Using Our Zoo Membership!

After visiting Bill and Dottie, we met Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Sally at the Oregon Zoo. They bought us a zoo membership for Christmas that is good for dozens of zoos, including the Oregon and Boise Zoos. Our boys love the zoo, and it was great that it only cost $7 for all 7 of us to get in! We were a week too early for the dinosaur exhibit they will have this summer, but they had a few things out to look at, like the remote control dino.

Looking at bald eagles. After watching "The Squeakquel" they were excited to see real eagles (the mascot in the movie is an eagle).

A wing-span of 2 boys.

Cute little hatchlings.

Salmon fishing.

They didn't quite all fit at the same time.

These two are truly my children, they LOVE cotton candy. So when took a sugar break.

Going on safari. He's looking right into the cheetah exhibit.

This penguin would come up to the window and actually try to play with the boys, they could have stayed for hours, but penguins are too smelly for me!

Two of these things are not like the others....

We went to Red Robin after the zoo, and had them sing happy birthday to Conner. I'd have posted some pictures, but I'm a little overwhelmed today! I'll get some on here later ;)

After a long day, we headed to Forest Grove and stayed the night with Charlie and Sally. They gave Conner a big stuffed Mickey for his early bday present, and we eventually settled down for bed.

The next morning we took our time getting up, and headed on our way. The trip home seemed like it would never end, but we made it.

More birding

Despite the FREEZING spring we've been having (we've had snow on and off through the month of MAY!!) I am still seeing more birds around the property. I saw hummingbirds 2 days in a row. The first day was a female calliope hummingbird (smallest hummingbird our here), and then the next day I saw this male calliope trapped in our enclosed porch. It was snowing outside, so I think he flew in when the sliding glass door opened and the warmth was irresitible. Taking a picture of the poor little guy was just as irresistible for me. So he was a little stress while I quickly took a couple of shots. You can see how tiny he is on this nail (try not to look at the cobwebs).

I've also seen another golden eagle flying outside, and I saw a great blue heron fly over the house. I also saw some sandhill cranes a couple of miles down the road. I also saw a Lewis' woodpecker for the first time. I've seen a Black-headed Grosbeak in the yard recently, too.

On another wildlife note, I've been seeing pronghorn antelope in some fields just off the freeway on the way to La Grande. Mama's and babies mostly.

I'm excited to see what truly warm weather will bring! And even more excited that we might get some warm weather at all.

I'm Dreaming of a White....Cinco de Mayo?

Just when I thought spring was finally here, I woke up this morning to a thick blanket of freshly fallen snow. And its still snowing!! So Happy Cinco de Mayo, and hopefully someone somewhere is enjoying some warm weather :) I went out later and took some unusual pictures in the snow.

Long Overdue and New Family Member

We've been busy with life, and this blog hasn't been a top priority for a while. I'll have to work on that. I've been neglecting my camera as well. So yesterday I took advantage of the opportunity to take some nice pictures of the boys and Chris' new horse. Chris has wanted a horse since he was a teenager, and he has been thrilled that we found a nice 10-year-old buckskin gelding. All three boys love to watch the horse (who we sometimes call Buddy or Bucky or Horse, whatever comes to mind--he really needs a name). Last night they got all cowboyed up and went outside. Chris rode a little while the two boys watched from the fences. It was perfect for some nice pictures.

Chris and his new best friend.

Jace watching from the stands.


We have a few trees/shrubs that are flowering. I decided to take a few pictures while I had my camera out, and play with them a little.

Yesterday we went to town and finally went to the Baker Heritage Museum. We were afraid that the boys wouldn't enjoy it, but they did great and seemed to enjoy it a lot. It was a great museum, and I'm excited to go back. For the last month or so Chris has been working a lot of overtime. He did a couple of 70 hour weeks, which were really hard on all of us. It was wonderful to have him home with us yesterday so we could go out and have fun together, it was a great day.

Conner will be having his first birthday in 3 weeks, and I've got to figure out what we'll do for him. I can't believe how the time has flown! Generally things are going well, and I'm making some great plans for summer vacation so we won't just drive each other crazy all summer long :) Hope we'll get a few chances to make some visits to family and friends, and you're always welcome to come to Baker, too!

Latest update!!!!

Thought it was time to do a little update, so here it is......................Please come visit us if you wish to see the rest of this update. Thanks, Arvidson's