Mimi and Pops visit

Bryce's parents came for a nice visit-almost 2 weeks-from Labor Day through just before Maddie's actual birthday.  We had beautiful weather, hung around the house, and got out a few days to explore.

How to have an easy princess birthday party

First, ask grandparents to come visit for a couple weeks.

Second, have it outside.

Third, add lots of pink, balloons, princess skirts, snacks, and a birthday cake.  Don't forget the "put your own tattoos on" station and the piñata.  An added bonus: have the husband blow bubbles on the lawn.  Let all the kids leave just before they come down from their sugar high.

Here are a bunch of pictures from our little four year old's princess birthday party.  She dressed as Belle, her favorite Disney princess (even though she has not seen the movie and to my surprise, since her favorite colors do not usually include yellow).

Madison turns 4!

Our little girl got a little bigger.  She turned FOUR this September.  I just can't believe how fast she is growing.  She is our firecracker.  She is still as courageous as ever, but cautious and smart now.  She is strong, never stopping, energetic, and seeks adventure.  She has said it to me before (who knows where she got this), "I do what I want."  With that, as you can imagine, we pray for patience and deal with discipline on a daily basis with this sweet girl.  I think one of my biggest prayers is to teach her well without crushing her God-given spirit.  She is unpredictable and a little all over the board with her emotions at some points.  I attribute that mostly to her age, trying to learn how to regulate her emotions and learn how to control them.  Despite what you'd expect from a girl with her personality, she is very shy.  It has been so fun to watch her grow since having started preschool.  I didn't see her speak to her teachers for the first 3 weeks.  Now, she has good friends and always has a buddy while at school.  I believe she's a natural, quiet leader.  There have been a couple times when she's asked me, "Why do they want to do what I'm doing?" At the same time, in many situations, she is quick to follow others (like if someone at the park isn't wearing a coat or shoes, she quickly throws hers off...or if her class mate is drawing the bear holding lollipops, she draws that too).

Amy visits - July 2016

Living way up in the left corner of the USA and 3 time zones away makes me feel pretty far from family.  In some ways, it feels way closer than Switzerland.  In other ways, it feels the same: far away.  One funny thing about being far, is that somehow, being in the same time zone as someone, even if they live a flight away, makes you feel closer.  Like my little sister, Amy, in Las Vegas.  I know that I can call her after I put the kids in bed and it's not too late or too early to call her.  It's also a much cheaper flight for her (or me) to go visit.  So when Bryce planned his 10 day Montana fishing trip with friends at the end of July, I asked her right away to come stay for a long weekend.  She had never been up to the Portland area.  Here are a few fun pictures of her visit...

We took the kids downtown for a few hours and tried to stop at a few yummy spots like Pips Original Donuts, the food truck block, and Salt & Straw for dessert.  

Bend Fourth of July trip: Part 2

To continue...

Day 4 (Tuesday, 7/5):

We drove along the Cascade highway towards Mt. Bachelor and stopped at Cultus Lake.  This highway passes so many lakes-Devils Lake, Elk Lake, and Cultus Lake, just to name a few.  There are tons of outdoor activities along this scenic byway like camping, hiking, boating, and mountain biking.  We really had a hankering (for lack of a better term) to rent a pontoon boat on one of the bigger lakes to picnic, swim, and hang out.  We ended up at Cultus Lake as one of the few lakes that allow motor boating.  When we got out there, it felt freezing, probably in the high 60s with a strong wind off the lake.  We rented the boat anyways and went out on the water wrapped up in our towels.  Luckily, on the far side of the lake, there was a calm beach situated perfectly without much wind.  The water was really cold, so we didn't swim, but we did picnic, play in the sand, and lay in the sun.  It had me missing the warm North Carolina lakes in the summer, but it was still fun.

Bend Fourth of July trip: Part 1

We took an unforgettable trip to Bend over the 4th of July.  Bryce took a week off and the four of us had a different adventure every day.  We were able to stay at our friend's house (free!) for the entire week.  Back in July, the weather was actually cooler than usual not only in the Portland area but even in Bend on the other side of the mountains.  It was low 70s and sunny every day, so perfect for hiking and getting outside, but not quite warm enough for throwing on swimsuits and swimming as much as we had hoped.  Although we did spend the warmest day swimming all day.  It felt like a perfectly packed itinerary with lots of different things and the kids loved it as much as we did.  So, here's what we did, day by day.



