EXPLORING CALIFORNIA || REDWOOD FOREST

I took an unintentional blog break recently. Sorry guys. It's just that my family was coming into town for a weekend + I was busy getting my home in order. Then they arrived + I was doing my best to take them to different places in + around Portland. We had a great time enjoying eats around the city. We dined at St. Honoré Boulangerie with ice cream to follow next door at Salt + Straw. (My daughter + I enjoyed a meal followed by dessert at these two locations the week before, so I knew they would be winners.) The next day was St. Patrick's Day, which also happens to be my Little Sister's birthday. We started off the day at Wings + Waves Waterpark (I might have snuck in a few delicious cupcakes from New Seasons) then eventually we made our way to the movie theater to see Beauty + The Beast on opening night. We finished off the evening with a late night meal at Industry in Tualatin. Nothing but great things to say about all of the fun places we visited + dined.

Saturday morning rolled around + we hit the road for a family roadtrip into California to see the Redwoods. Mostly, we traveled down The 101 + it pretty much took us eight hours to get to Crescent City, California but there were some awesome views of the Pacific Ocean along the way, despite the rain + clouds. Unfortunately, the restaurants we ate at along the way were not so pleasant. (I'm looking at you Fisherman's Grotto + The Good Harvest Cafe.) Seriously, Crescent City redeemed itself when we ate at Denny's on Sunday morning. I kid you not. Maybe sometimes it's best to just stick with what you know will be good.

A short 5-mile drive later + we arrived at the Nickerson Ranch Trailhead in the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. We took our time walking along the short route, taking in the sights + sounds (Mostly the sounds were made by our crew... i.e. Daddy whacking a stick on a cross bridge + children being children.) Just for a little height reference, my father is 6'2". The fallen redwood they are standing in front of has a trunk base that is over twice my father's height. Some are reported to have bases over 20-feet in diameter. WOW!

Visiting the Redwood Forest has been on my father's bucket list for quite some time now. It made my heart happy to be able to share this experience with him + the rest of my family. I would certainly encourage you to add a trip to the Redwoods to your bucket list as well. They are over 2,000 years old! And they're ginormous, some over 350 feet tall.

We moved along + started making our way back toward home. This was my last chance to squeeze a little more Oregon in on the last night of their trip. And what's more Oregon than Voodoo Doughnuts? Truth is, in the combined six years of our time spent living in the Portland Metro Area, I had never eaten at Voodoo Doughnuts. I had only attempted to once before + the line was just too long for me to wait with my then two-year-old son. Turns out, there was a shop in Downtown Eugene, not too far off of I-5. We stopped in + helped ourselves. (Maybe it's just me, but I like Blue Star Donuts better. #SorryNotSorry

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Two Years Old

 Delta Mae, you are TWO! And bless your heart, you are sick on your birthday this year. You started off your birthday waking up next to me, which doesn't happen too often. You are really good about sleeping in your own bed, but sickness calls for extra snuggles. You've napped three times already today, which also doesn't happen too often. You usually have just one nap a day, although you've gone all day with out napping a handful of times. You just don't feel good.

This morning, we gave you a little happy, an Anna cup and Frozen stickers. You approved. You'll get more than you need at your birthday party. 

You also received a phone call from the Bubble Guppies where they wished you a Happy Birthday!

We haven't left the house all day, nor have you eaten a thing all day. I had intended on making you cupcakes, but with your upset tummy in mind, I don't think that's the best thing for you.

Aside from mentioning how sick you are today, I also want to take the time to mention other important things about you that I will certainly forget later in life. Probably next month! So here goes. Your nickname remains the same, Honey Chicken. Although, we do shorten it just Chicken a lot. You are a BIG talker these days. You usually make an attempt to say the things we ask you too, but you can hold a conversation with us all on your own. We say you sound like Sean Connery when you speak because you like to add -sh, -ch, or -s to the end of many to your words. Here are some of the things you say a lot.

"Moosh, Bruh-Bruh!" 

- Wyatt is usually blocking your view of the tv when you say this.

"Whach dats means" 

- You have moved past asking "what's that."

"Wipes nosh mines" 

- You get a runny nose often and don't like it on your face.

"Yesh man" 

- Yes, ma'am. We are Southern after all.

"Peech" 

- When you say please, you usually squeeze your belly with both hands real tight.

"I have no idea" 

- You stress the first syllable of the word idea, rather than the second. It's adorable.

"I dit dit." 

- I'll get it 

"Awe, man"

- When you don't get your way.

When we ask you who you love, you name everyone in the room, as long as you know their name.

You love to watch Disney's Frozen. You ask to watch it by saying, "Yet it go." The only Disney Princess you identify by name is Princess Anna. Every other one you call "Prin-Presh" 

You also watch Disney Junior and love it when Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on. You call both Mickey and Minnie "Me Moush."

And also, Bubble Guppies. They are a nighttime favorite.

When you get ready to race, you say, "two, two, go!"

Food Preferences:

"Milch"

You drink lots of milk.

"Dog dogs"

Hot Dogs with lots of ketchup

Sausage Links

Scrambled Eggs and Grits with cheese

Fruit

The center of Oreos

Gummies

"Pom Pom"

Popcorn

Much unlike your brother, you love Coke, Root Beer, Juices, etc. You want whatever I'm drinking.

Your Two Year Well Visit is scheduled for next week so I weighed and measured your height at home. 

You are 28 pounds and 34.75 inches tall.

We love you, sweet girl! Happy Birthday to you!

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