Oregon!

As soon as I was made the official photographer for my cousin's wedding in Portland, I knew I needed to make a little weekend of it. First of all our good friends Max and Rebecca live there, and also my parents were going to be there for the wedding as well, and also- the ocean is too close not to go see! Sadly we couldn't afford to fly June and Hazel with us but Rose is free (and breast fed) so she got to come along on the adventure! 

First flight for Rose!

Before my cousin and his wife came out of the temple, there was another bride who came out and her veil was so long that it took about five minutes for someone to pull the whole thing out of the doors. Here's Rebecca, who was my second shooter, standing in front of what was only the first half of the veil. 

It was a warm day for Oregon and the photos went well!

In between the ceremony and reception I went to the rose gardens but none of them had bloomed yet, but there were these amazing bushes, so there's that.

And that evening was the reception which was beautiful and fun.

Also, something worth documenting, after all these years, is how after Buck takes a photo of me he then continues to take a million more as I'm telling him to stop and coming at the camera. I could make a whole book of these photos but here is one such instance:

 

A fun photo Buck took of my parents at the end of the night. 

So Max and Rebecca have three boys all about the same age as our three girls. And somehow we've managed to visit each other when each kid was a baby and get a photo with them together! Here's what Rebecca put together:

June & Charlie

Miles and Hazel

Rose and Edwin

And anyway, Max and Rebecca decided to take their two older boys to grandma's house for a couple nights so that we could have a double date plus babies. 

So the morning after the wedding we took a slow morning hanging out.

And then drove towards the ocean!

We stopped at the Tillamook cheese factory but apparently so did everyone else in America so we bought some cheese and got out of there!

Every time I'm nearing the ocean, but before I've set eyes on it, my stomach gets butterflies and I can't wait to see it! I think I'm truly in love with the ocean. (So why don't I marry it?) 

I am a lot like my mother, who also loves the ocean. My mom and dad also came to the coast with us.

Rose's first time at the sea! A little chilly but she liked the calming waves- who doesn't?

Max and Rebecca

That evening we made a bon fire on the beach. It was a nice relaxing night just hanging out with adults, talking, and making s'mores.

My mom is so helpful.

Distant neighboring bon fires aglow.

And for those wondering, my kind father volunteered to stay in the room while Rose slept. Thanks dad!

The next morning we wandered a bit.

And then I was attacked

"Proming" it

And then we went to the kite festival!

It was pretty impressive and their were all these professional kite flyers there that are in a kite association- who knew? 

And my always-prepared mother brought a bunch of fun kites for us to all fly as well.

Marriage.

The men folk were all about trying to master that trick kite.

After we were cold enough we went to a nearby diner for lunch

And my dad told us all about the geysers of Yellowstone. 

Then we explored the little town and shopped a bit.

And I got to sit on a saddled corn dog....

Then we all parted ways to take different paths home. On the way Buck and I got some local cherries and it was the best.

It was so calm on that drive back to Portland. I never seem to run out of things to talk about with Buck.

Portland was much warmer than the coast. We had some time to wait before Max and Rebecca made it back (they were picking up their older boys) so Buck, Rose, and I ended up at the Rhododendron  gardens. It was super peaceful and a most lovely evening.

She loved touching all the leaves

What to take pictures of when I don't have June and Hazel? I guess some attempted yoga in tight jeans then?

These next photos melt my heart. Buck in his element.

Lastly we decided to head down town to get some famous Voodoo doughnuts.

Which meant waiting in line for half an hour next to this sparkly wall!

But we finally made it!

There was also a photobooth there with a donut backdrop so we HAD to do that too.

We got to end our night hanging out late with Max and Rebecca. The next morning we flew home. Rose was a dream baby, no surprise there.

It was a great little weekend but we did miss June and Hazel a lot- we kept thinking of them and all the things they would have loved. Sometimes trips are taken to get away but this one I really wished they could have gone but we just couldn't afford it. On the other hand, it was also refreshing to spend some one on one time with Rose like that. We're much calmer parents now with one baby than we were back when June was the only one we had. ;) 

We did get the girls some little souvenirs that sparked learning all about sand dollars and putting the star fish in a cup of water to "bring it back to life." It was a good welcome home.

Congratulations to my cousin and his new wife! 

Thanks for hanging out with us mom and dad! 

And we'll see you soon in Utah, Max and Rebecca! ;)