The Last Oregon Hurrah

Here I go again with yet another post about my time back home!

I swear I have lots of wonderful posts lined up but for now all I can talk about is my trip back home. What can I say, I had the best time back home with my family and am dragging out reliving the memories for as long as I can!

I have already shared our holiday fun and while holiday celebrations took up most of our time we were sure to fit in some other fun activities during our amazing trip.

So what did we manage to get up to amidst all the holiday fun???

Going on a wine tour on a party bus with my family!

This is the only picture I have of me and my Dad, in front of the party bus, classy.

What started off as a simple Saturday trip to a local winery turned into a 20+ people event which naturally required that we rented a party bus to shuffle us between three of our favorite winery’s, too much fun!

Seriously our group was massive I can’t believe we all fit onto the bus!

Sister bonding time over wine

It was such a fun day spending time with my family, they are a crazy bunch but I love them! And the Oregon wines, I love them too!

Finally eating at my favorite sushi place

TWICE!

I have seriously been dreaming about this sushi since I moved to Iceland. I have yet to find a place that compares here in Iceland and sushi here tends to be very expensive, like 20 USD for a roll expensive! Crazy right? I was sure to get my delicious and inexpensive sushi fill when I was back home.

Ringing in the New Year with my favorite people

Our New Years was anything but wild and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We spent the night playing board games with my family and were in our pjs by 10. A quiet night in with family was just how I wanted to spend my last night of 2014.

Winter walks in the beautiful Oregon nature

We had some beautiful weather while in Oregon, mild sunny winter days, that is my kind of December weather! I wouldn’t say it was anywhere near warm enough for a swim but Azora clearly thought differently.

I just love the nature in Oregon, such a beautiful place. I am lucky to be surrounded by natural beauty in both my home state and Iceland!

And last, but probably one of my favorite things I did back home…

Bonding time with Azora!

Seriously that face, I already miss her!

I wish Azora could have came back to Iceland with me, I am going to miss my puppy cuddles!

Oh home sweet home, you sure were good to me during my visit! I am going to try and move on and post something other than pictures of Azora, but really is a blog full of dog pictures all that bad, I think not!

Question of the Day?
What did you do over Christmas break?

January 7, 2015 by Kiki

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http://sophieinclogs.com Sophie

Looks like such an amazing time back home - love the family party bus!! Azora is too adorable, it must be so hard to say goodbye to that little face <3
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  The party bus was so much fun! Awe I know, I couldn’t really say a proper goodbye to her I was to upset!
http://www.adventurings.com Cynthia

Azora is all like, “What do you meeeean it’s winter?” I love dogs, but your dog really won out on the “cute genes” lottery! Adorable. Love that you guys all did a wine tour! I’ve done one once in Washington (much smaller group though) and it was fantastic, but pretty much napped for the rest of the day afterwards. NW wines are so underrated!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Awe thanks, I think she is pretty adorable as well. I am so lucky to live near so many wonderful winery’s in Oregon, wine tours are a frequent outing I love them.
http://www.arctic-post.blogspot.com Marju V

I know what you mean about the sushi! It is one of the top things I miss about the States. The prices and quality just don’t compare in Finland…

Love the wine tour fun! Aren’t they the best? :)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I was really surprised that the sushi isn’t very good here with all the seafood that is in Iceland. For a decent tasting roll you really have to spend some serious cash!
  
  Wine tours really are the best, I have been lucky and have been on quite a few, I love them. There are dozens of great winery’s near my families home, love the Oregon wine!
http://www.SamanthaAngell.com/ Samantha Angell

Looks like you definitely had an amazing and memorable trip back home- the memories will hopefully last you a very long time until you are able to head home again! Um, that wine tour looks absolutely AMAZING! I would have loved to been able to join you on it. Hope you are getting back into the swing of things in Iceland easily!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thank you! I am hoping so as well although I am already counting down the days when I get to visit home again. This has been a long week but I am slowly getting back into the swing of things again, slowly!
http://www.rhymeandribbons.com/ Amanda @ Rhyme & Ribbons

Your family looks like a blast! I’m some glad that you enjoyed your time at home! x
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I always have a blast with my family! Thanks Amanda, I hope you get to visit home this year!
http://www.adventuresofadreamcatcher.com Lisa K

That’s great that you got in some quality time with Azora. :) Also, the wine tour looked like sooo much fun. How nice to not have to worry about driving!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  The company who thought of those party bus wine tours are geniuses, it was the best time!
http://letuswanderlust.blogspot.com/ Carly @ Let Us Wanderlust

I love these recaps of your time at home Kaelene! Keep them coming, I say! And pictures of Azora never get old!

