he had to leave. He hates it when I say this because it makes him feel guilty, but I hate it when he leaves. Whether it is overnight or for 10 days, I just hate it. I don't sleep well because I am a BIG scardy cat. I don't eat well because I have no one to account for. I don't clean up after myself becuase, lets face it, who is going to notice and I have to make sure all the pets are fed, watered, and walked. (No I am not cleaning out the liter boxes). It is miserable and I hate it.

At least I used to hate it. Cut to six months pregnant with an ever expanding waist line and a shrinking bed and too many bodies in said bed. Having a bed to myself at this moment in my pregnancy is a god-send. I can pile all the pillows onto the bed and make myself a little nest right smack in the middle. I sleep like the dead because I am not worried that Steve is one roll away from cuddling the dog on the carpet. I am also so tired by the end of the day I hardly take time to check to make sure the doors are locked (don't worry Dad I am checking) let alone have time to be scared of things that go bump in the night.

I will miss Steve and Saturday evening when he gets home will be wonderful. But a part of me can't help but wonder if it is okay to kick your husband out of bed BEFORE the baby gets here.

Speaking of children

This has to be one of my favorites.
Vince, Gavin, Melissa Dawson and Cameron Clear (my brother from another mother)

Practice for the soon-to-be parents

Last night Steve and I were invited to dinner at the Child house. Missy and Kelly Cudworth were in town with the new baby for the weekend and we were VERY happy to be included in the family event. By 3:30 I was jumping out of my seat ready to head up and get my hands on that cute little baby boy. When I walked in the new Mamma was sitting majestically on the couch cradling her son. If pregnant women glow, new moms radiate. I don't care how sleep deprived she claims she is, she still looks amazing. After a quick diaper change by dad, no I DID NOT offer to do it, he was all mine. I eventually had to give him up to Steve as well as other family members but my time with him was wonderful. I asked Steve what he thought on the way home and he said "Reality is setting in a bit." In all fairness he did hold Jameson at a particularly fussy moment. This is not to say that we haven't ever been around babies or fussy babies for that matter. Both of us have nieces and nephews as well as several friends that have children. I think we both acutely feeling the reality of parenthood and how it changes you. I have known Missy for eighteen years. We have gone from being children ourselves to having babies. I saw a whole different side of her yesterday and it has certainly got me thinking. I am looking forward to sharing more moments with her when my own daughter emerges into the world. Congratulations Missy and Kelly! We love you and can't wait to see you again.

So seeing how this is my first official blog in a year and a half I should clarify a few things. I am not a great typer, my grammar is terrible, I am not very consistent and I often don't have anything interesting to say. This is merely my way of staying connected to friends and family all across the country. Some days I may just post pictures and others I may delve way too far into how I happen to be feeling. This is not a place for negative comments or unwanted feedback. If you like what I have to say feel free to add your two cents but please be considerate of me and Steve as we make this transition into parenthood and really adulthood. Thanks for reading and I hope my next post will be more interesting. We are hanging with my oldest friend Missy her husband Kelly and their new bambino Jameson tonight so I am sure I will be able to think of a few things to say.

Pixels by Patrick Jean

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN. - une vidéo Art et Création @ Yahoo! Video

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