Day 1 (Saturday, 7/2):

On the way to Bend, we actually stopped to do a hike.  It was on the way to Bend and a very nice place to hop out and take a break from the 3.5 hour drive.  The McKenzie River Trail to the Tamolitch Blue Pool was a hike we really wanted to check out.  Since it goes along the river, it wasn't straight up hill.  This was the first hike that we only brought one backpack for Carter.  Bryce and I miscommunicated about the length...I thought it was about 2 miles round trip so I was sure that Maddie could do it.  When we got started, Bryce said it was almost 4 miles round trip!  With lots of encouragement and probably less than 1/4 mile riding piggy back, she made it!  The blue pool was amazing, but difficult to hike/scramble down to actually put our feet it.  Lots of people were jumping in or just sitting around it.  One negative about the hike-mountain bikers shared the trail, so many times, we had to quickly move to the side.  Plus, it was pretty crowded, but with good reason.  Carter even enjoyed hiking a little bit when we first got started.

Angel's Rest Hike

The Columbia River Gorge ("the Gorge" around these parts) is a short drive from our house.  It's full of hikes with lots of beautiful waterfalls.  We've hiked at the most well known waterfall, Multnomah Falls, as well as Latourell Falls, and even a hike with falls at Mitchell Point.  Recently, we did my new favorite hike in the gorge: Angel's Rest.

The trail is 2.4 miles to the top passing two waterfalls, over a bridge, and the most amazing views at the top.  Maddie was such a big girl.  She basically ran the trail for the first 1.5 miles playing the chasing game.  Every time Daddy and Matt got near, she turned and ran further...until she got worn out and asked to be carried.  

Our good friend, Matt, was in town for the weekend.  He moved to Bend and we miss him.

The top is a huge bluff with 270 degree views.  It's a pretty scary drop so we didn't let the kids roam without holding our hands or being carried.  It was pretty crowded.  Lots of people were eating and hanging out at the top.

Not poop or dirt on his hands...chocolate! :-)

Carter: 2 years old!

As I sit here, the kids are upstairs asleep.  Bryce just left for a long backpacking trip yesterday.  So for my Friday night, I'm sitting here catching up on the blog and getting teary thinking about this cutie pie growing up.

Our little guy is not so little anymore.  On April 30th, 2016, he turned TWO years old!  Wasn't I just yesterday sitting in a hospital bed when the nurse handed me our little red head?

Here's to you, our sweet Carter.

You are the sweetest little guy.  And I'm not just saying that because I'm your mommy.  You are always open to a cuddle, especially after naps or in the morning when you wake up.  You will sit content in our lap for much longer than you'd expect from a two year old.  You almost never have a problem sharing, but when something is taken away from you, that's a different story.  Even your tantrums are quite tame with fussing, crying, and wanting someone to comfort you.  You are so sensitive and tender hearted.  You started crying while I was reading "Llama Llama Red Pajama" when the mommy llama was busy washing dishes and baby llama got upset.  When you disobey, which hasn't happened much, you are quick to obey once we ask or count to three.  When in trouble, you keep your head lowered and by even just the change in our tone, you are repentant and walk towards us for reassurance, comfort, and a hug.  You want to do everything your older sister does every day.

With their beloved Walmart garden gnomes

To this day, we can't sing songs when trying to calm you down, especially not "Jesus loves me" because it makes you cry.  I recently tried to sing it and see if it was just a baby thing.  Well, that was a big mistake because you were hysterical within the first few words of me singing.  We're guessing that maybe you were sung to at church when we left you at one point and so it's associated with bad memories....but we're not sure.

You are easy going and generally happy.  You are great in the car seat.

You finally started sleeping through the night around 22 months (with all the moving, traveling, all everything else changing, I finally sleep trained you around then once we were settled in our new house).  You nap 2-3.5 hours every day.  Usually a nap is from 1-3/4pm.  And it's AMAZING.  Sometimes I even have to wake you up at 4:30/5pm.  You go to bed around 7:30/8 and wake up around 6/6:30am.  There have been many days recently where we skip naps and you've never completely lost it like some toddlers.  You are up for playing extra long and then ready for bed when it's time.

I stopped breastfeeding when you were around 18 or 19 months and you still take the bottle before nap and bedtime.  But don't worry, you out there, we brush his teeth and he never falls asleep with it, just a few ounces while we are reading a book and settling down.  After reading books, I rock you for just a couple minutes with your head on my shoulder before I lay you down.  You reach for your green monkey and roll over to fall asleep.  It took awhile for you to go to sleep on your own after I put you down fully awake, but now, you are a pro.  In fact, it takes as little as 5 minutes to put you down and I usually rock you just because I want to, not because you need it.

