Picking up at the end of June in 2023 and into the beginning to the school year. Summer is a blast in Oregon and full of adventure, fun and discovery. The kids finished up the year strong. They are really leaning into the adventures of the Oregon summer and LOVE adventuring in the outdoors as a family. Honestly some of the best memories from this summer are camping / hiking when we are just outdoors together as a family. The kids look out for each other, are resilient and brave in new scenarios and have a remarkable amount of endurance (see the Rainier trip). Bottomless candy helps, but it is more than than that. All three of them really love being outside and finding new things to see together. We are truly lucky.
Fiona - all smiles at the dentist to start the summer of strong with dental hygeine!
Grace arts camp....Grace arts camp...give me a week and I'll be a champ!!
Wes and Elliot went this year! It was always a tight trip between the end of swim team practice and then getting to camps on time. It required Elliot getting out of the swimming pool a few minutes early and then turbo changing to get there on time. There were a lot of breakfasts eaten on the go this summer!
Hiking at Lost Lake in the summer. Look at Mt. Hood in the background! Gorgeous day and really big kids!!
Back into town for the independence day block part at the other Cook's house. Sparklers, food, water guns...what more could you ask for! They block off the whole street for this party and it really is an old time neighborhood block party. Picnic food, fireworks and everything!
Look at that smile - shy wouldn't we give a sparkler to a 3 year old!
After thinking about it for almost a decade and a half, Crystal and Mac finally got it together and hiked the Timberline trail! 42 miles in three days! We had amazing weather and because it was mid-week, there were very few people out on the trails with us. The hike starts at the Timberline lodge. This is the start of the hike, well about 7miles in, at Paradise Park.
Relaxing along the edge of a glacier drainage basin. Dad is tired!
Look at Crystal crossing this rushing glacial river!! The water was up to hear mid-thighs and COLD!! Most of the water was actually ice earlier that day and was direct run off from the glaciers higher up on the mountain. This was the most technically demanding part of the hike, and also the most fun ;)
Back in town and with the big kids!!!!
Cute sisters! Look at her getting her violin practice done while Fiona watched with Mono (her monkey).
Girls build camp (which she went to with Amaia). A camp specifically for girls where they learn to do all kinds of art projects and really getting into heavy construction (cement pouring, welding, forging!). The red headbands are their group. Elliot loved the creativity and also, since it was at the University of Portland, she REALLY REALLY loved the breakfast that was there (pancakes every morning!!) We had to make a point to leave swim team early to get to camp on time to allow for breakfast. This is a cigar box banjo that they built.
Swim team girls! Elliot, Addi and Elliott S.
Not to be left behind - Fiona dove into summer! She loved the splash pad and getting outside into the world! Sunscreen and sunhats are always a bit of a challenge to keep on them - but no sunburns yet!
Oh my - and Wes too! Suns out guns out in the backyard! This might have been immediately prior to a game of "hose em off" where the kids run around in the backyard and Mac spays them with a hose.
Dessert in summer ROCKS!!!!
Summer also means swimming at Grant Park Pool. With all of them in swimming lessons now, they absolutely love the water!
Big girl - big desk!! Working hard on her writing. Elliot has increasingly fallen in love with writing stories and creating her own books. She is quite good at it!
Summer time and the living is easy!
Cool kid!
At Cook's camp for the summer - an opportunity to paint your face and enjoy family / grandparent time!
Everybody is painting their face at Cook's camp!!
Boat trip to Day's store on Long Pond is made MUCH better with ice cream and pastries. What is Crystal doing here....trying to get out of a kid picture?
Cook's camp this year had a bagpiper come and play for the whole family along the lake front. It was super fun and enjoyable and we even did a sword dance (with pool noddles). The piper was echoing around the lake.
Hike up French's mountain with the whole Cook clan - it is wonderful that everyone is still fit and healthy enough to get up there.
Trouble these two are....
For Mac's 40th birthday we were at Black Butte ranch and Crystal / the kids made a mega-jenga game with individualized pieces. What a wonderful and thoughtful gift!!
It was a bit smoky this weekend, you can see the red haze from surrounding fires. The kids, however, were undaunted and we rounded out the last bit of summer with the Alahood group just like we started it!
So many candles....
Smile pumpkin! She just keeps getting bigger and bigger. She is really growing in independence, getting ready all by herself, taking on dressing and riding a bike like a pro!!
Fiona is four!!!!!! Happy Birthday Pumpkin Pie!!!! Mom, again, nailing the cake decorating!!!
Family birthday for our littlest pumpkin!! Dad pizza (he only burned himself once on the Ooni oven) and delicious cake!
The summer is wrapping up, but there is still time to check off the last few things. Get out there and get that lemonade sold!!! It's 2023 and so not only do they take cash - but they have a Venmo QR code ready if you only have your phone.
And we are back to school!! Elliot in 3rd grade in Mrs. Freeman's class (also her girl scout leader).
And Wes in Ella Robinson's class. He is such a big kid!!
And Fiona too! Starting her last year at ABC!! Our last year at ABC too!
Serious work for a serious third grader!
but not too serious...
Wrapping up the summer with our, again becoming annual, family backpacking trip over labor day. We got some great camp sites at Mt. Rainier national park and the kids were on it!! After spending the nigh in Packwood and poking around the HUGE labor day flea market and staying at the apartment above the brewery - we were off. First night was at Glacier Basin. How about that weather!!!
After a night at glacier basin, we hiked along the burroughs to sunrise. Ominous clouds in the background!
Look at this tough outdoor kid!!
Loving it!!
Like before - snacks power everyone up the hill! Sour gummer worms are KEY!!
Looking good!!!
While we didn't get any pictures of it - the hike long the burroughs trail to sunrise was WILD!! Those ominous clouds rolled in and we were hiking above treeline in the blowing clouds. The kids LOVED IT!! "WE ARE HIKING IN A CLOUD!!!" When the weather blew in Fiona didn't have enough clothes on and then we found a little rock shelter and Elliot / Wes covered her up in their jackets while we got out extra clothes. It was never really dangerous but it sure was exciting when the wall of clouds was bearing down on us. A memorable experience for the kids and us!!
Then we got to sunrise campsite, a sweet lake a delicious dinner.
Last day at ABC for a big kid!!!! She wants to be a geologist - Fiona really loves her "special rocks". Anytime we are out and about, she is stuffing her pockets full of rocks in order to bring them home, examine them and organize them.
