Happy birthday to my favorite cousin, Kenji! We visited Seattle to celebrate his big day. He specifically requested a rainbow cake.
He liked dipping his finger in the frosting.
Then it was time to blow out the candles.
SUCCESS!
One thing I gave him were my old Duplo blocks.
He liked them as much as I did.
Then the next morning, we went to brunch. Kenji loves to put Daddy’s hood on his head! Happy birthday, Kenji!
We carved the pumpkins I got at the pumpkin patch! I sketched out their faces on paper so Mommy would know how to carve them.
It was our final day in the Columbia River Gorge, and we started off with a quick breakfast in downtown Hood River.
Then we headed off to the “Fruit Loop,” a section of Hood River filled with local produce and u-pick fruit and flowers.
Our first stop was The Gorge White House, where we picked lots of raspberries and blueberries, a few strawberries and blackberries, and a fruit I’d never heard of called pink lemonade blueberries.
Then we went to an antique shop called The Old Trunk. I was already so hot and tired, I just lounged in their outdoor picnic area.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of lavender, so we continued on to Hood River Lavender Farms.
I was almost ready to go home, but I wanted to go to one more lavender farm, Lavender Valley.
The lavender was swarming with bees, but I still love to smell it. Bees and I have good taste!
We crossed the Hood River Bridge to visit…Hood River!
I waded in the Columbia River at the Hood River Waterfront Park.
It was over 90 degrees, so we took breaks in our sun shade and laughed at something I can’t remember on Daddy’s phone.
After a day at the river beach, it was time to head back to our cabin. But I wanted to climb this cool dirt hill first!
I also mastered climbing the ladder that goes to the loft in our cabin!
About a month ago, I suddenly declared I wanted to go camping. There weren’t any campsites left in Oregon and we don’t have any camping equipment anyway.
So we rented a little cabin in Stevenson, WA instead. The trip got off to a great start when we got to cross the Columbia River on the Bridge of the Gods!
Here’s our home for the next two nights.
It has a ladder that leads to a loft – just like a Minecraft house!
We wandered around the grounds near the cabin and found this little stump seat.
There was also lots of lavender.
And an old tractor.
Daddy wanted to look like he was on the cover of Farming Magazine.
It’s really pretty here in the Columbia River Gorge!
After a fun drive on the streets of Portland, we celebrated America’s independence by walking to a quaint little coffee shop called Starbucks.
I brought LEGOs for everyone!
While Daddy was goofing around, I was getting serious building my string cheese and LEGO creation.
My favorite build was a Minecraft animal pen with pigs and horses.
Then we flew home in our imaginary airplanes!
We went to Sushi Hurray for Mommy’s birthday. I love to watch the food go around and around…
My favorite sushi is…the watermelon!
Here’s the card I made Mommy, too!
For Mommy’s birthday, I took her out to my favorite place – Oaks, of course!
We tilted and whirled…
…flew a hot air balloon…
…rode the wild ocean…
…and went on a ride we’d never been on – the Rock-O-Plane!
Oh, yeah, and I continued to fantasize about the day I’m 48 inches tall and get to ride Adrenaline Peak!
For Daddy’s birthday, we went to a Portland Pickles baseball game!
We sat out in the left field berm, and I got to watch the players practice before the game.
I also drew some goat milk fields while we waited for the game to start.
Then the game started and Daddy showed me what everyone was doing.
The best thing about being out in the berm is that you can run around and play during the game.
I also liked wandering around the park. This hill was fun to climb up.
And these cinderblocks were fun to step on.
I also played a little game of cornhole.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Portland Pickles game without getting some pickles on a stick!
And, yippee, the Pickles WON!
And here’s the card I made him, too!
I made Daddy a Father’s Day card and showed him all the cool drawings I put in it.
Then we went to a record store in Oregon City and found a record with “It’s A Small World” on it! With the Father’s Day discount, it cost $1. It was a Father’s Day miracle!
Then we went home, put the record on, and danced through that whole wonderful chorus.
