Spring Break Getaway

 We just returned from our first family getaway (other than our camping trip last summer) in over a year!! It was so good to get out of town, stay in an actual hotel for a couple of nights, and have a lot of fun!

We decided to stay close and drove to the gorge to hike and bike and play around for a few days. We had the best time!

Heading out!

Our first stop was Starvation Creek Falls, a beautiful area with an interesting story. We enjoyed a 2 mile hike there.

We decided to be crazy and do TWO hikes in one day, and next headed across the Bridge of the Gods to Beacon Rock. It started to rain as we set out on this steep hike. It wasn't very fun the first half of the way up, but it stopped raining and the sun came out to make it worth the climb!

We made it!!

We checked into our hotel in Cascade Locks and went and had a yummy dinner.

These two.... so silly!

Thankfully the hotel pool was open so after dinner the kids swam and Doug and I sat in the hot tub. It was heavenly!

There wasn't much on TV so we started watching and were fascinated by the show "Extreme Couponing"..haha! 

The next morning we explored Cascade Locks. What a fun little town with a very cool history!

One of my favorite photos of the trip..haha!

Tried to catch a sweet moment but Evelyn was on to me..haha!

That afternoon we drove to Hood River and rode the Mosier Twin Tunnel Trail. It was pretty difficult at time due to the wind and the steep inclines but we still had fun and persevered and enjoyed the amazing views. We live in such a beautiful place!

We got back to the hotel and walked along the river before dinner...

Evelyn making her own lemon water at dinner... you had to be there, but it was pretty funny!

Matthew found a C8 in the parking lot on our way to breakfast on our last morning. He was so excited!

It was 1030 in the morrning when we headed for home but we HAD to stop at the famous Eastwind Drive In for a HUGE ice cream cone. These are SMALLS!! So good!

We headed home from here, thankful for time away together and for God's creations!

Valentine's Day(s) Power Outage

 

We have had quite the interesting few days for sure! 

Our Valentine's Day started out lovely...

I made breakfast for my favorites

There was still snow on the ground, but the temps were starting to rise. Matthew got out early to have some fun before it melted. 

The snow stuck around all day and the kids had fun playing. In the evening we were watching the NASCAR race when the lights flickered. Then everything went dark. 

Our surrounding city areas were having so many issues with power outages due to the ice and snow. We were so thankful than our neighborhood hadn't lost power and thought since things were thawing out we were in the clear. Apparently not. 

We decided to make the most of it and while Doug got a fire going, the kids got ready and we all went outside to hang out with our amazing neighbors.  It was raining and the snow was melting but the kids had a super fun time sledding.

They all were soaked when we finally called it a night. 

We had a slumber party in the living room Sunday night with Doug getting up often to stoke the fire (bless his heart). We stayed warm thru the night. 

Doug got the generator running Monday morning so we could keep the fridge going. There was enough generator power to also run our dvd player so the kids watched a few movies. There was no school and now work for Doug due to President's Day, which was helpful. My mom was gracious enough to let us come over and shower and she also made us dinner. Thanks momm!!

We still didn't have power Tuesday morning. My amazing friend Lisa (who had power) dropped off a big thermos of coffee for us to get us going. Doug went to the office so he could work. School was cancelled because of the power outage (you can't do online school without power!). My BFF Jody offered her home for us to come stay warm and charge our electronics, which we appreciate so much. 

About 1130 or so my neighbor texted and said they had power back, so we packed up and headed home to find our power had also returned. YAY!

It was an interesting few days but I am grateful for my husband and other friends and family who cared for us so well!!

February Snow!

 

Well, well, well... winter decided to visit us and we are HERE FOR IT!! We woke up to snow on Friday morning and have had a couple of days of playing in the white stuff. 

Bodie was not amused by the snow at all and has been more grumpy than usual..haha!

Matthew was up early and ready to play

This is the sled Doug made for Evelyn during the big snow of 2008 when she was 2! It still works! 

Big ice chunks were hidden under the snow and the kids had fun with them. 

Night sledding with the neighbors is our favorite!!!

