Newberg Old Fashioned Festival

The last full weekend in July, my home town of Newberg as the Old Fashioned Festival. It is a fun way to spend a four day weekend. With two parades, rows and rows of booths and vendors, a carnival, live music, fireworks, and yummy (not healthy) treats, you will not be bored for a second. The kick off to the festival is the children's parade which takes place Thursday evening. This is parade that anyone young, or old can be in a parade. It's even fun for the spectators! Liam and I decided to sit this one out and just watch, and boy were we glad we did! We left with fistfuls of candy and we saw Lightning McQueen and Mater!

Because the festival is held at a park, there is always the playground to keep the little ones occupied. There are several slides, swings (the regular kind), bars to climb and an old fashioned stage coach to "ride" in. There was also a boy scout section where they had a really cool swing and a rock wall to climb. Liam was a bit small to go on the swing alone, but he climbed the rock wall like a spider...with help, of course. I think Liam is going to love boy scouts!

Saturday morning we always go to the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast offered by a local club with my grandparents. Then we stake out the best spot for the big parade and visit until it begins. It's an early morning, but it is so worth it! I may be biased, but I think it's the best one that I've ever seen! There are several bands, dance teams, floats, old cars and trucks, and police officers and firefighters. Once again, we left with a bag full of candy and with one tired boy.

The carnival is geared toward the teenage crowd, with a handful of rides, some games, and a live band. Liam wanted to go on the rides, but he was a bit too small and they were far too spendy, but we decided to play a couple of games instead. He won a stuffed tiger when he went fishing and caught a big one!

All of these parts of the festival are wonderful, but the very best part is the fireworks show Saturday night! They usually last about a half an hour and it's non-stop! They do a great job of having a couple of false endings where the fireworks just go and go, then they stop and a couple of seconds later, their back! It makes for one exciting night. On Sunday there is a car show and more music at the main stage, but if you ask me, Saturday is the best day to visit.

Memorial Park Wilsonville, Or

Liam, Alyssa, and I took this trip back in July, but I have to share it since this is such a great place to take kids on a hot day. Memorial Park in Wilsonville is located across the street from the library. It is a wonderful place to go any season, since it hosts fields for running and games, a huge playground with things for toddlers to big kids, and has several water fountains to play in during the summer months. There are also walking trails, a dog park, a track, baseball field, and soccer fields. You and your kids will never get bored here!

On this particular day, it was hot! We brought some lunch, ate in the shade of the trees, and then spent the rest of our day in the water splashing and playing. The fountain area was absolutely packed. There were kids of all ages running wild, and Liam loved every minute of it. The fountains range from geysers that are perfect for the tiny ones, to waterfalls that fill small pools for the older ones. Liam was especially excited about the waterfalls.

If you are looking for a great place to cool off, I would say that Memorial Park in Wilsonville is a great local option. If you're looking for a place to take a walk, run in a field, play some ball, take your puppy pal, or just relax will your little on plays on an age appropriate play structure, Memorial Park is still a fantastic option!

St. Paul Rodeo/Fireworks Show

 For the fourth of July there is only one place to go, the St. Paul rodeo! It's about 15 minutes from Newberg and has a wonderful rodeo, carnival, and some of the best fireworks around. This year, that's exactly where we went. The one downside to St. Paul on the fourth is that it is an extremely small town and it becomes packed with people.


We have been lucky enough to find an, off the beaten path place, to watch the fireworks without the crowds, with a great view, and plenty of parking. About four blocks from the rodeo is an old slaughter house (I know, sounds lovely), but the parking lot is huge and we set up a blanket and hang out until the show.


This year, we brought snacks, tiny flags, games to play, and some fireworks of our own. This kept us busy until the real thing began. Liam had a great time, and we got to see the whole show without the hassle of crowds of people. If you do decide to go next year, I should let you know that they don't start the fireworks until the rodeo is over. This year, that wasn't until about 10:45. It was a late night!

If you like a great firework show, you should check out St. Paul!

Seaside Trip

Hello all! I'm so sorry that it has been so long since I have updated you on our summer field trips. We have had such a fun and busy summer that I haven't been able to find a lot of time to sit down and write about our adventures. This trip was a weekend mini-vacation to Seaside, Or. taken the first weekend in July, to celebrate my nephew's birthday.

Our adventure began with the short walk from my sister's home to the historic Gilbert District (also known as the main strip). Once there, we met the party-goers at Fultano's pizza. This pizzeria is very large and holds many tables. Our large group had no problem finding space, even during the lunch rush. Many Oregon natives know Fultano's for their amazing pizza, but this location is extra special, as it is connected to a wonderful arcade filled with games and fun.

There were people of every age at the party, all of which were happy and entertained by all there was to do for hours on end. The pizza was delicious, and the games were inexpensive and ranged from adult themed or difficult, to toddler themed and quite easy.

Liam and his cousins, loved the change-powered cars and train. We lost many a-quarter in that part of the building. Funland also comes equipped with a prize counter similar to the ones at Chuck E Cheese and like establishments. But for the price, Funland seemed to have all those similar places beat!


After exhausting ourselves at the arcade and filling our bellies with yummy pizza, Liam, Joe, Alyssa, and I decided to take a walk to the beach, which is located less than two blocks from the restaurant. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and Liam had a wonderful time chasing the seagulls and throwing sand at his daddy. Alyssa and I enjoyed relaxing on the beach, people watching and soaking up the sun. By the time we left the beach, Liam was out cold.


