Out and about in Portland today!

With the cold weather (it is in the 40s) and the rain, we opted to go to Portland today, rather than take a road trip out exploring! We have seen Doug Fir Restaurant on Food TV a few times, so rather than have our traditional "doughnut day", we drove into Portland for a breakfast for 8!

A friend warned me (via Facebook) to be "prepared for a lot of hungover people", so we went with a "We are not in Canby (think Norman Rockwell town) anymore" outlook. There was one guy in dreadlocks, back in the "adults only" lounge, taking a "rest" on one of the sectionals, and another 50+ year old with dark sunglasses drinking his "scotch on ice" (at 9am -- party like a rock star!!!!), but the atmosphere was really kid friendly!

The kids in the foyer of Doug Fir Restaurant

The lounge, which is where they usually shoot the TV shows

My breakfast -- LaLuna Scramble which was really good. Brandon ordered the same and was not thrilled with the amount of onion (too much for him). I want to know how they make their Rosemary potatoes!

The atmosphere at the restaurant was pretty eclectic. Behind our table was a wall with mirrors that thrilled Sarah and a lady at a near by table asked if I'd taken the girls to the bathroom. She said it was a "must see", so while waiting for our orders, I took the girls. I didn't bring my camera, so the photo above was taken with my iPhone. The photo is of Sarah, inside the bathroom, near the door. That is the only light that comes into the bathroom. The whole room is covered with the 70 style, 12 by 12 glass mirrors (you are literally in a mirrored room). Considering the bathrooms are in the lounge, this could be quite confusing for their patrons after consuming several beverages. The funniest part was when other people came in for the same reason we did...to see what the the rave was about.

Outside Doug Fir, on the sidewalk on 9th Avenue.

Our next stop after breakfast was the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry! This is the view from the second story of OMSI, looking out to the city of Portland and the Columbia River!

We went to the IMAX theater and watched Adrenaline Rush. Matt said he would definitely go skydiving, and possibly even base jumping. I'm vetoing the whole base jumping idea.

At OMSI the exhibit was Da Vinci and they wouldn't allow any cameras or cell phones at the exhibit, so the best we could offer for the blog was our own personal Mona Lisa portraits (note here, the older boys had no desire to be Mona)

Sarah Lisa

Tyler Lisa

Tori Lisa

Tina Lisa

Matt Lisa

Tyler in front of a Saber tooth Cat skeleton in the live science hall

On the way home we stopped at Jack in the box for milk shakes. Took the picture above because I want a tree like this one. I think it is a "Japanese plum", Matt thinks it is a "Japanese maple". Whatever it is...I want it!!!! Gorgeous in the spring!

It is all about Trains on Spring Break!!!

In 2007, my Grandma and Grandpa Jack sent the kids a train set. Because we knew this was a very special gift, and our house was on the market (and we were really hoping we would be moving!!), we didn't allow the kids to open the boxes. We stored them in a safe place, and planned to set them up once we moved. It is now Spring Break 2009, and there is no plans to move in the near future with the economy the way it is, so today we got out the boxes, and the kids were able to see what was inside!!!! We wish Grandpa Jack could be here to help us build our train table and set up the train station, but for now pictures will have to do!!!

It is good to be a princess.......

A friend of ours in Colorado surprised Sarah by sending her a Princess party package! It is so good to be a princess!

Girls lunch out!

Today Sarah and I went to lunch with my cousin Mary and her baby Macey!
Macey and Sarah above out on the town dining at California Pizza Kitchen!

Ryan and Ryley's 12th birthday!

Above is a video I took of the twins today when they rode the virtual roller coaster. I don't know if you can tell how much the boys vibrate on there from the video....watch Ryan's head on the right. Sarah and I went on it prior to the twins and I about died laughing when I looked over and saw her little body shaking so hard it and her saying "Whoooooooooaaaaaaaaaaa".

Ripppppppppppppppppp City!!!!

Last night Matt, Ryan, Ryley and I went to the Blazers game! We had great seats, and had a great time watching the Blazers win agains Minnesota!!!

Basketball Road trip!

On Wednesday, Matt loaded our bus with Ryan's basketball team and coaches and they headed to the Blazers game in Portland! What a great time they had!!!

The boys after watching the Blazers win!!!

Can't get any higher in the "nosebleed section". It isn't about where you sit, it is with whom, that makes the game worthwhile!!!

View from their seats of the packed stadium!!!

We hit the trails today!

Tori and Tyler had the day off from school today, so we hit the trails this afternoon! We can't wait for more blue sky days!!!

One down, 7 to go

The flu bug found Sarah today....that means 1 down, 7 to go................

Great day for a walk

The weather today was in the 60s, so Sarah and I decided to take a tour of the neighborhood. It has been a while since we walked the streets and trails, and Koda (our puppy) was thrilled to be going for a walk. Sarah put on her roller skates and we headed to the local trail.

We were looking for bunnies, but found squirrels and horses instead.

Sarah is roller skater extraordinaire

She was very excited to find the horses grazing in the pasture.

On our way back they came to greet us at the fence.