Father and Sons Campout

Ryan took Carter to the ward's Father Sons camp-out Friday night (Landon was sick and not able to go and as Ryan put it too disobedient anyways...). The camp was at a church owned track of land in the Blue Mountains called Teancum Timbers. Ryan has been crazy about hammock camping for a few months now, and this was his first time to go. He has been debating about buying or making a hammock tent for a while and wanted to see if it was worth his time and I guess this camp-out made up his mind. He was able to stay dry off the ground while several people with tents ended up wet.

Cool Desert Nights in Richland

We went to Cool Desert Nights this week and for a few hours walked around a collection of about 1,000 classic cars. It was interesting to see which cars the boys liked, but I must say they have good taste. The pictures below are of the cars that they asked to have pictures with. My favorite was the Ford Woody from 1949, Ryan was torn between the Old Corvettes and the 1940s trucks. We even saw a DeLorean with an installed flux capacitor - but Doc Brown was absent.

This thing had  3 rows of couch like seats. Road Trip!

my day.

It was actually a pretty perfect day. Except for the sick bit. I am pretty lucky to have these crazy boys.

The Oregon Zoo

After we finished up at Beacon Rock we stopped by Ikea where Landon napped the whole time and Carter played at the play place. We picked up some stuff.. Then onward to the Oregon Zoo. 

In the African Rain-forest it was storming rain and lightening Carter was a little nervous to get close to the glass. That alligator looks pretty scary. The Zoo was pretty exciting. The polar bears biting his mate and her roaring at him, lions feeding on deer legs, the orangutan swinging by, the hippos eating hay, the elephants bathing and swimming, the Black bears munching on romaine lettuce. It was a fun day at the zoo. Carter was so interested in the skeleton pictures of the human next to the different monkeys. He loves to learn. After a long day hiking, shopping, and zoo watching we were ready for bed but we still had to drive home. We had a wonderful time with our little family.

Camping

 We got lucky and it was warm and sunny. It's been like winter here lately (okay not quiet, but) we were so glad that we had such awesome weather. We had an awesome hobo dinner-next time I want twice the potatoes.  

What was your favorite part Carter? "Hot dog stick hunting with dad." I wanted take take roasting sticks but Ryan said that hunting for sticks is part of the fun of camping and turns out he was right. 

Cooking marshmallows is too. Landon loves to roast. He had quiet the marshmallow 'stash. 

Beacon Rock

Just some short clips of the view and the switch backs. 

Hiking

So we set up camp and headed out on our first hike! About 3 miles mostly up hill. 

Check out all this moss. It doesn't hurt quiet as bad to hit your head on a rock in the Pacific Northwest! Not that we tried it but the rocks have lots of "green hair". 

 We traded buddies for a bit. 

 Rodney Falls Pool of Winds. These falls were my favorite you stick your face towards the falls and the water creates this crazy wet wind that is amazing. See my hair?? 

The trails around Beacon Rock are a little bit scary and it was pretty muddy. . The fences are not mesh so one slip and you could fall.... Holding hands was a must!

They are so handsome.

 The next morning we hiked up Beacon Rock. Which is about a mile but it's 848 feet in elevation to the top! Tons of switch backs.  It reminds me of 'Angels Landing' in Zions but not so scary. I almost had a panic attack at one point near the beginning but then the trail got safer so I was a lot more relaxed about my kids hiking. It was a little harder then the first hike we did.  

Portland

We took a last minute trip to Portland. It was so fun!We looked at http://www.panoramio.com/ before we left and saw pictures of Schreiner Farm it's a huge private farm. They have some cool animals. 

 Look at that view!! 

 Can you spot the para-sailors? I don't know how they do it but it's fun to watch. 

This was on the way home. They did start to get cranky but over all the drive is fun. Waterfalls, tunnels etc.