Happy Birthday to Andy

Andy had a very busy birthday this year! He traveled out of town for work earlier in the week, and on the morning of his birthday he woke up at 4a.m. to drive to the airport in time to catch his flight home. Yuck. Good thing he took the rest of the day off. His hometown friend Ryan, who lives in California, was also winging his way to Oregon with his girlfriend Christina. Ryan and Christina were attending a weekend concert in the Columbia Gorge, and since Ryan holds his private pilot's license, he flew the two of them up in a small Cessna plane, then landed for the day and night in Hillsboro to spend Andy's birthday with us. How fun...and even more fun that after he landed, he took Andy and Alton up in the air for a little spin!
They climb into the airplane.

All belted in--Alton has his own booster seat to ensure that the lap belt sits firmly across his lap for takeoff.

Don't forget hearing protection: these airplanes can be LOUD!

They go up! I stayed on the ground because I get motion sickness in small aircraft (and often in the large ones, too). I didn't want to be feeling ill for Andy's birthday dinner. It was a little hard seeing my guys go up without me, but I was confident in Ryan's experience as a pilot and in their short trip encircling the city of Hillsboro. Alton gives the experience two thumbs up!

Andy and Alton were in the backseat of the four-seater aircraft; this was their view of Ryan at the cockpit.

A foggy Mount Hood.

Back on the ground, Pilot Ryan poses in the whipping wind with Passenger Alton.

After the mini-flight, it was time for Andy's birthday dinner! We went to Mingo West, one of our favorite restaurants in the area. Great Italian food, great wine list, and a view of the Beaverton Central Max stop, so that Alton can watch the trains going by all through his dinner. We were joined at dinner by Andy's brother Zach, his wife Karen, and of course Alton's cousin *P!

The kids were eager for dinner to start and trains to go by.

*P is sporting fun little springy pigtails for the bday dinner!

They both cleaned their plates, then it was on to a chocolatey chocolate cake for dessert.

Yum!

At the end of the meal, Andy and Ryan took the kids outside to burn off some energy. Outside the restaurant, adjacent to the Max stop, is a concrete-and-grass amphitheater called "The Round." Sometimes there are musicians performing there. It has a small rock fountain and plenty of great running around space for the little ones. Alton demonstrates his "airplane" impression, regaling his audience with tales of his afternoon flight.

Ryan puts him up in the air for a real acrobatic experience!

Ah, trains.

Hey, it's almost past your bedtimes! Alton and *P crack each other up one more time.

Don't they look so grown-up in this picture? Awww.

Happy Birthday, Andy-Daddy!