Tried and True

This week on paper looked like the worst possible time to leave home and go on vacation. Rick in the midst of ridiculous chaos in his house, mine a couple weeks out from closing. However pretty sure we needed it! The great thing about bringing the kids and their friends here is we all do whatever we want (which there is no shortage of things to do), for me it's been biking or running early in the am, drinking LOTS of coffee and reading in the afternoon. The boys and men have mountain biked each day, Lo has chilled and shopped. At night we try to rally and go to some of our favorites.

Good food is plentiful here too. I typically don't drink a lot of beer, but Bend has one of my favorites (Boneyard), and a handful of other ones I love. Here's a run down if you find yourself here. Keep in mind these are just our favorites, we were on Yelp last night and there's so many new ones we haven't tried!

Food, atmosphere and great beer on tap it's hard to beat Jackson's Corner. I hear they've opened an Eastside location, but we've stuck with the original. Their food is fresh and so delicious. The menu is not huge but I've tried something different each time and always been impressed. They also seem to keep Boneyards RPM IPA on tap, which is my all time favorite, as well as 3-4 kombuchas on tap! Indoor seating is great plus they have an outdoor space on the side so you can dine with your four legged friends.

10 Barrel.

I've been coming here for the last 5 years, they now have brewpubs in Boise, Portland and Denver. People were up in arms was it last year or the year before (I can't remember), when they sold out to Annheuser Busch, but I say good for them. They created an awesome product, followed with an awesome vibe, were successful enough to catch AB's attention and cash out. That's business people, a successful business at that! Their food has been solid every time we've come, their beers tasty. I've been a fan of the apocalypse IPA, but this year they released Joe's IPA and I might like it even more! I rather enjoy their dark beers as well. Outdoor patio is awesome, and also pet friendly!

The Lot

We are big fans of the Lot with a group. Keep in mind it is ALWAYS busy so you have to be on the look out for people leaving to take their seats, although the community seating makes it doable. So The Lot is essentially a beer garden on a side street behind 7-11. They have a hand full of local beers on tap (again they always have Boneyard RPM too), covered seating, and when we've been in the winter they have outdoor hanging heaters. Surrounding the lot is 6 different food trucks, burgers, Thai, Hawaiian-plate lunches, tacos, basically something for everyone! If the wait is long at 10 Barrel a lot of times we will walk over to the Lot and grab a beer while we wait. Also dog friendly.

Crux

The vibe and atmosphere, is awesome. The inside seating is limited but they have a nice patio and a very large grass area to spread blankets and sit. I like having lunch here, but not so much dinner. Their sandwiches are good, and I noticed last night they've added two food trucks for a little variety. Beer is ok, not my favorite, good, but really I love the atmosphere to hang out. Also pet friendly (because really everything is in Bend).

Good Life has good beers, and a fun outdoor space if you have kids. Food I have yet to actually like.

Because Bend is awesome there is always stuff going on. The boys went to Death Cab for Cutie the other night and we walked around Drake park where a summer festival is happening.

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Vay-Cay

We've settled into some nice R&R in Bend. Truly one of our favorites places the whole family, and friends agree upon. I first came here in 2009 with my kids and now ex husband. Within the hour of arriving we met Orlando Bloom.

That was a pretty good welcome to Bend. The next 6 days we spent here we fell in love. A year later my dear friends moved here. The year after I came down with a dear friend, she and I ran a half marathon, biked, ate, drank just had an amazing time and I knew then this was someplace special. Someplace I would always return too. Lucky for me Rick grew up coming to Bend and equally loved it. Together these last few years we've managed to make it down at least twice a year, if not more. Typically we stay with my friends, but once a year I rent a big house (feel free to message me if you want info on the house, I stay in the same complex each time and it's fabulous) we are now on the third year of this, my son brings a few friends down, our friend Jake comes with us and we spend a week (was five days, but this year upped it), biking, running, going to concerts, shopping, eating, drinking beer and vedging. Both my kids love it, I love that we can settle into a routine here that accommodates everyone.

The house we stay at connects to the Deschutes River Trail, as does most everything here. What a gem to run!

The road riding is wonderful, large, free of debris shoulders. The mountain biking is endless (so I've been told)!

The other plus in the summer is it's warm enough mid afternoon to swim or float the river, but unlike home it cools off in the evening and mornings.

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Friendships

I believe what you put out is what you get. Perhaps it took my until my 30's and some crappy life experiences to realize this, but better late than never.

I believe in being as authentic and true to myself as I can be. This doesn't mean perfect, it just means being comfortable in my skin, comfortable in my beliefs. In return I am surrounded by like woman. These woman make me want to be a better person. They are the type of woman that hold you accountable for your actions. As a result, you'd never comprise your morals or values for something that would only bring instant gratification. We haven't been lifelong friends, only the last 8 years, but without a doubt they will remain my friends the rest of my life. Thankfully the men in our lives are equally supportive and understanding about this tight bond, in fact they are the ones that always seems to capture it on photos.

Still not sure who thought the pyramid was a good idea. This was at a recent graduation from nursing school celebration for our friend Erika. We are SO proud of her and SO glad she's done so we get to see her more!

Our third annual summer solstice non motorized hood crawl! There's a few missing but I love this photo.

In a couple weeks ten of us will be traveling to Sonoma together and I can't wait to have some serious quality time with these ladies!

 

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Graduation

Pardon my once again hiatus, so much to blog, so little time. In a span of three weeks, we had Lo's dance recital, I put my dog down suddenly, my son's high school graduation and party and then I sold my house. I'm probably at my max capacity.

So graduation. It has come and gone. It was pretty amazing. As a parent this is kind of a defining moment in your role as a parent. For eighteen years you have been raising your child, preparing them the best you can to enter a world on their own. To be caring, compassionate, and competent adults. One day they are in school and the very next they are by definition adults. Everyone said I'd be sad, but I wasn't (maybe I was too sad about my dog the day before to be sad on graduation). I was just so proud, happy, and very excited for my son. I enjoyed high school, but it was after that I truly felt like I was living. Making my lifelong friends, seeing the world, getting to choose what career path I wanted to take. This just all represents such an exciting time for him. He's decided to stay here for the next two years, he also received a renewable scholarship from the Keep It In the Valley. Perhaps that's another reason it wasn't sad, I'm happy he'll be here.

Huge thanks to our families. Lars dad came out which was so great to see him again, Ricks mom was a HUGE help to me chopping veggies and setting up at the party, plus it meant a lot to have her at graduation. My parents, sister, and Oma, Lars parents and sister, all were there to support him. Thank you to ALL of you. We've all been in this journey together to get him here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proud of you my little man!

 

 

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