Author: becandkyle

Dad got the computer fixed. Phew. I am sure you were all so sad when there was no blog update last week…

Guess what? Nana came to visit! I didn’t have school, so we had lots of time to play. I created very full itineraries for us.

We made Halloween cookies.

Did some decorating.

And, carved some pumpkins.

We also went on some nature walks.

And, of course, went to the Yacht Club.

I threw Nana a going away party, complete with an open bar. The menu included apple cider (hot or cold), hard cider, or wine.

The fun is over and school is back in session, but the weather has been gorgeous and we got out for a bike ride this weekend. After my latest biking class, I am ROCK man.

Up next, Halloween! The Bigs finally finished my costume. Cut it close this year. For those who don’t know what I am going to be…If I only had a brain, I would tell you!

I am feeling better. Not 100% but improved. We went for a hike this weekend near Tumalo Creek.

I tend to go off trail, climbing every good rock I see.

We also went mountain biking. We told Mom we would meet her. She got to our meeting spot and got all set up to take a picture of me riding through the rock garden. BUT Dad and I did not meet her. So she took this guy’s picture instead.

I also spent some time in the kitchen. I made chocolate mint cookies (they had an Andes candy in the center).

I also made Hachimitsudaikon. It’s a tea with daikon radish, honey, and ginger.

We also had asian lettuce wraps this week. Yum.

I’m sick again/still. So sick that I did not want to do anything this weekend. That’s sick. So, this will be a short blog – with not too many pictures.

Friday was picture day. I take these things very seriously. I was the only sport coat seen in the DSM parking lot Friday morning. And when The Bigs picked me up that evening, I was still rocking the tie.

Mom thinks she probably got a better picture than the actual photographer and The Bigs could have saved their $25.

Mom and I planted sweet potatoes and yellow peppers in May. One. ONE of our peppers finally turned yellow. I won’t even tell you about the sweet potatoes…

We are behind on all things Halloween. My costume, for example. The Bigs really need to kick it up a notch. We also haven’t decorated yet. We swung buy a nursery to get some weird pumpkins on our way home one day, but we still need lots more.

This week I was back in the kitchen. I even followed a recipe! I made pan fried salmon with pine nut salsa.

I also invented a recipe. I food processed dried apricots and figs and added cocoa powder. It made a delicious paste I used to top apples. I then added a little chocolate ice cream to really make it come together.

We went backpacking this weekend. The hike started out in a burn.

But, it quickly became treed and had beautiful views of Mt. Theilsen.

I hiked all eight miles like it was a walk in the park.

Even making a steep climb without a trail over a ridge.

By the end, my feet were sore, but…

when I saw the waterfall that was our destination, I knew it was worth it.

Look, I found a heart stone Nan! I didn’t have room in my backpack to bring it home, but don’t worry, I made Mom carry it.

One of our reasons for going camping this weekend was so I could try out my new ‘man’ sleeping bag. My old bag was 3 lbs 3 oz. My new bag is 1 lb 15 oz. Dad, who has to carry it, was even happier with it than I was.

The hike out was steep.

A little bear crawling and a little grabbing tree branches to keep from slipping and we made it.

We saw lots of mushrooms on our way down.

I am determined to hike South Sister – an 11.5 mile round trip hike with 4900 feet of climbing. The Bigs took me on a training hike. We climbed Mt. Bachelor. Eight miles round trip and 2700 feet of climbing. I did it no problem.

Nan, does this count as a heart stone?

I’m also pretty into tennis these days. I even bought myself a sweatband so I could look like the guys at the US Open.

Dad made New Roots’ “Life Changing Loaf of Bread” this week. Didn’t work – life around here is the same.

I was inspired and made up a bread recipe. It had oats, bananas, walnuts, currents, and cinnamon. It was pretty good!

I had my yearly check up with Dr. Mills. She always asks me if I eat the rainbow, so I took a picture of my dinner to bring to my appointment. Rainbow? Check.

And then, I made this pizza for lunch one day. I used a tortilla, put some cheese, shredded pork, and red onion. Delicious!

I’m still sick. I even stayed home from school one day. It was GREAT. The Bigs let me lounge on the couch and watch movies. Here I am enjoying “Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs”.