Seaside is a wonderful family-friendly community that has many fun and exciting things to do. Almost everything is within walking distance of the downtown area, so travel and transportation won't be much of an issue if you decide to visit. Plan a trip if you enjoy the coast and don't want to be bored for a second!

Seaside on Dwellable

Pine Street Park, Sherwood

Yesterday we tried to beat the heat by heading to Sherwood's newest park. It's located on Pine street, right next to the library. It is a wonderful place for smaller children to play in water. There are waterfalls and fountains that go off and on at what seem to be random times. Liam loved to put his face near the fountains and be surprised when it came back on, splashing his face.

The park is not a big one, which is also nice for parents of small children. You can sit in the shade of the awnings while your little one runs wild in the water. Even when the water is on full force, the pool only gets a couple of inches deep. It's very family friendly and kids safe.

We had a wonderful time!

Willamette Valley on Dwellable

Gardening

 Most of our field trips happen outside of our home, but yesterday we had a field trip to our backyard! Liam, Joe, and I spent the afternoon planting a little garden in a raised bed. Liam had so much fun helping dig holes, plant the seeds, pick where everything would go, etc. Even Maizy got in on the fun! I have a feeling she knows that food to steal is in her future.

Since re-evaluating our finances and family goals at the end of 2011, we have become far more focused on being sustainable, inexpensive, and healthier. Planting our own herbs and vegetables seemed to fit all of these goals. I know planting a garden is not a new idea or an amazing feet, but for our little family it was fun and exciting.

Before planting, there was a lot of preparation. Joe built the raised bed (w/o a kit!), we made several trips to several stores to pick out the produce we wanted to plant (Liam did most of the picking), and I made Popsicle stick markers for each of the things to be planted. Every step of the way, we enjoyed making decisions as a family.

As the garden grows, I hope that Liam's love for nature gets stronger and that he will learn to be focused on making his life better and more productive, rather than focusing on material things and money. We have a whole new outlook on life, and we want to share that with our little guy.

The Oregon Zoo

 Every year my family takes several trips to the Oregon Zoo. It is inexpensive, educational, and fun. We have opted to purchase a zoo pass since Liam was born. This is a great idea if you plan to visit often, as it pays for itself within a few visits. My husband decided to take yesterday off and the weather was wonderful, so we took the opportunity to visit all of the animals that Liam is so interested in. 


This trip was a bit different than times past. Liam is now getting old enough to walk long distances and to listen to our directions. This made it possible for him to walk for the first two and a half hours of our three hour time at the zoo. We thought that this would equal a wonderful nap, we were mistaken (but that's another story).

The Oregon zoo is a wonderful place to take kids (or adults) of any age. There are many animal exhibits, shows that are entertaining, hands-on activities that are educational, and miles of outdoor walking. Because the park is so spread out, yet easy to navigate, it's easy to find just the exhibits you are looking for or roam the whole park. There is also a train that runs regularly that circles the park and is a great way to take a break from all the walking.


In the summer the zoo hosts several outdoor concerts that are family friendly, yet offer some adult options. These concerts do cost extra even for a zoo pass holder and are usually scheduled on Saturdays. However, there are also many summer activities offered that are free to members and are included in any purchased ticket. These activities include smaller concerts, special workshops for specific animals, arts and crafts, etc.



In the winter the zoo decorates the entire park with holiday lights. Some are in the shape of the animals on display, some are animated, and some are just plain pretty. We attend the zoo lights at least once a year to walk the park, see the animals, eat an elephant ear, and drink some hot chocolate. In my opinion, this is also the best time to take the train ride. If you take a ride on one of the zoo light evenings, the lights are just about all that you can see from the train cars. It's beautiful!

We love the Oregon Zoo!

Portland on Dwellable

Larkspur Park Bend, Oregon

For the past couple of years, my little family has taken a Memorial Day vacation with some great friends. The vacation takes place in Bend, where we rent a house, bring lots of food, watch some movies in the great theater room that the house offers, and take a sight-seeing trip or two. This year, we decided to take a walk to an amazing park located less than a mile from the house.

 Larkspur Park is one of the best parks I have ever been to! There are three huge sections to the park, each offering equipment that is fun and accessible to kids from barely walking, to kids of the adult variety (including my husband and the other dads that joined us on the trip). The walk to the park was quick, but relaxing. There is a trail that begins in the neighborhoods near where we were staying, and end at the park. When walking down the trail, there was a mix of sidewalks, gravel paths through wooded areas, and dirt paths that ran along a creek. 

The park was full of fun activities  and had several play structures that included swings, slides, stairs, monkey bars, poles to slide down, bridges to run over, and even rock walls to climb on. When we arrived, we were the only ones in the park. Within the hour that we stayed to play, it got quite crowded. So if you do decide to take a look, I would suggest going earlier in the morning.                                                                                                       

                 

Liam and his friends had a wonderful time going from one section to another. There was so much to choose from, that they all ran the length of the park (which is quite substantial) several times. The ground beneath the equipment was made of tires, making it soft and squishy under our feet. This made it much easier to stand back and watch the kiddos run at full speed. We spent our time watching our kids run a mock and wear themselves out. I wish that we had a park similar near us! If you are ever in the Bend area, and have a little one who likes to climb like a monkey and run like a cheetah, I highly suggest you take a little trip to Larkspur Park.

Bend on Dwellable