Parents Visit Recap

My parents left yesterday - bound for California, Zion National Park, Vegas, Denver, etc. They plan to get back to Pennsylvania on Friday. We had a great trip. Lots of chatting and catching up, mainly over plants or while sitting outside. Some of my highlights include:

Their arrival & hats
Friday. It was great to see them pull up. My mom soon pulled out three very sweet hats that she knitted herself. One yellow, one yellow/white stripes, one white. They are in increasing sizes -- the largest fit me, the smallest fits a newborn. Very sweet.

Maternity shopping
Saturday. My mom took me to do one of the things I hate the most. But we had fun. We went to a very sweet little resale shop on 26th & Clinton called Piccolina. They have maternity & baby clothes. It made shopping so much less scary.

Indian Night
The joys of many containers of Indian food and the family all around the table enjoying it.

The Big Reveal
On Monday morning, we found out we're having a girl. My folks were on their way to Seattle, Vancouver Island and Vancouver BC. When they found out it was a girl, they stopped at the Space Needle in Seattle and toasted with champagne. They sent me the following picture. The joys of being new grandparents-to-be:


Mask Night
Thursday. My folks came to our dodgeball game after spending the day in wine country. Our team had made luchador masks for the evening from our team t-shirts. (If anyone wants the pattern, I can get it for you from my friend. It took our entire team 5 hours to make them one night using two sewing machines and lots of beer). Anyway, it was great having my folks there to see us all. (Note: Ken's in black, I'm #3 under the flag)


Work Visit, New Clothes & Plant Night
My folks took a ride on the new Portland Aerial Tram and visited me at work. They said I was blushing as I showed them my office, etc. After they left, they stopped by Piccolina on the way home (my mom was dying to go back since she found out it was going to be a girl). When I got home, she had purchased several very sweet outfits in varying sizes (onesie, a blanket/sleeping bag-zipper thing that I would like to wear for cold nights, a couple of sweet outfits and an adorable pair of shoes that are probably my favorite of the bunch). Everything is so little. After the "fashion show", my mom and I went around the yard and dug up lots of "friends" for her to take home to her yard. I think she has 20 gallons of perennials in the back of the car. Now we'll be able to look at the same plants when we look out of our windows.

Golf Day
My mom, dad, brother, Ken and I went to Edgefield to play 20 holes of golf on Saturday (par 3 course with lots of beer). It was a beautiful day. We got to relax while mom and Ken competed against each other to be the first to get par. Mom was the first, though Ken is quick to point out he was the first to get birdie (albeit after Mom's par). I almost got a hole-in-one which would have allowed me to have chickens (per Ken's and my standard bet). As a result, Ken almost had a heart attack on the course.

Mother's Day
Brunch of dutch babies and bacon. More plant "friends" for my mom. Watched Ken's kickball game. My folks packed for their next day departure. Then we grilled out and had homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert. A simple, but delicious mother's day.

Departure Day
Not really a highlight, but they're happy to be heading back to their house with lots of wine and "friends". They'll be back for 2 weeks in October, just after the baby is born. Due date is Oct 4th, they're arriving on the 8th. I can't believe that we'll have a kid in less than five months.