Posted by: Becca and Kyle
How is tasting all the ingredients not helping?

I am concerned about splatter.

Bigs! I have had enough. Do I have to show you everything? First you make them comfortable.

Then, give them lots of kisses. It's not like this parenting thing is hard. Geez.

I'm loving my new activity table. I make art and no furniture gets hurt in the process. Win, win.

Nana sent Dad a gift certificate to Spork for his birthday. The bigs treated themselves pretty good.
They had a sour and a cider,

the pork spicy noodles,

and the lamb barbacoa special.

What about poor Em, you ask?

They ordered me one measly carnitas taco.

So, I ate all mom's pumpkin spice gelato to compensate. Thank you, Nana.

You think I'm going to eat oatmeal and mom gets eggs and toast made out of dad's cranberry walnut bread?

Save me.

Posted by: Becca & Kyle
The bigs complain about aches and pains, so I took them to hot springs. They are located on the shore of Paulina Lake.


They were well worth the six mile, roundtrip hike. It was easy for me. I just grabbed a good walking stick and led the way.

I stopped a lot and smelled the roses and ate the dirt...so mom made me get back in the backpack. They complained about my 0.3 mile per hour pace. She came to regret this decision, but not as much as dad. He may be deaf in one ear from all my shrieking. I am not what you would call good.


I LOVE watermelon.

This is the last picture we took with our camera before it broke.

Posted by: Becca & Kyle

It's smokey here. It made the moon red:

Garden gloves? Check. Scrub brush? Check. I am ready to clean the lawn. Got to get ready for Papa's visit.

I planned out some scenic walks for Papa. #1 Tumalo Falls:




#2 Painted Hills National Monument. This was not part of the original plan, but Plan B due to extreme smoke in Bend.

I did not let Papa off easy and made him hike to the top.



#3 Todd Lake bushwhacking adventure. We started on a nice trail...

We all earned a yummy dinner at McMenamins. Papa ordered me the hummus plate. He's got my number.


Mom had mahi-mahi with coconut curry rice and daikon coleslaw.

Dad had pork roast with broccolini and mashed potatoes.

Papa had steak with bacon butter and frites.


Sunday was Meera's birthday at the bounce house.


I was too wired to nap after the party - so off to the pump track we went.

Then we took Papa for hike #4, Dillon Falls.

Dad, I think we should swim there.

Posted by: Becca and Kyle

Can I just drink my coffee in peace?

Come on bigs. There is no view because of the smoke. Let's get moving. We need more cherry tomatoes.



Mom and I have kind of let ourselves go this summer. I've been rocking a mullet. And Mom, well, she was starting to look like a witch, what with her long, scraggily grey hair.

We took care of things this weekend.



I'm not sure who Spanky is, but I don't think you're funny, Dad.