West Coast trip - Weeks 2 & 3

Catching up from Nov. 17-26:

After returning from our Mama-Caden weekend trip, we spent almost a week in Corvallis before picking up Dada and heading to California. Mama had a (self-imposed) deadline of finishing a draft of a manuscript/one of her dissertation chapters by the end of the week. Fortunately for her, Caden did a great job entertaining himself much of the day, and Ama Jo gave Caden lots of attention in the evenings.
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Monday, we were excited to have Amy and Owen spend the day with us! We took them on a 'tour de Corvallis', beginning with lunch at the Dream - before which, a passing fire truck stopped, and the fireman gave Caden and Owen official shiny badge stickers! After lunch, we walked a loop through OSU's Memorial Union and Quad (trying to ensure that Owen grows up into a Beaver's fan!). Next, we went to Avery Park, where the boys played on the steam engine

and climbed on the 'dinosaur bones'. It was a beautiful day. Look - no coats! We ended at New Morning Bakery, where there is a kids' play area. It was so great to catch up with those two!

Monday night, we picked up Dream pizza (yes, we ate it for lunch and dinner!) and took it over to Great Grandma Sorte's house in Albany. Caden was entertained by Grandma's 2 dogs, 2 parakeets, and toys, so Mama, Ama, Adad, and Great Grandma had a chance to catch up. Here's a picture of 4 Sorte generations!

Most of the week, it was just Ama, Mama, and Caden at the house, as Adad was working over in Eastern Oregon. Here's Caden on Thursday, helping Ama get ready for Dada's arrival and Adad's return by baking some oatmeal scotchies.

Friday, when Mama and Caden were about to head to the Portland airport to pick up Dada, Ama got an upsetting phone call. Adad fell off a ladder while working on fixing the roof of the Wallowa Lake cabin (another tree fell on it, just 1 year 1 day after last year's that punctured the roof). Adad was then at the hospital in Enterprise, OR and was later transferred to the hospital at OHSU by 3 of Caden's favorite means of transportation: jet, helicopter, and ambulance. Adad spent the next 5 days in the hospital, having surgery to repair his shattered left leg.

Friday night, after picking Dada up at the airport, we were all unsure where to go or what to do next... Adad and Ama were en route to OHSU by jet and car, respectively. Fortunately, we happened to be within a few miles of Amy, Brian, and Owen's house. When we called to see if we could stop there to collect ourselves, they SO generously offered us dinner and, later, a place to stay for the night with only ~5 minutes notice. After all the worry of the afternoon, we ended up spending a wonderfully relaxing evening at their cozy house.

Saturday, we headed back to Corvallis (Adad was being moved frequently, so thought it best we wait to visit), and Auntie Misty came over for dinner and a movie. As usual, Caden had a blast with Misty, who has an amazing amount of energy for playing and reading books!

Sunday, we drove south to Bodega, stopping at the Olive Pit (Caden *loves* olives) and for dinner at In & Out Burger (where Caden discovered a love of cheeseburgers). We spent 3 days catching up on fieldwork and in meetings; Caden spent 2 days with Cherrise. As usual, all of our Bodega pictures look like this...

Wednesday, we drove up the coast, arriving at our hotel in Yachats, OR well after dark. Caden could hardly bear to sleep, he was so excited that he could hear and see (pulling the curtains aside) the ocean from his crib! Thursday, after a delicious breakfast and watching the waves a bit, we headed north to Magruder to help with final dinner preparations...(to be continued...)