 |
| My little monkeys |
 |
| Vietnam Memorial |
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Pittock Mansion to Zoo hike
This is the first hike with the boys. Christian loves hiking, so he was on board, but Cris was hesitant. We had to lie to him about the distance - it was a 3 mile hike and we said it would be about 2. He did fine. After the hike, we drove back up to the mansion and took the tour. Beautiful!
Happy Birthday Tongues
Happy 6th Birthday Colton!
 |
| How did these tongues happen? |
 |
| Cupcakes, of course!! |
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Hiking Lower Falls Creek
Lower Falls Creek Falls
Since Catrina and I made a pact that we would hike every weekend, regardless that we went to the beach the day before, we got up the next day and picked a spot to hike. Lower Falls Creek which is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a little less than an hour drive from here. BEAUTIFUL!! All the websites we saw about the trail said that it was moderate to easy.....my ass!! The way to the falls is almost all uphill, so it's a rough start, but once at the falls - totally worth the 2 mile hike. We kept passing people who were on their way out, and they looked happy, easy going, and not sweaty messes like us. Well, we knew why once we got there. The falls are so close to the "look out" area that there is a constant mist of cool water and air. SOOO refreshing. We sat and ate a snack, had some water, did some exploring and cooled off. The hike out was EASY! No wonder people were looking so great! It's all downhill.
Since Catrina and I made a pact that we would hike every weekend, regardless that we went to the beach the day before, we got up the next day and picked a spot to hike. Lower Falls Creek which is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a little less than an hour drive from here. BEAUTIFUL!! All the websites we saw about the trail said that it was moderate to easy.....my ass!! The way to the falls is almost all uphill, so it's a rough start, but once at the falls - totally worth the 2 mile hike. We kept passing people who were on their way out, and they looked happy, easy going, and not sweaty messes like us. Well, we knew why once we got there. The falls are so close to the "look out" area that there is a constant mist of cool water and air. SOOO refreshing. We sat and ate a snack, had some water, did some exploring and cooled off. The hike out was EASY! No wonder people were looking so great! It's all downhill.
 |
| ummm, yea that IS a fallen tree balancing on a tall stump about 50' off the ground! |
 |
| Yea, that's ME on the fallen tree! |
 |
| YAY!! We found the falls!! .....or not. |
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
MOMS Club Camping 2011
My MOMS Club that I've belonged to since moving here has an annual camping trip. This year, the organizer decided to keep it close to Vancouver, so she got the group campsite at Battle Ground State Park - about 15 miles away. WONDERFUL!! There were about 8 families who went this year which meant about 23 kids and 11 adults. The campsite was perfect for our group. Yes, it rained (sprinkled) on Sat. morning and Sunday but no one cared - we were camping!! All the kids got dirty, but no one cared - we barely saw the kids the whole weekend. We set up camp on Friday, had a community dinner (we decided that dinners would be community and preplanned. Friday was Mac n Cheese and Spaghetti - each of us were assigned to bring a certain food item to share with the group. Saturday was burgers and dogs. Fantastic idea!!) After putting all kids to bed, the alcohol was opened and the party began. Erin, Catrina and I stayed up talking (in the rain) until almost 4am - others faded out around 2-2:30am!!! OY!! So, Saturday was met with exhaustion and hangovers. S'Mores help. Saturday was spent fishing at the lake and sitting around the campfire. Catrina didn't feel well, so she napped all afternoon. Again, the kids were no where to be found for most of the day. Saturday night was tame and most of us retired to our tents by midnight. Sunday was met with rain, so we packed up and were home before 10am. Hot showers, clean clothes and a roof over our head....NICE!!
 |
| This was just the alcohol that I could find. There was more. |
 |
| Nikki rescuing a fishing line caught in the reeds. She's so brave! |
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Best. Week. Ever!
Ok, maybe not the best week EVER, but it's wrapping up to be a great week! Started on Monday with an 8am interview in Lake Oswego which is a small town south of Portland. The issue is SOUTH of Portland...during rush hour....meaning I have to drive through Portland to get to it. Well, first I have to drop D off at daycare and THEN make it through rush hour. Thank goodness for GPS because it diverted me around any major roads and got me to my destination with time to spare. The interview was with a recruiting company, but at this point I'll take all the help I can get. I came home and job hunted more.
Tuesday I met two friends for coffee (let's be serious, they had coffee, I had Diet Coke) and one of my friends said that she knew of two job openings. One with her company and another with a friend of hers company! AWESOME!! I immediately sent off my resume's when I got home. Just after lunch, *ring ring* went my phone. Impromptu phone interview with a company in Portland - they're going to call back for formal interview times. We'll see. I could have kicked myself that I didn't just state that I was free on Friday and what time would they like to meet with me. All well. Not more than 10 min after hanging up with that call, *ring ring* again, another recruiting company calling to get more info.
Wednesday morning, I checked my email and saw that a company wanted to meet with me that day!! I quickly emailed back stating that I was available and what time. 2:30. I was also told that this was only going to be a 15min interview - more than a phone screening, but less than an interview. I went (the company is literally less than 1/2 mile from my apt), I loved what I heard and I'm crossing my fingers for the next interview.
Today was more of the same. Job hunting....aggressively. *ring ring* The company that called me on Tuesday is on the phone requesting to interview me tomorrow!! YIPPPEEEEE! It's in Portland, but I'm ok with that!
