double surprise

My {Kera} younger brother Alex aka Elder Ranna {I guess that Ranna is easier for Cambodians to say than Erickson} came home to his new home of Washington on New Years Eve. A few weeks before Christmas Brad and I found a good deal on airfare and decided to surprise him at the airport. Well we actually pulled a double surprise because we didn't tell my parents we were coming either. We flew in about three and a half hours before Alex and just hung out in the Portland airport. We headed over to his arriving gate just before he got there and when he saw me he just stood there. His face didn't even change. He just pointed and said "what are you doing here?" Clearly I was there to see him but I think the fact that my hair was about 10 inches longer than when he left distracted him. Brad video taped the whole thing but I've decided that both of us are better with a camera in our hands and we should leave the video camera thing to others. Once he recovered we headed down to baggage claim. We let him go ahead of us so he could get the proper welcome home from my parents. A few minutes later, while my parents and Kelsey {younger sister} were surrounding Alex, we just walked up and I asked "can we get a ride home?" My mom gave a little more reaction then Alex did but it was sure fun.

After a late night, seeing that it was New Years Eve, Brad and I woke up early to go take some photos at a pier on the Columbia River in Washougal {where my parents live}. Here are a few of the many photos we took. Getting up before the sun didn't prepare me for the best photos but Brad did a good job finding a pretty background to distract from the lack of makeup on my face.

Later that day we went on a tour of the towns. Mainly Vancouver and Portland. These are some photos we took at one of the may bridges along the Columbia River. This one goes from Vancouver to Portland and was built 1917. The wind was blowing and it was cold but there wasn't any rain which we were grateful for. If interested here's some more info abou this bridge ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Bridge

It was short visit because we flew out the following morning {Wednesday} but we had such a good time and we will definitely be going back. It was good to see Alex and in a way get to know him again. I think Kelsey was really glad to have him home as well because when she talks about music and bands {with crazy band names} he knows what she is talking about. While I spent a lot of time with my mom just talking or creating things {both we can do for hours on end} Brad and my dad got to spend some nice peaceful time watching football.