Camping in Shasta!

This past weekend we met some friends from the bay area in the Lake Shasta area - Andrea, Randy and their son Cody (who is one day older than Eli - born in the same hospital!) . We camped at Castle Crags State Park, did some short hikes and played in a nearby creak to escape the heat! In the evenings we torched the fire to keep all the mosquitoes at bay...Eli and I were eaten alive!! He looks like he has measles, he got so many bites - and I just look like an animal scratching flees!!! Here are some pictures:

Camping on the Metolius

At the end of July Grandma Robin, Grandpa Terry and Aunt Sarah came to visit for 10 days! We spent the first weekend doing projects around the house (one medium job became a BIG job - the deck!) and then we headed out to explore some of Bend. One day we took a drive to the Prineville Reservoir and Smith Rock. Then we headed out to the Metolius River, just west of Sisters, at the base of Black Butte. Here are some pictures from our camping trip - a few captions to describe some of the pictures.

Camping with the Grasses in Newport!

During the second weekend of July we met Carol, Gene, Paul, Anna, Caleb, Andy and Jakey in Newport to camp and play at the beach. Oh my goodness!!!...did Eli LOVE his cousins, or what?! It is so exciting for us to be closer to everyone and to be able to do special adventures like this more often. AND...this was the first time I had been to the Oregon coast and had fabulous, sunny weather the entire time! :-)

Fourth of July!

This year was the first year Eli could actually enjoy (somewhat) the fireworks. I made Mike go buy a handful of fireworks to set off in our friends' cul de sac. The reviews, from Eli, were a little mixed...Wyatt, on the other hand loved every moment!!

Results from the first round:

And finally, he got excited!

After the boys went to bed we hung out in their backyard and watched the city fireworks show. They live in a perfect spot for viewing, at the base of Pilot Butte! And, I think this was only the second fireworks show Mike and I have seen together (the first was in Hawaii on our honeymoon!).

A 30-year mortgage!

What better an anniversary present, than to move into your first home?!

We found a beautiful lot in a quiet neighborhood on the northwest side of Bend. It's flat, has lots of trees, space for a garden, and lots of room for Eli to roam! It is an odd feeling knowing that it is ours, but also so exciting to feel settled and ready to be in one spot for the years to come!

Here are some photos - and yes, since we've been so busy this summer, we still have lots of boxes to unpack and "stuff" to organize!! Thanks to Carol and Gene for coming on the first weekend to help us unpack the kitchen, baby-proof the banisters and settle in! And then to my parents for coming at the end of July to help with "more" settling in!!!

Yosemite in June!

Before we left Berkeley we made plans with Eli's buddies to go camping in Yosemite. With all the late storms we ended up not being able to camp, but rather rented a cabin with 3 other families and took day-trips into the Valley. The weather and the waterfalls were gorgeous! Here is a slideshow of some of our adventures!

It's somebody's birthday!!

Eli was very excited to get both of his grandparents and his Aunt Sarah for his 1st birthday. And fortunately, in our first months in Bend, we were able to meet one really cool mom and baby so he could invite a buddy too!!

This is my first cake ever attempted to be something other than a rectangle or circle! Eli has a favorite toy dump truck that was the inspiration. He loves to push it around and be pushed around in it!!

And we used lots of blue dye!! His lips, cheeks, hands and shirt were stained for the rest of the evening!!! Afterwards we had a present marathon...and fortunately, three months later, he still plays with everything!!