ADVENTURE PARK WITH KENJI

Kenji came down to visit us for the weekend, so we went up to Adventure Park on Mt. Hood for some action. We started by riding the Alpine Slide – but, first, you get to take a ski lift up to the top of the slide!

Then we drove the Kiddie Karts. Kenji is already an expert driver of his Tesla.

Next, we did the Bungee Trampoline. Kenji could do backflips!

When we went to the Pony Ride area, we found out that we actually got to ride a donkey!

I’ve never ridden one and was nervous, so Daddy held me on in the beginning.

But then I was able to ride all by myself!

Mommy, Auntie Lisa, and Kenji went on the Aqua Rollers, where you roll around on top of water. This was Mommy’s view out the side of her roller.

And then at home, as we often do, we cozied up in bed to rest. It was fun having you, Kenji!

Aug 15

SILVERWOOD THEME PARK

We went to Silverwood Theme Park in northern Idaho! They have a section called Roller Coaster Alley where most of their extreme coasters live.

My first ride was Corkscrew. Fun fact: this was the first Arrow Corkscrew ever built and the first inverting coaster in the world. It originally operated at Knott’s Berry Farm until it was relocated to Silverwood in 1990.

It was also a rough headbanger.

Later, we rode the wooden coaster, Timber Terror, and this kiddie coaster, Tiny Toot.

I loved this swing ride called Barnstormer.

The next day, it was time for the long drive home…

…and a lunch stop at the Boardman, Oregon-famous C&D Drive-In. Daddy actually had the Bozo Burger! (I had the strawberry smoothie.)

Aug 13

MIDDLE-OF-NOWHERE, WASHINGTON

We’re on a road trip to Idaho! But first, we have to get through eastern Washington. We found a rest stop with cows.

And, best of all, I found a tiny town called Finley! Of course, we had to stop and check it out.

Also, Snapchat filters come in really handy when you’re on a long drive!

Aug 8

TIN WILLOWS SHEEP FARM

Almost exactly a year after my first camping trip, I went on my second camping trip!

We arrived at the Tin Willows Sheep Farm in the high desert of Oregon in the early evening and set up our rented camper van at sunset.

I slept in the pop top, of course!

We had oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, cooked on our indoor propane stove.

We had access to the creek from our campsite and waded in the chilly water for a bit.

One of my very favorite things about camping was catching flies in our van! We had sooo many flies. We all had a mason jar that we used to catch and release.

Another thing I loved were s’mores! We couldn’t have a campfire due to the fire ban, but the propane stove worked just fine.

On our last day camping, we walked to the actual sheep farm to see some animals.

It was quite windy.

Daddy can always find the dogs. This was Ellie…

…and this was Lora.

The sheep were all lined up, ready to be milked.

Terry, the owner of the farm, showed me how to milk a sheep using the milking machine.

I also found a cute little barn kitten named Dottie!

She climbed right up into my lap for some cuddling.

Mommy and Daddy went to go pet some sheep…

…oh, and Daddy found another dog.

Meanwhile, I found the greatest dirt hill ever.

Another camping trip in the books! Thanks, Tin Willows and our 1989 Ford Economline!

Jul 31

PORTLAND MAVERICKS

The Portland Mavericks are playing their first independent league baseball season since 1977. So we drove down to Salem to see them play the Salem Senators.

Like we did when we watched the Portland Pickles, we sat in my favorite area of the stadium – the berm!

There were a lot less people watching the Mavericks, though. We almost had the stadium to ourselves!

It’s fun to be able to see the players up close.

We just happened to see Sean Kiley play as the starting pitcher. He’s the son of one of Mommy’s old Conan co-workers. He pitched great and left with the team leading. Unfortunately, the Mavericks ended up losing. Maybe we’ll see them win next time!

Jul 4

WILD WAVES

Kenji and I went to Wild Waves Theme and Water Park! I was sooooo excited!!! The first ride I went on was The Wild Thing roller coaster. It had a vertical loop and two corkscrews. It was great, and also my first Arrow Corkscrew.

Then I went on Timberhawk: Ride of Prey, an S&S Sansei wooden coaster. It was so fun, I went on it 3 times. It’s my new favorite coaster!

Here’s Mommy and I riding in the front row before our first ride.

Here’s a video of my off-ride reaction!

After riding the 48″ and up rides, I found Kenji in the water park and he came with me to ride some more rides!

His first ride there was Kiddie Coaster, a Zamperla Tornado powered coaster, one of only four still operating in the world.

Then Kenji rode with Daddy on the ferris wheel.

We also went on what I believe is the worst carousel in the world.

But Frog Hopper was so fun!

So was Red Baron! I’m flying in the red bi-plane and Kenji is in the white one behind me.

That’s a wrap on Wild Waves. It’s my new favorite amusement park I’ve ever been to!

Jun 27

HEAT WAVE

The Portland area is having a massive heat wave, reaching temperatures well into the 100s! We invited our friends, Aliah and Cayah, to stay with us because they don’t have air conditioning and their home is very hot.

We had fun cooking food on the grill, eating dinner outside when it cooled off way down to 99 degrees, and hanging out in our luxurious pool.