4-17-17

It's Monday early afternoon and the crowds are gone... so we hit the trails along the Verde River for some hiking and water play. This is the entrance to the little canyon from the Quail campground...

Old man Titus got super excited to go for a hike and was enthusiastically pulling me along the trail. Steve is starting to train Willow to be a mountain biking companion, but today she was side-by-side hiking with Titus.

Alex is loving being on his mountain bike. So fun to watch him in action!

 Sierra is loving the hiking... and has her special 'hiking pole' that she uses. Cannot wait until we backpack as a family ♡ 

 

At the river, Titus shaves decades off his age 

 This trip really is about the sweet moments.

Yesterday, Sierra was not interested in walking in the water. Today, she wore her flip flops and loved it. They did float away at one point, so when we return to the river this afternoon- we will both wear our tennis shoes. The water is warm and refreshing in the hot sunshine.

Master her balance to cross the river

 Titus swam... then Willow did too!

Shocking!

Campsite: Quail Loop #39

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Earlier, we did our morning school and, as part of his studies, Alex wrote to Gramma Jan and Uncle Jon.

 We are working on invented spelling. This helps Alex get his thoughts down on paper versus trying to be 'perfect' with spelling. That will come later. Go Alex go!

 "My sister is an annoying machine on wheels. 

She stole my candy!"

We had to take pictures and text a copy of his letter to them today because "it has to be received when it is current!" Alex told me.

Right now, Alex is reading 'Fancy Nancy' to Sierra. He checked out some books on Overdrive from the library and is trying to teach her to read. So sweet.

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Thoughts that keep coming back to me on this adventure are about all the 'stuff' we accumulate in our lives. We are born totally naked into this world. And somehow, over the course of our lifetime, many of us will fill homes with things, garages and attics with gear and junk, and perhaps have a shipping container on our property (cough cough). Stuff stuff stuff. I honestly feel that it gets in our way sometimes. There are things to take care of, to maintain, etc.

We are living in essentially a tiny home right now. Each of us has a few personal items, way too many clothes (I overpacked in this department), and a minimally stocked kitchen. We have the basics... toothbrushes, soap, shampoo/conditioner, etc. and you know what? We are totally happy- without all our stuff back home.

When we moved to the Columbia River Gorge area back in 2008, I left behind a suburb/city lifestyle that was a bit faster paced. Seattle was, and continues to grow and grow. I remember when I went to my hometown and saw that you had to pay to park in downtown Bellevue. What?!? It was crazy to me.

Now, living upriver is peaceful and I love the space we have. AND, when we return, we will be doing massive purging and donating of things we just don't need or use anymore. I am really digging this simple life ♡