Oregon Part 1: Prineville and Beaverton

After making into Portland late Thursday evening I quickly fell asleep and woke up way too early the next morning. I spent the first part of Friday taking naps to get adjusted to the time change but I think it took the next couple days for me to be on Oregon time.

Reunited with my car!

View of Mt. Hood

After picking my mom up from work we made the 3 hour journey to Central Oregon (Prineville) to visit our relatives. I had such a wonderful time! Not only did I get my hurrr did but I watched movies and shows with my aunt and uncle and I got to bake! For our big family dinner on Saturday I made 1/2 whole wheat rolls (technically I just started them) to go with spaghetti and a salad, and I also helped with some delicious desserts. Back up to Saturday morning, I went on a run with my aunt and uncle....it was so nice running on dry pavement, not having to watch my every step. Saturday afternoon I got my hair and brows done by my cousin, Pam. She did a great job!

Pam and me with my new hair and brows

Making rolls after my run

Making rolls got a little distracting with this cute face

Aunt Jennifer and marshmallow bark

YUM

Sunday night we watched the season finale of LOST. I miss that show so much! This was my second time watching it and I cried again. Watching the finale got me interested in re-watching the entire series...maybe after I'm done with House MD?

While heading back to Portland Monday afternoon my mom and I debated on how we would spend the following day together. We contemplated going to the beach but after the forecast of lots and lots of rain we started planning something else....our very own TWILIGHT tour.

Setting out on our adventure

Blurry pic of Scappose water tower

Today, after my morning run, we set out on our tour. First stop: Saint Helens, OR. Not only was it neat seeing some of the filming locations but I had never traveled to this town before.

Welcome to St. Helens

The Swan residence

The "Bloated Toad" restaurant

The "dress shop"

The "book store"

The following picture is for my friend, Anna:

Warren, Oregon

After viewing Bella's house, the restaurant, book store, and dress shop we set out to our next destination: Multnomah Falls.

picture would be better sans old man

I'm ashamed to admit that even though I've lived in Oregon practically my entire life I've never been there. It's kind of like living at the beach and not going. You take it for granted because it's always there. Multnomah Falls was AMAZING! Being there really made me appreciate Oregon's beauty. Picture looking up and seeing overcast, dark grey skies with rain. Picture walking past moss-covered wet rocks. I could smell the rain and the wet bark from the woods. I could feel the mist rising from the falls. It was perfect. It basically summed up what Oregon feels like. And I never realized until now how much I love it.

We also stopped by another waterfall:

Note: moss-covered rocks

Our original plan involved another stop at the Viewpoint Inn, the location of where prom was filmed (and also a place I looked at for my wedding reception) but we ran out of time. We quickly booked it back home to get ready for dinner at:

Chart House

This upscale restaurant serves primarily seafood and is situated on a hill that overlooks the entire city of Portland. Amazing views. We went for happy hour which allowed us to experience great-tasting food without the normally attached price.

Ahi fish tacos

Mom's clam chowder in a cute bowl

Mom and I with a view of Portland behind us

Mounds lava cake (took 30 minutes to make!)

After dinner, I met up with some of my high school friends at Starbucks. I hadn't seen these girls in over a year so there was much to catch up on. Since seeing them last, one friend had cute baby girl, another moved back to Oregon from California, and the third switched majors and is now preparing to graduate next year. Talking with them made me realize how far we have come from high school. We've each taken our own little road that had led us to where we are today. Oh, how time flies! 

Tomorrow my mom and I are finishing own Twilight tour. I am then heading down to Corvallis and Brownsville to visit the in-laws and my dad, step-mom, and step-sister. Plans for the next few days include running stairs, watching red riding hood, having lunch with a friend, playing mariokart, going on a hike/trail run, and more.... Expect a thorough recap in a few days.

Despite having an enjoyable time I am missing my husband more than ever! Thank goodness for cell phones because I would be so Dan-sick (get it, instead of homesick?) without them. Since I've been gone Dan has been fending for himself in our kitchen. Yesterday's dinner was hot dogs with sour cream. Not sure if that's going to be added to our favorite dinners list he he. He also sent me a pic of the snow Ohio received the day after I left. I will be glad when Spring officially arrives!