Happy Forth of Julie!

So this past Friday my Aunt Julie, her daughter Holli and my Grandma flew into the Portland airport for a visit. When I finished work for the day Bryan and I jumped into the car and met them at the Hilton in downtown Portland. (Above is the view from our room. We were on the 22nd floor!) A few hours later my mom and Uncle Jeff joined us for dinner at Pastini's. While we played catch up Julie and Holli caught up on their zzz's. (Party poopers!) The next day we headed to the book store Powell's. I picked up some good reads. An Adriana Trigiani pick, No Country For Old Men, a biography on Cleopatra and a F. Scott Fitzegerald book that I haven't read yet.

I like this picture because I caught them in there element and it makes me laugh.

Saturday after we made the drive to Bend we had a barbecue for Julie's birthday. It was really fun, except for we didn't see the fireworks that they shoot off the top off Pilot Butte. I think Bryan and I were the only ones disappointed by that though. Sunday Bryan and I took them to McMenamins for breakfast then over to Drake Park and showed them the shops downtown. That afternoon we explored the quaint town of Sisters. It was really funny because there were lesbian couples everywhere and Grandma Holman was stunned! She kept asking me why they were holding hands. I had a good laugh. That evening we drove to the top of Pilot Butte so they could see the 360 degree view of Bend. Mom and Jeff left Monday afternoon. Before they left my mom got she and I a print by Gustave Baumann. He's an artist that she first discovered in Sante Fe, New Mexico. I can't wait to frame it. The print she got me is titled ASPEN - RED RIVER if anyone wants to google him. He's a very unique and talented artist. Anywho, I was disappointed to see them go. It was a real treat to have everyone here because I haven't seen any of them since last September.

Later that afternoon Julie, Holli, Grandma and I visited Tumalo Falls and did a little hiking. That night Bryan barbecued the best pork chops I've ever had. Honestly it was delicious! Unfortunatly Tuesday I returned to work and just spent the night unwinding with them while they prepared for a Wednesday full of traveling back to Utah County. They have returned home now and it's very bittersweet. The house is so quiet as it always is after good company leaves and I'm getting back into the swing of day to day life. I'm so happy that my family came to visit me and it was funner than I had anticipated it to be which is always a sweet treat.