It was time for my 20-year high school reunion, and I wasn't sure whether or not to go with our finances currently going toward the house projects and current airline tickets were no steal-of-a-deal, but then I found out my brother was making arrangements to be sealed to his wife in the Portland Temple, so I begged him to do it the same weekend as my reunion, and wa-la...I was off to the northwest last weekend.
I flew into Portland first where my sister and I hiked around Portland.
It made me miss the northwest a wee bit.
The views were amazing, wouldn't you say?
We took the tram down into Portland from this mountaintop, then hopped onto the trolley, popped off to get some ice cream, then caught the train back to Christy's car.
It's called the 4T hike for well, just that - the four t's - trail, tram, trolley, train.
Someone got really creative with that name.
Friday evening we met up with Brice, Lizzie, mom, and one of Brice's best friends at a fancy restaurant, then we headed over to the temple.
After a few slight glitches (Brice and Lizzie forgot their letter from the First Presidency granting them permission to be sealed - thanks to a scanner, email, and a quick call to the First Presidency, they were all clear), Brice and Lizzie were sealed for time and all eternity.
Mike, Christy, Mom, Brice, Lizzie, Dana
It was a beautiful ceremony. Many tears were shed and we enjoyed knowing dad was in the room witnessing the sacred event as well.
On Saturday my mom and I drove up to Seattle, about a 4 1/2 hour drive north of Portland.
I met up with many of my dear friends from high school for lunch where we talked and laughed all afternoon. We finally left the restaurant shortly before dinner, only because we all had to get home and changed for the evening event.
These were two of my dearest friends - Marin and Jill. We were a foursome - Shauna was unable to attend the reunion, but the four of us spent A LOT of fun time together back in the day.
This was another one of my dearest friends from high school - Lisa.
We have all stayed in touch over the years, and whenever my friends come to Salt Lake for business trips, which they have done a few times, we always get together and pick up right where we left off.
Saturday evening was the main event in downtown Seattle at an event center.
Thanks to my handy-dandy phone, I found it easily, but totally missed the parking garage, so I simply thought I would circle around the block to catch it.
I completely forgot I was in Seattle where practically EVERY street in downtown is ONE WAY. Yes, that's right, I made it down a one-way street, going the wrong direction, thankfully skirting my way down and around the corner just before a herd of cars came down the street heading towards me.
Scary!
So here I am with a bunch of us that used to play our own special version of Uno every morning before school. A bunch of us came over to school from early-morning seminary, which usually landed us there 25 minutes before school started. Therefore, Uno ensued, and trust me, we had some very creative rules, and we only thought it fitting to play again after 20 years.
It was a blast, to say the least. We were laughing so hard and having such a good time, we probably looked like the drunk ones, but there wasn't a whole lot of drinking going on at our table!
Here's another shot of me visiting some of my other friends from high school.
and then of course, the photo booth...
We couldn't all fit, so we had to split up.
Fun Times, for sure.
It was truly a weekend I will cherish with such enjoyable memories with both family and friends.
I am thankful John was willing to hold down the fort and play Mr. Mom while I was away.
However, they claim to have had fun too, so I won't feel too bad.