This week was The Bigs’ wedding anniversary. They didn’t seem to think it was a big deal, but I did. I started the morning with a card and dinner plans.

We went for a bike ride after school/work and then headed to the Yacht (or yot, as I like to spell it) Club for dinner.

And then I insisted on taking an anniversary portrait. I believe many of you readers have experienced my portrait taking, so you can feel for the Bigs. I decided the best place to take the shot would be in the garage…because I had made a huge Happy Anniversary sign and hung it from my trapeze, of course. I added the stool and framed picture to nicen things up.

This weekend we rode one of the greatest trails in Bend, Mrazek. Only one person fell. She’s not in this picture.

In other news, I have started work on the Colosseum. They figure it took between 7 and 8 years to build the real one, The Bigs reckon it may take as long to build the Lego one.

I’ve also been very busy in the kitchen. Just this morning, I seared pork,

seasoned it, wrapped it in banana leaves, and put it in the crockpot to cook.

I also made salads for all of us for lunch. Like all great cooks, I have someone to clean up after I am finished…

I wrapped up the weekend at Meera’s birthday pool party. They rented a private pool in someone’s backyard for a couple of hours. It was 55 degrees and cloudy, but the pool was 94 degrees and they had a hot tub. It was awesome!

This week we went for a paddleboard at Suttle Lake.

And finished up with a swim.

I also took a tennis lesson. It was so fun!

We hit the courts later in the week so I could practice. I like serving.

It was also my first week of first grade.

School made me tired and I caught a cold, but that didn’t keep me from hitting the pool with Hadley this weekend.

This week, we went backpacking. We started at Odell Lake

and headed along the Trapper Creek Trail for about 6 miles.

We camped at Diamond View Lake.

The next day we took Crater Butte Trail

and about mile 6, we realized that we were out of water and there would be no water on our route for several more miles. So, we took a detour. Encouraged by the name of the trail. How can you go wrong when you are headed to MARIE Lake?

We took a dip and filled our waters and then hiked another 3 miles before setting up camp just off the Pacific Crest Trail.

The following day we made our way around Diamond Peak.

And then headed to Yoran Lake.

Before getting to Yoran, we stopped for a dip in Lils Lake.

Dad and I swam out to a small island.

After our swim, we hiked a bit more and then set up camp at Yoran Lake.

Mom made us take many family pictures.

Back at home, I made a new recipe – fruit pizza.

I did not like it. Come to find out, I don’t care for pineapple and the cream cheese ‘sauce’ and glaze both were sweetened with pineapple juice.

We also had soba noodle salad with smoked salmon.

I am reading Chronicles of Narnia, Book 5, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, so I am pretty obsessed with sailboats at the moment. Here I am making a sail.

Lots of work this week. First, I had to repair our fence:

I replaced three posts.

Then, I planted a tree, a columnar white pine:

I finally got some time off, and we went to Crater Lake:

We hiked to Watchman Peak:

and then hiked down to Cleetwood cove for a swim (that is Dad, not me, jumping off the cliff):

I constructed an entire Lincoln Log village:

and worked on my bike jumping:

On Sunday, I did a triathlon at the pool. Here I am getting ready for the swim:

Heading out for the bike leg:

and finishing up with the run:

Some food from the week. Cool it Noodle Salad with radishes and peas:

Emerald City Salad with cucumber, avocado, and mint:

After the Cape and a short stop at Nan and Pop’s, we headed to Connecticut to visit Papa, Yaya, Coby, and Theo. I did a lot of dog walking, and even picked up poop! We also hit the links for my first round of mini golf:

We took a trip to Yaya’s shop and a walk through Elizabeth Gardens:

Next, it was back to Rhode Island for some time at the beach:

We went paddle boarding on Ninigret Pond

and floated with the outgoing tide:

Unfortunately, I got stung by a clinging jellyfish! (2+ weeks later, and I still have a scab!)

I drove Pop’s tractor:

and took a ride in his race car:

and did a lot of gardening:

I also got to spend a lot of time with my cousins:

On my birthday, we started the day at Allie’s Donuts, where we picked up my cake and had a donut.

Next, we headed to the Yawgoo Valley Water Park for some water sliding:

followed by slip-and-sliding in the backyard:

I had giant maple-frosted donut cake. It was delicious.

Flying out the next day, I was not happy to leave: