Grandparents!

A visit from my parents last weekend. Booyah.

At the Rhododendron garden in SE Portland.

 Cruising in downtown Corvallis.

The best job on earth

Cliche alert! It's true. Being a mom really is the best job on earth.  Truly and seriously.

We celebrated my second full-time job with a hike on Mother's Day. Since this was only Kate's second time in the backpack, we picked a short hike to a waterfall on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge.  The Friends of the Gorge are currently having a waterfall challenge--hike to 25 of their favorite waterfalls this summer--so I picked Falls Creek Falls randomly from their list. (I don't know if we'll make it to all 25 by October, but we're going to give it a try.)

With the May rains and the snow melt, it was gushing and absolutely gorgeous.

As this video clearly shows, Kate loved the waterfall! Yeah, not so much. I'm not sure she can be any more disinterested in the gushing column of water.  

Gosh, the boss at my second full-time job sure is a cutie.

From the archives

B recently downloaded the photos he had on his phone.  This one, of our little snow smurf, is my favorite.

In a tight spot

Kate does the dishes

Not only is Little K is becoming more and more mobile everyday, but the girl has to know what is on/in/above/beside/under everything.  Her newest fascination?  The kitchen and those three big white boxes--the hot one, the cold one and the wet one.

Geared up

B and I finally pulled the trigger and recently bought a new backpack for Kate.  She is wayyyyy too heavy to be carried on our chests now (not to mention wayyyy too wiggly) and now that summer is right around the corner, we are itching to hit the trails. Our first outing, an evening hike at nearby Tryon Creek State Park, was labeled a success--no tears from Kate or Daddy.

Training update

First run with the jogging stroller on the Springwater corridor along the Willamette River.  Kate throughly enjoyed herself.  How were the three miles for me?  Brutal. Training continues...