Time with the Cross'!

Let me just start by saying I have a wonderful job and that I am very fortunate that they have funding for education and allow me many educational adventures... That said, I spent this last week in Vancouver for the Washington Mental Health Conference. 3 days of everything Mental Health, it was very interesting, educational, and insightful. The added bonus for this conference was that I was able to take Jacqui and my Dad with me... and Tyson and Joy were very gracious and invited us to stay in their house with them and watch Jacqui while I was in class. Needless to say it was a busy and eventful week!

Jacqui made fast friends with Buddy and Squirty, the resident watchdogs! She helped them to sing a lullaby with Joy at night and we all howled away... We also got sucked into 'So you think you can dance?' and will be watching that probably the rest of the season... Jacqui really enjoyed playing games with Tyson, Joy, and the dogs and loved all the extra attention. While I was at class during the days Susie was watching Jacqui also, and Jacqui has decided that they are fast friends. Jacqui also made good 'buddies' with Steve and has designated him her new chaser buddy, running after him, or away from him and giggling and screaming any chance she got!

After my classes, we were able to get in a different activity each day. We spend one afternoon at OMSI with Grandad. Jacqui loved seeing the various insects and the kids develop and explore area. Grandad loved the CSI exhibit and solved the crime for the crime lab after much research and deliberation. We also watched the Wild Ocean on OMNIMAX which was pretty neat for Jacqui seeing all the fish in the Ocean of the Southwest African Coast.

Later that night, I found out Star Trek (the new one) was still at the IMAX and Tyson, Joy, Grandad, Jacqui and I were able to go see that. I was SO excited and loved it on the super big screen... I bought a new phaser when I got home that is pretty neat! Jacqui has learned to say 'Live long and Osper' (she hasn't figured out how to say 'Prosper'). She has been saying this to everyone lately and it cracks me up. She is also working on her Vulcan greeting that goes with it (getting your fingers together is hard work for a 5 year old!) but usually just manages what looks like a hello greeting.

Saturday we had breakfast with the Tyson, Joy, Steve, and Susie and then were off to the Portland Zoo in the drizzling rain. We rode the little train to Washington Park. It was a beautiful ride through the forest and greenery. The zoo was celebrating the 50th Birthday of their steam locomotive, so it was neat to be a part of that. It also turned out to be a blessing that the weather was wet as the zoo was not very busy and we were able to see all the exhibits and animals without much difficulty or crowds.

Jacqui, Grandad, and I went through the chimpanzee exhibit. We learned all sorts of things, like how to swing from a vine, how to walk like a chimpanzee, and Jacqui's favorite how to climb and swing from her arms. She really enjoyed this exhibit and was bummed to only get to go through once.

The petting zoo was fun, but Jacqui was a little wary of the 'live animals'.

She needed a little encouragement to touch and pet the goats, especially after one tried to nibble on my jeans! Once she got it down though, she was tickled to pet the goats and talk to them and tell them stories about our day and everything she had seen. She also made up her own little goat song that she would prance around in the pen and sing. She is such an easy and self contained kid!


We walked through the Pacific Northwest exhibit and lost Jacqui. She had decided to run ahead and find something 'exciting' as she was tired of all the animals. Her major request at that point was an elephant ear (another one) or some ice cream. Nothing like a long wet day at the zoo to work up an appetite!

As the zoo was getting ready to close we made it to one last exhibit that turned out to be a great hit. There was an aviary of Lorakeetes (I have no idea how to spell that) to walk through. They are very bright birds that look like parrots. One of the other visitors was nice enough to give us their left over nectar and the birds loved it! They fly to you and perch where ever they feel like it and lick the nectar out of the cups as you hold them. Jacqui absolutely loved it! Grandad got the first bird to take to his nectar and then shared with all the kids in the tent.

We had a great week and really enjoyed seeing the Cross' down in Vancouver. Jacqui is very connected with the puppies now and is hoping to go and visit again soon. We had a great time and really enjoyed Vancouver and Portland, even though the weather was similar to a monsoon at times, it was great to spend time with family and have a little vacation! Thank you guys for keeping us and showing us around. We hope you come and visit us soon so we can return the favor!