5 years - 2 in Germany spent prying our eyes open to stay up through the time change, 2012 in California enjoying the 3:30 kick off, 2013 in Sedona for Chris and Brian, 2014 in.... Drum roll right?
Bend, Oregon
Why not right. The super bowl was in NY/NJ so we went to the opposite coast.
Chris amazingly packed in a laptop bag (gotta go carry-on right?). He had plenty of underwear, great clothes and a great story right?
Here we are in our house at 2:30 on Saturday. The excitement of a trip is SO much - we are soaking in the kid free realization. The hours of orchestration in motion-Drew was headed to Springfield with Pauli and Grandma. Shane and Nick were enjoying their sleepover weekend at Caz and Ben's. We are so thankful for all the friends and family making this adventure possible. It really takes a village. (I even snagged Mocking Jay to read from a neighbor after posting a request on social media 30 minute prior - that was cool!)
So now-cheers to us. Off to the airport.
Meanwhile on a far away coast the McCulloughs also had hoops to jump through to make it all possible. Brian landed Friday after being in Hawaii for a few weeks. He pre-packed his bag. Farrah packed their jeep to the gills with wine, games, boots, blankets and jackets while prepping her mom for her weekend with Macy and Tate. Now for the 8+ hour up the coast.
Here we go;)
They arrived in Bend first, checked into our beautiful town home and joined a winery;)
The first night we stayed up just catching up and in a matter of minutes it was as if we lived in the same area again...
The next morning starts the true relaxation because this was going on miles away. Happy kids eating breakfast, just not at our table...
We headed to a hip local breakfast spot where the boys had wild trout eggs Benedict, I had the wild salmon version and Farrah choose a fabulous pulled pork feast. Brunch is a true vacation treat.
Now lets get started. The townhome Brian found was BEAUTIFUL and easy walking distance to the many breweries in the area.
1-Crux
Our breakfast was So good we were able to resist these nachos
Rather cool sculpture - just had to act artistic
2-Boneyard (small and shocking to find as it was tucked away...)
3-Deschuetes - a bit pricier compared to the 2 warehouse ones we had been to.
Yes, we walked - but with the Superbowl approaching we had to grab a cab - run through the grocery store - grab.... BEER.. and head home. Thankfully Farrah and Brian had already prepped dinner from a previous grocery store jaunt. This was all good as we meet a FABULOUS cab driver. One of the many wonderfully friendly folks in Bend.
Yes, the Superbowl was crap, but Bruno Mars was awesome and the company we were with (jammies and all) was wonderful. The board games we played afterwards were far more entertaining than the game. Nothing beats laughing THAT hard. over --- gosh, I can hardly remember.
Check out our view
Ah, Monday - still on vacation. Farrah and I LOVED some mimosas while the boys got antsy and headed to check out REI.
This was our beautiful neighborhood and daily starting point.
Refreshed in the company of some of the most enriching folks.
This photo makes me laugh... hmm. its a beaver dam...
Looking back I wish I would have snapped more of the traditional homes in Bend. They were so.... original. I felt like the home were starting to explode are the area develops. However there were some true simple eclectic ones. Some well maintained, some, not so much...
But instead of the homes, I managed to snap a shot of the one Turkey that missed thanksgiving this year... maybe next year right? Man he is HUGE. (yes this guy was penned up right along a main street)
First brewery for Monday -
4 - 10 Barrel.
Farrah went to the bathroom and these 2 were my company. They didn't do this for long. Matter of fact we hardly checked in with our phones - so this was a rare yet humorous shot.
Lunch done - now for the Turkish bath....
Loved this photo along the way. The cuteness of Bend stands out - someone had crocheted the pigeon statue a little hat - how stinking cute is that?
5 -
This one wins for the oddest brewery... Their beer was odd too. IT used to be a Catholic school, but now a restaurant, brewery, hotel that includes and open air Turkish bath. odd right, you agree??
Of course we all had bathing suits packed. After the beer we went to change attire. As Farrah and I were headed out we heard this giggling outside the locker room door - Brian and Chris dressed in slightly less revealing than a speedo (straight from Korea) They looked great! Loved it. Go boys! They were also having a blast.
Next, (yup, there's more)
6 -
Silver Moon. (sorry, no moon photos - you don't want that right?)
No...
Good reenactment. (we were having some fabulous sandwiches, but since they didn't sell fries they let us go grab some from the restaurant up the street. Farrah and I LOVE fries. My husband gave up fries for his 30 day challenge - so who went to get fries?!?! Chris - yup - love that guy. He didn't have a single one.
7 - closed....
Boo. Farrah was sad, but Brian was trying to pry open the door - and take a photo of the ale trail pass to validate our presence.
Onto a random Pub called Walstreet where we covered down on the jute box for a few tunes (and dancing!) We didn't want the night to end. Yup, we called Nelson, our cab driver again (good decision).
Tuesday - Hmmmm Starting to need a beer break - but no rest for the weary. Instead, lets hike - Thank you Chris! Great idea and truly beautiful after our dusting of snow.
Love my outdoors man.
Can you feel how fresh the air is? Just awesome.
Alright - onto another brewery.
8 - worthy
Yes, it was worthy, but apparently not of a photo as I totally forgot. Great food too.
9 - Old mill brewery - not worthy of a photo so I didn't take one.
It was at that brewery that I credit myself with the greatest idea ever. A nap. I have never seen Farrah get so excited. We left the boys to carry on with the next 2 breweries while we curled up with warm blankets and prepped for our evening movie date.
We woke from our naps getting humorous texts from our men who were enjoying themselves at the next breweries - capital and cascades (I think). We headed downtown for a little wine and a movie. We bought our tickets and kindly asked the ticket lady to waylay our incoming husbands into another show. Frozen maybe?? Ride along?? However just as American Hustle started guess who poured themselves into the theatre? U guessed it. Mr Chris lasted about 15 minutes before he opted to cash in on his nap time (not in the theatre). We thought they both went home until the same ticket lady said that one stayed behind and was getting cold waiting for us... Here we was.
The snow was BEAUTIFUL. Light, fluffy, looked like glitter. Farrah seized the moment
She left an angle along the sidewalks that barely had a footprint along them.
I opted to hoist myself on the buffalo
See, glitter
A few needed selfies (I love that that is a word now..)
He is saying - it doesn't get any more beautiful.... or, I think we should call Colin (the NICEST guy in Bend)
We LOVED the walk home that night - although it was the last night. We woke Chris up when we got home as you aren't allowed to miss the last night together. Farrah let me lead them through a body flow class at 1am - best participants yet! Chris and I had to set our alarms for 4:30 and grab that cab to begin the journey home.
Happy Trails - those are some cute butts...
The trip home can always be bitter sweet, but with the McCullough/Leadbetters you know another adventure like this is always in the cards. You just have to come up with it. I loved the time with them as a couple. I loved the time with my husband as a couple. Even as I write this a week later I feel MUCH better than I did before the trip. Thank you for a wonderful marriage retreat. Love you all tons.
HUGE Thanks to my Mom and Dad for weathering the NoVa 'ice' day as schools were closed on Wednesday. We managed to make all our connections and get home without a delay. Classic.
