Jadon has been enjoying learning to climb and slide down playground equipment. In fact it is hard to get him to stop: climb, slide and repeat! Thank God Jadon still takes a nap!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Biking the Springwater Corridor at 85 degrees
Last weekend, when word came out that there would be a heatwave (80-90 degrees) Deanna and I decided that we would take a bike ride today. So last night Deanna started packing a few things and this morning I loaded up the car. Deanna had looked online and decided to head for the Springwater Corridor, a path that runs east-west through SE Portland. Along the path are many parks and we thought we could take the 6.3 mile bike to Powell Butte Park, find a place to eat and then pedal back to where we parked.
We found our starting point well enough and loaded up Jadon and our supplies in the Chariot Cougar 2 trailer and away we went. It was warm but things went fairly smooth on the way East, with the exception of the pages from Deanna's work and phone stops. There were quite a few roads that the trail crosses so we had many natural stops while we waited for the lights to permit us to cross. By the time we reached the trail to the park I was looking forward to relaxing and playing with Jadon.
When we pulled off the Springwater Corridor there was a park billboard but no map for us to see the fastest way to the bathrooms and picnic benches. Deanna knew they had the facilities so we continued another 200m meters up the beautiful forested narrow trail with the trailer and Deanna's nice road bike. We saw another entrance so Deanna went to see if there was a map, no luck, so we continued up the gorgeous forested trail.
After another 300 meters I stopped a couple mountain bike riders zooming down the trail. They had to stop since the trail was narrow and I was pushing the trailer and my bike up. They said the facilities were about 3/4 of a mile up the hill, if we stayed to the right. I was starting to get a little frustrated especially when the stinging nettle plants brushed my bare calves. Our little bike ride and picnic was turning into a bit of a multisport adventure race. The trail was quite steep as we continued up the butte and I was no longer glad I had packed a couple extra supplies in the trailer.
In retrospect I wish I would have stopped and enjoyed it a little more. The forest was beautiful and the weather was great. I should have taken some pictures: Deanna and her road bike in the middle of a forest, Jadon and I riding uphill on single track as the sun pierced the cool forest. The trip up was about 1.3 miles to the closed bathrooms and sun scorched picnic tables. We decided to set up camp in the shade of the closed bathrooms, which would have otherwise been gladly used.
From the park facilities we were able to enjoy some time together and study our Portland Bike map to choose a better trip back. After Jadon cooled off a bit he was his normal playful self. He enjoyed watching all the dogs and running around. We all ate and Jadon was happy to wear some chocolate on his clothes.
The trip back was fairly focused. We were tired, warm, had an errand still to make and then once home there would be the clean up. We only stopped so Deanna could to answer a couple pages and give Jadon a chance to drink some water. On the way home we stopped by a diaper store and then Trader Joe's before heading home.
After emptying the car of groceries and bike supplies I began to wash the car while Deanna and Jadon put things away up stairs. About half way through Jadon and Deanna came down to join me. Jadon had fun cooling off in the spray of the faucet and occasionally he would run through the spray of the nozzle. It was all in all a great and tiring day.
We found our starting point well enough and loaded up Jadon and our supplies in the Chariot Cougar 2 trailer and away we went. It was warm but things went fairly smooth on the way East, with the exception of the pages from Deanna's work and phone stops. There were quite a few roads that the trail crosses so we had many natural stops while we waited for the lights to permit us to cross. By the time we reached the trail to the park I was looking forward to relaxing and playing with Jadon.
When we pulled off the Springwater Corridor there was a park billboard but no map for us to see the fastest way to the bathrooms and picnic benches. Deanna knew they had the facilities so we continued another 200m meters up the beautiful forested narrow trail with the trailer and Deanna's nice road bike. We saw another entrance so Deanna went to see if there was a map, no luck, so we continued up the gorgeous forested trail.
After another 300 meters I stopped a couple mountain bike riders zooming down the trail. They had to stop since the trail was narrow and I was pushing the trailer and my bike up. They said the facilities were about 3/4 of a mile up the hill, if we stayed to the right. I was starting to get a little frustrated especially when the stinging nettle plants brushed my bare calves. Our little bike ride and picnic was turning into a bit of a multisport adventure race. The trail was quite steep as we continued up the butte and I was no longer glad I had packed a couple extra supplies in the trailer.
