4Q 12X July

Another monthly family picture can be found here.

Bend - Lava Butte

The kids really enjoyed going to Lava Butte last year so we decided to go again this year.  It is yet another massive butte with lava rock surrounding it for miles.  There are lots of walking paths so you can go exploring through the lava rock.  We spent just a few minutes on the path and then headed up to the top of the butte to check out the crater.  

And there is always a great mountain view...seemingly in every direction.

At the top....just can't get used to the hole in those teeth.

After checking out Lava Butte and forcing the kids to pose for too many pictures.  At this point we were hot and decided we'd better cool off at the  pool.  So we headed for Juniper Water Park.

Fun in the pool!

Smith Rock Park

It's me, Dave, just in case you got confused about the change in style or content. Now that we got that out of the way, this is my first blog of our 2011 Bend vacation. It has been an altogether different experience this year with Tyler and Hailey turning into little people rather than toddlers. We have had a trip full of firsts and new experiences and I am excited for what the years will hold in our future. I envision outdoor sports, hiking, skiing, golfing, and our trip to Smith Rock Park was the best indicator of that. In fact, today we went out and got the kids camelbacks to make sure they don't dehydrate and die on us on a future hike!

Val and I planned on taking a shot at an adult hike at Smith Rock and figured a little toe dip into the proverbial waters with the kids would give us a clue about what we were getting into. We have been coming to Bend every summer for all of Tyler's 6 years and then some. Some years we have made multiple trips. We have driven by Smith Rock a few dozen times at least and never got to experience the breathtaking beauty. Even Tyler remarked at how amazing it was and has requested his special day include a hike there, rather than the annual bike ride in Sunriver. Bring it on little man, you got your camelback so lets hit it!

As for me and Val, on one of these mornings we are going to fill up our camelbacks and head out to climb 'Misery Ridge'and then get a good look at Monkey Face. During our hike we looked at Misery Ridge and while both of us have been eating slightly too much on this trip felt we could kick it's you know what! Then, we looked at the map and saw that what we took for 'Misery Ridge' is actually called 'Picnic Lunch Wall'. Stay tuned for how that hike works out!

As for our day, the kids did great. There was a pretty decent descent and ascent (I hope I spelled those right) and we quickly found out that two kids nalgene water bottles is not enough for a hot, dry, dusty landscape and hike as this (thus the camelback splurge). Nature is a wonderful thing and it is becoming more and more evident that our kids were meant for the outdoors, regardless of their paleness!

We don't know what we are getting into, do we?

The path down and up.

The view from below. I am a speck in this photo somewhere, poor choice to wear all tan.

We got this, Dad!

Bend - Hailey's Day

One of our traditions in Bend is to have a special day for each of the kids to be alone with mom and dad.  It's very much a win win situation.  We get to spend  some time alone with each of the kids and whoever is staying home is beyond excited for their Grammy day.  Hailey had her special day on Wednesday.  

Ready to go

We started out at Tumalo Falls.  We were able to drive up pretty close to falls so it was only a short walk up to the top.  We were only there for about 2 minutes before Hailey found a frog she declared to be "warty toad".

Hailey at the falls

The warty toad

Half way up the falls

Top of the falls

On our way out from the falls we stopped by the river and Hailey had the best time throwing rocks and walking in the freezing water. 

wish these hands could stay little

Brrr!

the throw

Our next stop was the Old Mill because Hailey really wanted to ride on the pedal bikes/surrey.  A half hour trip around the trails and she was done.....

Because she wanted to ride her own bike.

I love the flowers they have around the trails here.

My not so little girl

We finished up the day with a milk shake and a trip to the top of Pilot Butte.

On top of the world

I think she had a fun day with us, though she said she missed Ty.

Bend - Bows and drawings

Oh, my creative boy. I love watching him get ideas in his head and then find ways to bring them to life.  He's been wanting a bow and arrow for sometime now. I just haven't been inventive enough to come up with a good creations for him.  He's tried plastic hangers with string and some other things but we hadn't found "the perfect" set up.  Until he told Grammy what he wanted......now he has this:

Ty's new bow

which perfectly shoots straws which aren't very deadly!

The bow and arrows and a castle show inspired him to do a bunch of castle/knight drawings as well.  Here he is hard at work. 



one of Ty's castle drawings (floor plan style)



Tyler also made a self portrait this morning.  His first portrait with a missing tooth.  He even made a little bloody spot where his tooth is missing :).  He added Hailey and myself but Hailey's face is mostly covered by his hand.  He claims this was not intentional. 

Bend - Daily Routine

We've seemed to have slipped into a vacation routine down here.  Mornings are spent waking up, working, computering, getting the kids breakfast, going for a morning run and showering.  By the time that's all done the mornings already coming to a close and we are ready to go do something.

The kids have been waking up and after breakfast have been going back to their rooms and playing or drawing or coloring. 

The bunk beds the kids sleep in at Grammy's

While we've been here Tyler has been less inspired by legos and more inspired with drawing.

Our days have been spent going and exploring new places as well doing our old favorites, bike rides, swimming, and pilot butte (or course root beer milkshakes are involved).  Grammy watched the kids for a couple of days while Dave and I did our annual Tour of Homes tour.  We are hoping to pawn them off on her again so we can tackle a big hike at Smith Rock and maybe  again for some paddle boarding if there is time. 

After our daily outings we head back home for playing and dinner.  A good portion of the evening is spent on the front lawn playing tag, ball, Frisbee, or just running.  The kids have enjoyed being timed to see how fast they can run.

batting practice

frisbee

the throw

the catch

the almost catch

the cutie



The race is on.  Hailey typically gets a 1 second start but she doesn't always need it.  She can be speedy.



Speedy

all smiles

My gang.  Two new hair cuts and some crazy curls.

As much as I love, adore, can't get enough of, palm tree vacations, it is very nice to have a place to come where the weather is nice, we have a free place to sleep,  breakfast and lunch are freely available, dinner  mostly just shows up, and the dishes seem to do themselves for once (thanks mom).  No chores are breathing down my neck and Dave never leaves.  Life is good.