Fact:

Oregon summers are simply the best. Or more accurately I should say, summers in the NW are the best. (It's all pretty much the same, really.) For 8-9 months out of the year, people all over Oregon and Washington complain about the rain, fog, cold weather, etc. And I must admit, when it is still cold and rainy in May, I sometimes succumb to such dirty thoughts as well. But we have to remember, it's all for a grander cause... like living in one of the most beautiful places in the entire country during the best time of the year. It's green, it's lush, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. (Right, Nicole? One day you will be back!) Throw in some great family and friends, and I'd say we're all pretty damn lucky.

This past weekend, Joe, Jack, and I had the privilege of spending time with the Newton family in one of our favorite places in the world: Corvallis, Oregon. Food. Sunshine. A baby. Dogs. Volleyball. Hiking. Pizza. Beer. Good conversation and laughs. The Beanery. Family. I mean, what's not to love?  Maybe one day, we can settle down there and raise a little family in our favorite little Oregon town. Until then, our summertime visits to G'pa and G'ma Newton's house will suffice quite nicely :)

Happy Great Grandpa Mike w/ (not-so-teensy) little Wyatt

  

LOVE those big, blue eyes
 

Grammy Kathy loves her some Wyatt time :)
 

Jack bounding as he chases a bird (or more accurately, its shadow). Heart.

  

All of our dogs are very well behaved ;)
 

A little family volleyball action
 

Dan talking trash to Joe, pretty standard really...
 

Beginning of our (impromptu) 13-mile hike up Mary's Peak
 

This little one's going to dominate mountains one day...
 

Love my Oregon forests!
  

So many butterflies

 

Pretty wildflowers

 

Almost to the top...
  

Made it.
  

 My (2nd) best hiking buddy :) 

 

 Sun coming through the trees on the way down

 

Pizza and beer at American Dream... perfect end to our weekend in Corvallis.
 

Thank you, sunshine...

Summer has finally bestowed itself upon us here in the Burg, and we are loving every minute of it. You have made Joe's work days infinitely better, our weekends more enjoyable, and our garden bountiful. You have even given us several visitors, which is always a treat for this Milwaukie born-and-raised transplant. And while I must admit that Jack is not a fan of the heat, he is a fan of his kiddie pool. (Actually, "pools" would be a more accurate description...see pics/captions below.) I have finally been getting my hiking fix and Roseburg is SO much better when the sun is shining. In fact, if this 90*+ weather keeps up much longer, the illustrious North Umqua River will be ready to float very soon. Our grill is back in full rotation, along with some of our other favorites: fresh sweet corn, local strawberries, and cold hefeweizen. Cheers to summer and all of its delights... I hope you are enjoying them as much as we are!

It's healthy... it has strawberries in it :)

Jack making himself at home with Auntie Jess

A beautiful day at Crater Lake

Typical Jonas move here. 

The Nelsons: our 4th of July partners-in-crime

Again, typical...

Happy 4th of July everyone!

View of Mt. Thielsen while hiking around

Our garden is growing to be big and strong :)

My little bell peppers!

Mmmm, corn

Our strawberries are starting to ripen

Jack helped himself to a little treat one day and then decided it wasn't ripe enough I guess...

Already getting some tomatoes

My little asparagus stalks are finally growing in too

Jack playing in his (first) kiddie pool. 

(Notice the deflated ring around the edge? Jack got a little crazy and started attacking his inflatable pool. Needless to say this one didn't last too long, so we had to go with the plastic kind- see below.)

Jack checking out his new pool.

It didn't take him long to jump in and start batting his ball around.

If only we were all that easily entertained...

Love, love, LOVE his blonde eyelashes and crimpy ears:)

***Sorry for the Jack pic overload at the end, sometimes I just can't help myself :)

Words to live by.

As most of you probably know, I am currently on "summer break". While I have several jobs and projects keeping me busy this summer, I am fortunate enough to choose to do them when I want to. That means if the weather is nice and I feel like going hiking for the afternoon, I do. Or if I get a spontaneous urge to go somewhere or visit someone, I can. I know what most of you non-teachers out there are thinking ("you suck"), but the grass is not always greener on the other side. Because even though I am on summer break, my bestest friend in the whole world is not. And as the proverb goes, Without other people's companionship, even paradise would be an unlikable place.

In fact, not only has Jonas been working 50+ hours every week, he was also recently informed that he only gets 5 days of vacation this year. He has already taken 2 (thinking that he would get the standard 10 in a year), so that leaves a meager 3 days of vacation for the rest of the year. Considering we've already planned a hiking road trip in July, he now has to work 2 Saturdays next month just to get 5 days off in a row for our trip.

Ok. So I promise I am not writing this post just to complain. I am writing this post because I have been doing a lot of thinking about work-life balance lately, and I feel like our society really struggles with this one. Why is it that to have a "successful" career in our society, people have to sacrifice the majority of their free time and enjoyment? Maybe if we had a better balance we wouldn't spend our week wishing time would pass faster. (I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend my life wishing my days away.) Time with family and friends; exercise, nutrition, and sleep; house and yard maintenance; and hobbies of all sorts take a back seat to our jobs. And all for what... money?

Yes, I realize money is important to survive and also to pay for the things that we enjoy. I think it is important to work hard and earn everything we get. But I also think if we all spent a little more time enjoying life and being with our loved ones, maybe we wouldn't dread our jobs so much. Maybe we would even enjoy them a little, or at least appreciate them for the purpose they have in our lives. Maybe people would even be inspired to work harder and put in the effort they should... wouldn't that be a trip?

I am currently reading a book titled Boys Adrift (which I highly recommend for anyone who is the parent of a boy or works with boys- especially all of you teachers out there). In it, I read a quote that sums up my thoughts on this whole work-life balance thing quite nicely. It was taken from the famous book All I Really Need to Know in Life I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum. In it he says we should, "Learn some and think some and draw some and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." I love this. I feel like every day would be a good day if we had this kind of balance in our lives.

So, this is something that I am making a goal in my life. Especially with a crazy fall around the corner, I am going to try really hard to keep a good work-life balance. (In addition to my first full-time teaching job, I am also the new head soccer coach at SHS.) Given I will be working 70+ hours a week during soccer season, it's going to be tough. But until then, I guess I'll have to stock up on the "life" part of my work-life balance goal this summer. I only wish my bestie could be there to enjoy it with me, but Jack and good friends make great hiking buddies too...

Hanging out in central Oregon

Hiking Smith Rock with Lisa, Abby, and (of course) Jack

Me and my little buddy

I heart the Cascades

Beautiful lakes, mountains on the horizon, and mutli-million dollar estates... some people have it rough.

 Abs and Lisa taking in the view at the top of Smith Rock

Profile pic of Monkey Face

 Someone wore himself out hiking

Jack made a new friend :)

View while hiking Twin Lakes

At the big lake. So beautiful.

 Rachael playing fetch with Jack in the water.

I know he's thinking, "Hurry up guys!"

 Me and Rach- love this girl!

Introducing Rachael to mine and Joe's favorite Douglas County tradition- go hiking east of Roseburg, stop at the Illahee Restaurant/Bakery on the way home and eat HUGE  pieces of delicious homemade pie!

 My 2nd favorite choice: Marionberry Pie a la mode. Dutch Apple is THE best, but they were out of it, wah wah