Alec's Visit: Multnomah Falls

We were so glad that Alec could join us on a day trip we took to Multnomah Falls. We've really looked forward to visiting since even before we moved to Oregon! It is so easy to access -- just over an hour drive through beautiful dense forest along the river and you're there. The Fall's distinction is, bear with me, it is the second-tallest-year-round-waterfall in the nation. Qualifiers notwithstanding, it is beautiful and we were so glad we could go!

We got out at a vista point on our way there -- it was way too pretty to pass up!


You can see the Columbia river with Washington state on the other side. Notice the cool vista point on the cliff to the right


Here's a shot of the lower falls








If you click on the photo you may be able to see the boys' stripey jackets way up there

Alec's Visit: Out of This World Pizza!

Jake's brother Alec came to visit us this past week-end and we had a blast! The first thing we did was take him to one of our favorite places, Out of This World Pizza and Play. I've been wanting to do a post about this place for a while because it is mind-blowingly AWESOME! I am not exaggerating about this.



Appearances can be deceiving because from the outside it looks kind of like an industrial warehouse (although a well-kept industrial warehouse as far as those things go), but inside the whole area is filled with gigantic play structures, a race track for these little self-propelled vehicles, a kid's town, an area for kids ages 2 and under, a library area, a mother's lounge with a huge one way mirror so you can feed your baby and watch your older kids at the same time and I know there are other things I am forgetting.



It is very secure so that no one can leave with your children, and for being as picky an eater as I am, the food's not half bad. Oh yes, and I should mention that Dads (and Uncles, perhaps?) love going to this place as much as their kids do, so we bought a year-long membership, planning for heavy usage around the time the baby is born. Long, quiet afternoons for baby and me while Jake and the boys go play and get all their energy out seems a heavenly thing.



Rumor has it that the founders/owners of Out of This World live in our neighborhood. We haven't met them yet but it is a very local operation so I would not be at all surprised. Seriously, go check out their website because my pictures cannot do this place justice. Well, I guess what my pictures have over the ones on the website are our very own Joshua and Daniel!

Pumpkin Patch , Take 2

On Friday I was able to chaperone a field trip Joshua's kindergarten class took to another local pumpkin patch and Daniel was able to come along too. We had a great time, once again! I'm glad we got to go to a couple of patches this year as we had to miss out last year due to the wild fires in San Diego. That was a bummer and I definitely wanted to make up for the lost opportunity. Plus, there are so so many pumpkin patches here in Oregon that we would really like to sample them all eventually. Here are some fun pictures for you to enjoy; I know there are a lot, but it just seems to me that pumpkin patches + kids = really great pictures:


Joshua really wanted to take a picture with this guy but Daniel was too spooked, due to a scarecrow incident from last year

Joshua and his good friend Nathan





Ready to board the hay ride





I just think Oregon is so beautiful

Lakeview Farms Pumpkin Patch

I took the boys to a pumpkin patch today and we had a great time! It's located at a very pretty farm just 10 minutes from where we live and wow, we have never been to a pumpkin patch like this one. A paddle boat takes you across a lake to the pumpkin patch where you pick your pumpkins, go through a hay maze and play around on bales of hay. Then a train takes you back when you're all finished. I got lots of good pictures to share. Enjoy!

Don't the boys make a sweet pair?


Daniel really wanted the green pumpkin (on the right)










Just wanted to share some of beautiful Oregon with you!

I've been spoiled

Jake surprised me a couple of Friday nights ago after work by showing up on the door step with a beautiful bouquet of red roses. They looked and smelled divine and we thoroughly enjoyed displaying them on our table throughout the week.


Well, once it was time for the roses to go I decided that the area looked too bare without the flowers. They had truly added much cheer and beauty to our home. Fortunately for us, Trader Joe's sells seasonal bouquets for very reasonable prices. Also fortunately for us, we have a couple of beautiful rose bushes in our backyard (the really pretty kind that are pale pink with yellow mixed in). We got a few last blooms the week or two after we moved in and I really look forward to displaying those next spring and summer!