Balance

I know that I am over the allotted number of AZ pics,
but I love this one and have found myself one short
at the end of the month,
so here you go.

Rattlesnake!

Made it back to Portland this morning
safe and sound with no further flight troubles,
or rattlesnake-in-the-road hold-ups.

"Strenuous"

After hiking Peralta in the morning,
we went back to the hotel where we lounged in the pool
through the mid-day hours.
We hadn't planned on doing anything else that day,
but by 4:00 we had lost interest in the pool
and decided to go on another hike.
I picked a really easy 1/2 mile loop, but as soon as we pulled
up and saw the mountain looming over us in its full glory,
my chosen loop went out the window
for the longer hike... Camelback Mountain.
Camelback was labeled as a "strenuous" hike,
which might be the biggest understatement of all time.
It should have been called the Trail of Doom
or Death Mountain.
It started off innocently enough,
with stairs leading up at a 90 degree angle.
After a 1/4 mile, though, we came around a bend and
were met by a sheer rock face with a hand rail running up the side.
Orin, who had been walking until that point, was stuck in the
backpack where he remained (quite patiently I should add)
for the duration of the hike.
Two hours later, after climbing with hands and feet
up boulders, we reached the top just as the sun was setting.
Orin hopped out of the pack for this picture,
and then immediately got back in again for the decent,
which we were forced to do in almost complete darkness.
It took us an hour and a half to get down.
Our hands, feet, knees, and thighs were sore the next day,
but it was well worth it...
Casey and I agreed that it was one of the most beautiful hikes
we have ever been on.
If you ever find yourself in Arizona with 4 hours to spare,
a couple gallons of water, and a need for pain,
we highly recommend this hike.
Rest assured, it will change the way you feel about the word
"strenuous."

Stuck in Arizona

So getting back to Portland didn't go quite as smoothly
as we had expected.
Our first flight went okay, but our second flight ran an hour late.
By the time we made it off the plane and ran to the next gate,
the people at the ticket counter informed us
that they had sold our seats (even though the plane hadn't left)
So we trudged to the customer service desk where we were told
that the next available flight was in 2 days!
With no other options, we rented a car and drove to the hotel
where the airline had offered us a discount.
Despite the rather glum beginning of the story,
it got much better pretty quickly.
Arizona was 80 degrees and sunny and the hotel that we booked
was the nicest hotel I have ever seen...
outdoor heated pool surrounded by palm trees, plush beds,
a flat screen TV, and a really nice restaurant inside the hotel
that delivered food directly to the pool.
So we decided to make the best of our stay.
This picture is actually from the following morning when
we went on a hike on the Peralta Trail
(Orin took this picture),
although the picture I should have posted
is of Orin laying naked in his own queen size bed
surrounded by pillows munching on room service food before bed.
Oh well, you will just have to visualize it yourself.

Bye bye N.C.

Tomorrow morning we will knock the sand from our shoes
and head back to Portland.

Aquarium

I think this is the third year running that we have taken a picture

of somebody being a crab.
Orin wears it better than I did, I think...

Duke Kite

In anticipation of their game later today,

we bought a Duke kite at the local store
and flew it just about as high as kites can go.

Dad's big jump

Orin thought this jump was quite possibly

the coolest thing in the world.

Reading Stories with Grandma Carla

Hanging out with Grandpa Jack

The comb over

And after a long day in the sand,
there is nothing like a warm bath.

Sand Baby

A natural beach bum.

Beach Week

This morning I met Casey and Orin in the North Carolina airport
(they flew in on the red-eye) and we all headed to Grandpa Jack's
where we will be staying for the week.
As soon as we got to the house, we made a bee-line for the ocean.
Grandpa Jack had bought Orin a sandcastle making kit
complete with buckets, shovels, and sifters
and Orin couldn't wait to get started.

Lovely Ladies Weekend!

So glad I got to see you two!

Botanical Gardens

Nashville was 75 degrees and sunny all weekend,

so we decided to take advantage of the good weather
and tour the Nashville botanical gardens.

The birds were singing and there were flowers everywhere...
absolutely beautiful!

Niece

I arrived in Nashville today for my sister's
baby shower/ birthday weekend!
Although I was excited to see my mother and my sister,
I also couldn't wait to hang out with my favorite dog-niece,
Cashew (the feelings were mutual)

Mud Boots

I finished my Introduction to Wetland Delineation Course today,

it was a really fun class with plenty of opportunities to get muddy
(my kind of fun)
You have no idea how many shades of brown there are
as far as soil classification is concerned.

Fun with dad

The joys of water...

How Many?

Last night we hosted a Yumm Bowl party

to celebrate various successes, enjoy the company of good friends,
eat some great food, and answer the question:
how many people can eat dinner
around our living room coffee table?
Turns out, quite a few...

Bundled

Daddy

Good Morning

Surprise!

Second Exception

Here is my final exception,

just because I love the two photos together.

Behind

I know that I am supposed to post one photo per day,
but I got behind while our camera was sitting in rice,
so I am going to make an exception.
My first photo exception is this, a picture of Orin's Steelhead.
Casey wanted me to post this photo for their fishing trip day,
but I instead posted the one of Orin with his fishing pole
beside the boat, figuring that most people would be more
interested in seeing the fisherman than the fish.
So this one is for you, Casey,
and anyone else who can appreciate a nicely sized Steelhead.

Spring Cleaning

Yesterday I rented the Super Rug Cleaner

to spiff our carpets up for spring.
Apparently, they are happy about their new glow.

Book Worm

Our library stack this week.

I don't know how there are any books
on the shelf at the Sellwood Library

Roses are Red (or Pink)...

I don't ever buy flowers for myself, but a couple times a year

we are supposed to supply Orin's school with
carrots, bananas, pretzels, and flowers.
When Orin and I went to the store to pick some up,
he said the red ones were for Ms. Jessika and the pink ones were for us.
I went along with it.
Tomorrow morning, we have to weed out the red ones,
but for now they are making me think of spring.

Study Bunny

Normally in the morning before he has school,

Casey is busily finishing up his homework.
Today, however, there was a bunny in his place.

Young Artist

I love uploading my photos on the computer because for every one
shot that I took, there are at least 3 pictures
taken after Orin hijacked my camera.
This one, I thought, was particularly creative.