We took the boys to the River Rock concert again this year (last year we saw Uncle Kracker and the year before was Andy Grammar). The first night was a Portland band called Con Bro Chill. The boys were HUGE fans. They spent the whole night in the front by the stage dancing their little feet off. They even loved it more than Andy Grammar, which is impressive. I'm not sure if it was all the costume changes, the bright neon colors, the giant wolf paws, or the attempts at stuffing band members entire bodies into full-sized balloons that really hooked the boys, but whatever it was, it worked. They were desperate to get a photo with CBC when it was over, so Ryan made it happen (while I hid a good distance away and pretended not to know them, of course).

You should check out this video to get a sample of the band's style.

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We took a trip to La Center to see the Arizona Cartys while they were nearby. Had a blast, as always. Kelly knows how to show these boys a good time!

They made her take them out at least three different times.

Jack showed us how their big, fancy (and slightly terrifying) drone works!

There it goes!

Finn also flew his drone.

Not as cool as when Kelly drives, but they had to give her a break ;)

Ryan and Pat have a chat.

Kelly's break did not last long... on to the fireworks!

Next year the boys will insist on heading to Washington for the fourth so they can get cool fireworks like this one that shoots a paratrooper type parachute and they get to go chase it and try to catch it.

Thanks for the fun, Cartys! :D

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Cael was jealous of my deadly hike earlier this week, so today we dropped the younger boys off at Grandma and Grandpa's, Dad was away at a conference, and Cael and Mama took a hike!

Since we drove instead of walking (take that, Crestview Dr!) we wanted to add more to the route to increase our miles. Luckily, the pedestrian bridge to Riverfront Park is open on the weekends, so we headed out that way and then hiked back. I'd never been on it before -- it was pretty swanky!

Our route is in red. I didn't get the whole path in the image (oops) so there's a little bit on the left not included, and the bridge detour extends past the top right. All told it was about 4.75 miles. Cael was a champ!! He kept saying, "Why was this so hard for you, Mama? This is easy!" Next time I'm making him take Crestview :P

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So here we were, just chillin

hangin' out at a park in Keizer we hadn't been to yet

when we ran across this crazy thing!

and this!!

and this!!

The boys were so thrilled to find their names engraved on the fence. They're such generous donors, apparently! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma ;) What a super awesome surprise!

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Ever since California, Ryan and I have been trying to walk a ton more during the day. We didn't realize until we found a long-buried app on our phones that a) we were being tracked and b) we did some serious hiking through those amusement parks. We immediately decided that walking is good for you (Eureka!) and that it should be done more (gasp!). Now we're in a daily competition to get more miles. I have won every day so far (thanks, not having a desk job!). Somehow being tracked is really motivating me.  Last week while the older boys were at soccer camp for two hours I walked in circles around the playground while the other three played instead of sitting on a bench like I wanted to. This week camp is a drop-off and leave affair, so I have to find another way to up my step count. In a stroke of inspiration I decided to step out the front door, turn on my audiobook, and walk to Minto Island Park.

It's a mile from the house to the entrance, which would be no problem except the 85 degree heat bouncing at me off the pavement, and I have to walk down what must be a 45 degree decline almost the entire way. It's horrible on my old-lady knees and I was in pain before I even got to the park. Ooooops.

Once I did get there, however, all the pain was worth it.

It was disgustingly hot, but it was also disgustingly beautiful, so it balanced out.

Plus there were nice shady patches.

At about the hour and a half mark I was ready to be magically transported home, but that technology hasn't been invented yet. Instead I had to finish the park loop and then drag myself, panting and sweating and cursing all the way back up through that awful, awful hilly neighboorhood and back to my house. I made it as far as the boys' school (half a mile away from the house) and collapsed on the track in order to ensure I didn't collapse on the road. I took a nice little siesta, texted Ryan to tell him to have the ambulance on speed dial and set my sights on home.

I walked in the door, kicked off my shoes, downed 3/4 of a water bottle in one gulp, and went straight for the freezer for the frozen veggies. I was utterly miserable and totally triumphant.

Go me! (Just don't go downstairs to check the laundry because there's no way you'll be able to make it back up. Ow, ow, ow...)

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