Girls' weekend

Brad's rock-climbing class has him tied up most weekends this spring. Instead of sitting around home by myself this time, I decided it was the perfect excuse for a girls' trip to my grandparents' beach house in Oceanside. Sickness and a death in the family kept two girlfriends home, but Sarah, Sarah, Irene (& Abram) and I still had a very relaxing weekend away. We watched a little TLC, read magazines, chatted, ate, walked, ran and watched "License to Wed" (very funny robot baby scene!).

Of course, we had to hit the Tillamook Cheese Factory on the way home.... cheese samples and ice cream!! Sarah V. enjoyed a double-scoop waffle cone for her first visit. YUM :)
A bat or two or three often hang out (HA!) on my grandparents' porch. We were lucky enough to see one of them this weekend. So cute!

Good friends are true blessings :)

Disney sign

Remain seated with your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the vehicle.

:)

Holiday hike

Steve, Brad, Tasha, Liz

Nesmith Point was the goal for Memorial Day 2008. It was a gray, cloudy, foggy, drizzly day (though not cold) on the Gorge trail near Warrendale, Ore. The air was so full of water that it felt like it was condensing right on our skin. Plus, it's a steep trek, so it was definitely coming from the inside, too!

Evidently, the trail hasn't had any maintenance this season because there were slides and trees down throughout the journey. It was passable but a bit tricky in spots. The guide book says it's usually snow-free by April. As you can tell from the photo, that's not the case this year. This snow is at about 3,000 feet (out of 3,810). The trail markers ended, and we decided that following random footprints in the snow was not the best idea. Plus, it was so fogged in that we wouldn't have seen a thing from the top anyway (the fog in the photo is not on the lens... that's actually how it looked up there!) So we turned around there, feeling sufficiently worked out.

-Liz :)

Indy 500

Today was the Indianapolis 500, and the Wood family gathered for all the action!

Three generations mesmerized by the race.

We ate and watched hours of racing fun, including Jim Nabors, cool wrecks, "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines," flaming ethanol, the yard of brick, victory milk and Danica Patrick almost pounding another driver in pit row!

What a nice Sunday :)

One week down

Well, I survived my first week as a working woman. I spent a lot of the time getting used to my new environment and duties... and training on the eSIS computer system.

I think I definitely made the right decision to accept the Tigard High position. I'm having fun and the kids and staff are great! And it's been exciting, too... there was a fight my first day right outside our classroom door. And I thought employment outside the news would be boring :)

-Liz

PS - Do you know how long it's been since I haven't had to work on a government holiday?? I can't remember the last time I had one off. Well, I'm off tomorrow for Memorial Day - WOOHOOO!!!!

Election Day

:)

More vacation highlights

On the way south, we spotted "Blue Moon" Odom in the Sacramento airport. He pitched for the Oakland A's when my dad was growing up in the Bay Area. Dad got an autograph and a photo with the three-time World Series winner.

We flew in Saturday and used our free evening to catch a Dodger game. The sunset looks a bit different from the nosebleed seats at Dodger Stadium vs. Seattle's Safeco Field.

Pamela Anderson threw out the first pitch. We NEVER thought we'd be in the same place as her!
For my 30th, mom (the ride wiener) rode Space Mountain. For Eryn's 30th, she gave Splash Mountain a try. There was no line, so we were on it before she even realized what was happening. By the way, she sorta liked it!
She's starting to realize what's going on :)
Wildlife at Disneyland... baby ducks and teenage ducks swimming in Rivers of America.
Mom is really good at Astro Blasters. I am not.

Free samples at the Mission Tortilla Factory.... maseca!
Dad and Eryn try out the "L" on a cold and drizzly day outside Disney's California Adventure.
Grizzly River Rapids... prepare to get SOAKED! I have never been more wet outside of a shower or swimming experience.
There was no line for the Maliboomer, so we rode again and again. Then we decided to keep riding for 10 times in a row. About 3 hours later, we were done! SOOO FUN! It's my favorite :)