Who knows what tomorrow will bring! Maybe I should play the lottery considering all the good luck I've had this week.
This is why I'm having a great week! Nothing like getting down to the wire trying to find a job!!
Tuesday I met two friends for coffee (let's be serious, they had coffee, I had Diet Coke) and one of my friends said that she knew of two job openings. One with her company and another with a friend of hers company! AWESOME!! I immediately sent off my resume's when I got home. Just after lunch, *ring ring* went my phone. Impromptu phone interview with a company in Portland - they're going to call back for formal interview times. We'll see. I could have kicked myself that I didn't just state that I was free on Friday and what time would they like to meet with me. All well. Not more than 10 min after hanging up with that call, *ring ring* again, another recruiting company calling to get more info.
Wednesday morning, I checked my email and saw that a company wanted to meet with me that day!! I quickly emailed back stating that I was available and what time. 2:30. I was also told that this was only going to be a 15min interview - more than a phone screening, but less than an interview. I went (the company is literally less than 1/2 mile from my apt), I loved what I heard and I'm crossing my fingers for the next interview.
Today was more of the same. Job hunting....aggressively. *ring ring* The company that called me on Tuesday is on the phone requesting to interview me tomorrow!! YIPPPEEEEE! It's in Portland, but I'm ok with that!
Who knows what tomorrow will bring! Maybe I should play the lottery considering all the good luck I've had this week.
This is why I'm having a great week! Nothing like getting down to the wire trying to find a job!!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
1st beach trip 2011
Beach Trip
Looking in our closets, we noticed that our sweatshirt piles were getting old and faded. What's 2 girls to do? Head to Seaside OR, of course!! To the Everything is $14.99 store and stock up on new sweatshirts!! We each bought 2 - we're wearing the new sweatshirts in most of the pictures. We strolled through the seaside shops, had ice-cream, Catrina's new favorite is Cotton Candy flavor which is neon colored, walked on the beach, and took the long way home through Astoria and the WA side of the Columbia River. We stopped at the only still working covered bridge in WA and didn't get home until after 10pm where we fell into bed from exhaustion. Oh! And Dismal Nitch is this weird rest stop/park on the river. It's small, it doesn't even have river access, but this sign specifically states that you may not park for more than 8 hours. Ummmm, it's like a highway rest stop. It's got potties and a bit of grassy land for pets....that's about it. Not likely people are staying.
Looking in our closets, we noticed that our sweatshirt piles were getting old and faded. What's 2 girls to do? Head to Seaside OR, of course!! To the Everything is $14.99 store and stock up on new sweatshirts!! We each bought 2 - we're wearing the new sweatshirts in most of the pictures. We strolled through the seaside shops, had ice-cream, Catrina's new favorite is Cotton Candy flavor which is neon colored, walked on the beach, and took the long way home through Astoria and the WA side of the Columbia River. We stopped at the only still working covered bridge in WA and didn't get home until after 10pm where we fell into bed from exhaustion. Oh! And Dismal Nitch is this weird rest stop/park on the river. It's small, it doesn't even have river access, but this sign specifically states that you may not park for more than 8 hours. Ummmm, it's like a highway rest stop. It's got potties and a bit of grassy land for pets....that's about it. Not likely people are staying.
Catch up time - and I don't mean the red stuff
Goodness, it's been a long time since I've blogged. SORRY! I've been on a job hunting frenzy averaging about 7 hours a day. I had an interview on Monday which I would LOOOOVE the job. It's something I've done in the past, so I'd be really good at it. CROSSING ALL FINGERS, TOES, ARMS, LEGS, EYES....whatever body part can be crossed, I'm crossing it.
3rd of July
Catrina and I have decided to start hiking every weekend - with or without kids. When we have the kids, we like to keep our hikes to 1.5 miles or less and on easy trails. Today we packed up and headed out to the Gorge area to hike some waterfalls. The kids had a great time and we saw some pretty awesome waterfalls. Plus, no adventure is complete without ice-cream at the end.
4th of July
In what has now become an annual tradition (this year with C3) we headed up to Ridgefield for their annual 4th of July family festival. For $5 you can purchase a wrist band which allows the kids to have unlimited access to ALL of the bounce houses (there were only 3 this year, 4 last year), face painting and airbrush tatoos. Hours of fun! The Reptile Man was back again, so D was transfixed on him almost all day. I know that someday D is going to want some sort of reptile, I don't care at all, I think they're pretty neat.
3rd of July
Catrina and I have decided to start hiking every weekend - with or without kids. When we have the kids, we like to keep our hikes to 1.5 miles or less and on easy trails. Today we packed up and headed out to the Gorge area to hike some waterfalls. The kids had a great time and we saw some pretty awesome waterfalls. Plus, no adventure is complete without ice-cream at the end.
4th of July
In what has now become an annual tradition (this year with C3) we headed up to Ridgefield for their annual 4th of July family festival. For $5 you can purchase a wrist band which allows the kids to have unlimited access to ALL of the bounce houses (there were only 3 this year, 4 last year), face painting and airbrush tatoos. Hours of fun! The Reptile Man was back again, so D was transfixed on him almost all day. I know that someday D is going to want some sort of reptile, I don't care at all, I think they're pretty neat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)