In retrospect I wish I would have stopped and enjoyed it a little more. The forest was beautiful and the weather was great. I should have taken some pictures: Deanna and her road bike in the middle of a forest, Jadon and I riding uphill on single track as the sun pierced the cool forest. The trip up was about 1.3 miles to the closed bathrooms and sun scorched picnic tables. We decided to set up camp in the shade of the closed bathrooms, which would have otherwise been gladly used.
From the park facilities we were able to enjoy some time together and study our Portland Bike map to choose a better trip back. After Jadon cooled off a bit he was his normal playful self. He enjoyed watching all the dogs and running around. We all ate and Jadon was happy to wear some chocolate on his clothes.
The trip back was fairly focused. We were tired, warm, had an errand still to make and then once home there would be the clean up. We only stopped so Deanna could to answer a couple pages and give Jadon a chance to drink some water. On the way home we stopped by a diaper store and then Trader Joe's before heading home.
After emptying the car of groceries and bike supplies I began to wash the car while Deanna and Jadon put things away up stairs. About half way through Jadon and Deanna came down to join me. Jadon had fun cooling off in the spray of the faucet and occasionally he would run through the spray of the nozzle. It was all in all a great and tiring day.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
New Furniture needed by the end of October
Jadon has lots of great stuff in his room but it seems we will have to thin some of it out and add some new furniture. Now that he is getting older we will be looking into a bunk bed or maybe side-by-side small twin beds. Since the room is so small it will likely have to take advantage of the ceiling height. Though, I am not sure what the color of the new set up will be. Deanna will surely vote for red but I would like the kiddo to have a say about any new colors. And we have been so blessed with hand-me-down clothes from Heidi and others, we have those boxes of outgrown clothes ready again. Jadon's book collection might benefit from an addition as well, you know, something about big brothers....
O.K., I'll stop beating around the bush. Jadon is getting a roommate; and it's not a puppy! As usual, Deanna looks fantastic and no one would likely be the wiser until the final months. This time around Deanna had a basic sonogram early and so far so good. It seems the child is due about October 31st (I am praying for Nov. 1st). However, Deanna reminds me Jadon was a week early. When it comes to the gender of the child, since the sonogram was so early, only God knows.
(By the way, no one should try to send us a bunk bed since it was just a way to announce the pregnancy.)
For right now, my prayer requests are for our sleep schedule and Deanna's work. Jadon has been really enjoying the new wobbler's class at day care but he is not yet used to their nap schedule so he has been waking up at night. Deanna has been working hard to help her colleagues since one had shoulder surgery and has been out for about a month. Deanna has been her usual super responsible and efficient self and taken more responsibilities while her colleague recovers. However, the extra work has been stressful and tiring.
I am looking forward to the future, but like before Jadon came, I don't know how God will make it all happen. It's actually pretty cool, not knowing all the future details helps me to stretch my faith and see how God is faithful.
In His Grip,
Will
O.K., I'll stop beating around the bush. Jadon is getting a roommate; and it's not a puppy! As usual, Deanna looks fantastic and no one would likely be the wiser until the final months. This time around Deanna had a basic sonogram early and so far so good. It seems the child is due about October 31st (I am praying for Nov. 1st). However, Deanna reminds me Jadon was a week early. When it comes to the gender of the child, since the sonogram was so early, only God knows.
(By the way, no one should try to send us a bunk bed since it was just a way to announce the pregnancy.)
For right now, my prayer requests are for our sleep schedule and Deanna's work. Jadon has been really enjoying the new wobbler's class at day care but he is not yet used to their nap schedule so he has been waking up at night. Deanna has been working hard to help her colleagues since one had shoulder surgery and has been out for about a month. Deanna has been her usual super responsible and efficient self and taken more responsibilities while her colleague recovers. However, the extra work has been stressful and tiring.
I am looking forward to the future, but like before Jadon came, I don't know how God will make it all happen. It's actually pretty cool, not knowing all the future details helps me to stretch my faith and see how God is faithful.
In His Grip,
Will
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