Park Plaza

Park Plaza video
Park Plaza

My 23rd Birthday

Today was my first American birthday and it was wonderful! I awoke to find the place decorated Hawaiian style (which was quite a contrast to the pinkness of Eva's party yesterday). For breakfast we went to IHOP (the International House of Pancakes), which is a place I distinctly remembered from our family trip to the USA when I was 10. Afterwards we went to OMSI (the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), which had heaps of fun and interesting exhibits. To finish the day off, Mike made us another wonderful gourmet dinner. Thanks for a great American birthday!

Eva's 3rd Birthday

Today was Eva's 3rd birthday! So at her request, we found all sorts of things pink and princessy and decorated the house. In the morning we went to Liz and Bob's (Mike's parents) for a delicious breakfast and some princess games. We then made a trip to build-a-bear at the mall so that the girls could build their own bears. We had a lovely 'hygge' evening with great food, company, some more princess games and of course... presents!

Battle Ground, WA

Seattle and Bellevue, WA

On our way back down to Battle Ground from visiting Karina's parents in Vancouver, Karina and I stayed for one night in Bellevue, just outside of Seattle, Washington. Seattle is a really fun city. We got to go up the Space Needle (similar to the Sky Tower in Auckland), see Pike's Place Market (complete with fish throwing vendors) and visit the very first Starbucks.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

We have had an absolutely amazing time up in Vancouver, Canada, together with Karina's family. We stayed with Karina's parents, Howard and Ingrid, in Langley, just outside of Vancouver. We had so many fun experiences. While Lisa, Mike, Annika and Eva were here during the first week we went to the Greater Vancouver Zoo, Science World, Playland Amusement Park, Fort Langley, berry picking, swimming, and even went sailing on a replica Scandinavian viking ship called "Munin".
Howard and Ingrid attend the Danish Lutheran Church in Vancouver, and on our last day together, Karina sang Pokarekare Ana in the church. It was beautiful!
We had a lot of fun with Kent, Stephanie, Henry and Emma in the second week of our stay too. We went up Grouse Mountain, to the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge, and go-cart racing at Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford.
When it was just Karina and I left with her parents, Karina had all of her wisdom teeth out. One day we went to check out Granville Island and caught one of the biggest fireworks displays in the world in the Vancouver harbour. Howard and Ingrid left a few days before we did to go to Denmark for a few weeks as it was Ingrid's parent's 65th wedding anniversary. Karina and I took the opportunity to go to Pender Island (in the Vancouver Gulf Islands) one day to visit Peter and Tessa, whom Karina had met at her summer choir in Nelson six months ago.
I really loved Vancouver and can't wait to go back! Thanks so much everyone for a really special trip!