Multnomah Falls

we can not count the number of times we've traveled the road from our home to portland, or. each time passing this waterfall and each time promising next time we'll stop. finally a leisure trip, as much time as we wanted and this time a stop and a hike were in order.

friends of multnomah falls, that's what we thought we were. we reached uphill switchback 5 of 11. athen declared that a rest was in order. my feet agreed. at that point we decided, multnomah falls and us could only be friends from the bottom. the uphill hike was more of a climb.

we stopped, we hiked, curiosity now satisfied and  future trips will not find us promising to ever again stop.

...minis.

 

 after seeing these on pinterest I thought about our favorite pancake recipe that we make regularly. 100% whole wheat, healthy, fast, and easy.  how fun for the little ones to eat mini sized pancakes. so this morning we whipped some up. not as fancy, but just right for a quick and easy breakfast.

these blender pancakes [named because you mix them up in the blender] were introduced to us by one of Mr. H's aunts. we're happy to share the recipe.

Blender Pancakes:

1 C. wheat

1 C. milk

[blend for 3 minutes]

add:

1/2 C. milk

[blend for 2 minutes]

add:

1 egg

1/4 C. oil

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 TBS. sugar

[blend to mix]

add:

2 TBS baking powder

[blend, make sure you don't use baking soda or they will end up tasting bitter]

some times we add and extra 1/2 C. milk and turn them into crepes.

dress up.

since the moment this miss was born I dreamed of the things she would do, the pretend she would play. memories of my own childhood. a yearning in my heart that she may help me relive it once again. dress ups are becoming her thing. baby doll a constant companion. dancing + singing everyday. she dances like I did. a little gallop around the room and some twirls to follow. my heart looks forward to the precious time this fall will bring. brother will be at preschool and we can play as girls do.

 

Benton County Fair.

Days like this one make me fall in love with my family all over again.

four free admission tickets, twelve free ride tickets, five dollars for parking, homemade sandwiches, free pencils + stickers, and two and a half hours of free time to wonder and explore.

 big smiles and little girl squeels of excitement. a new kind of brave big boy and little girl.

in the summer.

We slip n' slide all the time.

little girl.

after waking up from a nap, trying to analyze the party in the back yard. 

little girls + kittens.

Molly + Claire : 2 years old

Family reunites.