This Week...
...we took a trip to Seaside to see the ocean. We stopped at Multnomah Falls on the way there. Hiking to the bridge wasn't that bad for me this time around. Claire, Benjamin, and Lainey didn't much care for the bridge, however. Haha! I guess I've passed on my uneasiness for heights. I finally got them to step out a little ways, but then Claire quickly returned to solid ground with Jason.
There's nothing like the ocean. We are in love. This is our new vacation spot.
The sky, the sand, the waves!
They ran into the ocean and ran back just as fast. It was cold! Of course, as kids do, they ran back in and played for quite a while. The cold didn't bother them once they were numb to the chill. I ventured in as far as my feet. ;)
I was in love with the views and the waves and the sounds of it all! I couldn't get over each tug of the breeze and each swell of the waves. The view was new every time you turned to take it all in. The sound, the rush and soar of the coast, never got old.
We ate at Sam's Seaside Cafe. It was a fun little spot and I indulged in crab cakes. Everyone else enjoyed their chicken strips. We left stuffed!
Day 2: To the beach! We're ready to find some sand dollars. What we didn't expect to find is crabs and new friends. We met Michelle Cutillo and her four kids, 18 year old Jordan and triplet seven year olds Jack, Carli, and Sam. The Cutillos saw Ben, Claire, and Paul together and thought they were triplets. That's how it all started. Paul adamantly explained that he was older than the twins. Jason and I got talking with Michelle and it was friends at first speach. #seasidebesties.
They were out crabbing and they let us join their party. Our kids enjoyed seeing the crabs and running to find more in the pools left by the outgoing tide. What we didn't like is how many females we found that we had to throw back. Apparently, you can't take the females. All the males we found were either half dead, dead, or dying. Not good.
We took a break from the beach to go to Astoria, Canon Beach, and Tillamook. The kids were sad to be in the car for the drive time, but each stop was amazing! We had to check out the Goonies house and play the serious tourist. We had to climb the Column and look out over the river. We loved the ice cream and squeaky cheese.
Tillamook was fun! The only down side was that they were constructing a new building and so we were in a makeshift warehouse for the tour. We taste tested cheese, found squeaky cheese to squelch my nostalgic longing, laughed at the murals on the walls, purchased mammoth sized ice cream cones,
Schedules on the farm -
We went back to the beach after our travels. We just couldn't get enough. (Ok, the hotel pool was great because the water was warm, but the ocean held a different appeal.)
Day 3: We went back out to the beach for a goodbye run. I couldn't believe how far out the water was. The open beach stretched ever so far. Michelle, Jordan, and Sam were out crabbing again. My kids jumped in with both feet this time. They even got to rake them out. We were so sad to say goodbye to the coast; we would have loved more time. Obligation was calling us home. We were also sad to say goodbye to our new friends, the Cutillo Family. We talked so much in the several hours we had together on the beach. It's amazing how much of your life you can share with another in that brief time. #seasidebestiesforlife
We stopped at the Sturgeon Center on the way back. I had to go to the bathroom and I'm glad we turned in here to do it. It was fun to walk around and see the fish and learn as we went.
The ride home
...we went to the river for play time during a showing at our house. It was hot and hot and miserable. The idea that we might get an offer on the house was enough to keep us at the banks of the Columbia.
...we worked on painting the trim at Valery and Erik's. The kids were more than happy to jump in and help.
