In training for hiking

Randy and I have always loved hiking.  We both hiked a lot before we met, and we hiked a lot when we were dating.  We hiked a lot all the way up to when Trey was born (or really, up to when I got pregnant).  What hiking looks like between the two of us is Randy about 1,000 steps ahead of me and the dog running back and forth between us.

Our first hike together in 2004

So young.  So skinny!

We have been trying to "train" Trey for hiking for a while now.  It hasn't really gone well.  As Trey says, "Hiking is just walking, Mommy."  He hasn't really been a fan.  However, lately, he has been more of a trooper.  If we can get him at the right time of day in the right temperature, he can hike (aka walk) on his own for up to an hour.  It also goes well if we tell Trey that we are "going on an adventure" rather than "going hiking."  I'm excited about what this means for family outings.

A few weeks ago Carmen and Doug came into town for Carmen's high school reunion.  We got to spend a little time with them on Saturday and more time on Sunday.  We met up at Mt. Tabor Park on Saturday and walked around.   I used to spend a lot of time at Mt. Tabor and I forgot how much I like it.

The city is in the background even though it is hard to see.

On Sunday, Trey and I took Grandma, Grandpa, and Randy to Noble Woods Park so we could do some more exploring.  Trey collected things to look at with his microscope, and Randy gave Trey some science lessons.

Julie happened to call while we were there and say she was on her way to the same park.  What a coincidence!  The boys had fun running around and throwing rocks into the water.

This past weekend we went to Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Sherwood and did some exploring.  This was a day where we hit the wrong time/wrong temperature, and Trey was not that interested in walking.  To be fair, it was hot and he easily could have fallen asleep.  It was a cool park though, and I know we will go again.

Looking for wildlife

Looking at tadpoles

Looking at spitbugs

Searching under logs, one of Randy's favorite pasttimes

Looking in a stream

We stopped at a park on the way back home because Trey really wanted a play structure.  After we played for a while, Randy and Trey climbed around on these cool tree trunks.

On Sunday we checked out Stub Stewart State Park in Vernonia.  Trey was an awesome hiker this time and literally ran for the majority of the time.  I know we will go back to this park and do some more exploring.  We thought we might want to camp there this summer, but we checked out the campsites and decided against it.  I'd also love to take our bikes there and ride along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail.

Trey has also really been into science.  He wants to do science experiments and asks a lot of questions about things like DNA, molecules, and other things that I can't explain.  He says, "Daddy is a scientist.  He knows everything."  I hope that Randy continues to foster the love of science, nature, and creatures in his son.