A trip to the corn maze

On Fridays I usually have a few hours where it's just me and Oliver. Leo is at daycare and the days feel vaguely like they did before the addition of little Leo. A little different, not for the better or worse, just slightly more focused on one child. These are just times I get to spend with Oliver and they're usually always wonderful. He's a thoughtful & loving little boy and who wouldn't want a few hours to just go and play with such an awesome playmate?

Columbia River Gorge

Here are some photos of a trip Jacob took with the boys to the Columbia River Gorge via the Scenic Highway. The road twist & turns and is a prime example of cliff-face road construction.  One of the points at the top is the Vista House, an art nouveau style visitor center/museum.

Along the Scenic Highway is a series of waterfalls that can be accessed via a short walk from the car. One of the more famous waterfalls is the Multnomah Falls, second-highest year-round waterfalls in the US.

That's pizza all over Leo's face.

Oliver took this photos of Daddy & Leo.

Denver Gem & Fossil Show

Last month I traveled to Denver to stock up on supplies for this coming holiday season. There were 9 large shows in the span of 3 days that I was eager to visit. I needed a lot of gemstones and did get some wonderful new things to inspire me. My mom & dad came down from Wyoming to join me as they had never been to a bead show of this kind. They did their best to keep up with me and I'm so glad I was able to spend a few days with them.

One of the highlights of the weekend was visiting the Gem & Fossil show at the Coliseum. I knew I would be able to see dinosaurs and fossils, something Oliver is very interested in right now. I was hoping I'd be able to bring home something fun for him and I really scored. There was a company there that takes real dinosaur bones and makes replicas. Grandpa was able to get him a T-Rex claw. I had to talk him into that as he was prepared to get him a whole dinosaur skull. This company sells mainly to museums and schools. They have an amazing variety, perfect for my little paleontologist. Here are some great specimens and fossils:

This is a slice from a meteor.

Another meteor, completely different!

Fossils!

Really neat specimen.

Desert roses made of rock.

Me and Triceratops (this was my favorite dinosaur when I was little).

Not sure if this is a tooth or claw.

Dinosaur nest of eggs.

Grandma & Grandpa survive the marathon bead show weekend!