Diamond Lake 2014

The Sinn's have a tradition of going to Diamond Lake before harvest ties them down on the farm for the summer. Going anywhere, be it only a few hours away, with a dozen people is bound to be an adventure. We got down to the Lake in the evening & got out on the water promptly, hoping to set a fishing streak for the next day. We ended up with a few trout & a great sunset. I caught my first mountain lake trout (the first of many, right?) to my delight.

 

The whole family stayed in a two-bedroom cabin...12 people, 2 rooms, you do the math:). I think by now, I don't need to say how much the Sinn family loves to be together, how close they are, how blessed I feel to be a part of their family. Cramming into a small cabin is nothing, and the thing about mountain lakes is that they get downright nippy at night. So the more warm bodies, the better:). We had a little fireplace, drank hot chocolate, & played Scrabble. The next morning, we woke up to that lovely piney smell, with wreaths of fog drifting over the lake, & the excitement of fish just waiting to be caught. I'm not a fisher, but I do love to sit in a boat on a nice day & be part of the chaos that happens when a pole starts dipping. The more I learn about it, too, the more I understand the allure; it isn't about the fish necessarily for me. It's about taking time to focus on just one little thing & leave behind worries & cell phones & just be in the moment. As and the books & magazines I pack along don't hurt. I could get used to it.

Riley is such a sweet kid. He's a little camera shy (ahem, perhaps they all are...), but is so natural & unpretentious that I have to snap a few photos of him now & then.

We don't all fit in one boat, & unlike a cold cabin, the more bodies aren't the better on a boat, so we had to split between two. We fished all morning, caught a few, then Mom S. grilled brats & hot dogs on a portable grill we'd brought along. If the fishing isn't hot, at least the food can be, is the generally accepted motto.

It ended up being a warm, sunny day, & even though we came home with not as many fish as some would've liked, it was still enjoyable & worth the drive. I'm so glad they have traditions & that they take the time to do them, even if it's a lot of work. It will be fun to see how our annual fishing trips evolve as little ones join us (one coming soon! Not me, calm down!) & the family grows.

welcome baby finn + peonies

Nephew #6 has arrived:). I am so excited to be the auntie to such a sweet little boy.   We haven't met yet, but I know I love him already. Being 2000 miles away from a newborn  niece or nephew is new & the mountains aren't quite enough of a trade in things like this. My arms are just itchy to squeeze little one, pet his silky hair, smooch his baby softness. But I am where I am supposed to be, & God is here when I get heartachy for my family, especially this newest addition. And the peonies (my favorite flower) are whispering in their blushing tones that somehow, all will be okay. I've got mounds of them around our apartment, cheering me up. And in a few weeks, I'll get to see the peonies again in Illinois, while squeezing my sweet Finn Avery:). And then, it'll be photos of him, not peonies, dominating this little blog. Whisper my name in his ear, Shara, & tell him I'm coming soon!

N

best date ever

Dar surprised me for my birthday & took me on an excursion train ride up through the cherry orchard area of Hood River. This was, ahem, back in April, so the sunshine & blossoming trees were even more welcome then than now. Although we are still loving & enjoying the blooms & sweet sunshine:).

It was such a fun day: we got on the train at 11, clacked our way slowly through the mountains & orchards, past streams & sun-dappled meadows, to a little town perched in the shadow of Mt. Hood. Oh, Mt. Hood, how your locals love you! I am beginning to understand the allure: a day that you can see Mt. Hood means it is a clear, sunny day. And Mt. Hood is a mountain. It just reigns majestically over The Valley, set apart from the rest of the Cascades in such a nice triangular mountain-y shape. Listen to me! I was telling Dar the other day that I still don't quite feel like an Oregonian. I love it here: I am happy here. But I still see Oregonians as a people that are in a slightly different category than me. Not in a bad way. I wonder, do you ever feel like you are a native if you weren't born there?

 

Anyway, it was a lovely relaxing ride. We could both gawk out the window & enjoy the sites: that's one bummer about driving places. Although, Dar's assured me the reason Oregonians are the most courteous drivers (it's true! look here) is because they enjoy seeing the sites while driving & it's expected to drive at tortoise-like speeds when ogling the scenery. :). Maybe that's why, according to the same survey, we are also some of the nation's worst drivers?...Driving aside, we took a lunch break in the aforementioned little town in the shadow of Hood before turning around & heading back into Hood River.

On the return trip, there were western characters walking the train, entertaining us with songs, jokes, & card tricks. FYI, if you are ever in the area & have young children, I think this would be a really good outing.

We made it back to the station in the afternoon & enjoyed an ice cream cone in a park. Then we headed back down the Gorge to Bonneville Fish Hatchery.

 

I know, that's what I thought too, a fish hatchery? Oh well, we could stop by & look at some fish. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fish hatchery means pretty old buildings, lots of nice little landscaped ponds & a 12 foot sturgeon named Hermon. Also a great place to take kids.

 

After that, we stopped by Portland's Pearl District & walked the streets, bopping into a little grocery store we like to buy Rogue River Blue Cheese at, hitting up anthropologie:)), & admiring the architecture. I thoroughly enjoy our few & far between trips into Portland. I belong in the green valley, but venturing into the city now & then fulfills some need for concrete & culture that lives somewhere inside me.

We decided to go for sushi & waited in line for 45 minutes to get some. We are not sushi aficionados, but we do appreciate authentic, good food, & went for the "real" stuff. Sadly, sushi in it's pure form just didn't do it for us. What can we say? We love our sketchy taco vans. Now that's authentic!

It was a lovely day spent together: nearly a year into our marriage, I can honestly say it's only gotten better (and I thought we had a pretty awesome start!).

Alyssa: 2 years

 

I had the awesome privilege to capture this beyond adorable little girl. Is she not the sweetest little thing you've ever clapped eyes on?! Her name might be Alyssa, but everyone calls her "Peque", short for Pequena, or "little one" in Spanish. She was truly a joy to photograph, hamming it up, blowing kisses, twirling around in her cute lacy oxfords & tutu. I just dare you to try & scroll through the photos without wanting to just smother her in kisses.

 Playing peek-a-boo with her tutu:)

 Her mom's a pretty sweet girl herself. She has a wonderful infectious laugh & uses it often. I have a lot of admiration for her: her life hasn't been easy, but you won't meet a more easy-going, content woman. It's no surprise, really, that Peque is the way she is!

 

I might make them sign a contract that whenever they want photos, I will be the photographer! Mmm, just pure sweetness, they are. Thanks, Leidy & Alyssa, for being wonderful & photogenic:).

mother's day 2014

Thanks, Mom, for all you have done & all you will do for me. I know I haven't always been as grateful as I should've been for you, & I'm sure I could call you more often, but I do love you & appreciate you. Here's to you, my mother!