M&D and I took a trip to Oregon this summer.  It was a long, long drive, but I got to see lots of Ex and PS trucks on the road while we were driving.  I also got to see lots of roadwork up close, including front loaders, dump trucks, excavators, asphalt spreaders, steam rollers, and bulldozers.  For some reason, M&D didn’t take any pictures of those machines, so I can’t show them to you here.

The first real stop on our trip was at Lake Shasta Caverns.  We got to start with a boat ride across the lake, which was the best part of the tour if you ask me!

After the boat ride was a bus ride up the hill.  I directed the bus where to back up and park.

Then we went inside and saw some funny rocks all stuck to the ceiling.  Weird.

After that we stayed in a hotel, and I got to make lots of deliveries with the cart they let me borrow.

The next day was more driving to get to SunRiver.  After going to bed late the night before, I was ready to take a snooze in the car for the last leg of the trip.

Next up: SunRiver!

Last weekend, M&D and I went down to LA for a surprise party for Pa.  Something called ‘retirement’ from ‘work’.  That didn’t make much sense to me, but what I do know is that I got to visit my cousin and play baseball!

I hit lots of the balls that Daddy pitched to me, and some even went all the way across the street!  I also had lots of fun throwing the ball up as high as I could in the air.  It was fun to see Aunt Heather, Uncle John, and Uncle Ryan.

After baseball we went to the restaurant where we got to wait for Pa and then yell  “Surprise!”.  Pa looked a little surprised, so I ran right over and gave him a big hug.

Later, Avery and I helped Ma make some cupcakes for my pre-birthday LA celebration.

And here you can see the pre-pre-celebration.   Mmmmmm Mmmmm….

Ah, the mysteries of life…Why don’t people just eat chocolate frosting all the time?

After all of the visiting and celebrating, it was time to go home.  Unfortunately, our airplane flight was canceled due to something called “mechanical difficulties”.  Then M&D said that we would get to go home on a BIG jet plane.  After lots of walking, we went to where the BIG jet planes park, and I met our first officer.  He taught me to count stripes on his shoulders, and that THREE stripes means a first officer, and FOUR stripes means a captain.  I counted FIVE stripes on his shoulder, and he laughed and said he would tell that to his captain.  I think because I’m so smart that’s why they let me fly the plane!

First officer “Jeffy” was really nice and even held me for a picture!

Maybe our flight will get canceled again so I can sit in the front of another jet!  I’m looking forward to it!

(Editor’s Note: A big thanks to Southwest’s First Officer Jeff for all the kind attention!)

Turns out that I wanted it, but I wasn’t quite ready to sleep in it yet…

I especially don’t like it when the blankets get all scrumply. (translation: wrinkled)

This is probably the only time I have ever washed my hair all by myself, so Daddy took a picture to commemorate the occasion.

Would I do it again?  Eh.  Probably not.

Lately I’ve been going pee pee on the potty!  M&D made a sticker chart for me, and every time I go, I get a sticker!   Also, I can watch videos while I wait for the pee pees to come.  This potty thing isn’t so bad.

Mommy got Daddy a Hot Chocolate maker for Christmas, and Daddy made some for us.

Yummy!  I like mine with whipped cream on the top!

Ma and Pa came to visit this weekend, and we went to Train Town!

We went for a ride on the train…

…and the train stops at the petting zoo where I got to feed the goats with Ma!

After that, I got to sit and drive this fancy blue and red car.

After going on the Merry Go Round, it was time to head back home for my nap.  Boy was I tired!

Thanks for coming to visit Ma and Pa!  It was fun to see you!

My friends Tommy and Rosie turned 2 and they had pony rides at their party!  I got to ride on ‘Sugar’.  At first, I wasn’t too sure how this was all going to work.  But everyone said it would be OK so I decided to tough it out.

Sugar’s mommy told me to hold on to the saddle horn, so I never let go the whole time.

Almost smiling…

There we go!  It was a little scary, but in the end it was OK.  My first pony ride!  Yay!

Update: Here’s some video of the ride.

The weekend before last, M&D took me out to pick a pumpkin for Halloween.  This seemed like big responsibility, especially for someone with no experience, but I decided to give it a go.  We got to the patch a little on the early side, so I had the place all to myself.  Easy pickins’, right?

Well, it turns out this means you have lots of time to stomp around and check out a lot of pumpkins…

But I finally found one that I liked.

After that, it was time to climb the hay bales,

and visit with the calves, piglets, goats, and chickens who were there.

Mommy wouldn’t let me take the calf home, but by the time we had to go, I’d found two good pumpkins to take with us!

Today is my first day as a Panda at BCC.  The Panda room has lots of neat toys and even has two small birds! I got to wear my special panda hat to orientation last week. Being a Panda is going to be fun!