Autumn Leaves

THEM APPLES

As I was sayin, we went apple picking. Ella was quick to discipline those (Theo) who took a bite out of an apple and threw it on the ground; these girls were much more circumspect:

We were fortunate for many reasons to travel with these big girls, Alina and Anya:

Here's Ida and Anya (who has some new teeth!) in that same previously displayed (below) photo op:

Very warm, beautiful, dry days here in Oregon.  Fourteen kinds of apples.

We had fun; Arthur didn't come.

Also, delicious unpasteurized cider that only costs $100 a little bottle:

And "cider donuts"; Theo's showing this one off, not offering anyone a bite.

Cousins!

Sisters!

Pumpkins!

Elsie Asayo vs. Theodotia Amory

Let's just take a break and express our love for cousins Elsie and Theo for a moment...

The Lava, The S'Mores, The Action

Lord Almighty!  It's like the Lava temple of Doom!  

So, yes, after that magical hike we really found ourselves in a strange landscape, where lava once ran free and destructive.  And constructive!  In fact, it somehow formed itself into this strange lookout..

Humans added those chains.

"I don't really think this is a very interesting thing to see."

Ella sacrificed Aslan up on this altar.

It really isn't any kind of vacation until Ella makes some s'mores.  I mean, the girls and I each had one, and they were good.  And then Ella went through a whole box of grahams, a bag of marshmallows, and a "Fun Pak" of Hershey bars.  Whoa.  She loves em and we like to keep her happy.

On the drive back from Black Butte, we descended to mighty Silver Falls State Park.  Astounding.  We broke many rules and climbed back behind the waterfall itself!

Then we hiked to the upper, smaller North falls, during which time the girls dug around in my pack so they could wear a hat, "just like Daddy."

Okay, all right.

Next adventure, please.

Black Butte Adventure!

OH yes, we went down to Central Oregon. Just because blogger chose not to run my "Family in the hot tub naked together all weekend while mangy deer trotted past" post doesn't mean it didn't happen. This picture below was not cropped one bit.

Very tender were the times there! So tender!

[Ella made me delete this photo.]

We also went on a delightful hike to a fantasy-land:

Not only did Ida do various photogenic things...

She took some amazing photos.  Check me out!

Oh, Oregon, you're the most beautifulest state ever!

Ida documented many, many things:

Fortunately, we found this haunted shelter.

Ida also snatched up this little frog with her quick, quick hands!

Some thought Ella and Ida could not grow more loud; on this trip, they really took it to another level.


Oh, ferocious.

Much more documentation of the other days, some of them clothed, to come!

Encounter with a Moose in Central Oregon

Resurrections

Hello. True, we've been under Quarantine. Tuesday night, Ida was the only person in our family able to walk. Just as Ella said, "Man, Ida's the only healthy one of us," Ida threw up on the floor (just missing Ella). So we've been down. We're weak. We're losing our jobs for being away so much. But we're hoping to get better! Even Miki. For instance, here she is at her very first swimming lesson. "I'm a 'tarfish!": Also, I know many of you were afeared that the season for witnessing Ella in her swimming suit ("The finest bathing suit I've ever seen," said one seventy-five year old man.) was over. It's not.

Long Live Miki

Oh man, Mik's got a bad ear infection and is asleep on the couch next to me right now. But she hasn't thrown up in quite a while, Tumbleweeders...and no fever. The other day she and Ida and I rode over to Woodstock Park. Ida really liked to spin Miki (and Baby Matthew, who has taken to wearing a plastic bag as a dress at all times--winter preparations) on the merry-go-round:

Later that same day we went to the barber shop and Miki got her first real "hairtut." "I want a hairtut; wook, I'm getting a hairtut!"

"Do you like my hairtut?"