Xmas Cabin in the Woods

Over Xmas break this year, we decided to take the doggos on a little cabin adventure.

Even though she's scared silly of other dogs and strangers, Molly actually loves a road trip. She was so excited to go that as soon as her crate was loaded into the car, she stationed herself there to make sure she did not get left behind.

Once we arrived, it didn't take the dogs too long to settle into their new surrounds.

They liked this spot especially because the cabin was right on this beautiful little creek.

Norman loves him some creek fun.

There were tons of woods to explore and not explore near the cabin.

There was even a little bit of snow. But, like, in the parking lot of a restaurant.

Plus, there was lots to do inside as well.

There was even a whole, IDK, mind map(?) wall about D.B. Cooper. So that was totally normal.

I became OBSESSED with these little rings over trees games.



Also, we brought Dutch Blitz with us and played tons of rounds.



We had such fun that we might even make this a Xmas tradition.

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Valentine's Surprise

I have always maintained that the easiest way to ensure that someone is surprised is to present them with something at a time not in any way affiliated with that holiday. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. In reality, I just booked January 14th instead of February 14th by mistake and then later decided to leave it. He'll never suspect a Valentine's gift in January muahahahahaha.

And he didn't.

So early on a January morning, we headed out to one of our favorite neighborhood joints, Helser's, for breakfast. If you eat here on the weekend, plan on waiting multiple hours. If you show up around dawn on a Friday, you have the place to yourself.

We weren't long on the road before we started seeing the white stuff.

Norman was not impressed.

But it really was a very beautiful drive.

Finally, we got Eddy all outfitted for skiing.

In the evening we met up for some Cosmic Tubing complete with laser show, live DJ, and no walking or pulling your tubes back up a freaking hill!

Next morning, we headed out to the Timberline Lodge because we wanted to see some stuff from The Shining.

Turns out, what we liked most, though, was this crank meat slicer at the breakfast buffet.

Thanks so much to my dad for the skiing gift certificate!

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Farewell to the Beach Condo

Eddy's work has stopped offering the beach condo to employees!  I know.  I know.  It's all very sad, but the actual owners of the condo have moved back the Portland and it's almost like they want their own condo back.  Some people, right?  We had tons of great memories there, even in the short time that we lived here, and we got to spend a whole week saying a fond farewell.

We kicked off the trip by capturing what will probably be our only selfie ever with Norman, who stood still and looked at the camera only because that orange thing in my hand is a stick with a tennis ball at the end.

First, let's just be clear. Norman had an amazing beach vacation.

Never before or since has a dog had such fun at the beach.

Cross my heart.

That dog enjoyed many a snuggled up nap after his beach adventures.

For the record, we also enjoyed the beach.

Just maybe not as much as Norman did.

Incidentally, this is Norman helping us dig up some wet sand to build sand castles with.

Because we are 5 years old.

We found this weird horse while digging. Looking back, I'm really sad that neither of us incorporated the horse into our sand castles. But I had a weird only natural materials thing, going and Eddy had this whole romantic sand keep plus tower back story, so I guess it's not surprising.

Seriously, though, we got really into building sand castles this time.

Norman got so bored that he took a nap. He also got so cold that I had to cover him with my coat.

We were pretty proud of our creations.

One day it rained, so we played games and did puzzles and stared longingly at the beach through the windows.

We also enjoyed some of our favorite Rockaway Beach area haunts.

The last day, perhaps to combat our sadness at leaving behind the beach condo forever, we decided to take a little road trip up to Astoria on the way home. But like, not on the way because it's the opposite direction from our house.

We kicked things off in Rockaway Beach because THE PRONTO PUP WAS FINALLY OPEN ON A DAY WE WERE IN TOWN!

You guys, that's a real leather saddle. No joke.

We ate some corn dogs.

But, like, so many.

Next we went to see the wreck of the Peter Iredale, which I have always, always, always wanted to see.

We also went to the Astoria Column, where Eddy promptly fell in love with the relief map because that guy freaking loves relief maps.

Then we, you know, drank some beers,

saw some Goonie house,

and ate some custard.

I think the Astoria trip reminded us that even though we'll be sad to say goodbye to the beach condo, we now have the perfect excuse to say hello to the rest of Oregon. Road trip anyone?

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