Christmas 2010

Once again a whirlwind Midwest trip to visit family for the holidays. This year, Bella really enjoyed unwrapping presents though she was not too found of the Chicago snow. It was a great visit and a wonderful opportunity to announce that there will be another addition to our family due on August 6th!

2010-12 Holidays

Fall 2010

We are working hard to catch up on the blog, so stay tuned for more posts soon...

2010-10 Suavie Island

2010-10 Halloween

2010-11 Bonnie To Portland

2010-11 Miscellaneous stuff

2010-12 Hockey

Visit from Nana

Back to back with our exciting sailing adventure, we had a visit from my Mom. We took advantage of the nice weather and took a river cruise on the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler, went for walks and played at the parks nearby. Bella especially enjoyed showing Nana how she could slide down the big slide all by herself!

2010-09 Sue to Oregon

San Juan sailing

“It’s a new level of certification, on a different type of boat”, “We need the experience” & “Bella wants to sail” – all reasons that my husband used to lure the family into another sailing trip. In September, Charles, Bella, Charlie and I spent another stellar week in the San Juan islands. When not under sail, we spent our time anchored in secluded coves and hiking atop the surrounding cliffs. Charles, Charlie and I earned our Catamaran charter certifications, and Bella enjoyed a week in close-quarters with her family.

2010-09 San Juan Sailing

And a link to the map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101345224695144554595.0004924f8742728a0f038&z=10

Anniversary in Ashland

We met up with the Miller family in Ashland, Oregon for some quality family time while celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary. Charles and Josh went mountain biking down the side of Mt Ashland (a route which, perhaps not by coincidence, ended at an Ashland brew pub) while Heather and I took the kids to a beautiful vineyard just outside of town. Bella and Sebastian played as we enjoyed a sampling of the distinct Southern Oregon wine. We also took road trip to nearby Crater Lake National Park, where we enjoyed lunch at the historic Crater Lake Lodge and hiked along the caldera surrounding the deepest lake in the US. It was a wonderful getaway for all of us, and Bella can't wait to hang out with her cousin again soon.

2010-09 Ashland

Portland Firehouse

Being friends with a firefighter certainly has its' perks. This summer, we enjoyed a private tour of the downtown Portland fire station. All was good fun until the alarm went off while Charles was trying on the gear...

2010-08 Portland Firehouse

Picnic at the park

Enjoying ice cream with friends and playing in the water at Jamison Square.

August pics

Bridge Pedal

Isabella was fortunate enough to participate for the first time in Portland's annual Bridge Pedal. With the bridges closed to motorized traffic for the morning, the whole family including Pa-Paw Charlie, Jennifer and her son Kellen, all enjoyed a unique view of the city while crossing 5 of the city's most beautiful bridges on bicycle.

2010-08 Bridge Pedal

Brunch on the bridge

Two of Portland's most distinguishing assets are parks and bridges - it only seems natural that the city would combine the two… For the better part of one day in August, the Hawthorne bridge in downtown Portland was closed, covered with sod, and opened to picnicking park-goers for the celebration of it's 100th birthday. We were fortunate enough to have placed the winning bid for tickets to the event, along with a picnic table painted by a local artist. The event was stellar, and the picnic table is now our bright backyard centerpiece.

2010-08 Brunch on the bridge

Weekend in the Columbia Gorge

Having friends outside of the city has it's perks. We spend the last weekend of July in White Salmon, just across the Columbia from Hood River. Bella really found her stride playing in the Columbia River and watching the wind surfers and kite boarders at this world famous destination. On the way home, she took her first hike in the Gorge as a full fledged biped and she was giddy with her new found independence.

2010-07 Hood River