You love: dogs, balls, lollipops, trucks and tractors, brushing your teeth by yourself, running with your running shoes on (pumping your right arm as you go), trying to keep up with Maddie, trains, cars, airplanes, Mickey Mouse club house, the book and song "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed", and the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?"  You also love motorcycles and stop in your tracks and stare whenever we see or hear one.

You've also become brave on the trampoline and love playing on it with Maddie.  I'm still surprised at how you just let her bounce you all over it, falling, laughing, and jumping just as much as she does.

You are talking more and more.  You are putting 2-3 words together to combine thoughts and meaning.  It's so fun.  I am losing track of all that you are saying because you're talking all the time.  You love to repeat things that other people say.

Words:
Naan Naan= Maddie
Nack=snack
Yukah=shoes and socks ("kah"=socks, "yu"=shoes)
Teeeet= treat
Bop bop bop= lollipop
Wah wah wun= another one
Lellow=yellow (your favorite color)

You are so well mannered, almost always remembering to say "please" and "thank you."  When hiking, you often say "hi" to people passing by.

You often use your high pitched scream/whine to get what you want.

You are a good eater and generally eat whatever we eat.  I don't think you really have a favorite food.  You don't love chocolate.  When given a chocolate chip cookie, you give it back when you reach a chip or try to spit out the chocolate.  But you do love other sweets like candy or vanilla ice cream.   Oh, and "mum" or gum.  Somehow, you kids expect a piece of gum when we get in the car.  But I try to reserve it for longer rides.

This year, Daddy's birthday was on Monday and your birthday was on Saturday.  So we had birthday cake, just the four of us, on Monday and you two blew out candles together.  You opened your big present from us-a scooter-and loved it.  Throughout the week, you opened up gifts from family like a bouncy donkey, a bubble push mower, a soccer ball net, and a T-ball set.  That week, your biggest priority was to blow out as many candles as possible.  You just couldn't get enough!

On Saturday, April 30th, we went to downtown Portland to a farmer's market, got donuts, and then on a hike in Forest Park.  That night, we stuck some candles in vanilla ice cream covered in rainbow sprinkles.

Memorial Day in Bend

The best things happening to us in the car lately: gum and the DVD player in our new to us Honda Pilot.  These kids are troopers.  We drove for 3.5 hours to Bend with no breaks or stops.  We have our car routines in any which order depending on the day: 1. snacks: a few options and always a treat-usually lollipop because they last longer-for when things sour, 2. "I spy" game which can last awhile and Carter even tries to play, 3. Stretching: I talk them through different stretches in a very calm, quiet voice ("Now reeeeeach for the sky as high as you can, now rotate your wrists, now tighten your fists as tight as they go, now relax them, now stretch your neck rolling your head one way...then the other...", etc.), 4. Talking about adventures we are going to go on or what we think might happen, almost like imagining different scenarios, 5. Telling stories about when they were born, when we were married, making it interesting for Maddie-if she's interested, Carter is, or if she is calm, he is usually calm, 6. DVD player!, or 7. iPad-for games like this "Talking Angela" game she loves-it's like a virtual pet, or a matching/memory one on there, or this puzzle one kind of like tetris.  

We left on a Saturday morning and returned on Monday afternoon.  It was a quick trip, but we love going there and it was great catching up with Matt.

He's renting a house near downtown and it just so happens to have an awesome tire swing.

We spent our first full day at Smith Rock State Park.  It's about 30 minutes outside of Bend.  It's super popular for rock climbers and a great place to go hiking or walking.

There are two rock climbers sitting on top of the monkey face rock.  Can you find them?

Carter slept on Bryce's back on the way up while Maddie rested on Matt's as soon as the hike got steep.  This was the main trail/hike at Smith Rock.  Not only was it very crowded, but it was also a little treacherous with slipping rocks and gravel near steep sides.

Last time, we went up this way-it's called Misery Ridge Trail.  This time, we went down this way.  It's hard to do either way.

The next day, Bryce and I went out to breakfast together while Matt and Kristin watched the kids.  Then we went fishing for a little while in the afternoon.  This was the first time for the kids.  It was at a little 18 and under pond.  Daddy caught one and they helped reel it in.  They had more fun throwing power bait in the water and seeing the fish swim to get it.  Overall, it lasted longer than I had expected.

"Ohh! BIG fish!"

Daddy is so good about cleaning the car right after road trips.  One of the reasons it's nice to get back earlier in the day.

We went back to Bend for July 4th and had lots of adventures in the area.  Excited to share!