Donaldson Crew Adventures

PJ is really into basketball.  For Christmas i took him to see his first (and my first) NBA game.  Iwas able to get two tickets in our company box for a Portland trailblazer game on Dec 26 against the Utah jazz. Last time they played in early December the trailblazers lost big time. This time it was a nail-biter until the end when Portland scored the game winning 2 pointer with 0.1 second left on the clock. 

It was great fun / I would definitely do that again. PJ said it was his best Christmas gift. 

This weekend there has been a deep cold snap across the northwest!

Hunter is near a town called Augusta Montana and they had temps down to -57 F.  They had fun throwing hot water inter the air watching it instantly freeze.  

Kelly and Abbie were in Portland this weekend. It usually just rains in the winter but they had temps down below zero with windchill and snow on the ground! 

PJ, Noah and I were in Bend. We also had some cold temps -6/7 F all day on Saturday with over 12 inches of snow.  Still cold today in single digits (around 5) so a little warmer and sun!  

Abbie had a dance competition in Portland.  Normally Kelly takes Abbie to her competitions but I went this weekend, and we had a great time not only at the competition winning some medals but also doing some explorations.  We were near the Portland airport but instead of heading into the city, we decided to see what was the other direction so went to the little town of Troutdale just east of Portland and then spent the rest of the day at McMennamins Edgefield.    

So proud of our Irish dancer. Abbie placed in all of her dances this weekend. Way to go Abbie!

Abbie had a Irish Feis this weekend in Portland and tonight we went and saw Lauren, Paul and Eleanor Breithaupt. Aunt Ginni was in town visiting so we had a wonderful evening all being together. Eleanor is a doll and Abbie and Eleanor had a fun time playing together.

Portland is known as a foodie town.  I was there this week for work with a colleague who had lived in the city a few years back.  We visited some of his favorites plus recommendations from the local team we were working with.  This post is more to log these places for my own future reference, but if you get to Portland OR - definitely some to try.   

Food

• food truck culture - we grabbed lunch at the pod on alder street
• Prasad (a first where I had to take shoes off to go to the bathroom since its in the yoga studio) 
• Tasty n' Alder 
• Tusk 
• Bollywood theater - excellent Indian street food

Beverages

• Multnomah Whiskey Library - great selection with an amazing atmosphere. - pictured at top.
• Case study coffee
  
• Of course... the Portland classic - Stumptown (Ace Hotel)
• Heart Coffee (Westside) 

Abbie went to her first feis (dance competition) for Irish dancing this weekend in Portland. Jennifer and Olivia flew in and got to watch Abbie dance. Abbie placed 13th, 4th and 3rd on Saturday and 1st place on Sunday.

It was so fun watching Abbie dance and getting to see so many Irish dancers in one place. After the competition we went into the city and had a fun time all being together.

This weekend we took the kids to Marvel Live in Portland.  The live action production of the marvel super heroes.  Kids thought it was so cool!

This weekend on Saturday Papa came in after being in the northwest for work and we went to the Oregon Airshow.   It was really cool with lots of jets and stunt planes capped off by the Blue Angels.  Amazing.