Trampoline added to our yard! Hardest part: even with all the space there isn't any level ground so getting it leveled with rocky ground was a challenge.
Its wildflower season now in some of the lower peaks in the cascade range, so Hunter, Noah and I decided to do a 6.5 mile loop hike at Iron Mountain. You will notice in these pictures its a lot more green as this is on the western side of the cascades so more lush than our central Oregon side. We drove from Bend for about 1:10 min west on hwy 26 and parked at Tombstone pass. From the parking lot we headed east on the cone peak trail.
Within the first 1/4 mile we came to this beautiful meadow. The sign indicated it was a trading area for native Americans and a common stopping point for settlers heading west.
From hear we heading up a number of switchbacks to the flanks of cone peak where Iron Mountain came into view to the west (with the big rocky pinnacle on the left/south side.)
Next we headed down to the saddle between cone peak and iron mountain, and across the north side before starting switch backs up the north side. As we exited trees, wildflowers started again. We actually might have been a little early.. I expect things will really explode in the next 1-2 weeks.
Upon reaching the summit, we were treated to amazing 360 degree views! We spent a good 45 min up there eating lunch, exploring and enjoying the views. A quick 1.5 miles took us back down to the car.
After our move in December and a very long winter, we were finally able to get some front landscaping down at our place. We love it. Besides not having our front step look like a construction site, it now also gives us a space to sit or play in the front. As part of this we also added a second driveway entrance with some fresh gravel.
Here is the before shot:
Here is the after shot
Couple more shots of the new second driveway (on the right side of the picture), and the lawn from the bottom of the driveway looking up towards the house as you drive in.
This weekend COSSA (Central Oregon Shooting Sports Association) had an open house at their range just east of Bend. It gave the kids (Hunter, Noah and Abbie) a chance to shoot for the first time. Hunter and I both got to shoot an old fashioned cowboy 38 single action 6 shooter. You had to be 12 or older to fire it. Here is Hunter shooting it.
Something interesting I leaned about these classic weapons you see in the movies. Even though the revolver has 6 chambers cowboys from the old west only typically ever had 5 shots loaded with the 6th chamber empty at the top is so that if for instance the gun fell out of hits holster on the floor in the saloon it wouldn't go off. If however they were going into a gun fight, they might then load a 6th into the last chamber with the trigger cocked and ready.
Here is some pictures and video of the kids shooting 22 caliber rifles at targets. Hunter had a more full sized rifle, whereas you can see with Abbie she has a small one for her size.
A good friend of mine told me once that if you teach kids about guns and gun safety when they are young, the 'mystique' of guns goes down and respect for them goes up resulting much lower chance of an incident/accident. They don't have a desire to play with it, and they will avoid other kids who do not respect it. Its the kids told 'never to touch' that often get into trouble when an opportunity presents itself. I think this is wise advice.
On Fathers day after church we with the weather clear and warm we took a drive just south of town to Lava Lands and took the shuttle up to the top of Lava butte for lunch and a short walk around the crater.
Today, Morning Star had their year end awards ceremony. Each child got a spiritual and academic award. We are very proud of all the accomplishments that they made this year. Their teachers said some pretty wonderful things about our children. They had a great year and we love their school. ❤
Weather was cool and overcast this weekend, so Sunday afternoon when Kelly took Abbie to her dance class, I took the boys out to one of the local caves we have not been to. Hunter and Noah have been to a number of them, a few before we started the blog when we first moved to Bend (Arnold Cave, Hidden forest cave), and some since the blog has started. (Boca cave on triangulation peak, South Ice Cave, and Skylight Cave). This, however would be PJ's first cave where he went in! He loved it and wants to go again.
We decided to hit a cave called Pictograph Cave. It was about a 20 min drive from our house south east, and then about a 1.5 mile hike with some cross country exploration required to find the un-marked hole in the ground where the entrance started.
There are actually two caves at the entrance - left and right. Since all caves around here are basically old lava tubes the entrance is simply where a part of the roof caved in to expose the tunnel. Based on my reading the 'right' entrance was a little less steep but still a challenge none the less. There was also a family of falcons on the rocks at the entrance and they were not super happy we were there. Also a possible set of pictographs as seen in the second photo.
Iphone's don't take great low light shots but here is a series of pictures from inside the cave. The last picture gives you a scale of the entrance size/depth. See Hunter and Noah hear the top of the entrance as we exited.
On the way back we decided to try and find the 'skylight' for the left side tube that we didn't explore today. Here is a shot of Noah and Hunter over the entrance to the skylight. Noah trying to pose close to edge to freak his mom out... it worked.
The kids have always wanted a tree-house so now that we have some space and some trees, we decided to build one this spring! The hard thing about trees is that you can't move the tree... but the great thing is that if the house isn't exactly square... oh well... its a treehouse right? We finished painting it this weekend with some extra paint from the house. They have been asking when the second story will be installed...
Here is a video that Abbie helped me put together that gives a tour.
Today we celebrated this handsome guy's birthday. He is a wonderful husband and dad and takes care of us and loves us well. We wouldn't want to do life without him. We are blessed to have him!
