First day in Salem and I am loving every minute of it!

Last night I got home at midnight, packed everything for our trip, then stayed up till 2:30 am watching Private Practice. So rude of them to leave me hanging not knowing if a doctor was going to be cut open by her psycho patient who thought her baby is in the doctors body. I had to watch the next episode (the baby was cut out, kidnapped, but then returned, needed emergency surgery, mom (doctor) needed emergency surgery and everyone survived. I could sleep after that. Phew.

I set my alarm for 8:15 am which felt REALLY early after going to bed less than 6 hours earlier. I laid in bed for 10 minutes, got up and showered, did my hair, packed some snacks, we took the snow tires off the Honda, ate breakfast, parked the Lexus in the garage, and we were off. Lovely morning even though I was so so tired.

Paul and I have found our favorite Mexican restaurant of all time. I think I mentioned it before when we went there after Christmas, but it is called Luis's Taqueria in Woodburn. I LOVE their burritos and they only cost $3.95. I would get fat off these burrito's if I lived closer. They are like heaven in your mouth. We are already looking forward to our next trip eating there.

After lunch we went to the outlet malls. I told you before, but I am in love with the Banana Republic Outlet Malls. There is one in Auburn and then this one in Woodburn that I have been to. I didn't end up getting that dress (the band around my waist wasn't very comfortable), but I did get the tank top and pants. Their pants fit me perfectly, and these ones were only $20 with no tax! Ignore the pink sports bra, I wasn't thinking when I got dressed this morning. I also got this super cute cardigan. I have been looking for one exactly like it for about a year, and I finally found it for the right price! Love it when that happens. I also got this amazing winter coat that was on SUPER sale at the North Face Outlet. I told Paul I wanted to try on the jacket because everyone was trying it on but that I wouldn't buy it. I couldn't pass it up. Warmest, coziest, long jacket ever and now I can go on night walks with Paul and not get cold! ( I just got the coat picture from Paul's phone, that's why it isn't edited at all).

We got to Salem at about 3pm. We went downstairs and hung out with my grandparents, then at 4pm some girls stopped by to visit my grandparents (a grandchild of one of my grandma's best friends who passed away). They stayed for about an hour, then grandma went to cook dinner. I went to help, but she usually likes to do everything herself, so I fiddled on my computer and kept her company while she cooked. She let me set the table though. (shh dont tell, I had to look up correct table settings on google before I set it). :) The picture of Grandma outside is her picking fresh rosemary for the pasta.

Dinner was AMAZING, Paul loved everything too. It was pasta with meatballs (all homemade), fresh homemade rolls, salad with homemade thousand island, and an artichoke cooked in garlic cloves, lemon juice, and and a sprig of parsley for 45 minutes. Um, heaven, all of it. Then for dessert was fresh, homemade today, raspberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Paul and I are getting so so so spoiled. Have I mentioned that my grandma is 87!

I am loving Salem and wish with all my heart I lived closer. I love and miss my grandparents and am so glad Paul is willing to drive me down here and spend three days of his vacation here. (He is the one who brought up the idea actually- love that man. )

Tomorrow is Paul's birthday. We are sleeping in, going to my other grandparents at 11 for lunch, maybe dinking around town a little bit, coming back to Pop and Grandma's house, chillin, watching sports on TV with Pop and then going to the Flight Deck with my grandparents for Paul's birthday dinner. My grandparents had this all figured out before Paul and I even arrived, they are so sweet! :)