Celebrate Hillsboro!

There's something about living in a certain state that changes you. As quickly as we set up residence, Josh and I became adamant recyclers, started riding bikes (albeit infrequently), and shopped organic whenever possible. We didn't even realize it was happening. It's kind of like how when you live in California you become vain, and when you live in Utah you become either hyper-religious or militantly atheist/agnostic. But as outwardly crunchy as Oregon may seem, I will remember it forever as the state that changed my life. In Oregon, I became a runner. In Oregon, I found a doctor who helped me with some health problems. In Oregon, I embraced, even craved, the wonder of the outdoors. So it should come as no surprise that when we found out last Saturday was "Celebrate Hillsboro!," we jumped at the opportunity.

Since the baby came, we haven't taken the boys on the "city train," as Jonah likes to call it. It's about his favorite thing in the world, so we decided to ride it to the celebration.


Turns out the celebration was little more than the farmers market attached to some bouncy castles. But that was fine by us. The kids had fun at the juggling/activity tent.




I mean, look at Lila. Doesn't she look like she's having a ball?

And I fell in love with the quaint charm of a small town, even one as kind of trashy as Hillsboro. We got an ice cream at the Hillsboro Pharmacy & Soda Fountain.


And browsed a fun, local toy store.
This was also the scene of Noel's monumental temper tantrum due to having to leave the toy store at some point in our lives. And also Jonah complained about his ice cream cone being too big. So another successful outing with the Bingham family.