Jill's Visit To The Hauck Homestead

DAY 1 Wings, Zoo, Welcome to the Hauck Homestead

My BF Jill flew in from NY on Wednesday, September 1st. After many hugs and such we packed if for the suburban and headed out to buffalo wild wings for some lunch. As we giggled liked idiots and started retelling a million old stories and a few new ones too, I felt like we hadn't been apart even a single day....when in reality it had been over two years. Funny how that goes. Just pick up right where things left off. My heart felt full to the point of bursting I was so happy. She was still Jill, only different. I was still Becca, only different. And everything felt perfect.

I was excited to show off the very things that define who I am.....my children and my life as a Mama. Though smacking Anthony in the head with the suburban back door when flinging it open to get the diaper bag wasn't exactly the "Good Mama" impression I was going for. He was fine, don't worry. :) The wings were delicious and my drink even more delicious. I told Jill we were taking her to the zoo and I'm sure if she hadn't been excited herself, my excitement would have rubbed off on her. Here are photos of us at the zoo. We had a grand time!

We left the zoo at 6:30 and started the roundabouts 2-2 1/2 hour drive home. It was beautiful out and it was fun to show Jill the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge scenic area and then get all excited about crossing the Biggs Bridge from OR into WA. We reached our house just as the last bit of light went away. I was so excited to show her the house! After setting up the blowup mattress in our living room and getting all set for bed, it was time to hit the hay!

DAY 2 Jill sees the town and has lunch at local pizzeria, Hanging around the house, Becca's first time having wine

Sammy had to work on Thursday so the plan was to hang around the house and make a trip into town to show Jill what Goldendale was all about. I think we chit chatted for close to 2 hours while eating my homemade blueberry muffins for breakfast before either of us even started getting ready for the day. A nice, mellow morning. Jill watched the kiddos for me while I showered. I think that went well, I don't know. You'll have to ask her. LOL We drove around the town and I pointed out all the notable place. It took all of 15 minutes MAX to circle 'round town a time or two. We stopped off at the pizzeria for their $6.99 all you can eat lunch buffet. I had to drag Anthony out of there kicking and screaming, like I always do because he can't bare to leave the arcade games. *sigh* That was fun. Someone probably thought he wasn't mine and I was stealing him with all the hollering he was doing. Welcome to my life, Jill!! Right? hehehe

The rest of the day was spent playing outside and having a grand 'ol time. Sammy came home and lovenly made us chicken alfredo while Jill and I enjoyed a bottle of wine....my first time ever drinking with her and my first time having wine for that matter. I've had a few sips here or there, but always hated it. So I was pleasantly surprised I like what Jill brought with her from NY. Dinner was delicious, by the way. :)

Day 3 Marhill Winery wine tasting, Sightseeing around Klickitat County, Dinner out @ bar

Friday Sammy made us a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy. It was Jill's first time having it. :) We decided we wanted to drive Jill around that day so she could take in and enjoy the scenery in our area. We  started about by grabbing two delicious drinks from one of the local coffee stands. We both got a drink called 20 below. It's a frozen hot chocolate and taste exactly like a fudge-sickle.  YUM! We wound up at a winery called Mary Hill Winery that overlooks The Gorge and Jill and I were able to do a little wine tasting, my first time ever! We had a blast! Sammy was so sweet and stayed in the car with the kiddos and entertained them. We then headed out towards the Kilickitat River and then out towards a small town named Glenwood (this was the same drive Sammy and I did that I blogged about a little while back, remember?) so Jill could get a better look at Mt. Adams. It was a gorgeous sightseeing trip!

After getting home, it was time to get all dolled up because Jill and I were going to the bar! Whoop whoop! But don't get too excited for us yet. There was no wild night out filled with tons of drinks and getting hit on by multiple guys. Nope. The first bar was pretty much dead and other than a few people asking us if we were from the emmys (a lame excuse of a joke, maybe, because we were dressed fairly nice for any place in my town) there wasn't too much excitement. Still we had a great time eating our meals and having a drink. We then headed on over to the Mexican joint because I thought they had a bar, but turns out they didn't. So we sat at a regular table, nibbled on chips, and got another drink. Halfway through my melon ball I started to get a headache and feel nauseous. That's right folks.....a drink and a half and I feel ill. Sad, but true. Jill says I need to work up my tolerance, I say I don't have the time to go out and have such fun adventures involving drinks and friends. We headed home without a single pick up line or guy's number to shred and giggle over. Sam reassured me I was the hottest looking gal in town and he'd take me home any day. :) We did, however have an eventful "country" drive home. We had to slam on the breaks to avoid hitting two bucks and came fairly close to side swiping a porcupine. At any given second I expected Jill to turn to me with a bewildered look on her face asking, "Just where in the heck am I!?" Now that I think about it, we almost got run off the road on our way to town by a crazy driver taking a turn to fast. I wondered if Jill was scared for her life. hehe

Day 4 Photo shoot for Jill, Turbine sightseeing, Shopping

Saturday, after another delicious breakfast courtesy of my hubby, Jill and I took off down a windy, dusty road to this old house I love to take photos at so I could do a photo shoot for her. I think most of the photos turned out fantastic! I hope you think so too. :) We then continued on to White Creek Wind Farm, the place Sammy works at, so I could show Jill just how big the turbines actually are. The drive was long, dusty, and meandering. Sam does that drive everyday! It's pretty out that way and being amongst all those turbines stuck out in a field is a photographers dream. If only you could get right up on them!!  We eventually found our way to pavement after a long, long drive and headed to The Dalles to do some shopping! The Dalles is an hour from my house and the place we go to to do our shopping, so it was important to me to show Jill a little of that area too. I took her to some stores, stopped to pick up a take and bake pizza, then headed on home for pizza, wine, and a movie!

Day 5 Friend's outback get together, Jill's last day :(

Sunday was a day I didn't want to come, but knew would come far too soon. We definitely dragged our feet in the morning and Jill did her best to pack her stuff up while I made her a disk of all the pictures we took. We wanted to make sure to get a few last group shots, so that was the task for the morning. Sammy's co-worker was having a party for his daughter's first birthday at 1, so we decided that would be a fun ending to Jill's visit. It turned out being waaaaay out in the country on a private land reserve. It was pretty cold and a little windy, but it the area was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the people were super nice. I had never met any of them, but they made me feel very welcome and part of the group. I love that! I had a blast watching Anthony and Molly play with all the other little kids while Jill and I stuffed our faces with homemade salsa (made by my dear friend Justin) and other goodies like chicken, BBQ beef sandwiches, and chips. I definitely got a kick out of Jill wearing Justin's extra camo coat. I'm fairly certain it was her first time wearing camo and it pretty much was the most country she looked the whole time there. It was awesome. :) All too soon 5 o'clock came and we had to head to the airport to get Jill there by 7. It was a bitter sweet drive. I did ok up until the very last second and in an effort to keep from bursting into tears like a baby, I had to give a quick hug and high tail it back to the car. It was horrible. I can't help but feel an emptiness in my heart that only my best friend can fill. I wish she could have stayed longer. But I feel no matter how long her stay, it wouldn't have been long enough. 

Love you Jill. 

With love,

Mama Hauck