Father's Day Hike 2013

We had our best-ever family hike today to celebrate Father's Day. We hiked over six miles along the Falls Creek trail between Mt St Helen's and Bridge of the Gods. The trail was gorgeous and family-friendly with a gentle slope upward and some flat sections (we opted for the longer trail with one steep section, but thankfully that was after we had rested for lunch at the falls). There were at least a half dozen families with babies in packs, but not very many hiking kids.

This has been our fifth weekend of family hikes, each one preparing us for the next. The kids were truly remarkable. We paced ourselves well and listened to them, but they never whined or got unhappy. In fact, they seemed to love it as much as us. Packing baby in my belly meant that I stayed in the rear (now 29 weeks), and Makenna set a pace at times that was tough for me to keep up with. Since I'm still healing from my broken ankle, it's been training for me too. (I felt it on my way back down and I think I'll feel it in the morning too...)

Daddy was sure proud of his little hikers, and I'm sure this day will go down in our family history book. :-)

And we finished off with a freezing dip of our toes at the end of the hike!

Fun with Sequoia and Stella

I feel very lucky to have one of my dearest friends from childhood in my life. Our moms were best friends and our families went camping and boating together. We have lots of shared family memories and a knowing about each other that isn't found in new friends.

We've been friends as adults since she moved to Portland nine years ago, but have grown even closer since having kids. Now we are both pregnant and due the same week. :-) The past few weeks we've gotten together several times: Memorial Day BBQ, Rose Parade, aqua-aerobics, baseball game, strawberry picking...lots of fun summer activities! 

Our girl adore each other too, and they are like big sisters in training together...isn't going to be very exciting to see them and the next batch grow up together. :-)

Girls dancing it up at the Rose Parade :-)

Sequoia and I at her Memorial Day BBQ - both 26 weeks, due just before Labor Day!

Makenna and Stella hugging in the strawberry field
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Big girl hugs...both ready to be big sisters!

Makenna loved roaming the fields...she helped Stella hop over the rows of berries. :-)

Sequoia and Stella

28 weeks (7 months, just starting my third trimester)

Makenna steals my hat!