Juan who?

Living in Portland has been awesome for many reasons, but a major benefit right now is that we are geographically located between my extended family in Washington, and Joe's extended family in California.  During her Christmas break, Joe's sister and her cousin road-tripped up to us and stayed for a few days.  Shortly after that, my cousin and his wife stopped for the night on their way to Washington.  Shortly after that, my other cousin came down from Washington to hang out for the weekend JUST BECAUSE!  It's been such a treat to have so many visitors!  I just want to hang a sign outside that says "Cousins Welcome Here".

When my latest visitor, cousin Kristina, was here we spent Saturday together exploring without kids.  We visited historic Oregon City and the Oregon Trail Museum.

We had an awesome little lunch at Singer Hill Cafe and I finally had my Stumptown latte!

And it was good.  

And then we went to a historic (and obviously haunted) cemetery.  It was cold, drizzly, and foggy.  And beautiful.  The oldest graves date back to the 1840s.   We are not creepy or morbid, just enthusiastic history buffs (or I am, at least).  

Moss had grown into the engraving on this headstone. 

Pretty neat. 

And lastly, I'll leave you with a funny comparison.  

Joe reports that today his students (particularly the 8th grade girls) were calling him "Juan Pablo" which he didn't get.  Eventually they explained that they think he looks like the new "Bachelor".  

So we looked him up.

Juan plays soccer with LA Galaxy.  Joe plays soccer with local club.

Juan has an adorable daughter.  Joe has three of 'em.  

Juan rocks the scruffy facial hair.  Joe does too.

Juan's baby-momma is a Venezualan actress.  Joe's baby-momma is an American midwife.

Joe accused ole Juan of stealing his "look".

Then we both had a nice chuckle.

I already landed my bachelor and he's a keeper.

Chasing Waterfalls

When we were first new to Oregon, we enjoyed a different outdoor activity almost every weekend, but then life happened!  We got busy and it got cold outside and we haven't explored much.  So...

Last Sunday I laced up my hiking boots and announced that I was going to find a waterfall!   Mia was instantly at my side.  Then Eva grabbed her coat and joined us.  Then Ali.  And then Dad.  We headed east to the Columbia River Gorge and found something spectacular!

  Multnomah Falls

620 ft waterfall with two tiers, the tallest waterfall in Oregon!

We hiked up to the footbridge built in the 1920s.

It was worth the anxiety of having my three precious babies standing on a vintage bridge 90 feet above a waterfall.  Continuing up the icy trail along the sheer face of Multnomah Mt. (Eva's idea) was not worth it however, and I quickly insisted that we all turn around and get to an elevation where Mom can breath.  

And quit crushing Evelyn's hand.

Half a mile away was Wahkeena Falls.

242 ft waterfall.

We really liked this one because instead of plunging straight down, it sorta cascades down the mountain to the Columbia River.  It was very pretty.

Another vintage footbridge....

We all wanted our picture taken in front of the waterfall.

I had to tuck my camera into my jacket to keep it safe from all the spray!

It was very wet!

Daddy and his bundled up explorers.

Go Big Red! 

(We met another native Nebraskan up there! Ha!)

In typical 4 year old fashion, Eva's legs became paralyzed on the hike up to the second waterfall and I had to pack her up the quarter mile hike on my back....

Where she fell asleep and went limp.  

Of course, she woke up at the falls and miraculously gained the use of her legs on the hike down...

I'm such a sucker.

And very colorful apparently.

Now we can add "chasing waterfalls" to our list of Oregon sights seen!