Birthday Weekend at McCobbins

This year, Orin's birthday coincided with Memorial Day weekend.

Because everybody had a long weekend for the holiday,

we decided to pull out our camping gear, load up our dirt bikes, and

head to the other side of Mount Hood to McCobbins Gulch 

a.k.a. Dirt Bike Heaven. 

Although it had been a long time since we packed up the van,

one thing hadn't changed...

my inability to pack in any way that did not result in the van 

looking like the site of a recent bomb detonation.  

When we arrived, we snuggled into a spot between the trees,

joining a city of other tents, RVs, and bikes.

One of the families we were staying with had made Orin 

a birthday cake and everyone at the campsite sang him 

"Happy Birthday" before we let him dive into the frosting.

The next day we spent time alternating between hanging out with 

friends and family and riding the bikes.

There were almost more dirt bikes and 4-wheelers at the camp

than there were people

and for the whole weekend you could hear the constant roar

of engines coming and going from 8am until past midnight

(some people had lights on their helmets for night riding).

Orin hung around the campsite,

playing with family when Casey and I

would go out riding together.

The funniest moment of the weekend was when I jumped 

my bike off the top of the hill pictured below, 

thinking that I would find flat ground,

and instead ending up in freezing cold pond water up to my neck.

Steven had to jump in and pull my bike out before 

congratulating me on my first real crash.

When he asked me if I was okay, I said "everything but my pride."

We were both laughing as we rode back to camp to dry our gear.

Orin is already showing an interest in riding,

but despite Casey and Steven's assertions that he

could start learning to ride within the next couple years,

I have yet to be convinced that it is a good idea.

Either way, for now he is having plenty of fun off-roading his Tonka.

Next Sunday we will have a proper birthday party for Orin

 that will feature party favors instead of dirt bikes

and soft grass and sandboxes instead of wood-chips.

Pictures of that to come.

Our Garden

I am a frequent visitor of The Barnstorming

a blog that (among other things) 

chronicles the life of Orin's cousin Alden.

The most recent post on the Barnstorming titled "The Garden" has 

reminded me of some photos that got buried in the vault;

Photos that I had taken to document the first Zawicki Family Garden,

a little project I dove into head first about a month ago. 

Because our house is currently for sale,

and the soil in the sunniest part of the yard is terrible,

I decided that our first garden should be confined to containers.

Right off the bat, I think I got a little overzealous about the garden,

 selecting an enormous number of seeds and starts.

My broccoli crop is a perfect example,

I think I planted over a dozen broccoli starts, 

which could, I assure you, feed a small army.

(this picture shows only part of the crop)

I also planted grape tomatoes, romaine lettuce, beans, strawberries,

walla walla onions, basil (from seed), cilantro, parsley, 

red, yellow, and orange peppers (pictured below),

a hot pepper of an unknown variety,  cucumbers, and zucchini.

I am proud to say that (so far) I have not killed anything,

although the cucumbers are off to a pretty bad start.

Orin has been taking an active part in the upkeep of the garden,

mainly by making sure that no ripe strawberries go to waste.

He also occasionally tries his hand at weeding,

although last time he was allowed to dig in the soil,

he decided that it might make a good snack.

This idea lead to an immediate need for a new outfit,

a head to toe scrubbing, and a sizable drink.

(Soil has a tendency to induce thirst when consumed in quantity,

or so I am told)

I will try to keep you updated on the garden as it begins to yield

its bounty or succumb to the same fate as my houseplants,

whichever comes first.

Keep your fingers crossed and, in the mean time,

 try to find a recipe that calls for a lot of broccoli.

Birth Day

Exactly one year ago today, Casey and I awoke at 3 am

and began a battle for bathroom rights that would last for the 

next hour and a half.

Casey had one of the worst cases of food poisoning ever,

and I, although I didn't know it at the time, had just gone into labor.

Looking back, I still remember that morning like it was yesterday.

