Biking and Camping

I am so happy that we have kids that love to be outside as much as we do. Getting dirty, throwing rocks, riding bikes, what more is there to a great summer day? These next few pictures are from an outing to Shevlin Park, about a 5 minute car ride from our house. It is fun that the boys are now able to explore on their own two feet, as opposed to riding in the ergo or a stroller. We don't really get very far, but of course that is not the point on outings like these, just watching these guys explore and inspect and wander their way along the trail is the experience in itself.



Our favorite mode of transportation these days has been on bike. I found this trail-a-bike on craigslist, and I am pleasantly surprised how much Piper digs it. I thought she was going to be too little, I was afraid she would fall off. Though she can't quite reach to peddle yet, she loves it so much and hangs on just fine. She is usually singing away as we bike around town and she especially loves riding to school on it. We even rode to swimming lessons across town which included going through a pedestrian tunnel under the railroad tracks. If we are all together, Dave usually rides with Piper on the trail-a-bike and I have the boys in the Chariot. Though the other day it was just me and the kids, so I had Calvin in a bike seat attached to my bike and the Chariot trailing behind with Piper and Jett. We ventured out to the Farmers Market, then to Piper's soccer practice. So fun to be out riding around, I really am proud of ourselves for just being creative and figuring out ways that we can be out and mobile rocking the 3 kiddos where ever we want to go. And I am happy that both Dave and I are equally confident and cable of being on our own and out with the 3 little monkeys. While I was out on a mt. bike ride with some friends last week, Dave also ventured out on bike to take the kids for a picnic dinner by the river. We really do live in a great location with so many different fun places we like to bike to.



Piper loves swimming, and we have the added bonus of signing up for swim lessons this year the same time as several other friends from her play group. We all strategically signed up for the last time slot before open swim time on Friday morning, so we can all stay and play in the pool right after lessons. I asked Piper what her favorite part of swimming lessons was and she said "I liked EVERY SINGLE part of swimming!"



Last weekend was our first camper van trip of the summer. It was so good to get it out again after all the work Dave has put into it over the last few months. We knew there was a leak that was there before we bought it, but didn't know the extent to the damage until he really pealed a few layers back. We got a really good deal on the camper van and this was probably why. It was a lot of work and a lot of headache, but it is all sealed back together now and we are excited to get it out in the woods again.



So this trip was to Wickiup Reservoir, the lake that pours into the beginning of the Deschutes river. We found a sweet spot that had lots of lake frontage and no one else in view. We saw bald eagles, ospreys diving in to catch fish and the biggest highlight...frogs! Thousands of little frogs, so many that you couldn't help step on one while walking along the beach. Once again it was funny to see the difference in reaction of the kids towards the frogs. Piper and Jett were all about them, chasing them, catching them, super interested in them. Calvin was curious, but wanted nothing to do with actually touching the frogs.



We even had visitors, Shawn and Maggie, that came for the day to play while Molly was back in town keeping the Cascade Cycling Criterium on course.



And of course camping wouldn't be camping without roasting marshmallows!

I LOVE SUMMER

Man, we had an action packed weekend. I really do LOVE summer in Bend. Being outside in the warm weather, enjoying all the activities, festivals and music that our town has to offer...it's the best! Seems like we really got to enjoy life to the fullest this past week while Grandma Alice was back in town. She even allowed us 24 hours away from the kids while she held down the fort on her own. This was the first time both Dave and I had a night away together from all the kids. We chose to do a paddleboarding camp out near the Wickiup Reservoir on the Deschutes River. This mellow float we have done many times, but not since Piper was born. We found a rad campsite right on the river, and enjoyed a peaceful dinner, campfire and float down stream.



We love our kids so much AND it was soooo nice to have time with just the two of us. Thank you Grandma Alice.

Piper and I signed up for another fun race with our friends Alissa and Owen. This one was called the Sagebrush Community Scramble, a fundraiser for all the local non profits in town put on by Gary Fish (the owner of Deschutes Brewery). This race was just one small aspect of the fundraiser, but such a fun idea. We had 90 minutes to gather as many points as we could by finding clues and challenges around Bend. I was nervous about having Piper do this race because of the distances we had to cover, but she was excited about it and really just so excited about participating in races! We had a great time, and did pretty well finding the different clues downtown. It was so cute having the kids help decide where to go and help figuring out what the clues meant. They definitely got tired and we took lots of water and snack breaks, but we made it back in the allotted 90 minutes time. We celebrated with Powell's ice cream at the end of the race! Success!

It seems like summer really did just start last week after we got home from the Oregon Coast, and already we have done some of my favorite summer time activities...the fourth of July Pet Parade and old fashioned family fun games in Drake Park (including 3 legged races, gunny sack races, dizzy devil races), Les Schwab Amphathether concerts, floating the river on paddleboards and in our little river rafting boat, going to outdoor concerts, bike riding and walking to town and spending the day at Elk Lake!



We were joined by our friends Michelle and Eric and their daughter Mae, who is just 4 days younger than the boys. Such a fun day enjoying the sun, water, kids playing, and just hanging out having nothing to do but play.

Droullard Coast Trip 2011

We just got back from our 5th annual Coast trip with my parents and sister's family. What a cool tradition, we have so much fun hanging on the beach and just watching the kids run around together. This year we were a little unlucky with the weather, which put a damper on the ocean wave playing, but we still got dressed warm and braved the elements. There was only one day that it rained all day and this was the day that Grandma and Grandpa took Piper and Garret on a special outing to Seaside. They rode a carousel, ate ice cream, saw an octopus at the aquarium and had a great time. Dave and I decided to take the boys on a walk along the beach to town, we got soaked from the rain, and it was almost a miserable walk, but luckily we decided to embrace the rain and I was amazed at how much less tense I felt after I just decided to let myself get wet. It actually felt good and refreshing. The boys were cozy as ever snuggled down in the Chariot, they even took a nap during the ride.



And of course the puppy got his puppy crazies out non-stop at the beach. Something about sand on his puppy paws must feel so good! Mango just runs and runs and runs at the beach, it is so fun to see his puppy ears flapping in the wind. Ahhh puppy heaven!

My sister brought kites for the kids which was fun. But the fun didn't last long because Uncle Kevin was getting fancy with his stunt kite and sliced the string on both his and Piper's kite! Piper's kite flew up and away and was no where to be found, then later Auntie found it in someones yard. Piper said, "Auntie is a superwoman - she found the kite!"



Calvin gives the best hugs! I love this picture of him and Grandma Linda.

The boys weren't too sure about this crazy creature (the seaweed, not my dad I am talking about) =-)

As you can imagine, it was not easy getting the four kids to smile for the camera at the same time, this one turned out pretty good though...

Creative fun on the rainy day...

Near the Big Rock at Cannon Beach there are amazing tide pools that are so fun to explore. The colorful starfish and squishy sea anemones were a highlight, as well as the hermit crab. It was fun to see Jett and Piper get so excited about holding the the hermit crab, they had no fear, even when it came out of the shell and walked around on their hands. Calvin on the other hand wanted nothing to do with the mysterious creature.

Spending time together: walking on the beach, digging in the sand, chasing waves, building river dams and enjoying the salty beach breeze, this is what the coast trip is all about. What a special time, thank you mom and dad for making this trip happen each year - we love it!

And of course no Coast trip would be the same with out the deluxe sand castles that David and Kevin build every year. These creations always draw lots of attention and conversation.

And last but not least...we were excited to finaly meet Tatem June the new baby of our friends Erin and Andy who live in Portland. They made a day of it and met us in Cannnon Beach our last day there. So fun to catch up, go to the candy store and have lunch.