Oregon Trip Continued

There are some things about our trips to Oregon that are predictable. We always manage to enjoy the limited time we spend together with the Bennett family. They are gracious hosts and always work hard to accommodate us.

Besides swimming every day in the pool that is next to the Bennett's home (which is a huge blessing because the kids are worn out and tired at the end of the day) the things that are recurring when we visit the Bennett's are first that we visit the Portland Zoo. Can you ever get too much of the zoo in your families lives? Second, we always manage to make it to the Oregon coast. This year was no exception, we made it out to Cannon Beach. I have a not so secret desire to find a agate on the beach each time we visit. Third, we always manage to make it to the Hillsboro Farmers Market.

This year we did these three activities as well as many others. We tried some new things on this trip... We had a picnic at the Rose Gardens in Portland, we went to the cleanest, best maintained Chuck E Cheese I've ever been to, we saw the Oregon International Air Show (hosted out of the Hillsboro airport), attending a Summer Series Concert (where a band from the 80s played, Quarterflash, i.e. Harden My Heart fame) and the girls did a lot of shopping.

Most all 14 of us are in this picture, Ali and Sydney are stylin' on the beach.

It's that the coolest beach kite the Bennett's have?! The boys shovel's are loaded and ready to fire.

Haystack rock, is a very popular icon...And McKay playing let's go fly a kite.

Here's a couple of pictures of the fun activities at Chuck E Cheese.

Here's a couple of pictures of the Mall we went to in Portland, I think it's called Washington Square.

Here's a snapshot of the concert in the park and next to it on the right is our picnic at the Rose Gardens.

Here's another picture from the Rose Gardens on the left, and one from the Portland Zoo on the right.

Hannah, Nathan and McKay are enjoying the fix and Sydney's trying to drive the tractor away.

Julie took this snap of me by the elephant, can you tell by the ear what continent it is from. Also, we always take this picture in the barn at the Portland zoo.

Here's a couple of pictures from the Hillsboro Farmer's market check out those fresh berries.

Look how excited Cassie is at the pool and then the kids are playing hands up stand up.

On the Oregon Trail

Last we went to Oregon to see Julie's sister Angie and her family. We really enjoy going to Oregon, it's such a green, moist perfect weather place whenever we visit. This year was no exception. We were arriving in the midst of fresh Berry season. We love getting fresh berries off the vine and at the local farmer's market when we visit. Where Angie and her family live in Hillsboro, the developer is required to build into their development green spaces. We really enjoy going on an adventure hike to the deep dark forest or sometimes we call the enchanted forest. I keep looking for newt's in the stream that runs through the wooded area but haven't found any yet. I'll start off by taking you on the adventure we took into the enchanted forest when we were there.

We are walking on the green belt right by the Bennett's home. I love these little bike paths, where you don't have to worry about your kids getting run over by a car. Then there's a picture of McKay, Hannah and Caleb.

The three could not resist walking down the block wall. On the right we are getting closer, you can see the tall Douglas Fir in the distance that's where the enchanted forest is.

Here's the entrance to the woods, right behind this sign were some fresh BlackBerries. I ate some and shared some with the kids. We are just starting on the path here in this picture.

Here's a picture of the canopy overhead to give you an idea of how thick and lush the woods are. I had Hannah, Caleb and McKay stand next to this Douglas Fir to give you an idea of how mature some of the trees are.

Here's another picture of the canopy and Hannah standing between three Douglas Fir trees.

I thought these trees on the path framed the picture nicely. Trip, trap look out for the troll under the bridge.

I finally got Cassie to sit still for a picture. McKay was leading the way down the path.

Cassie, Hannah and Caleb are catching up with McKay. If you look close on the right there is a squirrel hiding and eating.

If you make it all the way through the woods you go into a park. This bridge is in the park and Hannah had already crossed and was swinging.

We found another squirrel in the park, and here's a picture of a cat, that was at the park.

From the bridge I took these pictures of "Musky" the muskrat that lives at the pond in the park.