Mt. Hood Trip

I haven't seen Smokey around in years!

Above the trees!

The view was amazing!

The Fam.

Ben packed Sophia up the mountain.

Our eager little hiker.

I have lived in Salem for 11 years now and can you believe I had never been up to Mt. Hood until Sunday! I felt like a real phony, but I am a full-fledge Oregonian now. (Although I'll always be a Washintonian at heart) Anyway, Sophia hadn't been before either, so that makes two of us. ;-) The early fall in Oregon is pretty dreamy. As you can see we had bright blue skies and sunshine all day and it was heaven to enjoy the great outdoors all day. We also tried a new breakfast place that morning called Word of Mouth, which had some yummy and unique offerings. What a day!

Beach Trip

Sophia and I just got home from our first beach trip together. It was a pretty perfect day and so nice to get out of Salem and enjoy the outdoors. Sophia LOVED the beach. After I got tired of her sticking her sandy hands in her mouth I put her in the front pack carrier. She cooed and kicked and made happy baby noises all afternoon. Thank you to Nancy who invited us along for the day. If it weren't for the prompting of a veteran mom like Nancy I'd probably never have attempted the beach. Boy would I have missed out! Now I'm just wondering when we can go back.

I always try to copy Sophia's fashion choices.

I tried stopping her, really.

Future Sand Castle Queen!

Motoring around on the beach.

Ben's Birthday

Here's a few shots from our family dinner celebrating Ben's 32nd birthday.

Dick with Sophia, Kathy, Jeff and Andrea.

Had to show you Sophia's lil' teefers. She's been working so hard on them.

Sophia helping Ben open presents.