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

Tilly Jane 2012

The weekend Aaron's Dad, Al, was in town happen to be the same weekend as our annual backbacking trip up Mt. Hood to the Tilly Jane cabin!  Our good friend Mike gets the cabin reserved and then it's just the task of either skiing or snowshoeing in.  I decided that Parker and I would sit out this year (and a good thing since she got so sick!) and just have it be a boys trip.  Our good college friend Brian flew in from Minneapolis for the weekend to join in.  From the pictures and the stories I heard, it sounds like they all had a blast!

Once they reached the cabin they dumped their backpacks and went off skiing.  Here's Brian and Mike enjoying something out of a flask, my guess is whiskey!

 Aaron and Mike at the top!

Mike, Aaron and Al

Cruising back down to the cabin

I know from experience that Mike is the best cook on a backpacking adventure!

Sounds like they cruised down after a couple nights up on the mountin and took time out to check out the scenery.  There was a fire up on Mt. Hood a couple years ago...a section of the forest is singed.

Easter!...sort of

The Thursday before Easter weekend Aaron flew to Arizona to meet his dad and pick up our new ride....my parent's mini-van!  Yep- you got it.  We are the proud new owners of a mini-v!  I never thought I'd say those words.  BUT, that road trip will be the next post!  So Parker and I knew we'd be home alone Easter weekend and we had the entire time planned out.  Three egg hunts, parties to attend, bbq's....but then good ol sickness took over.  LONG story short, Parker got super sick with Hand, Foot, Mouth virus aka hell.  It was horrible, to say the least.  So all our plans were thrown out the window and we did not leave the house for days.  Lucky for me- and Parker- my awesome neighbor called me on Easter morning to check in on us and let me know that the Easter bunny had dropped a little something off for Parker at the front door (I was planning on getting her a basket that weekend, which didn't happen).  It was such a great little pick-me-up for her!  She was stoked!!

 She took every egg out, one by one, and lined them up first.

 Then she found the balloons, then the stickers, then...the chocolate!

 The aftermath of a chocolate induced high on an empty stomach...she took off running!

 Chocolate face...

Edgefield McMenamins

Last weekend we drove up to Troutdale, OR which is just little East of Portland, for a wedding.  The wedding was held at a McMenamins property called Edgefield.  McMenamins hotels are AMAZING!  There are quite a few all over Oregon, they are all either old schools, churches or in this case is was an old poor farm from 1911.  I could go on and on about the golf course, all the little bars tucked in here and there, the amazing soaking pool...but you'll have to look it up yourselves!

 We checked in early so we could have time before the wedding to enjoy the awesome 102 degree pool!

 Parker was in heaven!

 I was obsessed with the back of her dress!

 Happy hour!  In between the wedding and the reception...

 Parker's little friend Starra was in attendance as well.

Parker and the bride Emily

Parker was exhausted on the drive home after a fun weekend!