So glad you had such a wonderful time back home! That winery party bus business sounds like serious fun!

We had a quiet New Years as well, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Sometimes they are the best ones! X
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thank you Carly! It really was such a wonderful time home I am already counting the days until my next trip back!
  
  A quiet New Years can be so nice, I agree that they can be some of the best ones!
http://guntersabroad.blogspot.com/ Jamie @ Gunters Abroad

What a wonderful time! A wine bus?! Sign me up!! So sorry you had to leave your sweet baby but yay for going home this summer….that’s awesome!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Right the wine bus was the best idea ever! I know, sad I wish I could have brought her with me but yay for another trip home this summer!
http://www.chicadeedee.com/ Dannielle @ Chicadeedee

I would be reliving all my time at home too! When I worked at the winery I used to HATE those party busses, we all dreaded them, especially between 3 and 5 haha.
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Haha I can totally see why those party buses are dreaded, I would have hated them too!
http://www.gorjaeous.com/ Jae

This is probably my favorite of all your posts, Kiki. Nothing beats spending the holidays with family and friends!

P.S. I still can’t get over that photo of you and your sister. #twins
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Awe thanks so much Jae. There really is nothing better than spending the holidays with family and friends!
http://www.wineandolives.co.uk/ Chiara Pannozzo

A wine tour on a bus! That sounds amazing! And as for the sushi, wow. I’m glad you had a great time back home :-)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  The wine tour, the sushi, being back home, it was all just so amazing!
http://www.madetotravelblog.com/ Hannah Webb

Omg that sushi looks amazing!! Its the same crazy prices in Germany as well!

Looks like you had such a great time! Love the party bus haha it would have been so fun. PS Azora is the cutest I want cuddle her just looking at these pictures, I don’t know how you managed to do anything but when you were home
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I miss sushi so much here but there is no way I am paying the crazy prices for it! It really was such a great time at home, and I totally didn’t want to do anything but cuddle Azora ha.
http://www.twofeet-oneworld.com/ Jessi @2feet1world

Wow sounds so awesome - I would be so keen for a wine party bus tour! That sushi looks so delicious and your dog looks like such a sweetie - what a great trip home :)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  The wine party bus was such a great time, I will have to do another one for sure!
http://www.adventuresofalondonkiwi.blogspot.com/ adventuresofalondonkiwi

Isn’t being home such a wonderful, welcoming yet weird ecperience? The party bus sounds ace though!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  That is the perfect way to explain it, a wonderful yet weird experience. I hope you had a great time on your trip back home!
http://weiderjl.blogspot.com/ Jenn

Sounds like a great trip! I’m glad I’m not the only one who wanted to spend new years at home in PJ’s!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Yes, celebrating new years in pjs is just the best!
http://www.crumbsinthebed.com/ Kerri

Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas break! We had family come to stay with us, so it was all about trips around Belgium and showing them the sights. Our New Year was super quiet, just how I like it though. Although as we were watching the BBC we ended up ringing the new year in at 1am!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It was the best Christmas break :) Awe your Christmas break sounds lovely as well, how nice to have family come and stay with you!
http://beertimewithwagner.com/ Jordan Beck Wagner

Your family seems like so much fun!!! Can I join the next trip home?! ;)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I know right, they are a blast!
Beth

What a fab time! If you’re going to rent a party bus, you better fill it up- so well done there! I can’t believe sushi is that expensive in Iceland. That would drive me nuts! But I’m glad you had a great trip back to OR, and hopefully you can do that every year.
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Haha exactly, we had the bus so we better fill it up! Sushi is just so expensive here, and it is only getting worse with the increase in tourism all the restaurants are getting more and more expensive. I really hope I get to make the trip back to Oregon every year as well!
http://www.kati-rose.com/ Kati Rose

It looks like you had a pretty good time back home! I’m glad you enjoyed it! The holiday party bus looks kind of neat - it’s not something you see everybody do every year.
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I have never done the party bus wine tour so it was a blast getting to try it out!
mark a.

wow-you packed a lot into that vacation! very nice!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It definitely was one busy time! I am still tired!
http://totravelandbeyon.com/ Macy Gutermuth

It looks like you had a really fun trip. That wine tour looks perfect!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It was just the best trip. I hope you had a great Christmas and new years!
giggles_6282

I love your blog! You are so inspiring cause you just embrace life!!!! Can’t wait to read more.
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thanks so much:) So glad your enjoying and reading along!
http://the.pyreflies.org/ Jessica ThePyreflies

What a fun trip! You and your sister are gorgeous and Azora is so cute!!

