Memorial Weekend

It was a nice, mellow Memorial Day weekend for us...we did get a TON of yard and house work done though!  One morning I took Parker outside and let her crush up and play with a bunch of egg shells I had washed and cleaned up.  At first she didn't know what to think...

Then she got into it...and was stoked!!

 She had to run and tell Daddy what 

 she had just done!

One day we did go out to our favorite winery, Sweet Cheeks, for some live music, a picnic and yummy vino!

On the way home we stopped at our friend's house who has a bunch of horses and dogs.  Parker was in heaven!!  She did get a little upset when we wouldn't let her ride the "ponies" though.  Nothing a quick stint in the stables couldn't cure.

Just a random image for you...whenever someone send clothes or a package to Parker and it's sitting at the door when we get home, she FREAKS out with excitement!  This is her going through a box of clothes my mom had sent her.  She sits and organizes everything over and over again.  It's pretty funny!

PPP 2012

It's that time of the year again...the annual Pole, Pedal, Paddle Relay Race!  This year Aaron and Annie did it as a team again...and they WON their division!!  First place!  It was an awesome victory and a fantastic long weekend in Sunriver & Bend.

Annie is finding a spot for her bike (she's in blue).

 Parker waiting for the event to start! 

 Officially started!  That's Aaron (center, red & white)coming down the first leg of the race...the downhill ski.

 He quickly changes into his Nordic ski gear, with the help of Annie and he's off!

 Waiting for Aaron to come in off the Nordic ski, Parker realized she can't wait to try downhill skiing!

 Coming up the home stretch of the Nordic...he then tags off to Annie and she's off on the bike!

 We were driving down the mountain to meet at the next transition when I spotted the bright pink Annie!  I snapped this photo of her HAULING down the mountain!!

 Meanwhile, Parker caught a quick power nap...

I missed all photo opps as Annie took off on the run...doh!  But after the run, Annie tags off to Aaron to kayak.

Lastly, Aaron tags off to Annie who is off on the final leg of the race...the sprint to the finish line!

This was our entire crew at the finish line.  We had three teams...a girl's team, men's team and a pair's team.  Not to mention Team Cheer- the most important of them all!

 

Chile

My sister, Jaime, and I went on a week long trip-of-a-lifetime to Chile at the beginning of May.  She was awarded an all expenses paid trip for two, and she took me!  To say it was pronominal is an understatement.  And I'll try and not put all 432 pictures I took while we were there!

When I say "all expenses paid"...I mean it!  From breakfast, to dessert, to snacks, to excursions, to transportation and beyond.  

 The view from the top floor

 The first full day we went on a city tour and ended up at this amazing little village filled with great little shops and cafes.

 And in the middle of it all a band started playing rock classics like "Sweet Caroline"!

 The next day we went to Isla Negra and toured the home of Pablo Neruda, the famous poet.  The weather was perfect the entire trip for everything we did!

 This was the "snack" they provided

We then went to lunch in a little village called Pomaire, which is known for it's pottery.

Moving right along...the next day was spent touring two wineries!  One of them even had a horse track and we were treated to a little race between Starwood, Hilton and Marriott.  Who do you think won?  Starwood of course!

 Carmenere is the type of wine Chile is known for...such a yummy red!

 The grounds were beautiful...

 The jockeys!

The last night in Santiago we drove 2 hours away and went to a rodeo!  The grounds of this place were amazing...we also ate a fabulous dinner here and capped off the night with fireworks and a dance party!

 Our crew we hung out with the whole trip...great people!

 Oh ya- there were fire dancers as well!

Jaime and I spent the next two days on our own in the coastal town of Valparaiso.  It was the best way to end the trip- we had a spectacular time and met so many people on the walking tour we took!  We stayed in the cutest bed and breakfast...even splurged and sprung for the suite!

 The top of our B&B

 Our B&B

 Our walking group...and new friends