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!