A Day & Night in Portland

With no big trip planned for Spring Break we still wanted to do a little something special, so after church on Sunday Chad & I surprised the kids by driving to Portland for an early dinner at Cheesecake Factory. We then did a little shopping, letting the kids have $12 and pick one store each at Washington Square; Lego store for Willem, Claires for Elle and Game Stop for Cade. Then it was off to the Embassy Suites (the nicest hotel EVER according to our kids!) for swimming and then a movie in the room. The next morning we slept in till 9:00 (Genevieve did great sleeping next to me), had a big breakfast, swam and then went to the Children's Museum (we let the kids pick between the Zoo, Children's Museum or the Pittock Mansion). Willem loved the Dig Pit, Gabrielle enjoyed The Garage where she nailed together and decorated a little house and Cade liked the clay. After three hours at the museum we stopped at a soccer shop, had a yummy late lunch (muffins only for me!) at Paradise Bakery and then spent an hour at the Woodburn Factory Stores before heading home (mom and dad wanted a little shopping for ourselves too!). It was a very nice getaway; today Cade & Elle started a three day soccer camp (9:00-noon). And we have lazer tag, mini-golf & Splash Wave Pool to look forward to later in the week. So, even though we are not going far away for the break, the kids said it is going to be the best one ever :-)!

Dinner at Cheesecake Factory...YUM!

At the Children's Museum

Willem & Chad in the hotel room looking through the Lego catalog

Chadder & his Nev

The kids loved swimming at the hotel...

Genevieve was great and slept a lot!

Back home vegging out!