Oh, the places she went!

My, what a busy week for our Big Dutch Toddler!

Saturday found us in Seattle, joining Dave as he attended the annual meeting of the American Cheese Society. And just let me mention that Dave also just published an article in "Culture" magazine! Check out his very cheesy webpage. Anneke and I tooled around the waterfront and went to the Seattle Aquarium.

Then! A colleague of mine invited us out to her home, where she has a business doing Equine Assisted Therapy (that would be Horse Therapy, I guess--very cool actually. Let me know if you want more info!). Anneke got to ride a horse named Sterling who was gentle and just the right height, bless his heart. Anneke LOVED it. She also got to brush Sterling and lead him around. AND she met a horse named Patrick. He pooped right in front of us--very fascinating. Notice Anneke's boots. Thanks, Juliette!

By then we were on a roll of enriching, over-stimulating activities and decided to meet up with friends Henry, Little S, and Alex, Lucy, and Baby Harper at Oaks Amusement Park. And let me tell you...well, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. I love the very non-P.C.-for-Inner-Southeast-Portland guns mounted on the airplane ride. That's Henry in the car with Anneke. Rest assured, they're only friends--no car dating until she's sixteen!

Cousin love

One thing that was cemented during our most recent trip back to Arkansas was Anneke's love for her cousins. There were many refrains of, "I want to see my cousins!" and "I love my cousins" and, "I NOT-A say goodbye to my cousins!"

Hot fun

I've spent a lot of time grousing about what a dud this summer has been, but these pictures tell another story.

Wordless Wednesday: Ben and Jerry's

Why I love that guy:

 

For one thing, despite a gimpy foot and being forty-something, he remains steadfast to his inner eight-year-old.

Car Camping Part 2

The new priest at my church quipped that, after weeks and months of cold, gray rain, suddenly the weather is so fabulous you forget all about it and think it's like that all the time. Saturday started out cloudy, and then turned into one of those perfect Oregon days at the beach. There are moments on days like this when I think this must be what heaven is like: surrounded by family and good friends in the sun, the white noise of the waves muting all other sounds. It's so lovely and peaceful you can only be present and soak it in.

A very cool thing about the beach at Ft. Stevens is that there is an acutal shipwreck on the beach! Plus, did I mention that there's also a lake with a swimming beach and paddle boats? and a trail that goes all the way around it? I'm telling you: go to Ft. Stevens!

Car Camping, Pt. 1!

The stars aligned, and our last-minute plans to go camping with our friends worked out beautifully. We secured a spot at Ft. Stevens State Park near Astoria. We knew the site was amidst all the RV hookups, and I was a little skeptical, but it really was a perfect car camping weekend.

Our site was lovely--it backed up to the forest, and there was a little trail lined with moss and ferns. Anneke got to eat wild berries!

There were "Junior Ranger" activities, including this one where we all got to see razor clams up close. In fact, this is the closest we have ever come to razor clams. We have since found out we have been using the wrong kind of clam gun. I loved this because it was so much like the park-sponsored kids' activities I grew up doing in Arkansas, only Pacific Coast style.

The tow-headed twosome got along swimmingly. Must have been all that fresh air.

And here they are at the actual "Fort" part of Ft. Stevens!