June 2016 | Ramona Falls, Mt Hood National Forest

Ramona Falls has been a hike that I have wanted to do for a few years, but the fear of the crowds kept me away :) Last weekend Caleb and I woke up at 5:30, were at the trailhead by 7am, and beat the crowds! It was worth waking up so early on a Saturday. We didn't see anyone as we hiked in, and saw a LOT of people (including an entire Search & Rescue group and a Manzanita group!) on the way out.

Angels Rest | March 2016

Over Spring Break my friend Anna...we refer to ourselves as Anna² because we are just clever like that... hiked up Angels Rest! The weather was perfect it was just windy as f. Normally I am willing to go to the very top, but this time I was actually a little freaked out so we sat back from the top for a little break and to enjoy the view before we went down.

Love these pictures of me and my little babe:

E. Zig Zag | May 2016

A few weeks ago I decided to switch it up from The Gorge, & head to the Mt Hood National Forest instead. I don't know why I don't head up there more it was amazing, and a great change of scenery. We hiked past Burnt Lake, which was beautiful & I will be backpacking at this summer :) 

I hiked up East Zig Zag- was planning 6 miles but I think it ended up being closer to 10. I can't wait to go back & explore further. Despite a little mishap with a tiny fall into the snowbank, Scout & I had a great time. She was done at the end of the day though. 

December 2015 | Christmas w/the family 2015

This year, the weekend before Christmas, we all went to my parents house for a weekend full of holiday cheer.... presents, cookie cooking and competition (we get competitive), a Zina dinner, etc. It was really great. 

 ^ my parents with little M. So cute.

 Early Saturday morning I asked my parents- "oh nice picnic table! When did you get it?"
oops.....
Tyler had made it for my parents for Christmas!  It's awesome, and huge, and we naturally had to eat breakfast there :

Then we made sugar cookies (sweaters)

^ Micah judged. And it doesn't matter who the winner was because it was all in good fun! ....But also, I won :)

^Caleb came in 3rd

^ & M in 2nd.

Annnndddd my favorite picture of all weekend, the 3 parents stuffed on a couch:

December 2015 | Matt comes to PDX!

One of the benefits of travel is meeting amazing people from all over the country (and world!), but it's a blessing, and a curse, sometimes, too. Matt and I met when we were teachers together in the marshall islands.  Since then we have met in Laguna Beach, and even traveled to South America together last summer for a month! Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I had all my amazing friends in one city instead of spread all over, but it's nice when they come to visit. 

While Matt was here we went to Pittock Mansion (I hadn't been since high school, and it was great!), walked on the waterfront, went to see the lights at The Grotto (do not recommend), saw a movie (Sisters, it was really funny) and went to Fort Vancouver. Its always fun doing "touristy" things in my own city, since it's never something I really do on my own.