Grandpapa

is here! We've had an amazing week with him. Phoenix is on him almost every moment of the day, wrastling him up, climbing him, asking him questions. And, much to everyone's delight, Zia's separation anxiety seems to have waned just in time for his visit. The baby has been happy to be carried and bounced and cuddled by her Grandfather.

The poor guy has Got to be exhausted.

On top of juggling two small squirmers, there have been numerous trips, both big(ish;) and small. Last weekend they went to Crater Lake with Seth and Alicia. (Z and I stayed behind - the drive would have driven her to barfing :). I'm pic-less on that trip, but I heard it was amazing. There was some cliff diving and some crater swimming and even (much to the Little Man's extreme dismay and confusion ;) some dunking. ("Why? Why would he pull me under the water? Why??? I was even BREATHING! :). The next day they swung past the coast on their way home, hitting a gorgeous beach.

Typically, you can't pull the child away from the sand and sun, but, apparently, he was asking to head home :). He'd left with only slight angst on Saturday and returned with huge hugs and stories in Sunday. Separation is so very rare for us - Z and I were really happy to have him home :). (she even wandered the house that weekend, saying "bra-bra?")

Then they went to Mt. Hood to hit each other with snowballs and ride the alpine slide (hoping Superman will share a few more pics of this...). Apparently all very fun.

Then we all (minus a hard-working Seth) went to the Gorge to hike Multnomah Falls . P Hated the concrete paved hike, bitching the ENTIRE way that his nature (and his feet) had been ruined - but was overjoyed at the clambering river and big boulders and beauty up top (it was impressively scenic:) - thank gawd ;).

Z and I braved the drive to this, figuring she could stomach the 30 minute jaunt. Jeeeeez. Sitting in back, pulling out aaaaall the stops (think tongue games and wearing a box on my head here) we made it with only two fat tears of anger. She enjoyed the hike and the riverside play. The drive home, not so much. But it was faaaaabulous to get out of town - finally. Oregon is so dreamy beautiful it startles me still. And even though the day was Hot (actual hot - almost 100 - not just wussy Oregon kinda-hot:) the waterfall and shade kissed us with something in the 70's. We didn't want to leave:)

Now they are all off to the Olympic National Park for some rainforest hiking. I'm spitting jealous :). But she IS snuggly and worth it ;). Hopefully (ahem, Superman??) I will have pics to share....

When we aren't busy dragging him all over the Pacific North West, we have him fixing stuff. Adding outlets, hanging lights, teaching Superman the electrical ropes. Or hauling dirt for our (now ginormous) veggie garden, fixing tables and windows and doors. Old houses and a couple of unknowledgeable urban Yippies (yuppie hippies - is that a word yet?) necessitate knowledgeable fathers nearby. As such, I'm repeatedly mentioning his impending move out West this week :)

I'm gonna upload most of the pics as separate posts since I can't organize them on my phone and there are quite a few ;)