Texas Trip

This past week my mom and I visited friends and family in Texas. We flew in to Dallas and stayed a few days with my Grandma and Grandpa Dyk (Dad's parents) and then met up with some friends in Houston a few days later. We encountered some unexpected bumps along the way, but had a great time nonetheless! Mom had a cold going into the trip and I caught a stomach bug while in Dallas (I think Mom and Grandma ended up washing every towel and piece of bedding in the house), but after all that passed, we were good to go. Getting home wasn't easy, however, as Mom and I spent a total of 13 hours in the Houston airport waiting to get on a flight home. We managed to make it though and are glad we went. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Dyk and the Swanson family for having us!

Having fun at the park with Grandma Dyk.



Grandma Dyk took us to the Dallas Arboretum and I had fun pulling and riding in the wagon we rented. Do you like the new conductor hat Grandma Dyk got for me? I sure did!



They had all sorts of storybook playhouses at the arboretum at the time, but my favorite was this one, based on The Lorax.



Even though Mom is not super excited about this photo, you can see she is starting to get a belly. Woo-hoo.



We met Mindy half-way between Houston and Dallas in a town called Buffalo, TX. There was a cute little bookstore/coffee shop there and we had a lot of fun looking around. Mom even got me two used books!



I miss you already, Grandma and Grandpa!



Mindy took us all to a park Hailey and Hunter like to go to. There was a lake and fountains and a really great play structure for us to play on while we ate our lunches. Here's a photo of Hailey and I taking a break from playing.



We also visited a park with water fountains and us kids had a blast getting all wet.





Hunter loved playing in the water, as you can see.



I did too.



Another day we went to a place called "Pump it Up" with blow-up play structures you can jump on. I loved the big slide. Here's a photo of Hunter and I getting ready to go down.





Hailey and Hunter's dad, Benjamin, offered to watch us kids while Mom, Mindy and a friend, Carrie, went to dinner and a movie. They had fun, but so did we. We had a pancake picnic out in the backyard and watched a Veggie Tales movie.



Here's a photo of Benjamin playing play-doh with us kids.



Mom told Mindy that if we came, she would have to make chinese food for us so she did. Here's a photo of the won tons Mom and Mindy folded up for dinner our last night in Houston.



Grandpa Ted (Mindy's dad) came for dinner that night. He changed his vacation plans and came a week earlier just to see Mom and me. What a nice guy, eh?



We decorated cookies that night too. Yum!



Thanks for a fun time, Mindy, Benjamin, Hailey and Hunter! Come visit us anytime!

Easter Fun

I've had some fun this week doing the usual Easter activities. You know, dying eggs, making cookies, etc. My favorite activity so far has been the Easter Egg hunt I got to do today. We went to the one at Blue Lake Park. I've included some photos from the week. Tonight we are having Mom's family over for an early Easter dinner. I love family get-togethers so that might top the Easter egg hunt. We'll see...

Happy Easter!





Putting the finishing touches on my Easter eggs...



I tried to eat the egg with the shell still on, but Mom finally convinced me it would be better if I took the shell off first.



Here's a photo of me in some Easter bunny ears we made at the hunt today



Getting ready for the hunt to start!



Nana was kind enough to hold my basket while I put my eggs inside.





I even met the Easter bunny.



The Easter bunny really wanted a hug, but I wasn't sure I wanted to get too close. Here's what he got.



What a fun day!

Sunny Spring Days in Portland

We've had a few really nice days with sun and warm temps so I've been out enjoying a few of our wonderful parks. Yesterday I went to a park in Gresham called the Donald L. Robertson Park with my buddy, Bodhi, and today I went to Willshire Park in Portland with Kate. Here are a few pics from our days out. Some of the pictures at Willshire Park turned out pretty bright due to the timing of the day so Mom decided to make them all b/w. Besides, sometimes it's fun to try something different. :)








Let's hope we get some more sun!

Yakima... The Palm Springs of Washington

I've seen a sign in Yakima that claims Yakima is the palm springs of Washington, but I am not sure what Palm Springs is like so I haven't decided what to think of that claim. This past weekend my fam and I went to Yakima to celebrate my great grandpa Northcott and Aunt Carrie's birthday. The first thing I did while there was check out this really awesome place called "Track 29." It's a mall with a wooden boardwalk facing the train station so theoretically you can watch trains go by (none came while we were there) as you walk and shop. The stores are unique in that they are made from old train cars. There is a restaurant where you get to sit and eat in a passenger car, but we had plans to go to the best Mexican restaurant EVER so we didn't visit the restaurant this time.

Here we are in front of the caboose which was made into a jewelry store. It was pretty windy so that is why I'm holding my hat.


I loved playing on the caboose!


Here you can see the backside of one of the stores. I thought it was pretty neat they were all made out of train cars. What a great idea!


The train station.


We also found an indoor mall with a fish tank I had fun looking at.


Then we headed to lunch at El Porton where the best Mexican food in town can be found. After that, we went to Grandpa and Grandma's new place. I was able to play with Jill, their dog, and had fun showing Mike, Carrie, and the grandparents all my favorite trains and some new cars I happened to bring along.


Uncle Mike and I just hanging out.


Taking a rest and enjoying a juice box with Aunt Carrie.


Being silly with Grandma.


With Grandpa and Grandma. The car I'm holding spins when you blow on the end of it, so that is what I'm doing in the photo.

I got pretty sleepy towards the end of the trip and fell asleep not long into the ride home.


On the way home Mom got a couple shots of the new windmills out near Goldendale and Biggs in the Kittitas Valley. They are really big up close!


Overall, it was a really fun trip and I'm glad we were able to be together to celebrate Aunt Carrie and Grandpa Northcott's birthday. Hope we get to go back again soon!