City of Roses & The Graduation Celebrations

We took a big trip out West to see family from both sides. The next several blog posts will document all the fun!

Our first adventure was to Portland, which is apparently known as the City of Roses. We went there to see my sister, Desha, graduate with a doctorate degree in Naturopathic Medicine (ND).

The boys were way excited about the airport and planes! We were a little surprised that Tanner had completely forgotten about all the plane rides he's been on before. But then we realized his last airplane ride was over 18 months ago, so we couldn't blame him. We worked hard to keep the boys entertained on the plane, which was NOT easy. Luckily, I was inspired to bring playdough.

Anytime that Dallin was frustrated, he would give out a blood curdling scream (also a typical behavior at home). It was very embarrassing, especially when people gave mean looks or swore about how loud he was. That plane torture--I mean adventure--was enough motivation for us to start flicking Dallin in the mouth every time he screamed, and his bad habit was gone before our return flight home, whew!

"We're in the clouds, Mama!!"

Our first day in Portland was a Friday. Our main goal was to find out if the TV show Portlandia accurately portrays the city. We found that the show does not exaggerate at all and we're almost positive that we drove by several stores/restaurants/houses that looked identical to scenes in the show.

Tanner had to push the stroller the whole time.

Here is my attempt to look like a local, skinny jeans and hippie headband. I'm brand new to skinny jeans, but I'm starting to kind of like them, but only kind of. 

The Rose Garden was really beautiful!

Can you find Tanner with Dada and Grandpa Papa?

I don't think they were as thrilled with the rose garden as me and Grandma Nana were!

The Gala for the graduates was Friday night. I was very pleased with how my hair turned out (many thanks to my friend, Merilee, back home)!

The Gala was awesome! Desha planned and directed the whole thing. And she was voted to speak at the event, too.

She totally rocked at her speech!

Tanner loved the live band and even had a special 40 minute visit with the lead singer during the speeches. When they played dancing music, Tanner was so excited to dance!!

 

Tanner made a few girlfriends at the dance, too.

We brought some desserts home. Dallin found them in the fridge!

The next morning was professional family pictures. Tanner was a perfect little photo subject. Dallin did really well, too. Here's a sneak peak at what we did. I can't wait to post more soon.

After the photo shoot, we had lunch from an Asian/Mexican fusion food truck. Grandpa Papa warned us, "Don't take too long since me and Uncle Lyman are saving you seats for the grad ceremony. Please don't be late!!" 

Well, we ended up being late. REALLY late. Jeremy was driving and accidentally hit the curb really hard while making a right turn. We think it knocked the tire out of it's socket because after eating, that tire was flatter than our tortillas from lunch. 

 

Jeremy was on the phone with service people for over an hour trying to get help finding the spare tire (it was under the middle seat inside the car!?). He attempted to change the tire himself, but to no avail since the car kept sliding off the jack due to being on a hill. Tanya called a taxi, but they didn't come. The rental service kept telling us they were just a few minutes away, but they never showed up either. Finally, at 2:00 the graduation ceremony began without us. At 2:10, Tanya and I decided to hold the car in place so that Jeremy could make one last attempt to lift the car up on the jack without it slipping down the hill. We pushed on the trunk with all our might, digging our elbows into our sides and yelling, "This is for Desha!" 

Two pedestrians quickly came to our aid, and though we could feel the car rolling into us, we kept it in place long enough for Jeremy to safely change the tire (in his dress pants that were now smothered in dirt and grease). We jumped in the car and sped to the ceremony just in time to hear the third of many more speakers. Maybe those student speakers went 25 minutes over time cuz they got the message that we were late? See, they weren't being rude to the other speakers, they just knew we were not there yet! 

Tanner was so calm during the ceremony (that playdough came in handy again!). Dallin slept through most of the event in my bjorn. Desha looked so smart and beautiful walking across the stage with her capes and medallion. When the graduates names were read, each PhD student did something unique. Desha was the only person that curtsied, and it was a very graceful one at that! Do you like how we showered Desha with flowers?! That was another mission Tanya and I accomplished during the flat tire episode.

The boys didn't want a grad picture with their Auntie. Punks.

We went to a beautiful Portlandia restaurant for dinner to celebrate some more. Desha had a little surprise for Tanner since it was his actual birthday. It was a little gluten free cake ball with a candle!!

About a month earlier, Tanner kept saying that his birthday was "on college." I was pretty confused by that. Then, I figured out that he was trying to repeat back to me what I had told him. He knew that Desha was graduating from college on his birthday!

We are so happy for Desha's accomplishments in her career, and we wish her well with her doctor job in Haiti! We had a fun little toast in the hotel room later that night. In my toast to her, I told stories of how Desha has always been fascinated with the human body and with taking care of people. She has a gift for healing others. And although some of her theories seem a little crazy, I admire her convictions and especially her willingness and eagerness to care for anyone. 

Love you, Desha! So proud to call you my sister.