A Dancing Fool

We posted this video on Facebook a few weeks ago, but I know a few of our family members aren't on FB, so here you go!

Oregon, my love.

School is coming, school is coming. Noooooo. Summer is quickly coming to a close for the teacher in our family and the grad student as well. Our summer in Oregon is one we will always treasure. Thanks to everyone who housed us, fed us, and made time to see us. I horrifically didn't get pictures of all of the dear friends we saw, so I guess those of you who don't see yourself posted below (or rather your property as I tend to focus on just Henry!) will just have to come visit Wyoming and we shall document our adventures together properly.

Visiting friends who also have small children is a bit wild and makes for fragmented conversations. Catching moments like this sure makes it sweet.

Story time at the Richard's gets pretty intense.

4th of July parade in "our" 55 + neighborhood.

Sharing a popsicle with puppy.

Nice one, Hank.

We always love to see this special Grandma.

Picking berries at Granny and Papa's.

Loving the water at Omi and Poopah's.

Strider/balance bikes are the best!

Giving Opapa a guitar lesson.

Parenting at its finest.

It's true. The two in helmets rode 180 miles in two days. On mountain bikes. No thanks.

These two are trouble. It's probably a good thing we live a thousand miles away.

Baby jacuzzi.

My favorite duo.

25 years of friendship.

Thanks for all the memories. And I was serious about visiting us. Rumor has it that we now have a guest bed.

Barbies for All

This guy could not be convinced that he was just a wee bit too big to be trying to drive the Barbie RV.

Look at his little hand trying to steer the wheel.

That is one happy boy! He didn't seem to mind one bit that he couldn't actually get his vehicle to move.

Zoo Hair

One might think that the best part of the zoo was seeing the bears wrestle.

Or maybe it was watching the elephants fling dirt everywhere.

Or even introducing Henry to his ancestors.

Nope. The best part of the zoo was definitely seeing those shiny golden locks. Looks like we'll be gearing up for haircut in 2016.

A Hiking We Will Go...

Natural disasters fascinate us. I once bought a four pack of natural disasters movies from Wal-Mart for $5. By far the best purchase I have ever made. With Mt. St. Helens being only a two hour drive away, we had to take advantage of this spectacular creation.

We caught the very end of the wildflowers.

Please picture Jake crouching down with Henry on his back and his two trekking poles squeezed in between his knees while he snapped this beauty.

 We've been on a lot of hikes. This one was one of the most beautiful. See that big old backpack? Somehow we deemed it necessary to bring 15 pounds of food for an eight mile hike.

We call this "set the baby down and run away while trying to make him laugh." The baby does not seem one bit amused by my antics.

His smile had absolutely nothing to do with me.

A toddler with a trekking pole is a bit terrifying. 

View from the top of Harry's Ridge..Spirit Lake, St. Helens and Mt. Hood are in the background.

19 months

Nineteen months and thriving...and totally uninterested in even sitting down for the pictures this month.

It's a little terrifying to think his sweet feet will be this big one day!

This little boy continues to be an all-star traveler and we all are enjoying our Portland summer. It didn't take him long to learn the word "cookie" and now he will often wake up in the morning and request one first thing. I suppose that's what you get when you are living with a grandma who is a world-class cookie baker.

Did someone say cookie?

A wild 4th.

If us Denbrooks are known for just one thing, I'm pretty sure that it is being "wild." We are uncontrollable party animals. Which is why the fourth of July found us watching New York's 4th of July fireworks via la television on mute. And our child sleeping while covering his ears because his parents are just too darn rowdy.

And, yes, we were in the company of two dear friends and their cherub who somehow missed getting photographed. Thanks for the great visit, K and A (didn't want to include full names in case you are somehow embarrassed of what we have become...)

Hey, at least we are wearing festive colors.