Jessica
the.pyreflies.org
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thank you Jessica!
http://treasuretromp.com/ Nicole @ Treasure Tromp

um, family party bus sounds amazing!!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It was the best family party yet!
http://www.thesunnysideothis.com/ Laisa

azora, why you so cuteeee?! awww, i miss my dogs too way too much! and i just found out that a cat unexpectedly arrived home and it’s soon began to be a part of the family. im dying to go back and have a blissful time like you! hopefully we do a tequila bus or something lol :)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I know right, I miss my dog so incredibly much! A tequila bus sounds like a fun time! Do you have any plans to return home for a visit soon?
  - http://www.thesunnysideothis.com/ Laisa
    
    yes, the last two weeks of february i’m there!! :)
    - http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
      
      Oh nice that will be wonderful!
http://www.packingmysuitcase.com/ Packing my Suitcase

OMG Azora is sooooo sweet!! I have a Golden Retriever too, Enzzo… and he came all the way from Brazil to live with me in Germany :D
Happy to have find your blog via a friend in common, Isabel!! I will look forward to reading more of your posts!
Allane.
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Awe, guldens are the best! So glad you found my blog, thanks for stopping by!
  - http://www.packingmysuitcase.com/ Packing my Suitcase
    
    Yess they are :D
    You’re welcome!!
http://www.teamstarnes.com Alexandra @ Team Starnes

A few things:
#1: The only picture I have with my dad is at a bar. Samsies. Check!
#2: Samsies on the low key New Year. Check!
#3: Samsies on the overload of dog pictures/love. Check! Is she your dog? Will you guys ever bring her over to Iceland? Glad you had a good trip home! xx
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Ha love this! We got Azora when I was living at home when I was finishing up my last year of uni and preparing for Iceland. She is technically a family dog but I always was with her so she was dubbed mine. I won’t ever bring her to Iceland sadly since she is so spoiled back home, lots of love, a big yard and a doggie door to go in and out as she pleases. I just couldn’t handle having her in stuck in quarantine for a month and left at home inside my small flat while I am at work all day. So ya long ramble to conclude that I sadly chose not to bring her, I so miss having a pet at home!
http://bristolinmypocket.blogspot.co.uk/ Sara Rose

That looks like a BLAST! What a fun idea!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It was such a blast!
http://www.seeyouinaporridge.com/ Kristen @ SYIAP

what a fun time - glad you had such a fabulous time with your friends and family! azora really is the sweetest looking dog, makes me miss my golden!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Golden’s are just the best, I miss her already! It was such a blast being back home with everyone!
http://www.world-walk-about.com/ Andrea Sherrodd

Looks like a great time, that pup is so sweet! And you’ve seriously got me thinking of my next family get together…um, party bus wine tasting? Best idea ever!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Seriously the party wine bus was a blast!
http://katieelizabethchicago.blogspot.com/ Katie Elizabeth

I’m a bit biased but I think golden’s are the best dogs ever :) That sushi looks ahhhmazing and a wine tour bus?! Yes please!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I am in totally agreement with you, I think they are the best dogs ever as well :)
http://nostalgiafairydust.blogspot.com FengLin

Looked like you had a blast with your family and dog! Oregon and Iceland are indeed beautiful. You’re SO SO LUCKY!! Those are places on the top of my travel destinations (:
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I feel pretty luck for sure, I hope you get to visit both places!
http://themochileradiaries.com Leah Kate

Oh my goodness, Azora’s face in that last picture! Poor thing looks so sad!! Glad you had such a wonderful time back home in Oregon, wine tasting is ALWAYS a great time!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I know isn’t that the sadness face, awe I miss her! Wine tasting is always a great time, I totally agree!
http://thekaytimes.com/ Kay R.

That sushi looked amazing! Glad you had a good trip home!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I dream of that sushi, it is so good!
http://writergirlm.com/ Martha

It looks like you had an amazing time back home! I would miss puppy cuddles so badly. And I can’t imagine having to shell out so much money for my favorite Thai dishes-I don’t eat sushi, but there’s a local place that makes a mean pad thai and awesome spring rolls, and I couldn’t live without them if I moved away!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I really do miss puppy cuddles so badly! It really is a bit rough not having my favorite dishes around anymore, I just have to eat as much as possible when I am back home.
http://confuzzledom.wordpress.com/ bevchen

Awwww, IAzora is gorgeous. That last photo of her is heartbreaking.
Crazy puppy jumping in the water!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Awe thank you, I think she is pretty gorgeous as well!
http://www.tothedayslikethis.com/ Sammy @ Days Like This

This is the best!!! A party bus, wine tour - can I please come and be part of your family?!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Yes, head on over!

The Last Oregon Hurrah

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