Secondly, all the kids started school today. All four of them. (Yes, my baby's in kindergarten. sniff, sniff.) Aren't they a good looking bunch?
This was followed by lunch with a view at Georgie’s Grill (fabulous clam chowder). We were going to go to the aquarium, but the weather was so nice we decided to hit the beach instead. If there is one thing I have learned about vacationing on the coast it is this: always be prepared for the beach (even though on this particular day I left Ellie’s suit home, but she was a good sport and happily played in her clothes).
After making the trek down to the beach below my children (can I include Mike in that category) engaged in fun activities consisting of building sandcastles (of course), wave jumping, burying random body parts, sand fights. Mike even tried to recreate his sea-weed lasso. I just enjoyed the sea air by reading a book. It was great!
On the way back to the car we encountered a random drum-circle. Everyone was pounding out their own personal rhythm. It was open to anyone who wanted to join, so of course James had to investigate. (For those of you who have not seen James walk you won’t understand this. James spins and jumps, cartwheels and rolls rather than walking.)
Favorite Quote of the Day: “Everything is about SALAD!” James said angrily with a conductor’s flourish.
The next day we headed to another hike on the Cascade Head Nature Trail. The most noteworthy part of this excursion was the fact that Ellen refused to be in any pictures. At one point we even gave her a camera, and asked her take a picture of Ali and Paris while we huddled around her and Janae tried to snap a photo. She was way too smart to be fooled. Little Punk. However, despite Ellie’s reticence to be in any pictures, the view was beautiful.
After the hike we headed to Neskowin, home of Proposal Rock and the Hawk Creek Café (highly recommended). Because of the nature of this beach, it is a great place to hunt for sand dollars. But the real fun came Ellie and Sophia buried themselves (in an effort to get warm) and then posed for the camera with their sand-filled bodies.
Favorite Quote of the Day: “Mom, I am the Queen of India,” said Ellen.
We spend our last day in Oregon at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, (home of the Spruce Goose). We took a tour of the airplanes for which James, who is ALL wriggle, stood at rapt attention for more than an hour. I love how much that kid loves planes.
Mostly, I think this museum will be remembered for (1) the kids’ first 3D movie, and (2) Ellie’s first ride on a merry-go-round, and (3) the fabulous playground they had outside the museum. All the toys were shaped like rockets, planes, and helicopters. What a hoot!
On the way home we stopped at a farm and picked up some fresh raspberries, fresh blueberries, and some honey. You haven’t tasted blueberries until you’ve had them farm fresh in Oregon.
We ended our vacation with a final tribute to the beach experience . . . we made smores . . . in the microwave. It was a great way to say farewell to the coast.
What a great vacation!
Our journey continued as we left Idaho and headed to Oregon, and our final destination Lincoln City; a trip that would take a mere nine-and-a-half hours (thank Heaven for portable DVD players). After a quick four hour jaunt across Oregon, we took a side trip to the Maryhill Museum located in Goldendale, Washington.
This art museum is housed in a fabulous Georgian-style home built by a man named Samuel Hill. It was a fun stopping place. My favorite part was the exhibit of chess sets from around the world. The workmanship was exquisite. I missed the Rodin because Ellie was too impatient to keep looking, but Mike said it was good. The kids enjoyed the Persian dress exhibition and the sculpture garden. Who knew such artistic taste existed in the middle of nowhere.
We continued our drive along the scenic Columbia River.It was cool to watch people kite surfing. It was great scenery for the long drive. We arrived in Lincoln City around 8 p.m. tired but happy.
The next day was Sunday. We went to church then came back to the house to relax. What did we do to relax you ask? Why, we watched the final Women’s World Cup soccer game. It was a really exciting game (and even though I could feel my blood pressure rising it was still relaxing). I love it when it ends with a shootout! Too bad we lost.
Afterward we went to Regatta Park and played. Then we took a walk on a “nature trail.” The thing I love about Oregon is how green it is. The plants are so prolific. It is so different from Utah.
On the way to the tide pools, Mike picked up a long piece of washed-up seaweed with a bulb on the end of it, and swung it around like lasso. He thought it would be funny to lasso my feet, so with erring accuracy he let it go and caught Ellie instead. My, oh my, did she cry. Mike, on the other hand, was laughing so hard he couldn’t even explain to me what happened; it wasn’t until later on that evening that he finally explained why Ellie was crying. What a punk.
It was too cold to stay and play at the beach so we went to check out a glass blowing studio (they are everywhere). Very awesome and very warm, a glass blowing furnace is over 2000 degrees.
After a hearty deep-fried lunch of fish and chips from Dorey’s Cove we decided to hike to Deer Creek Falls. It was an easy hike, only about 3 miles round trip. However, the highlight wasn’t the falls, but the suspension bridge you have to cross to get to the falls.
Surprisingly enough, Ellie was the best hiker of them all. I don’t know if it is here innate drive to always win or what, but she is a fast hiker. She and I made it a race on the way back, and we beat everyone else by at least 5 minutes. Never underestimate short legs.
That evening we decided to launch balloon rockets for family night. Who knew you could have so much fun for $2.50. After we put the children to bed, Mike and I decided to end the day with a sunset walk on the beach.
