The Journey Continues

Reminiscing in Portland OregonThis was the first apartment that we lived in when we moved to N. W. 23rd.

When we arrived in Portland the number one thing to do was go to our favorite Thai Restaurant, Miso Happy. The food was excellent. It was just as we had remembered it being like.

Charlie got Miso noodles and chicken. He loved the food and had to use chop sticksHe has this method down

Oh Saturday Market, one of my most favorite places to go in Portland! The Saturday Market is located under the Burnside bridge next to the Willamette River. It is the longest running outdoor market in the nation. I wish I could have done my Christmas shopping here, there are the most unique items and made by the various vendors.

Here we are waiting for MAX. Steven was great, he helped me with Charlie so I could look. He is going to be the best daddy. Of course on this trip he was asked all the time about his little boy.

Burnside Bridge and the Willamette River

Charlie sporting the tie dye shirt that Grandma and Grandpa Boulter sent him. He fit right in and looked like a local!

This tram is state of the art and was recently completed. It takes you to OHSU.

A view of Portland from the Tram

That is the docking station for the Tram and in the background is part OHSU campus
Made it safely to the top!
My Uncle Frank owns a very amazing Stake House called the Stetson. It is in Pendleton Oregon where the famous Pendleton Round Up is held in September. Want a real cowboy experience go to that and then come have a delicious stake at the Stetson.
This is my cousin Jeff Perkins, Frank's son and my Grandpa. I have not seen Jeff for a long time; it was wonderful to visit. I am so lucky to be sitting next to two very handsome men!
I guess I would look that excited to if I got a big plate of fresh crab out of the shell! Sorry Jeff, it is just a fun picture of you! I am not sure what you were doing here when I got the picture.
Here is Charlie enjoying croutons, not salad. Thank you so much Uncle Frank for the wonderful meal it was so nice of you to invite us. I love your new beautiful home. So fancy!!!

The other evening I had an entry complete and ready to post when all of a sudden the computer crashed on me. No I did not save it! I guess I will learn to save the document I am working on so that does not happen. Any how I was frustrated with the computer and have not wanted to blog.
With that being said here I go again...the second attempt to share the pictures of Portland Oregon. A little back ground history concerning Portland. When I was a Sophomore in high school, Mom got accepted into the masters program at OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University) So we left the small country town of Baker city Oregon and moved to down town Portland. It was an incredible experience, one that I am so glad we had the opportunity to have. I am country girl at heart, yet I do great in the city.

We moved to a very eclectic and neat part of Portland called N.W. 23rd. Steven and I used public transportation to get to Lincoln High School which is closer to down town Portland. We adapted and fell in love with our Portland.
So you can imagine our excitement to be returning for a visit to a place we had called home for three years. Especially after being gone for ten years. We have vowed to not let that much time elapse between visits.

The Journey Continues

Columbia Gorge

The gardens at Bonneville took my breath away. Oh how I miss the weather; all the rain makes everything so green!

I thought this was so neat, an American Flag in flowers!

Fish Hatchery at Bonneville

This is a turbine, it is what moves the water causing energy to then be turned into electricity. This is why they have fish ladders, that way the fish are protected as they migrate and do not get turned into ...well you get the picture!

This is not Hermon; must be a distant cousin of his. Hermon is a 90 year old Sturgeon that is 10 feet long! Hey Mom pucker up butter cup!

Mom, Steven, and Charlie in front of the hotel we stayed at.

Steven and the Bridge of the Gods on the Columbia River.

Barge and Tug Boat

I love this picture because it looks like the fish just told a funny joke and Charlie is laughing! Actually this fish kept swimming back and forth trying to figure out what Charlie was!

Fish ladders. There were Shanock Salmon running. Meaning this is the time they migrate to the Ocean, it was fun to see all these huge fish. Out of 5 million eggs a salmon lays only two will ever make it to adult hood. The lesson, eat Salmon that are farm raised, please!

A look into the fish ladder

So I have just a few more things to share about Oregon. We love driving through the Columbia Gorge, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. This time however we decided to stay in Cascade Locks; a town that is right in the heart of the Gorge. It is also next to the beautiful Columbia River. In fact the hotel we stayed at, overlooked the river, only a few yards away. Charlie loved watching the barges being pushed by tug boats, slowly making their way up or down the river.

