Bend - Tyler's Smith Rock

One of our Bend traditions if for both Tyler and Hailey to have a mommy/daddy day.  A day just for them and we go do the fun things that they want to do.  Whoever is being left behind gets to have a Grammy day which is equally exciting for the kids.  Tyler decided he wanted to climb to the top of Smith Rock to see Monkey Face.  It's quite a hike but we knew he would be up to it.  He did a great job!

 

part way up misery ridge...it's a long way down.

continuing to hike up

Monkey Face

on top of the world

working out way back down

rock sculpture display

 

Our favorite moments!

More Clear Lake

Dave already posted about Clear Lake but I have just a few more pictures I wanted to put on here.  Between cameras and iphones etc.  it's getting hard to keep track of all these photos :).  This was such a fun trip.  The kids loved rowing the boat.  It should be noted that when both kids row around in circles you go :).  

 

Bend - Shevlin Park

Another one of our adventures in Bend this Summer was Shevlin Park.  We will definitley be going back.  Lots of fun hiking tails along the river and even better lots of spots along the river where the kids could stop and play.  Most had rocks and logs tied down to create a nice little "pool" of calm, very cold, water.  Perfect for the kids to play in.

 

the river at Shevlin Park

Whirlpool

the kids loved throwing sticks and things into the whirlpool and watch them spin around

rock throwing

 And then we played in the ater for a bit and then Hailey fell so it turned more into swimming....good thing it was a hot day!

I just love being outdoors and love that Bend has so many trails and places to explore.

Tyler- Bend

Tyler spend much of our Bend vacation finding things he could "ninja warrior" on.  So he loved that the sunriver water park had the floating logs with the net.  Actually, this is what he did the entire time (hours) that we were there.  And check out how bleached is already blond eyebrows are getting.  Invisible :)

 

still here

Turns out when you spend you days taking care of the kids, working your first job in the morning and trying to get a second job going at night, there's not much time left for blogging :).  But, I'm determined to get our July Bend vacation posted before August if over :)  and we just got back fromt eh beach so I have some posts on that too.  And school is just aroung the corner.  Things are hopping over here.  So more Bend posts coming.  Until then, a few pics that make me smile.  Someone tell me where my little boy went??

rabbit ears are just so funny....rare to get a picture of Tyler's "real" smile

4Q12X

July's post is up on the family blog HERE.  More catching up Bend blogs coming soon.

Row Row Row Your Boat - Bend 2012

Each year brings a little something different than the year before. New sights, attractions and events. This year we visited one of the clearest AND COLDEST lakes I have ever seen, Clear Lake OR.

Clear says almost all, but the blues and greens of the water were spectacular. The lake was formed through volcanic activity and you can see the petrified trees still standing on the lake floor, frozen in time by the temperature and lack of bacteria in the water.

Ty and Hailey got to take turns rowing together and solo and did a great job. There is a 'resort' on site that is comprised of several square little structures we assume contain beds. I could see that in our future....what do you say Val?