The appearance of flowers and the springing, back and forth, between rain and sun, means one thing: Spring!
Right now it rains more than shines, but the infusion of hope is undeniable. Days spent outside, worn out boys that sleep wholly and peacefully at night and a great tan are now within sight. Summer is when I become most grateful for being home with my boys; with school over, there’s no need to find childcare and we get to go on great outdoor adventures . . . my favorite! Being in the Pacific Northwest, there is a certain depression that happens with persistent cloud cover and tons of rain and I’m looking forward to that lifting.
My new interest is in discovering the Columbia River Gorge and all the hiking and camping there is to do there. Such a uniquely beautiful place, situated in the Cascade range, on the Oregon side (Washington State sits across the Columbia River).
This is my youngest at Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge last month. If you’ve never visited, I recommend it! A great lodge and restaurant. Outdoor vendors in good weather. And miles of trails . . . even a bridge that travels over and in front of part of the falls.
When my boys were younger, I kept my sanity by jogging with a double jogging stroller. My boys are only 17 months apart. We would head out, destination mapped, to a park usually. Picnicked and played, spending the day outside.
What are some of your summer activities? Hiking is just now becoming fun, with a 4 and 6 year old, and even then it is limited. If you have younger ones, what are some of the summer activities you enjoy?
~Stace
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