Sunday Parkways SE - Tandem Twins!!

I had biked to work until I was 36 weeks pregnant with Makenna in a double Burley. So, when I was still feeling great at 39 weeks (three days before giving birth), I couldn't help but ride the Sunday Parkways SE. My twin sis, Miel, was in town for the birth, and we had never ridden the tandem bicycle that our father, Wally, had bought for me before he passed away.

Truthfully, it didn't take long before my tush was hurting. Riding wasn't difficult, but it felt strange because the back seat is designed to bounce up and down, and with my extra thirty pounds, I was riding low. Plus, it takes a fair amount of coordination and communication between the front and back riders. The good part was that Miel helped pull me along once I got tired.

It was also Kieran's first Sunday Parkways on a bicycle by himself, and Makenna's first time on a tag along with Kevin. All together, we had 5.9 riders on 3 bikes...I think that must be a record breaker :-) 

Anniversary Trip 2013: Tillicum Beach, Cape Perpetua and Olivia Beach Camp Cabins

Olivia Beach at high tide from the staircase.

We went to the coast again for our 11th anniversary, which was the start of my maternity leave. We spent the first night at our favorite campground, Tillicum Beach. Sadly, we lost the gamble of trying to get a better campsite with an ocean view, and ended up finding a nice spot by the creek at Cape Perpetua for the next two nights.

Then we stayed at our new cabin at Olivia Beach Camp Cabins for the next two nights. Honestly, we both agreed that coming "home" the cabins, still amazed that they are in fact ours, was the best feeling of the whole trip...taking showers, making a nice meal, and just relaxing.  

Makenna playfully posing in one of the windows of the historic stone shelter.

Makenna posing in front of our wildflower bouquet.

Cape Perpetua historic stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 30s.

Gorgeous view from the hike (Makenna and I drove to the top...being 38 wks pregnant!)

We Cronin's love the swimming in the ocean...even when it's freezing!

Yes, Makenna is in her pajamas, one of the beauties of staying at the cabins!

Very proud castle builders!

An amazing pirate ship playground in Newport.

Kieran was stoked to get his Jr Beaver badge from Oregon State Parks :-)

Still Daddy's baby girl...

Almost to China...

Kieran "meditating" by the ocean...teasing his Mom.

Dodge Park Camping

Photos from our camping trip to Dodge Park with the Hickersons:

Valentina and Makenna

An easy kid friendly "hike" across the river.

Kids inspecting a bug :-)

Hans fished on both the Bull  Run and Sandy rivers.

Our Hobitat away from home.

Alan and Valentina snugging before breakfast.

Sandy River from the historic trestle bridge.

Oregon Country Fair 2013

The Oregon Country Fair was another year of family fun (minus Kevin). Like the past few years since Wally's passing, it's been a surreal experience. The joy of the fair is heightened and alive, even as I miss him amid all the revelry. This year we marked a special place. We dedicated Wally's Way, previously known as the New Kids' Loop between the old entrance and Gypsy Caravan stage. We had a nice low-key celebration with many of his friends from various circles of his life. It was even more special with me being pregnant, and I have no doubt that the next generation of fair goers will feel Wally's legacy.

Most of all, we made new memories with the kids. Grandma and Aunt Miel and I spoiled the kids with lots of ice cream and fun shows. The kids loved the face painting and hanging with kids at camp. Kieran had just learned to ride his bike and loved cruising loops around the Far Side field. Makenna was fast friends with "Cherry" and Ella. I felt surprisingly great, despite being eight months pregnant and only my feet felt sore, which was from a lot of walking. Drinking lots of water was my secret. :-)

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!