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This week was such a great time! We picked up Mom from the airport on Sunday evening from her long flight from O'Hare via Seattle arriving in Portland around 9:30pm. We didn't have too much set in stone except for our Marriage Sacrament on Friday, June 10th at 5:30pm. Of course, being the family we are, we seemed to fill it will with lots of fun little outings. It was nice that our Mom's could get to know each other a little more and spend time together as they had only met the 3 days in Santa Barbara during our wedding festivities last August.

Monday, I had to work 3 meetings so Mom went along with Pete tile shopping for the master suite bathroom.

Tuesday, I awoke Mom at 9:30am since I had to work in the afternoon I wanted to get some quality time in before work at 2pm. We headed downtown Portland and hit up the Food Carts and Voodoo Donuts Too in NE, as the main location downtown is closed for renovation. When I went to work I dropped Mom off at the Bridgeport Outdoor Mall, she loved it and only came home with 1 bag after 3 hrs at the mall. I think she is a changed woman. Yippee!!

Wednesday, we headed to The Grotto, Multnomah Falls, followed by lunch at McMenamin's Edgefield and topping the evening off with the movie "Bridesmaids" (if you haven't seen it yet GO).

Thursday, I was scheduled to work 7am-6pm leading 4 different meetings around the metro area. Georgianna and Mom toured around Portland's Washington Park, visited Scott's grave and enjoyed the beautiful 70 degree weather and sun we had. They both even helped Pete with yard work and finished planting the ornamental grass seeds that Pete has been working on for quite some time. Then Mom and I got a manicure/pedicure. This is a tradition we have done since I moved away from IL 8 years ago; when Mom comes to visit, we pamper ourselves.

Friday, we met up with Debbie, Staci's mom, who had us over for coffee/tea and Holland biscuits. This was the 1st time our Mom's had met even though Staci, Martin, Pete & I met 2 years ago. I must say I do enjoy life's little turns and bumps as we have met some amazing people in the last few years who will be in our lives for a long time :)))

Pic of us 3 ladies after tea & coffee (copy & paste into your url, sorry can't get link to work properly in this blog)
http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=1208387

Last night, after our reception dinner we took Mom back to PDX, Portland International Airport, to catch a red-eye flight back to Chicago. It sure was a great week and I look forward to the next time she comes and hopefully Dad can join and other's as well. Portland sure is an amazing place to visit especially when the weather is nice in July, August and September.

Sarah, our next visitor, is scheduled to arrive on Friday, July 29th. I already signed us up for the Mt. Tabor Doggie Challenge 5K (nope no dog is needed) run on Saturday morning then we will hit up the Beer Fest on the Waterfront later in the day. I love showing off our new home.

Zai Jian

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