July 2010

To celebrate Independence day we went to Gary and Debbie's property on Mt. Hood. Hobbes was really excited to go "camping" for the first time. I say "camping" in quotation marks because although we did sleep in a tent there was a mobile home 10 feet away where Gary, Debbie and Ross were staying. All our meals were cooked on a fire though so it was pretty much like camping for real. With 4 in our family now we've outgrown our tent. Brendan slept outside. What a man. He looked so cold in the morning when we got up.


Brendan and Desmond enjoying an evening fire. I don't know what it is about fire, but it is just mesmerizing. I've heard it described as nature's TV. I think that is a fitting description. I can just stare at it for hours.

Poor Desmond, since he is the cutest of the bunch, the smoke kept following him of course.

Desmond and Mommy on a hike through the woods.

Grandpa Gary teaching Hobbes how to throw a rock far enough so it will land in the reservoir.

Hobbes had a blast. Here he is jumping and throwing sticks and dried pine needles in the air.

Here he is building a house of sticks. I believe he called it Eeyore's house after the Winnie the Pooh character. (Can you tell what movies and books we have at home?)

Despite getting burned by a sparkler last year, Hobbes wasn't afraid to play with them this year. He had even more fun watching Daddy set up the fireworks that looked like tanks. Brendan had them aiming at each other so they appeared to be attacking each other. Once the evening light had faded we watched as people around the reservoir set off bigger fireworks. Desmond and I watched the whole show from inside the car. The fireworks were too noisy for him.