Oden Adventures

Vianne & I were up in Oregon for two weeks!  We sadly had to leave Patrick/Daddy behind to work on his dissertation and we missed him terribly, but I was super busy introducing Vianne to all of her Oregon family and many dear friends.

Waiting to board at Ontario Airport

 Hanging out in Sacramento, waiting for the plane to load & take off for Portland!

Vianne's first flight, despite some anxiety on the part of her mother for days before the trip, was a huge success!  We had the whole back row to ourselves on the first leg, but then had a full flight for the second leg.  I knew when those last passengers having to take the only free seats saw me with a baby, they were hoping to sit elsewhere (and I was hoping they would, too) but the man who drew the short stick and had to take the aisle seat, and the man who drew the even shorter stick and had to cram into the middle seat, were just as astonished as I was that she was quiet the whole time.  The man in the middle turned to me half way through and said, "I don't want to jinx it, but your baby has been an absolute joy to ride next to!" :-)

Grandma/Mom Gustafson picked us up at the airport and our first stop was to my Grandma's house so Vianne could meet her Great Grandma for the first time!  It was a very special visit for me, since this is my Dad's mother and my only grandparent still living, and when Vianne & Great Grandma first saw each other, Vianne smiled at her, and Great Grandma was so delighted.  Vianne was pleased as can be to let Great Grandma hold her and enjoyed looking around at all the things in her living room.  Great Grandma declared Vianne a sweetheart, and I left, overjoyed that my little one had gotten the official Grandma Gustafson Stamp of Approval :-D.

Next stop: Vancouver, WA, to see Aunt Emily again and meet Uncle Thom and cousins Bea & Margot for the first time.  The girls had each grown at least 3 feet and learned 5000 new tricks since I saw them in January.  Such a joy to finally introduce them!  They were so sweet with Vianne!

And the next stop: Beaverton, OR, to meet Uncle Geoff, Aunt Vera, & cousin David.  A short but sweet visit and so fun to see David again at last (it had been since November!).

And then, a bit later, Aunt Vera brought cousin David over.  Emily shot this hilarious & cute series of the four youngest cousins (all born within about 2 yrs & 3 weeks of each other).