The ice was so pretty!

Matthew tried snowboarding using his friend Cannon's board. He did pretty good!

Teenager smile...haha! She's still cute tho!

This is how we end the first two snow days... a fire and a beverage! Ahhhhh....

Temps are supposed to stay low for another day or two.. so more snow fun tomorrow!

On Being 50......

I have never been one to think much about my birthday. Well... okay... I am sure as a kid it was a big deal... I'll give you that!😁 But really, I am always grateful for the lovely sentiments I receive on my birthday but usually don't think much about another year around the sun. 

This year, tho. This year is diffent. 

Yes, it is my "COVID Birthday" and this past year has been challenging to say the least. 

But that's not it. 

Today I am 50. FIFTY. And for some reason it has really brought on all the feelings. And if I'm being honest, most of those feelings aren't positive. 

I'm struggling with this one. Fifty just seems, well... old. 

When my mom turned 50, I was 25. I had a lot of life under my belt. My mom wasn't a grandma yet but would be 4 years later. I am turning 50 and I have an 11 and 14 year old. While I don't regret being single as long as I was (my 20's were some of the most formative years of my life) and getting married at 30 (I waited and got the best!!), I am starting to feel like an "old mom". I don't like that. 

My body certainly hasn't been kind to me the past five years. Cancer and an urgent hysterectomy have affected me in so many ways. I have gained weight and lost confidence. Hot flashes and insomnia plague me... which is a factor in the weight gain and confidence thing for sure. This past year working out has fallen by the wayside due to just having no time to myself.. and my body is sore and strugging because of that. 

This is not a "whoa is me" post...even if it sounds like one. Just me being real. I know how fortunate I am to have 50 years under my belt. 50 years of a pretty amazing life, actually. I have air in my lungs and Jesus in my heart. Cheesy but true. 

Today I was spoiled with cards, flowers, gifts and calls from friends. My BFF took me for a long walk and coffee, which was so good for my soul (due to COVID and her being a nurse, we haven't had a lot of face time this past year and I have missed that so much!). We got take out from Pepita's for dinner and I enjoyed time with my family. 

Here's to a new year. Happy Birthday to me!

January

We welcomed January with expectation and hope.... and are looking forward to this new year!

Here's a photo montage of our month, which (like all of the months of the pandemic) went by both painfully slow and super fast!!😁

After a long hiatus, the scooters came out and Matthew enjoyed evening rides showing off his light up wheels. 

Another Ducks win...woohoo!!

We took a drive to Salem to surprise Doug's sister Deanna for her birthday

We woke up on the 13th to no power. A big wind storm came in the day before and thru the night it wreaked havoc on some of the trees in the neighborhood. 

My sweet hubbys went to Starbucks for coffee AND had a fire going... all before I got out of bed. 

This is one of the larger trees that came down. It took out two different fences, a tree house and part of a chimney! It was crazy to see! Thankfully no one was hurt and we had power back on by mid-day.

Another month of Bodie being Bodie...haha!

We took a fun hike thru Nobe woods park on dry but chilly Saturday morning

Evelyn made Bodie a kilt...haha! He loved it. Obviously.... 😂

We put a candle in the window the night before the presidential election to remember all of those who have lost their lives to COVID-19.  I don't have a photo, but the kids and I watched Joe Biden and Kamala Harris be sworn in as the next leaders of our country on the 20th. It was moving, powerful, and hopeful. We are thankful for new leadership of our country. 

Well, hello GF Oreos!! So happy they made these and we snagged a few packages the minute we saw them. And I can tell you they are amazing... Evelyn was over the moon happy!!

We had a small snow storm that brought just a little bit of accumulation to our fine town. Our first snow of winter! The kids thoroughly enjoyed it!

Matthew and his buddy Cannon tasting snowflakes as the snow started

Hot cocoa with the neighbor kids after a morning playing in the white stuff. It went away almost as quickly as it came, but it was fun while it lasted, and super pretty!

That pretty much sums up our January... we are still in quarantine and still hopeful things will get better soon!!