Huntin' (a tree)

Living in Washington, we always prided ourselves on either getting a local Christmas tree from a friend's tree farm - even cutting it ourselves at times.  But yesterday we were schooled in how to bring home a tree, Oregon style.  Boy, had we been lazy before.


Step 1:  Tree permit - $5.  They aren't sold at Dick's.  They are sold at the US Forest Service office which isn't located on 3rd Street anymore, but rather at their new offices off Butler Market Road... which appear to close at some time prior to 4:48pm.  They are also sold at BiMart, which is just off 3rd St behind Starz Cabaret.  It's sad that I knew where Starz was and not BiMart, despite not ever been inside either.


Step 2:  Drive into the Forest near Sisters.  Set up bonfire, food tables, camp stoves, chairs.

Step 3:  Eat, drink and sled!

 Step 4:  Venture into forest to find perfect Christmas tree.

Step 5:  Find perfect Christmas tree.

Step 6: Cut down tree.

Step 7:  Bring back the spoils of the hunt! (you big stud, Jeff)

 Step 8:  Warm up by fire.

Thanksgiving

So many thing to be thankful for this past year, but the one thing that kept getting repeated was thankfulness to have our family together, especially in our new home.  Nana, Papa, and Grandma joined us for dinner and a fierce game of Creationary.


I'm just thankful for mashed potatoes.  yum...

We also created a new holiday for our family: White Friday.  White Friday is the day after Thanksgiving upon which we go skiing and avoid the shopping rush.  I know, after the all-nighter pulled by Abby, Heidi and I last year, this is quite a turn-around, but a welcome change!

 Where's Holly?  Just look for the bright orange pants.

Almost a bluebird day.  We'll take it.

Hood River 2011 Day 2

The sun came out for our second day in Hood River.  The ladies were able to get in some shopping while the men entertained the kids at the Riverfront Park, another fun place.  Then, on to the Bonneville Fish Hatchery.  I know, sounds dull, but we listened to the Yelp reviewers and they didn't lead us wrong - it was a great place for everyone.


9am: Run
10am: Coffee/breakfast at Doppio
11:am: Shopping
1pm: Fish Hatchery
3pm: Back Home

Kids playing at the Park...

 Hello, Tofurkey Factory!  You look so... uninspiring.

 Tasting one of those freshly-picked apples... yum!

 "I'm king of the world"

Overused photo caption, I know.

 This way to the fish...

 Getting handfuls of fish food...

 The happy, and well fed, rainbow trout.

 Salmon in the holding tanks - this guy wants to get out!!

The tail end of Herman the Sturgeon.

Bye, Hood River!

Hood River 2011 Day 1

**Time Travel**


On Oct 15 and 16, we traveled up to Hood River.  Sounds funny to say that, as I'm so used to it being "down."  It's about a 3 - 3 1/2 hour drive, very beautiful, especially coming over Mt Hood and down into the Hood River valley.  The weather was not as amazing as our weekend last year, but still had a great time!


Schedule Day 1:
8am: Run
9:am: Coffee/Breakfast @ Doppio
10am: Rasmussen Farm Pumpkins, Maze, etc
12am: Fruit Loop - Kyakawa Farm for Upick Apples
2pm: Wy'East Winery
4pm: Relax

 Pumpkin Bowling at Rasmussen Farms - a fantastic place for the kids!

Rasmussen Farms does a Fairy Tale display using pumpkins and gourds - this was Rapunzel, Abby's favorite.

 What a cute couple!

 Another lovely couple!

 Hmm.. Something's off here.

A view of the valley

 Holly picked a cute little pumpkin to haul home.

 The corn maze was actually a "trail" through the corn with scenes from a story - The Princess and the Pear - throughout the maze, starring gourds and small pumpkins.  This activity was Lisa-approved for reading and following directions.

Hayden finds some delicious Honeycrisps at Kiyakawa Farms.