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.

Sledding at Wanoga

After launching our children off a small cliff, into bushes and rocks along the way, Jeff decided to try a safer sledding route at Wanoga Sno-Park.  While the danger element was eliminated, the fun factor increased tremendously.

Hayden takes a spill.

 Wanoga Sno-Park

 Abby tests the snow.

 Over at the Bachelor sledding hill, things are groomed for speed.

 Ah.. snow, sun... can't get better!

 Abby cruises down.

 Hi, Hayden!

Flying down the hill, no rocks or bushes to be seen!

First Snow!

Last year, Halloween was a snow covered holiday.  This year we had to wait a couple weeks into November, but snow finally arrived.  A mere 4 inches of the white stuff created days of fun for the kids.  There were a few sledding mishaps, nothing that some hot cocoa with marshmallows couldn't fix, though.

 Hayden makes first tracks along the sidewalk.

 Mocha is finally at a comfortable temperature.  

 Abby earns some money.

 A little flat for sledding...

 ...In search of a sledding hill...

 Found it!

 It's even fun just to run down!

 "We love snow!"

 This may end badly...

 The sled run of Doom.  

Jump? check.

Hill? check.

Child-eating bush at bottom? check.

Have fun, kids!