Through all of the chaos, the one moment 

that stands out the most was this one:

The first time that I held Orin in my arms.

And here is his first moment with his daddy.

It really doesn't seem like a year has passed already

and I am finally beginning to understand why people refer to their

babies who are over a year old as "14 months" or "17 months" or

(my favorite) "26 months."

It is as if by continuing to refer to their age in months,

you can slow down time.

Although I will probably not refer to Orin's age in months anymore,

it is certainly not because I don't want to slow down time.

Honestly, if I had the chance to go back to that morning a year

ago and do it all over again, I would be tempted.

But, why look back when there is so much to look forward to?

Happy Birthday Orin.

The Lily Hunt

Yesterday Orin and I went hunting for the famous Camas Lily.

There is a place in Washington I know the wild lilies can be found

blooming one month out of the year.

While I thought the month was June, I figured we should probably 

make a late May trip, just in case they bloomed early.

To get to the lily fields, a substantial hike was required.

While Orin was up to the challenge,

it ended up taking much longer than it would have

with a hiking partner that did not continually stop

to make human tee-pees on the trail.

After a long climb, our efforts were rewarded.

Tiny blue lilies dotted the slopes leading up to the main field.

But the top of the mountain 

which usually has the most lilies, was bare.

Had we missed them?

Orin set out to investigate.

On closer inspection of the fields we found tiny lily buds everywhere.

We were just a little early.

Orin decided that the lily buds might make a nice snack,
prompting me to decide it was time to leave.

But we will be back in a week or so to see them in their full beauty.

Orin is already excited.

Rooster Rock

Yesterday we packed a picnic and headed out to 

Rooster Rock State Park with Matt, Amelia, and Layne.

Here is the rock that caused all the fuss:

 and here is Orin enjoying the picnic.

The park was pretty typical as parks go,

 with standard features such as grass to crawl in

and trees to climb.

After Rooster Rock, we decided to venture further into the gorge

to Bridal Veil Falls.

After playing around the waterfall,

we finished up the afternoon with a trip to Multnoma Falls.

Multnoma is the most visited of the gorge waterfalls,

attracting hundreds every day because 

it is the second highest year round waterfall in the U.S.

and, more importantly, because it is the only trailhead 

that has an ice cream stand.

Orin has since decided that Multnoma is his favorite waterfall.

We have decided not to question his reasoning.

Upright

Orin has some important news.

Yup, just 2 weeks before his one year birthday,

he discovered the ability to stand upright without assistance.

He has also begun taking steps,

although a better description would be "controlled falling"

Pictures don't do justice to his new moves, though,

so I have posted a little clip for your entertainment.

I fear we are now on the slippery slope towards walking.

While this will mean a lot of things, I do not believe any of them

will cause my life to be less hectic.

Ah, the joys of parenthood.

A New Toy

The other day, one of Casey's co-workers 

made him an offer he couldn't refuse 

and so, we are now the proud owners of a baby bike trailer.

Casey couldn't wait to get it home and hook it up 

for a spin around the block.

Orin was only slightly less enthusiastic about the prospect 

of two-wheeled family outings,

but seemed to tolerate his new chariot reasonably well. 

However, the plan for the new hobby had one minor flaw.

How would we transport the baby, the bikes, the trailer,

and the dog who can never be left home alone in one car?

We were going to need a roof rack.

Luckily we already had one, we just needed to take it off Casey's 

old Subaru, spiff it up, and install it in its new home. 

After we were all loaded up, tied down, and ready to go,

we headed off to the river path for our first bike trip.

Orin drove.

We biked halfway to Portland before turning around 

and cruising back to the car just as the sun was setting. 

I am already looking forward to our next ride,

 this time all the way into the city 

for some ice cream cones.

Orin has agreed to put up with another ride,

so long as when we get there we order him 

two scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a

chocolate dipped waffle cone with gummy bears, hot fudge,

and just a touch of whipped cream.

I told him we would think about it.