Our family holiday

Yesterday for our family holiday (Mother's Day plus Jeff's birthday) we took a hike at Wahclella Falls, a pretty waterfall not too far from Portland. The first quarter mile is a nice wide, flat gravel path (probably an old road) that was perfect for a running toddler. Then the trail got more steep and narrow, with big drop-offs, and we had to force - er, put - Melina in the backpack. For about five minutes she kept up a steady "out! out!" interspersed with general whining. Then I gave her part of a chocolate energy bar, and she was content until we reached the falls. [This raises the question of how we will manage backpacking this summer. I think we all want to do it - even Melina, who gets excited about a hike - but we won't be able to go very far if Little Miss M refuses to go in the backpack herself.]

When we got to the end of the trail, we let Melina out so she could crawl around on the smooth river rocks by the creek. She and Jeff threw rocks into the water while I took pictures. What is it about little kids throwing rocks in the water? We went hiking with six (count 'em - SIX) little boys last weekend (OK, so one was two months old) - but their main interest was in throwing boulders down cliffs and into the river. That, and playing with toy swords. Melina isn't so much into dislodging boulders yet, but she really enjoys throwing rocks and making big splashes.

After the hike we went to McMenamins Edgefield for brunch. Our reservation was at 3:00 and we didn't get there until 3:30, but this ended up being a good thing because it meant we could sit outside on their beautiful lawn under the clearing afternoon sky. We had the outdoor tables almost to ourselves, and Melina enjoyed running around randomly with a piece of bacon in her hand. I took a little break from my diet and enjoyed a truly marvelous Belgian waffle and a couple of mimosas, along with other typical brunch options. Yum! Afterward, we toured the grounds, Melina climbed up and down stairs, and she and Jeff played chase in the herb garden. All in all, a lovely day.