Oregon Family Visit

I'm a little late in posting this, but wanted to share some photos of our trip to Oregon last month. Nicholas and I flew solo back to Portland so he could meet all four of his great grandparents. We flew Southwest to avoid any baggage charges (which was key since it looked like I was moving home instead of visiting for a week), but unfortunately there have never been any direct flights between Austin and Portland.* As a result, I was torn between booking a two-segment flight with a several hour layover or a three-segment flight with essentially no layovers because we just touched down briefly to pick up more passengers. I ended up going with the three-segment flight... I know, I know. But the overall travel time was shorter, so I figured it was the lesser of two evils. And Nicholas actually did great. I came armed with multiple bottles and a pacifier to help pop his ears with all the take-offs and landings, but he was barely fazed by all of the altitude changes. By the time we hit Boise (the third leg), he was pretty fussy, but fortunately it was only a quick 45 minute flight to Portland from there. We managed to eek out the 7 hour flight(s) with no major screaming fits.

My mom's garden... gorgeous

After relaxing at my parents' house for an evening, we packed up the next morning and hit the road for the 5 hour drive down to Coos Bay, a small town on the southern Oregon coast where my mom's parents live. Because I moved away for college and haven't since lived in Oregon as an adult, this was my first trip back to Coos Bay since my senior year in high school. (I've seen my grandparents every year, but it's always been in Portland during the summer or over the holidays.) The drive was more scenic than I remember it, but I'm sure it didn't hurt that it was mid-May and all the rhododendrons and azaleas were in full bloom. And coming from Texas, everything in Oregon just seems so lush and green.

My grandparents were thrilled to meet their first great grandchild.** We spent the evening relaxing at their house, and then the next day we got up and met some old family friends for lunch at a little seafood restaurant on a small inlet of Coos Bay.

The weather was gorgeous. Later we took a scenic drive up to Sunset Beach and Nicholas dipped his toes in the Pacific for the first time.

A balmy May evening on Cottonwood

The next day, we hit the road back to Portland. Back home, my mom arranged a family dinner, and Nicholas met Uncle Geoff, Aunt Brooke, and Uncle Mike for the first time. 

Uncle Geoff, Aunt Brooke (with Nicholas), Aunt Laura, and Uncle Mike

Uncle Geoff and Aunt Brooke made sure that Nicholas will be well outfitted for football season.

Go Ducks!

Later in the week, we visited my dad's parents in Portland. Nicholas is the first great grandchild on this side of the family as well, and they were excited to spend the afternoon with him.

He also met great uncle Scott and aunt Mary, great aunt Ann, and cousin Grace, but unfortunately I didn't get pictures with them.

Grandpa and Nicholas

On the way back to Austin, we had  a two-leg flight, with an hour and a half layover in Las Vegas. The total travel time was a little longer, but after comparing both options I think fewer flights is better just because he was able to stretch out and move around a little on a blanket on the floor in the Vegas airport during the layover (yes, we thoroughly scrubbed everything once we got home.) The travel each way was long and exhausting, but it was so worth it to get a chance to introduce Nicholas to his great grandparents and so many other relatives-- and now I know that when Jason and I travel back to the Northwest together in a month, it will be a piece of cake by comparison.

*Southwest just started up a non-stop flight between Portland and Austin, and after nearly three years of 7 hour travel days to get home, I could not be more excited.
**Just barely! Nicholas can't wait to meet his second cousin Blaine, who arrived earlier this month.