Summers is nearing its end and school starts next week. We decided to take an extra long weekend and head east to Milo McIver State Park. It’s on the Clackamas River. We camped, played on the river, hiked, and did some disc golfing.
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We love Portland. We chose this city to raise our children in and grow old together. While we love traveling the world learning different perspectives and embracing other cultures, we are always happy to return to our home in the Pacific Northwest. This love for our city comes in many forms including disagreements and even conflict. Recent events have given our family some opportunities to engage in several different ways while teaching our kids to use their voice and stand up to injustices especially when it’s in a city we love and call home.
That being said Portland is a place of juxtaposition right now. You have happy mask wearing families strolling on their nightly neighborhood walks while just a few weeks ago there were federal troops gassing and shooting locals downtown. You have BLM protesters fighting for a better Portland while others burn park benches, throw pipe bombs, and torch food courts. You have progressive and even beautiful art on boarded up windows from previously looted shops.
For those concerned, our family is good. We’ve never been closer. We are happy, safe, and doing what we can to help our community and, in time, our city and home heal.
Just a quick snapshot of the kids in their element. Luca (10), Autumn (7), Mia (5). Luca is starting 5th grade this fall and Autumn and Mia have their September birthdays coming up. All are currently in the same school this year. They were really excited to all be riding the bus and we all hope they will be able to attend in person together sometime this year.
It’s been awhile since our last post. There was a big WordPress update which essentially broke the mobile apps, plugins, and well, the site. Since then a lot has happened including the addition of two pups to our house. So without further ado let me introduce:
Gryffindor (Gryff, Gryffonia, King Gaidis, Beadis) and Hufflepuff (Puff, Chipuffa, Prince Gaidis, Beadis) . Also known together as Da Bros, Broshish, Zhikies, and Beadises .
They are full Shih Tzus and just like the kids they have their own personalities. Gryff is the energetic agitator while Puff is the calmer, yet shall we say slower, of the two.
Each wears their house color harnesses to help identify them but the kids and family can tell by the fact that Gryff has curlier hair and a smaller white belt.
Shih Tzus have hair, don’t shed, and are hypoallergenic which make it nice for the house and Kitty. The other side to that is the hair never falls out it just keeps growing. These are the dogs you see in the shows with hair to the ground. We haven’t let it get that long but we’ve hit pony tail length a few times.
I take them for walks most nights. Rain or shine. In this case rain.
But they always clean up nicely. Gryff is on the right, Puff is on the left showing off their classic Shih Tzu under bite.
Being in a house with 3 kids means a lot of things. For the dogs it means lots of love and plenty of dress-up time.
And after the play time some time for rest and relaxation
So thats it. That’s the Broshish. Welcome to the fam jam.
Tags: love
After picking up the kids from Grammie and Pop Pops in Corvallis we headed out to Yachats for a few days. We got there a little before sunset and took some nice family photos
The next morning everyone was excited to head down to the beach
Mia led us down the short little trail to the beach
Time to chase waves
Mia insisted on wearing her swimsuit and as you know Mia does what Mia wants
Everyone had lots of book time
and rock time
and of course bike time
Before heading back we stopped by Devil’s Churn, Spouting Horn, and Thor’s Well 
After all that you’re going to need a montage
Kicking off spring break with a trip to the Lumberyard bike park
Mia navigating the turns
Autumn took on the hills of all sizes!
Luca was at home exploring all the tracks and of course taking the shortcuts and jumps
