Top Ten List - #4: Snowshoeing on Mt. Hood

This year, we decided to take advantage of the fact that my parents were here on New Year's Eve to actually go out and do something that required us to stay up until midnight. This is no small task for us - It had not been achieved or even "neared" since we became parents. For Christmas, I had asked Jay what kind of experiential gift he might like since neither of us could really think of another "thing" we needed. I don't know what kind of answer I expected, but the answer I got was, "I'd really like to go snow camping with you." Then, the love of my life went on to describe his prior snow camping experiences which included anecdotes like, "Yeah, one night Myles went too far off our beaten down area when he had to pee and he sunk in the snow up to his neck." And, "You know when you're snow camping, you can't build a fire because it will sink into the snow." I don't know where I fall on the general population's scale of cold tolerance, but I can tell you that upon first hearing the Robert Service poem The Cremation of Sam McGee, I felt like his kindred spirit. I like camping. I LOVE my husband. I am willing to try new things. But, I'm just, shall we say, "wary" about digging a snow cave and snuggling in for a sound night of sleep.

I really did want to take the opportunity to do something fun outside in the snow, though. So, I started Googling and found an outfit out of Government Camp that does snowshoeing outings near Mt. Hood Skibowl. I arranged for us to take part in the New Year's Eve snowshoeing adventure, complete with a slopeside view of the fireworks over Skibowl. A four-hour outing start to finish, and then a warm night at the Resort at the Mountain down the hill in Welches.

We had gotten to the Columbia River when I realized I had forgotten my camera. I kicked myself for that. We had gotten to Gresham (about half an hour from home) when I realized I had forgotten my hiking boots. That one was kind of an insurmountable issue, so we made the trip back with me feeling like a complete idiot and with Jay not saying much to prove me otherwise. Fortunately, the evening was young, and we were able to make the trip back, get dinner at Edgefield, and head toward the mountain right as the snow started. By the time we reached our room, it was starting to accumulate. By the time we got to Government Camp, the snow was coming down hard, the revelers were coming out in force and we were starting to worry about how we'd get the truck back down to our hotel at 2 in the morning without killing ourselves or being killed by some drunken snowboarder in a Vanagon or something.

Opting to live in the moment, we found Mt. Hood Adventure and met up with our leader and group. There were around a dozen in our party, and we got into the untrodden snow behind skibowl at around 10:30 at night. It was pretty magical because the lights of Skibowl illuminated the sky enough so we weren't completely in the dark, but with the snow falling steadily and with the trees draped in heavy blankets of white, it wasw easy to imagine we were in a more remote location than we actually were. After an hour or so, we got to a spot where we were able to build a fire (in a wide-lipped metal bowl to prevent the sinking fire issue) and settle in for hot chocolate and fireworks in the snow. It was awesome! The walk back was much easier than the trip out since we had padded down a "sidewalk" that we just retraced. We did (slowly) make it back to the room in time to crash sometime before 3 AM. The resort's restaurant had a truly wonderful all-you-could-eat New Year's brunch for a reasonable price with bottomless mimosas included (!!) Since we'd been toasting with hot chocolate and Rice Krispy treats at midnight, we felt entitled to indulge with our blintzes and smoked salmon. Then, we headed toward home in heavy rain, making it just hours before a huge landslide blocked the main highway between Portland and the mountain for days. Yep, a new year's to remember for once. Let's hope the year itself is as good. Maybe snow camping will make it onto the calendar.

Top Ten List #2: The Big 4-0

Okay, it's not so bad. Jay asked what I wanted, and I said to get my hair colored (haven't gotten around to that) and to see my dear friend Erica - who lives so close, but so far away in Portland. I got my annual ice cream cake - which is always so tasty, although I had made it clear (albeit to Mags) that I really wanted a homemade carrot cake. I also asked for a surprise party, but I suppose that's a bit contradictory. I was actually afraid I might wake up miserable, but the best cure for that is Jazzercise. At my Friday morning class, I brought one of the girls' tiaras to wear and we had a small little snack after class. My friend Jen brought balloons and some fruit, and a very kind couple brought me a potent lavender sachet (which is currently scenting my entire closet). On Saturday morning (the actual big day) I went to AM Jazzercise at the middle school. I am lucky in that Saturday morning Jazzercise is an instant estrogen party. It was packed, there was singing and well wishes and even a goofy birthday princess headband.

Later, Erica and Tim came up and we drank champagne and then all went to Pizzeria 360. Erica gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers - including the one in the photo, and we have planned a spa getaway day in PDX. Jay got me an online subscription to the NY Times Crossword. And then bedtime came and the next day dawned and so on and so on and... here we are.

