The Dore Family: August 2011

Every year, Patrick's dad Mike and his stepmom, Molly, throw a great party up at their farm. We love to see everyone, Patrick LOVES playing music with all the great Oregon musicians and the boys have incredible memories from their trips to the farm. We try to make it every year if we can. Here we are this year hitting the road. Part of the fun of the trip is waking up at a brutal hour. Patrick and I always look a little bleary, but Finn & Jack love it.

Mike took Finn and Jack and Patrick on a trip to the orchard to visit the plum trees. Jack figured he'd better test them out.

He also got a ridiculously cute, tiny apple which he carried around in his pocket for at least 2 days.

Patrick just after a jump into the swimming hole. Jack jumped for the first time this year! Alas, we did not have the camera ready.

Finn and Lorelei paddling a raft to the "rapids" at the other end of the swimming hole. There's a small drop at the far end of the swimming hole and the kids love whooshing over it.

Jack manned his own boat for quite a while. The water is still a little cool for him, but he stayed out there for an impressive amount of time.

The three amigos (and Finn's dead fish.) Finn found an incredible assortment of critters on the farm, every time we turned around, it seemed like he had something new. In addition to this carp, he caught a tiny frog, a snake and a slug, observed several tadpoles and many, many varieties of insects. I think Lorelei was a little grossed out, but she was a very good sport about the whole thing.

Our friend Aligis relaxing on the rocks above the swimming hole. Algis used to live in Eugene and it was great to have someone around who knows that area a little better. I just wish we'd had more time to explore!

We did make it to Saturday market, which is always fun. Brian and Krista were able to come with us because they just moved to San Francisco - woo-hoo! They are a lot of fun and we are so glad to have them close by. A big thank you to Krista who was lovely with all the kids, especially Ms. Lorelei.

Algis did take to us to the infamous Voodoo Donuts! Yes, Jack is eating a donut with cocoa pebbles on it. No, thankfully, he did not eat the whole thing, but if you're ever in Portland or Eugene and you feel like a truly decadent treat - Voodoo Donuts is definitely the place to go. (Note the sign over Jack's head.)

Patrick's aunt Patty and her sweet kids, Kenny, Nick and Chris were able to come. We had a great time with them! Finn and Lorelei and Jack probably wore them out, a bit, but they were so happy to see them there. They are always a welcome addition to...

Farm Fest! Woo-hoo! Thank you Peepa Mike and Grandma Molly for another awesome party.

We love Farm Fest, but we also love the morning after. Here are Patrick and Jack playing together.

Another morning shot.

Hanging out. Literally. Chris and Nick play ukulele and are great singer/song writers. They inspired Jack to sing a very silly song called 'The Menu of the Grassy Hills'. One of our favorite memories from this year was a beautiful song Nick wrote that perfectly captures the feeling of being at Farm Fest. Tears! We just wish Amy and Jamie and Felix could have been with us this year. They were very missed.

Jack and I had to go home a little early this year, but Finn and Patrick were able to stay and help build the....

Tree house! It looks amazing already. We can't wait to see it when it's all finished.

Patrick helped a little too. : ) Here he is putting some finishing touches on the smaller platform.

And here's Grandma Molly testing out the new floor on the bigger platform. Eventually the two platforms will have a bridge between them. Great-Peepa Hank's amazing plans also include a firepole, a second story sleeping loft, a swing and a slide! Now the farm is really going to be kid heaven.

See?

This is Patrick writing, continuing Em's post. After staying in Oregon a little while longer, Finn & I drove down to the Bay Area, where we stayed with my cousin Andy in San Francisco. Here are Finn & Andy at Andy's great place that he shares with a roommate in the city. Thanks Andy & Laura!!!

Finn & I did spent a day doing lots of tourist stuff. Here's Finn with a live lobster at Fisherman's Wharf - Finn heaven!!

A thoughtful (and cold) Finn with San Francisco in the background.

Tourists : )

Finn at the corner of Haight & Ahsbury - couldn't help myself!

After a day in San Francisco, we traveled a little further south and stayed with my Aunt Katie & Uncle Colin in Palo Alto. It was great to see them & they gave us a great tour of there area, including Stanford University & this lovely bird sanctuary!

Being a very creative (and well off) place, Palo Alto is filled with many interesting things. Katie brought us by their library which had this amazing...sculpture??? It is part bird's nest and part castle. We loved it!!

Finally, after lots of sight-seeing and driving, we spent the night with Katie & Colin and Finn watched his first baseball game. I was amazed to see how much he liked it!!! After that night, Finn & I headed back to L.A. Thanks so much to the Chos for a great time in the Bay Area!!!