Sleeping

This is what happens when Hazel refuses to nap at daycare: a very tired little girl at 7pm.  Notice the lovey over the face.  This is standard Hazel sleepy-time protocol.

The river

In an ongoing attempt to beat the heat AND to explore every beach in the Portland metro area, The Hizzle and Co. headed to Meldrum Bar on the Clackamas River.  Thus far, Mom thinks it is a perfect beach: shade available, sandy, and a gradual incline in to a very slow-moving river.  Mom and Dad had a great time people-watching.  Hazel had a great time crawling in the shallow river.  Everyone stayed cool.

Hazel is so embarrassed by Dad's tan lines that she can't even look at him.

Wow, says Hazel, people still drive those silly-looking cigarette boats?

Dad, let's stay here until winter comes, okay?

Beachin' it

Aunt Marissa and Uncle Nate came to town for the weekend, so Hazel decided to show them some good stuff- like the Oregon coast.  The forecast was for 90 degree temps in town, so that meant it would be hot at the beach too, RIGHT?

WRONG.  It was in the 60's and foggy, but that didn't stop Hazel from having a good time.

Hiding out from the wind and eating lunch.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches taste especially excellent with sand.

Praying for the sun to come out.

Queen of her very own sand mound.  (And, look! The sun came out!)

The beach is so exhausting, Hazel fell asleep mid-ice cream cone on the way home.

Don't steal my toy

And I mean it!

Fun in the summer sun

Hazel is turning in to a beach and water connoisseur. Thus far, however, she likes the beach at Grandma and Grandpa's cabin the best. Until she can return, though, she will keep testing out all the beaches around town to ensure that they are acceptable.

On Tuesday, Hazel went to Broughton Beach with Mom and Jeanie, who was in town from Utah for a little bike racing. Mom was SO happy to see Jeanie. Hazel just wanted to eat her plum (evidence all over her outfit) and cover herself in sand.

After a long nap, Hazel spent Tuesday afternoon at the wading pool in St. John's Park. After kids took turns "sharing" her toys, she started to hold on to them pretty tight- even while eating animal crackers.

On Wednesday morning, Hazel went to Frenchman's Bar on the Columbia River with Mom, Jeanie and Heather.  Here, she gets very protective of her ball (see previous picture).

This was followed by another long nap and a surprise: her own pool on her own deck. She didn't hate it. :)

Next week? More beach exploration is in store.

Ball

Mountain weekend

Hazel and Co. spent their weekend on the east side of Mt. St. Helens.    They were very busy because Hazel does not like to sit around.  Summer is only so long and the list of potential adventures is endless.

Mom and Hazel admire Mt. St. Helens from the road to Windy Ridge.

"Lookee here", says Hazel, "This mountain blew up once, see?"

Carrying the ubiquitous lovey, Hazel and Mom wave to the rest of the world.

Hazel directed Dad to get some exercise, so he did.  The whole family hiked up to Norway Pass for a view of the mountain and Spirit Lake.

While there, Hazel gave Dad a botany lesson.

In the tent that night, Mom read Hazel "Curious George Goes Camping".  Hazel is not smiling because the book is funny; Hazel is smiling because SHE knows she's not going to sleep anytime soon.

Hazel was right.  So, Mom and Dad gave in (but only because it's a weekend and it's a camping trip) and let Hazel enjoy the campfire with them.  Dad gave Hazel very clear instructions on what to do with a poker stick.

The next day, everyone went to explore Ape Cave, a two-mile long lava tube.  Turns out Hazel is kind of scared of the dark.  She got over it.

Hazel also took everyone to Yale Lake for a swim/nap/picnic, but there is no documentation of said event.  Just know that it was 82 degrees, the water was clear and cool and the views were beautiful.  After THAT, Hazel demanded Mexican food, so Mom and Dad gladly obliged (mmm...margaritas) and Hazel ate her weight in refried beans.

Hazel really likes summer.

Timothy Lake

After sleeping until 10:30am (nights at Mt. Tabor = a VERY tired baby), Mom and Hazel high-tailed it to Timothy Lake on Mt. Hood where LeAnne and her family were camping for the week.  Mom thought the lake was awesome.  Hazel is still not entirely convinced that unheated bodies of water are meant for swimming.

Hazel is thinking, If you dip my toes in that water ONE MORE TIME, I am going to scream so loud, the skiers on Mt. Hood will hear me.

Picnics with peanut butter sandwiches are the BEST.

Hazel and LeAnne are gossiping again.

No WAY! says Hazel.  Get OUT, LeAnne!

The End of Mt. Tabor

Well, for 2009 anyway.  The Wednesday night bike racing series at Mt. Tabor is over for the summer and Hazel is kinda sad about it:

But then she thought, More time with my mom and dad!  And she was happy again:

Mid-July Pool Party

Hazel was very excited when her friends, Erin and Susan, invited her to their private club (aka Lewis and Clark College, Erin's alma mater) to swim in the outdoor pool.  It was an 85-degree day, perfect for cooling off amongst the opulent buildings and huge trees that make up the campus.

