The Brighton Happy Home Visits Portland

Jerel's sister Karee and her husband Dave brought their family to visit in September. Dave is a big BYU Football fan and they came up to go to the BYU vs. UW game in Seattle. It was such a fun visit!

We went to the Tillamook Cheese factory out on the Oregon Coast and watched them making cheese and then had a nice lunch (complete with Tillamook Ice Cream for dessert) before heading back home. I think by the end of the trip Isaac could tell you that cheese was made from milk and milk came from cows, but mostly they just had fun watching the cheese go along the conveyor belts and such.

We planned on visiting the Portland Children's Museum but it was closed that week for maintenance or something so instead we went to a children's museum down in Salem. Ellie's favorite was the bubble room where you could make really huge bubbles, or you could just use the bubble wands to get bubbles all over yourself and end up a sticky happy girl. She chose the latter. Isaac and Uncle Jerel went in the inventor's room and used recycled materials (aka trash) to build a rocket ship. Isaac is a big fan of rockets and now we can say Jerel is a rocket scientist.

Friday morning Isaac and Ellie came to my work (Oregon Gymnastics Academy) for gymnastics classes. Isaac wanted to be a big boy and go to two classes so he was with me for both of my morning classes. He does gymnastics in Utah but hasn't gone to one without his mom before. He did a great job! I thought he might be timid and shy but he jumped right in and was one of the braver ones in the class. I was so proud of him! My favorite part was that he called me "teacher Mandy" the whole time. Ellie went to a mom-n-me class with Karee. She was adorable in her little leotard and she seemed to have fun. I didn't get to see her do much since I was teaching my own classes, but it was fun to have them at the gym.

After gymnastics we headed up to Seattle. We got to Pike's Place Market just as it was shutting down. Dave wanted to see them throwing the fish, but since it was closing up all we saw them toss was a crab. I wish we had had more time there. I love outdoor markets and wandering around just looking at all the things people are selling. I'm glad I don't work on Saturdays anymore because Portland has a great outdoor market and I haven't been able to go for a couple years now.

Saturday morning we headed to Husky Stadium for the football game. Even though I went to BYU I'd never been to a game before. Karee & Dave got Jerel and I blue BYU t-shirts so we would look like good BYU fans. It was fun to be there. We were sitting with lots of other BYU fans and it was great being in the middle of all the excited Mormons! The marching band (which I believe is the most important part of any football game) played the BYU fightsong during their pre-game show and I even tried to sing along. I do okay except that I'm always the one throwing my fist up for the "rah rah rah" at the wrong time so I just skipped that part this time. Even Isaac knows all the words!

I think I must be a good luck charm because BYU has won every single game I've ever attended. It's a pretty strong record as long as you ignore the fact that this was the only game I've ever been to. Anyway, we had lots of fun and BYU winning made the ride home much more fun for everyone.

The Brightons joined us for Sacrament meeting Sunday afternoon where our bishop was amazed at how much my sister and I look alike (meaning me and Karee, who are not sisters at all) and then they headed out on their long drive home. It was so fun to have them here. In the past we've only seen them when the whole family is around and Isaac has been too shy to talk to us. It was great listening to him chatter away in his tiny little voice. Ellie was such a sweetie I wanted to keep her here forever. And Karee & Dave were so nice to plan our activities around my work schedule so that I could be involved. We had a great time & hope they will come visit us again.

To see all the pictures from their visit go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/28030935@N06/sets/72157607353536625/show/