Just Like Heaven: Lincoln Park

Growing up and until recently, I never really liked Forest Grove. Whenever we drove out to the town I always felt it was pretty hoedunk and out of the way. One of the things that I thought made it seem extra uninviting is that it has a skate park right off Main St. And when I was younger I always associated skate parks with drugs and crime (which there might be valid reasons for that association).

But now that we live here, I love Forest Grove. It's so charming. I love our little neighborhood and that all our neighbors seem nice and the kids can play outside and I feel less worried about their safety (I'll be completely honest for a moment and just say that I'm a paranoid type mom and will probably never feel completely at peace when my kids aren't directly under my supervision).

I love that I can hear the birds chirping in the morning, that there are turn of the 20th century homes all around us to admire, and that whenever we go into the actual town there is a greater percentage of "normal" looking people than the weird ones.

I even love the skate park (Lincoln Park). We live within walking distance of it. And beyond warning Jared not to talk or sit by the no-good-teenagers skating/smoking/swearing at the park, it feels relatively safe.

Last week sometime we went there after dinner and took some pictures.

With all that for an intro, here are the pictures. :)

It's hard to tell if she is having fun. But you are just going to have to trust me. :)

Wow! What a face! She was mad that I wanted to take this picture because her face had gotten so dirty from riding on the dirt mound in the background. (I bet all experienced parents know this trick...Your kid doesn't want to take a picture and they turn their head away. Then you wait and wait and sometimes even act like you are looking as something else, perhaps striking up a false conversation with someone nearby, all the while waiting with the camera in focus until they turn their head back "checking" to see if you are still planning on taking a picture, then SNAP! I know you know what I'm talking about. :) This was one of those pictures and Novalee is still telling me off as she is turning her head back.) :) What can I say, she's feisty. :)