Trip to Oregon and pumpkin patches of the past.

The morning after my sister's wedding the kids and I boarded an Oregon bound plane. I am thankful the opportunity to see both sides of our family came so soon after our move to St. Louis.
Upon landing in Portland my good, no my great friend Stacy picked us up. I love Stacy as if she were my biological family member. We met while working in student government in college. This is a picture from last Christmas.

She and I both HATE Oreos and LOVE the Beavers. While with Stacy we went to one of my favorite stops in Oregon, Cafe Yumm and the southwest tofu wrap! We listened to the Beavers beat UCLA. I cannot believe I have a friend like her. She is one of the things I miss most about Oregon. On a side note ironically I have been eating Oreos through out writing this post. We have the orange stuffed ones left over from our Beaver party this last weekend. Sorry Stacy, they were disgusting as always.

Next stop, The Dalles and the kids visiting Grandpa Larry at work.

It was so nice to see Richard's parents. After spending a year with them it truly felt like going home to be in The Dalles.
When Richard and I started dating in the Fall of 2003, he told me Autumn was his favorite season. This was so perplexing to me. How could anyone like a season that meant the end of sunny days and freedom? Well it turns out he was much deeper than me. He likes the colors of the leafs changing, the weather getting cozy, the natural succession of the Earth's rotation, and of the apple cider. Richy is blessed with a Mother who has instilled in him a love for Autumn. Cindy helps ease the transition of the fun of Summer to the tranquility of Fall. It is not only the leafs out side that change colors, but also the decor in her house. I love the smells and the food that comes from her house. It is no wonder that one activity Cindy planned for us while in Oregon was going to the pumpkin patch.

This is perhaps my favorite picture of the trip. Levi and Naomi making wishes with dandelions.

Levi and Naomi had so much fun going on rides, until some one had to fall off.

My sweet little Naomi

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”
― Henry David Thoreau



Thanks to Richard I have come to genuinely love the Fall. Here are some of my favorite past pumpkin patch pictures(say that 10 times fast, okay stop).
2010

2011 Naomi's first trip to a pumpkin patch 10 months she is so bald just one year ago.

Our time in Oregon and this trip down memory lane were fun. It came time to make the long flight from Oregon to Missouri. The kids did pretty well.

Naomi could not get comfortable in her seat or on my lap, she decided to try the floor out.

It was so nice to see Richard after being away from him for a week. I think Levi was the happiest of all. Richy surprised Levi and painted his room and turned it into the ultimate Optimus Prime hang out.