May's Adventures

Tara had a dance event in Portland the last week of April, so we decided to take an adventure and meet up with her in a city that we had never visited together before. We picked up our favorite pizza at The McKenzie River Pizza Co. and boarded the train Friday night. Just as it was beginning to get light Saturday morning the train ran into the Columbia River, and followed the river into Portland. It was a gorgeous trip along the Washington side of the river with beautiful Mt. Hood in the distance.

We met Tara at the hotel, which was right in the middle of downtown Portland. She was busy working so we headed out to look around. The Willamette River runs through downtown, and there is a beautiful big park right on the river. It was a cool but sunny day and the park was busy with people enjoying the beautiful spring weather. We walked along the river, and Lee even took a nap on a park bench while I had fun watching all of the crazy activity.

Sunday we extended our walking tour of downtown Portland a little more with Tara. She then treated us to lunch, before we walked to the train station and boarded for the return trip to Whitefish. We had fun taking in the view of the Columbia River again from the observation car, before settling in for another night on the train.

We arrived in Whitefish early Monday morning, then spent a leisurely day back at Sigh-Bar. Lee was glad to have Tara to help him frame the windows he had been working on putting in the barn, and I loved having her to jog with me, and just sitting on the porch together. Tuesday we hiked up the mountain behind the house, exploring some old trails and making new ones, then went into Kalispell to see the movie The Jungle Book. Tara's visit was brief, but as always was a treat for us.

Wednesday Lee took Tara and I to the airport, then prepared himself for the next 10 days alone. Tara and I flew to Seattle together, then she went home to Miami, and I went to Phoenix to visit Gloria for a few days before returning to Houston. It was such fun to be with my sister for three days. We solved the world's problems, shopped, cried over tragedy, and laughed about ourselves. Sister therapy is the best!!

I got back to Houston just in time for Mother's Day. What fun to celebrate with Amy & Alex and their families! They are such awesome mothers themselves and it was so fun to join their little ones to celebrate them. Alex made fruit pizza and we all met at the Vernon's for dessert and gifts.

One of the things on my to-do list while back in Houston was to co-host with Tammy a bridal shower for Brittney Meier. Our "Bride to Bee" ideas made for a truly lovely evening.

Another item on my to-do list was to attend Olivia's kindergarten program. Olivia had a part as the "Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" and she did an awesome job.

Amy & Alex made plans to celebrate my birthday while I was back, first with lunch at "Lupe's Tortillas" with Tammy and Tracy and their girls; then, again with the family on Amy's patio. The kids had a great time playing in the sprinklers in the backyard, having dinner, and my favorite dessert of all, Pizookies!!

The last item on my list before getting back on the plane and heading back to Sigh-Bar was Leo's T-ball game. It was a typical hot and humid Houston afternoon, but nothing could squash Leo's energy and enthusiasm.

Lee has had some kidney stones showing up the last few weeks, and he finally decided it was time to take care of them. He found a urologist in Kalispell, who decided surgery was the best option. Dr. Siomos removed 3 kidney stones and 2 bladder stones in Kalispell's hospital. The surgery was successful and Lee was able to come home the next day. He will have to return in 10 days to remove a temporary stent, and although it will take some time to heal, we are counting on a complete and full recovery.

And then, it happened ... I turned 63!!! How can this be?! Isn't that how old my grandma was? Oh geez!!! Lee softened the blow with plans for a drive down to Big Fork for lunch at the "Pocketstone Café" on Flathead Lake, followed by a stop at "Sweet Peaks" for homemade huckleberry ice cream. It was impossible to be distressed for very long though as I received so many gifts, phone calls, texts, emails, facetimes, cards, and birthday wishes from my awesome family and friends. I wouldn't exactly say I have lived a "charmed life" -- but I have truly been incredibly blessed. Here's to 63...