Sunday Sightseeing Spectacular

Craig and Janene were in town last week following the 50th Anniversary Party.  I took off work Friday to spend some time with them, which included breakfast at Original Pancake House and Voo Doo donuts for lunch.  It wasn't until dinner at Brian and Debbie's house that I had some real food that day.

Saturday was spent at Mason's soccer game followed by dinner with the out of town group at the food carts.

Sunday was out big sight seeing day.  We started out at my parent's house and headed down the Gorge on the Washington side from there.  Due to a needed bathroom break by my kids, we stopped at Beacon Rock.  We couldn't (immediately) find the bathroom so Luis and the kids relieved themselves in the woods which resulted in Siena getting her shorts wet.  So we stripped her and headed off to Skamania Lodge.

Here's mom and Janene at the Beacon Rock pit stop.

After ushering a britchless Siena through Skamania Lodge, we were finally able to buy her some shorts at the pool spa.  Once that was done we could finally settle down and focus on lunch.  As you can see Craig and Mason were very focused on lunch.

Mom and Janene were very focused on the word find on the kids menu.

Is it an elk or a moose?!?  After much debate...we determined moose.

Mason and the moose.

Tables are just their size.

Aaahhh yes, adirondak chairs, sunny day, beautiful view...this is the life.

Mason found some fun.

From Skamania we headed down the hill to the interpretive center.  I love climbing on old mechanical equipment.

Papa Ron mans the rusty tractor.

Mason likes climbing on old mechanical equipment too.

Luis channels his inner saskwatch.

Fish catcher.

Inspecting the old lumber truck.

What's in there?!?

How does this work?

Got any trees that need cutting?

Dong.

Steering the ship...

Firing the cannon...

Them some big rope cables (comparison to Siena's hand).

Mom and Janene in front of the logging truck.

Pilot dreams.

Checking out the old school desks.

Might be a little small for some kids...

What's in here...

Did I mention my love of rusty machinery?

Channeling my inner farmer.

Mason too.

Siena's happy to just go along for the ride.

After the interpretive center, we crossed over the river at Hood River and spent some time at the shops in downtown Hood River.  We also enjoyed some ice cream and these family sized chairs!

More ice cream enjoyment.

Kids behind bars!

When in Chicago, my cousin Carrie was looking for some flip flops for walking around the city.  The cheapest she could find were $30.  These $5 ones were a much better deal!

Siena on a big pink, uh, chair?

After shopping in Hood River, we drove up to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood.  Not much snow this time of year but the mountain is still impressive.

Not sure if Mason is enjoying the love from his sister or not.

Luis, Janene, mom, dad, and the kids in front of Timberline.

The cool old chairs in Timberline.

Yaya and her boy on the balcony.

Fun facts...

Mason tests his new coin trick at an old desk in the lodge.

Shuffleboarding.

Siena has a new hobby!

I found Craig's hat.

Old style picture like the one in the background...still in Craig's hat.

I love the old remnants in the lodge.  I half expected to see Jack Nicholson's head pop up behind these bars.

And the old mail boxes.

After a wonderful dinner at the lodge, it was time to head back.  It was such a fun day and so nice to be able to spend time with Craig and Janene before they headed back home.