Determined to celebrate our first-ever "Outdoors in the Day-time"
Independence Day, we headed to downtown
Ridgefield (pop. 13,000 or so) to enjoy the festivities. We slept in for the parade, but still found plenty of other classic and inventive slices of Americana.
After a community BBQ, the kids jumped in, climbed on and slid down several inflatable play structures for over an hour. It was bliss for kids who had been in the car for 2 days. After eating snow cones, we headed off for a nearby park, and found this firetruck the kids got to investigate. I think their favorite part was washing their hands in the water that came out the spigot on the side of the truck, and pressing the horn. (The firefighter finally just
de-activated it!)
When we got to the park, we stepped right into an ongoing reptile show. It was really
entertaining to see so many snakes and to get to hold an alligator. (A small one)
Warren loved having the snakes tail curl around him. Notice Abigail seated safely in the background. She liked to look, but not to touch.
The reptile handler told the kids that this snake smelled like butter popcorn. I
actually believed him at first because he listed it off so matter-of-
factly with all the other stats.
Next it was on to face-painting. Avery was a kitty--a kitty who laughed every time
the brush touched her face, resulting in some pretty disheveled whiskers. Here she is on the prowl. (Sometimes Andy asks Avery if he wants him to hold her like a cat or a girl and you can tell a lot about her mood depending on how she answers. Girl=cranky and insecure. Cat=playful and happy)
Warren loved the park equipment, reminiscent of the zip-lines he liked so much in Paris last year. After the park, we headed off to a fireworks stand and bought some sparklers. We had a family BBQ at my Aunt Kathy's house, but my allergies were too bad to take any pictures, so just imagine lots of good food. My new favorite? Zucchini, sliced and steamed, the sauteed briefly in olive oil, sliced garlic and basil. Sprinkle with seasoning salt to taste. Broccoli is great the same way. And snap peas, sauteed in sesame oil with sesame seeds. Only one other person has ever inspired such a love of vegetables in me, my G-ma
Merkley, and she was a gardener too. Someday...
Recently I purchased a membership at the AZ Science Center. It has already paid for itself, since my kids, sis-in-law Kim and I went 2 weeks ago and it got me, all my kids, my cousin and her little friend into OMSI for free here in Portland. (They have over 200 museums/science centers in a network. I really like the AZ Science Center, and it's worth checking out membership if you like field trips.)
OMSI was so fun--we didn't even do any special exhibits, just their permanent ones. They have the usual floor filled with fun science principles brought to life, such as this make-your-own paper cup flyer.
But my favorite was the 0-6 Science Playground. It had an indoor sand area, craft room, water play area, native animal learning/play/dress-up area, infant play zone, family bathrooms and (drumroll, please...) a nursing mother's room. I plan to take the kids back again. Afterwards, we walked on the walkway/bike path along the river for a little bit (see the picture above.) I already think Portland is beautiful.
This is how most days end: the bubbliest bubble baths, brought to you by Aunt DiDi. Her mom, my Aunt Kathy, used to do the same great bubble baths for me and my siblings each time we'd visit them in CA, so it was heartwarming to see the tradition repeated. Dianna and Barry, thank you so much!
