Our Trip to Portland

Dear Gabriella,

I'm sorry I haven't written to you in a while, but June was somewhat uneventful.  However, July has been very exciting with a road trip to Oregon for your Uncle Chad and Aunt Ashley's wedding.  Below are some highlights from the trip to refresh your memory.

On Wednesday, July 6th we arrived in Portland.  That night your Nana, Auntie Jennifer, Auntie Ashley, Auntie Kari, and I all went to go see Mary Poppins.  (Your Auntie Alex had not arrived yet, and we missed her.)  I was so surprised by how much detail went into the production.  It had exceptionally talented artists, fantastic set design, and it was overall wonderful.  You stayed at the hotel, and your daddy took care of you so that us girls could go watch the show. 

The drinking fountains in downtown Portland were so strange that we had to stop and take a picture.
(Auntie Kari, Auntie Ashley, Nana, and Auntie Jennifer)

The next day, we drove to Seaside where your Nana and Papa had rented a beach house for all of us to stay in.  We stayed in the beach house from Thursday the 7th to the following Thursday the 14th.  You had so much fun playing with your cousins and getting attention from all of your aunts and uncles.  You should notice that your cousin Reese is in many pictures with you.  She just loved playing with you, and whenever she would come near, you would smile and get so excited. 

Nana, Ella, and Reese snuggling on the front lawn of the beach house

Reese, JR, Adelyn, and Nana

You and JR (Don't worry.  He's being gentle with you.)

Here you are playing with Reese again. 
I dressed you in this really cute cupcake skirt for your dad's birthday.

JR, you, and Reese

Adelyn and JR jumping on the bed.  These two are so cute!

What a cool chick!

We also spent a lot of time at the beach in Seaside.  It was really hard to push your stroller on the soft sand, but once we got to the shore, we had so much fun!  Your dad, Uncle Kurt, and Papa all went to dig for clams on the beach, but they did not catch any.  :(  You and I strolled along the shore and enjoyed looking at the waves and the seagulls.

Even Reese helped to push you in the stroller.

Thursday, July 7th was the Groom's Dinner.  We ate at a barbeque place in Seaside, and stuffed ourselves with fried chicken and ribs.  Your dad and Uncle Chad played ring-around-the-rosies with you and the other kids there, and you were giggling the whole time.  Ashley's little niece Alexa fell in love with you too, and she held you through almost the entire dinner.

Friday was your Uncle Chad and Aunt Ashley's wedding day.  I didn't get any pictures of you at the wedding, but you were the star of the show (next to Ashley of course).  Everyone wanted to take you out onto the dance floor, and you were loving all of the attention.  I was busy stuffing myself with these very delicious filled cupcakes.  They had chocolate peanut butter, caramel, and lemon filled cupcakes, and I had at least one of each of them.  Yum!

That evening, Ashley's family invited us to go swimming in the pool at their hotel.  You had a ton of fun swimming with dad and warming up in the spa with mom.  Your Nana even bought you these adorable pink water shoes, which you wore the whole time.

On Saturday, your Papa took us all out for a bike ride.  I thought this would be a nice leisurely bike ride down the road, but I forgot that I was riding with the Griffiths, and they rarely do anything in a leisurely fashion.  We ended up getting two bikes, which of course meant that we had to race eachother.  Papa, your dad, Uncle Kurt, Everett, Reese, you, and I were all on one bike.  Your Aunt Jennifer, Aunt Kari, Aunt Alex, Pa, Nana, JR, and Adelyn were all in the other bike.  You had a great time sitting on your dad's lap helping him pedal as fast as he could.  I gave up early on because I just couldn't keep up at all.