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

Blueberry picking

Berry picking at Suavie Island where we also visited a few farm animals.

2010-07 Suave Island

Lost Lake

Bella and Kellen took a swim after a warm day of hiking around Lost Lake. We all enjoyed playing in the cool water at the base of Mount Hood.

2010-07 Lost Lake Swim

July in the Midwest

We had a wonderful time visiting kinfolk in the midwest over the 4th of July. Bella rode her first amusement ride, pet her first chicken and took her first steps, all in the course of a week! Charles and I even got to sneak away with much of the family to do some sailing along the beautiful Chicago waterfront. A good time was had by all.

2010 4th of July

Summer in June

From swings to slides and wagons to bikes, Isabella keeps finding more ways to keep us moving. It is fantastic to watch her explore her ever expanding world.

2010-06 Summertime fun

Fun times with Grandad

Playing till she passed out, Bella enjoyed her special time with Grandad.

2010-06 Bob to Portland

Isabella's first birthday

Bella was lucky enough to have her Nana and great-Nana out from the Midwest for her very first birthday. We enjoyed our time, despite the soggy weather, and had our fill of cake and ice cream!

Isabella's first birthday

Train Day

We enjoyed one of the first (and only) sunny days in May at Portland's National Train Day. Although it was her first glimpse of "The World's Most Famous Steam Locomotive", Bella's favorite part was the ice cream treat at the park afterward.

2010-05 Portland Train day

Great Grandpa Don visits from Michigan

Four generations of Haugheys together in one place!

From 2010-04 Don to Oregon

Bella gets her sea legs

We had an amazing opportunity to spend 10 days aboard a sailboat in Washington's San Juan Islands and the Gulf Islands of Vancouver, B.C. It was an intense first week; our days filled with classes and sailing drills with captain Dave, our nights spent studying and taking tests. Charles, Charlie and I each earned our bareboat charter qualification, allowing us to charter up to a 50' boat internationally. Opening new doors...

After earning our certifications, the captain disembarked and we were joined by John, Jennifer and their son Kellen for 3 days of sailing, hiking and relaxing. Isabella held up extraordinarily well to life on the water; the higher the waves the more she laughed. It didn't take her long at all to find her sea legs.

2010-04 Gulf & San Juan Sailing

Birthdays with friends

Celebrating first birthdays with Bella's friends. There was definitely something in the water one year ago...

2010-04 First Birthdays

First Easter

At our neighbor's Easter party, Bella got to participate in her 1st Easter egg hunt. We are happy to report that the shiny, plastic egg was more of a hit than the candy inside.

2010-04 Easter Party

Sunriver in March

Charles, Bella and I recruited Charlie for babysitting duty while I attended a conference in Sunriver, OR. Though Charles and I worked the 1st few days, it was a wonderful getaway for my birthday weekend. We curled up by the fireplace for the snowfall, then went cycling the next day in sunny 65 degree weather! It couldn't have ended on a better note, hiking through the gorgeous red rock canyons of Smith Rock State Park.

2010-03 Sunriver

Springtime in Portland

2010-03 Portland Waterfront

Visiting Isabella's Great-Great Aunt Shirley

2010-02 San Diego

February fun

We had such a busy month of February. Whether it be skiing, cycling, sailing or beer tasting (adults only of course), Bella is quickly getting acclimated to our active lifestyles.

2010-02 San Diego Sailing

2101-02 Cycling Portland

2010-02 Zwickelmania

2010-02 Cross Country Skiing

8 months old

After a technical glitch with updating photos on my computer, I am now up and running again! These are some of my favorite shots from January.

2010-01 Hood River

Celebrating the New Year in San Francisco

2009-12 San Francisco

Christmas 2009

Better late then never!

2009-12 Christmas

Portland Christmas Ship Parade

The family was lucky enough to join Pa-Paw Charlie on the Portland Sternwheeler for an unmatched view of the annual ship parade with dozens of lighted boats cruising down the Willamette river in downtown Portland.

2009-12 Sternwheeler boat parade

An emergency makeshift bath provided some cute video footage...

Sink bath video

4T Hike

Making the most of a warm winter day by completing the 4T hike in Portland. The loop included 4 miles of trails through the city's scenic parks, a ride down the aerial tram, a trolleycar ride downtown and finished with a train ride back to the Portland zoo (just in time to see the Christmas lights). What an amazing city we live in...

4T hike