Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Missy Em Has a Birthday, And I Visit My Sister

Emma turned 5 on Monday, and she was happy about it.





She enjoyed lunch with Grandma and Grandpa H after school





and dinner with the other Grandma and Grandpa H, Aunt Boo Boo, and cousins Alex, Jason and Madsen later in the evening.




Last weekend, I flew to Portland to visit my sister Julie and her husband, Tom, who live across the river in Vancouver, Washington. Oh my, was it fun. We packed many activities into two days. We visited the venerable Lloyd Center (I believe it's America's oldest shopping mall...and there's an ice skating rink in the middle.)


We lunched at Saint Honore's Bakery in quaint Northwest Portland.


Take a gander at the pastries. We split a raspberry delice (2nd row from the top, far left). It was delice-ious.



Then we drove around neighborhoods where I used to live years ago in my single days. Spring is in its full glory in the Pacific Northwest.




We meandered up to Washington Park, then up to the Japanese Gardens.



On Friday evening we attended a concert by the Portland Mormon Choir and Orchestra. They performed John Rutter's Requiem, which is one of my favorite pieces of music and has been going through my head incessantly for about 10 days now. Oh, it was beautiful.

It was so much fun to spend time with Julie and Tom. And their iguana, Max.



(Feet included for scale)


The next morning we visited Saturday Market in downtown Portland, featuring an abundance of arts, crafts, hippies, and ethnic food. And a really good marimba band.

Speaking of arts and crafts, Julie is an excellent jewelry maker. Below are some of the bracelets she's made.




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Such a fun, fun trip. Thanks, Julie and Tom. And happy, happy birthday, Emma Dear.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to Em! I still love her smile:) Portland looks beautiful. Were those Azaleas in bloom? And that waterfall made me want to jump into the picture.

The Gardener said...

Happy birthday Miss Em! Looks like you had a fabulous time in PDX. I wanted to be with you until the iguana got in the photo, then not so much. :-) Love to all.

Barbie said...

Oh thanks for this Denny! Julie the Jeweler! And she's changed her bangs or something about her hair - I like it whatever it 'tis! Love the feet for-scale. And Happy, happy birthday to Emma!
Love,
Barbie

Julie said...

Denny!!! Those pictures all turned out so well! Yes, Nate, those are azaleas in bloom. It was a sheer delight touring the Rose City with you. And Happy 5th Birthday, cutie pie Emma!

Sister/Aunt Julie

Diane said...

Great photos! Can't believe she's 5! Happy Birthday Emma!!!

The Oregonians said...

To know Max is to love Max for her slow and easy way of reacting to all situations. Most unruffled creature we've ever seen.
Good to see two of our three daughters together. You both look great.
Who took the pictures of the two of you?

Joey/Denny/Emma said...

Kindly onlookers, who either volunteered or were enlisted.

laurel said...

Happy LATE b-day Emma. Sorry, I feel like I am a day late and a dollar short. Looks like you had a fabulous day! Love your red seater.

So glad you got to see your sister. Looks like so much fun
(except for the iguana). My sister had I are 16 years apart so it is hard for us to have that kind of relationship. We have a good one, but not a hangout together kind of one. We are in such different places. Glad you got to go! We need to get together!

Julia Warren said...

It looks like you had a blast hanging with my mom (and Max, bless her little cold-blooded heart...) Looks like it was such a fun trip! I love the pictures of you two together.