Cronquist’s Blog

I posted something each day last year, while vacationing at Black Butte Ranch with the fam.  This year, you get one post to cover it all.  I guess its a direct reflection of my overall blogging habit this year.  Is it because Kaden is older, therefore requiring more of my time while he is awake or is it that I’ve simply gotten lazy?  Regardless, I’m obligated to share some highlights with those of you who still take the time to check to see if Kasey’s posted anything worth reading lately.  You are welcome Mom (and I assume she just comes for the pictures )

Beau and LC protesting our decision to leave them while on vacation.

Okay, so, this year’s vacation was a week shorter than last years, which means that we just focused on our one week at Black Butte Ranch and will choose another week at a different time to visit my family, in either Colorado, Washington or Montana. . .that is still up in the air.  This was a good move.  Two weeks, although tempting, is just too long to be on the road with the little man.  Maybe once we get our airstream, I’d be more inclined to stay out and enjoy the amenities of home, while on the road, but until then, its good to touch base before we go back out.  Part of it, definitely has to do with our 2.5 dogs.  You can tell by the picture that they are upset with us before we even hit the road, imposing a “sit-in” protest while we packed.  Just look at Beau’s face. . .

Whatever.  We left them, thanks to our friends Kelly and Jesse, who willing to take on the task of watching our house, our dogs and their two dogs while we were gone!

Our traveling multimedia must haves. . .

With all of the electronics we packed this year, you would have thought that we were headed to some social media conference.  Two laptops, a flip camera, a still camera that shoots video, a palm pre, an iPhone, a wifi hot spot, bluetooth and two iPods all came along on this year’s trip.  The iPhone was really the new addition.  This is likely the last plane flight that Kaden is considered an “infant” and able to ride on our laps.  We debated

Kaden waiting for his "carriage" to arrive

and debated on buying him a seat, but ultimately, it came down to money.  Meaning, that we thought it would be cheaper to buy him an iPhone/iPod touch on this trip to play with and sit tight, then it would be to buy him his own seat.  Therefore, we’d even have something to keep for years to come, rather than paying for a seat on a plane for one trip to Black Butte Ranch.  It was a gamble, but it paid off in spades!  I would give the flight up a 6.5 out of 10, simply because we didn’t give Kaden the iPhone sooner.  You could see he was excited and

Exactly why we don't get him his own ticket, he'll just go on without us!

into it, but he just didn’t know how to work it, so frustration ensued.  Where as on the flight back, I’d give it a 8.5 out of 10, all because he had a week to learn how to play “Peek-a-Boo Barn,” and all of the others.  Amazing.

Kaden's pool hat. For sale: $5

I would say that one of this year’s themes for the trip was “hats.”  Tarah is big on staying out of the sun.  Ah, the irony. . .  Anyway, as you can see in the photos, we each have one.  Kaden sported this new sun hat for the time in the pool. . .this one time ;).  I, on the other hand, wore mine the entire trip and was only asked to change the sprinkler heads out on the golf course twice!  I’m kidding of course.

You might recall that it was at Black Butte

Kaden maybe trying to take his hat off in this picture!

Ranch a year ago that Kaden learned to walk.  He was 9 months old and we really think that it was his time in the little kiddie pool that sped that along (for good or for bad ).  This year we spent almost as much time in the big pool as we did the kiddie pool and are certain to enroll him into swimming lessons here at home.  He just loves the water.

Pool time!

The Goodwin’s have been coming to Black Butte Ranch each summer for about 20 years.  Tarah’s been there all but one year.  Its a great family tradition that now involves a third generation, who seem to love it just as much.  There is a lot to do at Black Butte, but I’d say we find ourselves lounging around the house most of the time, when we’re not golfing or at the pool.  The

Play time at the house: Grammie blowing bubbles for the kids.

house is great for the kids to play on their bikes on the back patio or driveway (as soon as they are all older, I’m sure we’ll be hitting the trails, but this is our time in life right now and its just as fun.  Kaden sure enjoyed his time with his cousins.  They all played very well together.  Kaden loved to say Leila’s name, so much so, that he would often call Kinsley, “Leila.”  He loved to hug on Kinsley though.  They were just about the same height and Kaden would just walk right up to her and wrap his arms around her.

iPods: Play 'em if you got 'em!

Another theme for this trip, might be the iPod.  You’ll note from our previous post, that we bought Kaden an iPhone for this trip.  Well, between Kaden’s iPhone, Chad’s iPhone and Raylene’s iPod Touch, each of the kids could be seen playing on them at the same time.  It was a sight to see.  Five, three and a 22 month old, all sitting down, playing some app of their choice, hopefully learning something.

We also enjoyed our time with little Kaleb.  He is sure a sweet kid.  As soon as you pick him up, he wraps his arms tight around your neck.  He basically melts into you and just loves to be held.  Of course, Kaden wasn’t too sure about how long this relationship was going to last and insisted that he at least be a part of it.  Tarah snapped some great pictures of the two boys and I hanging out at the house.

Kaden's first picture

With the iPhone comes a camera and with a camera comes Kaden’s first photo.  He loves seeing the pictures we take, so the next step is to teach the kid to fish and by fish, I mean shoot his own photos.  Our first lesson, didn’t produce anything earth-shattering, but it was a start.  We took this photo while we sat outside one of the shops in downtown Sisters.

So, that pretty much sums it up: Black Butte Ranch, Kids, Pool, Happy Hour, Golf, Hats and iPods = Family Vacation.

Me and the boys

The fabulous foresome: Tarah, me, Courtney and Chad