Elinor is Totally Two

Last Friday as summer arrived on the Prairie, our Solstice Child turned two. The day was sunny, the presents were happily modest, and the celebration was quiet and included cupcakes and a trip to the zoo that wasn't.

We had planned to go to the Oregon Zoo and have a nice lunch with my parents. However, when it was time to leave, my mother could not find her wallet. We were pretty sure that it had been on the kitchen counter, but there were just enough blanks in my mother's memory from the night before to leave just a whisper of doubt - and frantic searching and re-searching and re-re-searching and talk of calling credit card companies. Eventually, I left for the zoo with the kids, altering the itinerary and planning to meet Jay at work so I wouldn't be outnumbered at the zoo. He was prepared to go at 11, and we pulled in right on time - as my cell phone rang and he told me from inside the building that he had to get on a conference call right then. In the meantime, my parents found the lost wallet hidden in a cabinet in the toy kitchen (hmmmm), and hopped in the car to try to meet us at the zoo. (With only minimal coaching, Maggie came up with the idea that she should apologize to her Grandma Sue at the earliest convenient time.) So, that left me and the girls sitting in the parking lot of Jay's work (see photos) waiting for him to get off a call that he estimated would take 20 minutes. Almost an hour later, we were still waiting, as I rerouted my parents from the zoo to Jay's office so we'd at least all be in the same location.




By the time they arrived and Jay got off his call, it was noon. I had planned on being at the zoo by 10 and meeting Jay for lunch afterward. Somehow, the skill that it takes to get my family anywhere at a particular time for a specific purpose is beyond my grasp. Good thing I did not choose "General" as my chosen career. "Where are your troops, General?" "Ummm, I think some of them are in the bathroom, and some others are looking for their ammunition, Sir." So... Instead of the zoo, we just went to lunch at Laurelwood. Lunch: DONE.




But, once the idea of the zoo is planted in the head of a three and a half-year old, it is not easily pulled out and tossed aside. So, after lunch, my parents went shopping for birthday presents, Jay took Birthday Girl home for a nap, and Mags and I went to the Zoo, along with her rolling penguin bag. We got there at about 3:00 in the afternoon. Luckily, she was agreeable and named the three things she wanted to see: polar bears, fish and giraffes. Also had an unexpected nose-to-nose with an ocelot. Trip to Zoo: DONE.




That night my friend Jen and her son came over for cupcakes, and Steve came over with his young'uns the next afternoon to decorate and devour the cupcakes that remained. Said cupcakes, although made with mix from a box, earned me Good Mommy points (in my own mind) for creativity and for linking to a classic kids' book instead of a television show. Cupcakes: DONE.







And now, I have a two-year old. I'd describe her like this: Likes to run with purpose. Hugs without a second thought. Spouts new words every day. Gives sloppy kisses and laughs from the belly. Devours broccoli. Not at all afraid to jog down the driveway toward points unknown with nary a glance back. Loves her sister so much that her first word every day is "Maggie." Learning to defend her turf by saying, "MINE!" Mags likes to call her "Sweet Ellie," and she's right.

Father's Day

Sunday had been set aside for outbuilding floor installation, so we celebrated Father's Day on Saturday at Marshall Community Park (or as Mags calls it, "the park with the wood chips") in Vancouver. (On the last picture, be sure to follow Ellie's gaze over to the double slide...)

I sure am glad he's my kids' dad...(even if he doesn't always do things just like I would). And here's part of how I know he's a good dad - feedback from Mags:

"Mom, I want you to make my oatmeal like Papa does. He makes good oatmeal!"

"Mama, that's just the same as Papa hugs me when he puts me to bed!"

"Mama, I want you to sing me the song that Papa sings..."

For the record, here's Easter at our house...

Here is video of those rare moments when the entire family is happily engaged in a common activity! Ellie picked up on the whole "hunt for the plastic things" idea immediately. Mags let Ellie find eggs without ripping them from her little fingers and claiming them for herself. Jay got involved with the hunt, which probably seemed hokey to him, but he played along. Very sweet all around.

Pictures:

Easter loot - Yes, I did give my children toothbrushes and dental floss instead of chocolate bunnies, and they were psyched, by the way.

Ellie and a little stuffed lamb. I am so glad that little things make her so happy.

Mags wearing ribbons down her back - much like Irene Malloy from Hello, Dolly. And don't even think that isn't why I bought them or that the similarity was lost on Maggie for one nanosecond. (Also note that Maggie has started dressing herself, thus the pink rainboots and ballerina skirt.)

Jay eating the blueberry bran muffins that Mags and I made for breakfast. This is the first picture that Mags took of him that day. And next, you'll see the 17th picture she took of him about 5 minutes later.