Complete with an original cider press from the late 1800's. A great event put on by our friends Jeff and Nikki. Makes you appreciate the work that used to go into food production. I went with Hunter and PJ. Kelly had other birthday parties to attend with Abbie and Noah so we split up.
Just a few pictures of picking out our pumpkins, a Halloween party at the High Desert Museum to pumpkin caring and making our annual acorn squash. Fall is one of our favorite times of year.
Today Preston turned 5. For whatever reason turning 5 is a real mile marker for me. In my book they have crossed over from a baby to a big boy or girl. I hugged my baby real hard last night knowing that tomorrow he would be a bit bigger. He is growing up. I wish I could freeze time. He is the happiest child and is so easy going. He adds so much joy to our family and I feel so fortunate to have him. He is a gift!
All Preston wanted for his birthday was a Captain America cake and hot dogs for dinner, along with some matchbox cars and trucks. So, that is how we celebrated Preston today. Love our baby big boy!
Nothing like a stop at Powell's candy shop to take to the movies. Not the same without Papa but movies on a rainy day at our local old theater is always fun. At this theater we get to sit on couches while we enjoy a film. Fun times with LuLu has begun.
September now has a tradition of a Donaldson boys fall camping trip. First trip was in 2014, where we canoe camped on Sparks lake. 2015 we did a backpacking trip to Benson lake which was the first backpack for Hunter and Noah. This year in 2016, we backpacked again - this time up Tam MacAurthor rim above 3 creeks lake in the 3-Sisters wilderness. We have been to 3-creeks lake in the summer as a family but this time our target was to camp out on 'The Prow' - a high point cliff that overlooks the 3 creeks basin at 7732 ft elevation. (The parking area at the lake is at 6550). The hike to the Prow and back is about 5.3 miles so this would be the longest backpack for the boys to date. As they will tell you - a big difference when you have a pack on your back vs just a day hike.
We left Bend about 2:30 Saturday after the last soccer game and got on the trail about 3:45. Here are a few shots on the way up. You can see the prow clearly in the second photo.
Here are some shots from the top and the cliff area around the prow.
We set up camp about a 100 yards back from the prow in some trees. While this is high fire season we set up a very small fire to take the chill out. Noah got inventive and started toasting fig newtons on sticks. After fire was out we watched the stars for a while - amazing since it was so dark.
Sunday morning I got up to enjoy the sunrise and after breakfast, we decided to do a hike over towards broken top to see if we could see the lake in the crater as well as get some sweet views of the 3 sisters. I had been to broken top crater back in August from the other side and wanted to see if we could link it up from this side. Hiked for about 1.5 miles to a point where we could see it but the scrambling got a little dicey so we decided to turn back to camp. Boys had fun building cairns on the way back as well as sliding down a snow slope still around from last winter. Got back to camp just before 11.
After packing up camp with slightly lighter packs we had a quicker (downhill) and relatively uneventful hike back down getting to the car around 1:30. Enjoyed dipping our feet in the lake looking back up at where we had been. Of course we stopped in Sisters for an ice cream at snow cap before driving home.
While Noah had soccer practice I went for a walk in the neighborhood across the street. I hit a high point on a ridge right when the sun was setting. Great colors with the clouds tonight. Shot with an iPhone 6s and no color adjustment. Camera phones are getting so good now.
Preston was so excited when he got to bring his listening ears home from school. He also got to trace his body at school and decorate it at home. Hunter helped him do the whole thing. It's so fun when your other children can help out with the homework.