The pool isn't heated and Hazel sticks her tongue out to tell everyone what she thinks of THAT. (the girl is a little spoiled- until this point, she was always swam in a heated pool.)

Afterwards, Hazel just wanted to climb on her stroller.  Over and over and over again.  Apparently cold water invigorates her.

Thanks, Erin and Susan for inviting us!

Kickin' it olden days style

Hazel's mom is a nerd.  A BIG nerd.  So Hazel got to spend her afternoon at Fort Vancouver with Mom and Heather, learning all about beaver pelts and the Hudson's Bay Trading Company and other really old stuff.

Hazel gears up for an historical afternoon with Clif shots she found in Mom's bike helmet.

This is a container for gun powder.  Cool! Hazel exclaimed.  Mom warned her that she is not nearly old enough yet to deal with gun powder.  She has to be AT LEAST one and a half.

Hazel listened with rapt attention to the presentation about the trading post.  Well, not really.  She just wanted to give her own presentation, which everyone else was unable to translate since it consisted mainly monosyllabic words.

She definitely grasps the seriousness of killing thousands and thousands of beavers just for their pelts.

Hazel wanted to wear Captain Baillie's hat, but it was unfortunately attached to the wall.  Bummer.

Back in Bend

Hazel headed back to Central Oregon this week for a little bike race heckling.  Bend is starting to grow on her.  She asked Mom and Dad if they could move there, but they sadly answered NO, at least not with a 20% unemployment rate or something ridiculous like that.  And Mom and Dad kind of like to eat on a consistent basis, so no moving to Bend anytime soon.  That doesn't mean that everyone can't visit Bend though, especially for a two-day bike race.  

Murray and Hazel are both very concerned.  Those silly cyclists just keep riding in circles.  Maybe they missed their turn?

Hazel attempts The Great Escape.  She can wait no longer for ice cream.

Adventures with Mom

Mom promised Hazel lots of adventures this summer and unfortunately, scheduling this past week prevented too much adventuring.  Hazel did drag Mom on a mini-adventure to Kelley Point Park on the Columbia River.  Noah came too, just to keep Mom on her toes and Hazel entertained.

Hazel and Noah share some animal crackers.  The best ones have just a little dog slobber and a touch of sand on them.

Mom, look at that big ship!, Hazel says.  It's all fine and good until the big ship blows its horn and scares Hazel silly.

Smiling between bites of animal cracker and crawling all over Mom.

Mom and Hazel's self-portrait.  Adventure #1(despite it being "mini"): SUCCESS.

Look for Mom and Hazel next week on Mt. Hood, on the bike trails, and everywhere else cool and fun.

Bike racing ADDICT

In honor of the Tour de France, Hazel had a weekly date at Mt. Tabor, where Mom and Dad race on Wednesday nights.  Hazel has been to so many bike races, she can now tell you about frame composition, gearing, team tactics and who is and isn't doping (hint: the girls who look like boys?  Probably doping.  The guys who look like girls? Ditto.).

Hazel and Dad cheer Mom on in her race.  Hazel is very concerned that Mom is not as close to the front as she should be.  Obviously, Mom has not been listening to Hazel's coaching advice.

Caught in the act of trying to steal a sweet bike.  Sorry, Hazel, NOT THIS TIME.  As soon as you can walk, we'll buy you your own bike, we swear.

Hazel reacts in solidarity to the news that Sally won $$ for placing second in the Masters Women race.  Murray (on the left) is all, pshaw, whatever.

Hazel capped off her evening by sharing mangos with Cyrus (10 1/2 months) and Arianna (2).  Hazel wants to know how Cyrus got so much taller than her when he is three weeks younger.  Are you doping too?, she asked him.

One more week of Mt. Tabor racing this summer, then we'll head to the West Side on Wednesday nights for the Team Oregon Mid-Summer Criterium Series.  Hazel will be providing live updates to Versus.  You can watch her on the web or... on the web.

One very successful weekend

At a parade, in a parade.

Hazel had a very full calendar for the Fourth of July.  First, she had to watch the parade in George, WA, then she had to be IN a parade back in Sunlands.  Hazel was amazed at the fire engines, tractors and horses in the George parade.  In Sunlands, however, she just soaked up all of the attention.

Wow, I have never seen a tractor that big before!  Also, Aunt Marissa?  Make sure you get this shot of me.  I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on any of my cuteness!

Mostly, Hazel found the parade fascinating.  Otherwise, she complained that it was a tad too hot for her taste.

Hazel got to be in the Sunlands parade a couple hours later.

Dad gives Hazel a pep talk.

Happy 4th of July from the Barker family!

Parade parting shot.