We went to the Bonneville Dam so we could see the fish ladders and the 90 year old Sturgeon, Herman. I remember when I was a small girl going to see these places and it is always fun to take your own child. It was a very enjoyable day and it even rained! I miss the soft refreshing rain storms of the west side of Oregon. It almost felt like we were on the Oregon Coast. That will for sure be another vacation destination; the Coast!

American Fork Canyon

Lake Side Picnic

All though it looks like Charlie is screaming and trying to escape...Daddy was actually tickling him so he would smile for the picture. This is what I captured instead.
Vanna White showing you the mountains
This is such an adorable picture of my sweetheart, I had to add it. He is next to the spill way one of Charlie's favorite things to watch that evening.


The world always looks funny upside down!



On our way home we stopped and drove around the Timpanogos Temple. It was so beautiful with the lights I had to take pictures.

Yesterday evening we went as a family to American Fork Canyon and had a lovely picnic on the beach of a little mountain lake. It was very busy and I think it is because school starts tomorrow, so people were getting their last little who raw in before school begins. Even though it was busy we had a great time, and laughed over everything. Especially when I tried to eat a mosquito on accident, funny little story!
On Sundays there is nothing more I like to do than go on a picnic in the mountains after church. Especially when the only time this is feasible is in the summer and fall months. I want Charlie to grow up appreciating the beauties of the outdoors and wanting to spend time outside. I love being together as a family and enjoying the blessings our Father in Heaven has so lovingly given us!

Hot springs

Soaking Up History

When the family purchased the property in 2004 it was in bad shape. The roof had caved in and there was a bunch of structural damage. It has been a slow and rewarding process to restore the building.

The attendant getting our soaking tubes prepared in the private bungalow

Charlie and I went to the outdoor pool because the water was 98 degrees Fahrenheit. These tubes were 108, too hot for a baby for sure!

Nice farmers tan Steven!

In the early eighteen hundreds Hot Lake Springs was established by white men. Prior to that many Native American tribes resided there because it was referred to as a Holy Ground. At Hot Lake Springs there is a natural hot springs that releases 2.5 million gallons of a water a day. The mineral springs averages 208 degrees Fahrenheit. The "hotel" was not built until 1906. Over the years this place has served many purposes. The most interesting is that is was a hospital at one time that was renowned for treating and curing arthritis, tuberculosis, and syphilis. It has a reputation of being hunted. Patients who passed away at the hospital. Syphilis in advanced stages can cause a person to be very mentally ill ("crazy"). Kind of a interesting place.
My Sister and her best friend Katie explored the place before it was purchased and being restored. They said it was very creepy. They found an old exam room with a surgical table and all these hospital records spreed all over the floor. My sister said the feeling there was not good, so they left. All I have to say is they were brave to have gone there in the first place.
Anyhow now a family has purchased the place and they are restoring it. You can actually spend the night because they have hotel rooms.....I think I would be frightened staying in what was once a hospital room. My Mom thought it would be neat to reserve soaking tubs and go soak in the famous Hot Springs water! It was very fun and no lie I felt very good after soaking. It was like taking part in a historical adventure.

Happy Aniversary Honey!

An Eternity of Happiness

Robert purposed to me at the Getty Art Center in Las Angeles California May 1st 2004. It was so romantic being purposed to in the beautiful gardens at Getty.

This is the picture Robert wanted for our wedding announcements.

Three peas in a pod
Ring Ceremony
Yummy wedding cake....... I think, that was the only taste I had. A day after the reception in Utah we packed my stuff up and went to California to live.
Mother and Son Father and Daughter

Four years ago, Robert and I were married in the beautiful Las Angeles Temple on August 14th 2004. I am so blessed to have married my sweetheart. I can not imagine life with out him. I love him dearly and am so glad he is the love of my life and my best friend. We have shared four wonderful years together. I want to thank him with all my heart for being there always. He has been my confidant and shoulder to cry on during the passing of my sweet sister. He is so supportive and understanding. What an incredible example of one that is patient, compassionate, thoughtful, and extremely romantic!
I love you so extremely much my darling and look forward to the life we will share here and through out the eternities. Happy Anniversary Honey!