Anyone Seen Twilight?

Anyone recognize these falls from the first Twilight movie? Multnomah Falls received a few seconds of screen time in that movie. So . . . I guess that means I am from a pretty cool place!

Day 2 of our trip was so much fun . . . and a workout! To start out, we hiked Multnomah Falls. It is only about a 1 mile hike. But that baby backpack . . . I tell ya . . . made me feel so out of shape. I don't think I have ever thought of Multnomah Falls as a "hard" hike before. I need to start wearing that thing around more often! Ha!

Oh, and if anyone is wondering "why doesn't her husband wear that backpack for her"? It is at my request. I like the workout. But more importantly, when Gwen gets tired (and she always does) Ben can carry her (she's a bit heavier)!

We made it to the top!

Next, we went to Cascade Locks to have a picnic. It felt SOOO cold! It is so windy out there!

Here is my favorite part. It seems like it became tradition years ago, that after a hike to Mulnomah Falls, one must get ice cream at this little place that looks like a hole-in-the-wall. These "flavor burst" cones are awesome! I had been thinking about these cones the whole week before we came!

It helped that the sun wasn't really out. The last time we were here and got these treats, they melted in about 30 seconds!

Since we were in the area, our next stop was the Bonneville Dam.
Here the girls are looking at the fish trying to swim upstream.

Some of the salmon were humungo!

Here's a fish ladder.

These are generators that use the water to generate electricity. Doesn't this room look like a government secret or a movie set?

Stay tuned for day number 3!

July is Here!

Happy 4th of July! This is one happy time for us.

First, Ben has finished his 1st year of his MBA program and has

a whole whopping 5 weeks off! Wahoo!

Second, to celebrate this new, short-lived freedom,

we went to visit my parents in Washington (where I grew up) for a week!

I really LOVE going home.

Here's my girls lighting sparklers with Grandpa.

A fun beginning to our one week adventure!

My Dad and Austin hanging out.

Austin exploring the deck. He was sure happy to be out of the car . . . it was one LONG 13 hour drive to get there. Thanks goodness for DVD's!

More of what we did and pictures to come!

The Y

Last night we hiked Y Mountain with some friends of ours. I know I did it last year with my kids, but this time it seemed like the mountain was a lot steeper! (And this time I was carrying Austin in the baby backpack. Last year he was A LOT smaller!) And it was HOT! I made it though. So did all the kids.

Halle I believe ran all the way up, and all the way down . . . with energy to spare!

Here the girls were looking for "Y" sticks! ....... Ben and Gwen . . . so cute!



Until next year!

Camping with a Baby

So . . . just so everyone knows . . . we will NOT be camping again until Austin is two . . . maybe three.

We went to our ward campout this last weekend. It was really fun! Ben of course was coaxed into putting his musical talents to work (which he doesn't mind doing)!

I did all of my girls' hair in fun braided up-do's. Braids are mandatory when you are camping! I wish I had gotten individual pictures of their hair . . . so cute.

Gwen made a new friend. These two were tied to the hip all night long. And the first thing Gwen talked about in the morning was about finding this new friend so they could play.

We camped at Bennion Creek. The kids all wanted to play around in the water . . . which I hear was SUPER COLD!

I didn't do any serious hiking here . . . I just got so tired of carrying a crying baby around. Into the baby backpack he went . . . and stayed for a few hours . . . and he didn't seem to mind!

Abby eventually got the guts to let go of the swing. After many attempts.

Gwen ended up in the water . . . once was enough for her!

I don't think Halle really ever got wet . . . but I think she had a good time watching everyone else come out of the water like an ice cube.

Okay, now to why I will not camp with Austin for a couple more years. To start out with, he was so grumpy. In his defense, he had been sick a day or two before, and we now realize that he has some back teeth coming in.

BUT . . . it was so hard to deal with a grumpy baby at a campsite. He refuses to walk . . . and so I felt like I couldn't really ever put him down. He didn't want to be in the stroller. He just wanted to fight being held.

He went to bed okay, and so then I was hopeful that we would have a successful camping trip. Now . . . let's just get this straight, to ME . . . a successful camping trip is my children sleeping the ENTIRE night . . . without crying or screaming or having a hard time in the tent.

Okay . . . so back to my story, Austin went to bed GREAT! We put him to bed really late for him, but seemed to really enjoy being put to bed. He slept through the girls getting ready for bed. He actually slept for several hours without making a sound. I went to bed VERY hopeful . . . I mean, he sleeps so well at home.

Around 3am however, he woke up. Let's just say he cried, and SCREAMED, on and off until around 5am. NOT FUN! I'm not sure that we will even be invited to this campout again next year, but even if we are . . . I don't think Austin can come. To me, it is just so much work to gather everything and go camping, to only have a TERRIBLE night once all the activities are over. I'm lame I know. I just really like to sleep at night. . . .

Maybe we will just start camping in backyard more often!

9 Years Old

9 years ago, at this VERY moment, Abby was 5 minutes old. The c-section had been terrifying for me. I remember being very scared, excited, and not sure how to take care of a baby. Luckily, babies are VERY durable, because obviously Abby survived despite having me as a mother! I am NOT kidding when I say I did not know what to do . . . it was a really hard few months.

Abby turned 9 today, and I realized that Ben and I are already halfway done with our time with Abby at home! In another 9 years, she will have just graduated from high school and soon be off to college. Doesn't that seem crazy?

Abby's birthday dinner. We had Abby's dinner the night before her birthday, so Ben could be home for it . . . you know, we have to work around that school schedule.

Birthday breakfast consisted of stuffed french toast and fried eggs. She also got a few gifts that she REALLY wanted!

Usually we do some sort of themed birthday party at home, but this year Abby wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese! Wahoo! It was so fun!

It is so hard to decide what to spend all those tickets on.

Gifts and cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, with Abby's favorite frosting . . . and decorated with everyone's first initial. Abby sure knows what she wants!

Abby is such a great girl. She really is so grown up . . . sometimes too grown up! She helps me so much and is so nice to her younger sisters and brother. Happy Birthday Abby!

48 Hours

My mother-in-law came into town this week and offered to take our children to stay with her for a couple of days. I couldn't refuse that! And the kids were so excited to be able to spend some time with "nana".

So now, I have around 48 hours to do WHATEVER I WANT! What a weird feeling! I sometimes have a couple of hours of free time, but NEVER days. In fact, with Ben in school, I have kind of been on my own with the kids since last August. What project to I start first? Or do I bag projects and just sleep? We'll see what happens.

I have mixed feelings about someone else taking care of my children. I always feel like I am the "only one" who can really do it . . . even though that is not true. I miss them already, but I know they will have a good time, and I'm sure I will feel very rejuvenated when they return.

It's Worth it, Right?

So, Ben was out of town again this weekend for another conference. Between him being gone for work, school, church, more work . . . I'm feeling like a single parent! Except that I don't have to bring home the bacon too. I know, I know . . . a lot of moms do everything on their own. I guess I am just more aware of what a needy wife I am right now! Some days are fine, and some days I think I can't do it anymore. I am ready for a family vacation, or at least for him to have his 4 week summer break from school! I'm sure down the road we will be SO glad that he got his MBA . . . at least we better be! We are almost half way done! And now that I say that . . . I guess I realize this time is going by quickly . . . but . . . oh, woe is me anyway:)

Here are some pictures of Memorial Day weekend fun.