Train

In conjunction with Madison's "Nana Camp" the conundrum we face every year is how to transport her back and forth. Do we make the 6 hour trip down there or do Jodee's parents come up, or do we meet in the middle. Things were up in the air this year until I noticed that the music group "Train" was to be performing at the Maryhill Winery on the very day that we were supposed to get Maddie back from Jodee's parents. This was serendipitous for two reasons: 1) Maryhill is right by the Washington/Oregon border pretty much half way between our house and Jodee's parents' place in Powell Butte, OR and 2) every so often the kids and I get on a kick where we have a song that we love to listen to and sing together over and over and over and lately that song has been Train's "Hey Soul Sister." So I decided to give Jodee a little bit of peace with the baby and take Beckham with me down to get Maddie and then surprise them with a trip to the concert.

They make these concert going parents proud!

Because I didn't want to have to drive 3+ hours back to Issaquah after getting out of the concert late at night, we made plans to camp near Ellensburg. Bex and I set up the tent and then we were off to Maryhill State Park to meet Maddie, Nana and Papa.

The only downside to the day was that it was Jodee and my 11th anniversary. It was tough to be apart, but nice for me to form a special memory with the kids and Jo and I were able to go out to dinner together the next week to celebrate. Hopefully she'll do me the honor of many more anniversaries so I can make it up to her!