goodbye Grandma and Grandpa

We had an amazing and wonderful visit with the Raab grandparents - it was beautiful to watch the children's excitement about the visit and their constant desire to be with grandma and grandpa, and to see the corresponding enthusiasm and coddling on the part of mom and dad.  The four of them read countless stories together, cuddled up on the couch and the bed.  Grandpa helped Sebastian expand his train tracks and then played trains and cars with him, getting into the action with sound effects and all. Grandma and Liesl played games, and with L's baby, and with the dollhouse.

And we went out on so many adventures.  On Thursday we went to the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden, on Friday we had a scrumptious breakfast at Besaw's and then attempted to walk it off by hiking up the Balch Creek trail in Forest Park.  Both Thursday and Friday were beautifully clear days and we were able to see Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helen's from the Japanese Garden and from Pittock mansion.  Saturday we went to the fantastic playground at Mt. Tabor and walked around the park, and had lunch at a quintessential Portland place: a food truck pod on Belmont. (It's a collection of food trucks parked in a single spot on a longterm basis.)  Mom and dad treated us to an truly delicious meal at Meriwether's restaurant on Saturday night - amazing food, cocktails, wine, dessert. And Sunday, our last day together, we had breakfast at Zell's, visited OMSI, and then had dinner at home, with birthday cake for me and dad.  They fly out in the morning.

Truly a lovely visit. The children are already sad that they are leaving. But it's so nice and heartwarming and reassuring to see that they have not forgotten Grandma and Grandpa at all, and that the special relationship they've shared is still strong and vibrant.