Epic Road Trip Pt 2- Steamboat

 We finally made it to Steamboat.  The dogs were happy to see us.  They were very bouncy.  The girls warmed up quickly to the dogs.  These golden retrievers are so dear to me because they help me feel close to my sister who died in 2007.  There is nothing like a Golden Retriever welcome!







The girls warmed up quickly to the dogs and we had such a great time just being together with my brother-in-law and romping around the house and yard.







Amy made it her job to feed the dogs each day as well as the fish.  She became her uncle's assistant.







Baby Analise loved having a big new space to explore and was quite interested in the dogs.  She rearranged magazines and just loved exploring.







We took Amy ice skating for the first time since her uncle is a hockey goalie.  She did great and kept wanting to go around the rink again and again.







We spent more time lounging at the house and the girls decided to see how cozy the dog beds were.







Amy helped with brushing the dogs as well.  She decided Tagish is her "new best friend".







After ice skating, Amy decided she needed to try on all her uncle's hockey gear.  He is quite tall so the leg pads came up to her chin.







We watched the Stanley Cup and Amy rooted for Boston just to mess with Gil.








We went fishing and caught four Rainbow Trout.  Gil caught two.  Jonathan caught one, and Amy helped reel in the last one.  Baby Analise and I cheered on the family and enjoyed the lake.







We so enjoyed the fresh trout dinner!







We had time to explore the park near the house, play card games, and just be together as a family, soaking in the affection of two golden retrievers and a wonderful brother in law.







We reluctantly said goodbye to Steamboat and started heading back toward Oregon.







Our next stop was Pocatello, ID to visit friends.  On our way we stopped at Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming and Amy became a Jr. Ranger again there.







We stayed two nights in Pocatello and so enjoyed the hospitality of our friends as well as throwing axes and spears at targets in the dark after children were in bed!







We camped one more night at Wallowa Lake State Park.  It is a beautiful area and made me want to go backpacking.







We made S'mores and had a lovely campfire.  The next day we packed up and drove home to head back into normal life again.

Weldon Wagon Road

 It was a somewhat clear, warm spring day in May and we headed to one of our favorite spots on the Washington side of the Gorge.









This is a historic wagon road with a gorgeous oak orchard with a view of Mt. Hood.









It is a a bit of a climb on our first sunny warm day.  Amy was slow but steady.









We were privileged to have our friend Ahmed with us.  He was up for an adventure and we were happy to have some company.  He stuck with it and enjoyed a lively conversation and excellent view.









Mt. Hood was as beautiful as ever.









We had a little bit of a wildflower show.









It was just so nice to be enjoying the sunshine and the girls.  We took lots of breaks to enjoy looking out.









Eventually the trail heads back into the trees and to part of the wagon road complete with a boneyard.







Amy needed lots of breaks because the weather was hot and she decided to actually pose for pictures as a way to get a break (normally she hates having her picture taken!









It was a lovely day to enjoy late spring and start getting our legs used to climbing again.

Strolling at Ankeny

 It was a rainy, close to home kind of day.  We headed to Ankeny Wildlife Refuge near Salem.  What a peaceful place.







We wandered around wetlands and listened to birds.








Amy took a break in the grass.







There were butterflies to admire.







Analise is practicing using the backpack which is easier on my back now that she is getting heavier.  She seems to be pretty happy riding this way.







We all enjoyed a dry break in the bird blind.







We took a long break to eat and listen to the birds and then started heading back toward the trailhead.

We enjoyed the canopy of trees and then found a fat slug.  It was a nice day to enjoy the woods and wetlands.

Inversion Amazement at Trillium Lake

It was a foggy January day in Portland.  When we left Portland the temperature was in the 30s.  An inversion was happening and the warm air trapped at higher elevations made Mt. Hood a sunny high 60s.







We went to the popular Trillium Lake road and started stripping off our layers.







Both kids were so happy to be less bundled and warm in the snow.  All of a sudden in felt like spring.







We took plenty of breaks as usual.  Amy skied down the steep hill to the lake.







Sarah got some baby therapy.







Mt. Hood was out in all her glory.  I was so sleep deprived that I wondered if we would see a reflection on the lake!







Unfortunately, there were people feeding the "camp robber" birds and they were dive bombing us, so we did not stay to eat very long.  Amy protected our food.







Baby Analise decided this snow stuff wasn't all that bad.







Amy was a great sport about climbing up the big hill.







We reluctantly left the sunny, snowy, warm oasis in the mountains to go back to the cloudy cold city below.