Bethany Beach/Yaquina/Neskowin/Tillamook

See that title?...we visited all those places on the coast within 24 hours. Nearly a year ago some friends organized a 2 night camping trip and invited us into this exclusive group. I didn't put it on the calendar for a long time because a year in advance is too early for me to plan anything, especailly when we don't know the dates of our rafting trips until shortly before. Anyway, the week crept up and we realized we could go the first night, but not the second since Max had a Spartan run early Saturday morning. Anyway, we made it work and then it turned out that 3 or 4 families ended up being sick and not coming so we were there with 2 other families and it turned out to be so much fun. We left later in the day so we could get some work done. It ended up being dinnertime when we got close so we stopped at Mo's in Lincoln City for dinner. It was a cold and foggy evening. Sadly we were seated by the doors right at the dinner time rush so the doors were left open and we were hit with cold wind all throughout our dinner. Max ran out to get our coats at one point, but it all worked out, we love some good shrimp and clam chowder!

 We then drove the rest of the way to our campsite.

 It was nearly dark when we got there and still pretty cold but the wind was mostly blocked by all the trees. We quickly set up our tent and beds then went by the campfire to enjoy s'mores. The kids were tired so they went to sleep quick and Max and I were able to stay up later and visit with other adults. When it got much too late we went to bed and were pleased that we didn't freeze to death. The next morning there was a lot of exploring the campsite while we grazed on breakfast.

Charlie and I both loved this tree!

  Little Ruby doing some exploring in her pajamas!

 And here is Sarah...face painting extraordinaire! She painted each child's face. Charlie chose a tiger.

 
So naturally a mini jungle photo shoot ensued!

 

The campsite

 

 The tigers!

 ...and the cheeseball!

And then there's little Judah!

 After a slow morning, we packed everything up, (the other families were staying another night) Once we were packed we went with the other families (the Frantzes and Feis) to visit Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

There was a visitor center and museum at the light house so we started there. The boys loved playing with all the old toys!

 Oh yeah, and Miles became a Cheetah!

 And then we explored the museum!

Prism Play!

And back to the toys while dressed like a lighthouse keeper. 

Then we did a little hike out to the lighthouse. 

 We weren't able to go in since he hadn't signed up for a tour. I was a little bummed since I had just recently realized that my boys hadn't been inside a lighthouse. They still liked checking it out.

 And our family picture, it was so incredibly cold and windy at this lookout point that we only lasted a couple minutes there.

 Then we said our goodbyes to the other families and we went down the road a little bit and followed a sign that said "tidal pools" 

We had to hike down a long path to get to them. Charlie and Max sprinted down the hill and I walked with Miles while he stopped and checked out nearly everything he saw on the path.

We got down to the little beachy area but the tide was so far in that there weren't many tide pools to check out.  We still had fun on the little beach, even if we didn't see any creatures.

This little one still found plenty of treasures. Lots of shells, driftwood, and crab pinchers covered the beach.

 Max did some shadow art where he outlined the boys' shadow then drew in a face.

Here is Charlie's finished product. 

And there was a whole lot of running, 90% of the time it was Max and Charlie but Max snapped this photo the 3 minutes I ran with Charlie! haha! and my belly has become much bigger since this picture was taken...

After awhile we decided to continue on with our day. We hiked back up to the car, drove north for a bit to play on a bigger beach.

 We decided on Neskowin (The one we went to with you Anna!)  because it was on our way to the cheese factory. We had only been there once but had an awesome experience catching jelly fish and walking far into the ocean. The tide was still in and we didn't see any jelly fish but we did have a successful day of kite flying.  Although, just before leaving he did see a bunch of seals swimming in the waves, so that was exciting for all. We have a couple kites that we have never really been able to work but it was finally windy enough that we were able to get the kites high up into the air. Miles was especially a huge fan...so here are a ton of kite flying photos....

 FYI...I was flying a kite with my teeth here...

And then he took control of both of them. 

 We eventually got the kites as high as the string would allow and then buried the handles in the sand and let them fly themselves while we played in the sand. 

 

The  camera was put away and we played for awhile longer before making our way back to the car and continuing up the highway to the cheese factory for dinner and ice cream. 

We got there with little time to explore before closing so we just ordered our food and ice cream...(and of course went through the cheese sample line) 

And here is my precious little cheetah after a fun filled day at the coast.

I really don't remember much about the drive home because this was so long ago but I guess it couldn't have been that dramatic. We were happy to spend a day out in nature doing some new things and some of our old favorites!

The checklist

Sometimes, when I get really behind on blogging, I like to make a checklist to remind me how I've been spending my time. And then I post it to my blog to add intrigue for my 2 readers. haha!

So, here's what's coming up soon on the blog

-Bethany Beach camping, beach play, and Cheese Factory
-Rafting! Camping, rapids, meals, huge hike, oasis, traveling home
-decompressing
-Playing Operation for family night
-Preschool Olympics
-Photo shoots (hence the reason I have been so behind on my personal photos and blog)
-Demolition and school bus dinner.
-Grace's Harry Potter party and my subsequent Harry Potter obsessed boys
-Hero Up race! (and my super speedy champion of a husband)
-Preschool zoo day
-Gender reveal party
-Youth trip beach day!
-Charlie starts preschool!

And this post needs a picture so....you can see this one where I haven't brushed my hair in 3 days.

Farewell to the Pattersons

So right after Max got back from his High Adventure camping trip we threw a Farewell party for our best friends that decided it would be a good idea to move across the country without us. (I, of course am talking about Richard and Marissa.) We arranged a little potluck with some friends. It was pretty low-key, but we jazzed up our deck with some mood lights and ate some good veggie pizza, meatballs, salad, and a bunch of desserts and juice and sparkling cider,  The kids ran wild, played in the bamboo forest, the tent, the sandbox, and the grass, and the grown ups could talk. It was perfect and a fun way to add in another get together before they left.

 

At some point in the middle of the party, Miles took off his pants and underwear and went and peed on a tree in front of everybody...drunk little child!

 

The following week was a busy time for Richhard and Marissa as they sold a house, bought a house, packed up a house, cleaned a house, and prepared for a long drive and vacation on their journey to Tennessee. So, I just made myself available to babysit since I wanted my kids to get in all the playdates they possibly could before their best friends left. So that is just what we did.

They all just get along and play so well, we had a blast!


Then, after their final full day in Oregon. the moving truck was pack and we ran off with a bunch of extra stuff that didn't fit...(Score) Richard and Marissa invited us out to breakfast at the Original Pancake House. It is walking distance from our house so we got together on a thursday morning and walked to an early brunch. We had a little wait but not bad at all.

 

 We went there a long time ago with them when Marissa was still pregnant with Lacey, before they had officially moved back to Oregon.  We had a great walk home and said our Final goodbyes as we watched them drive off.

Anyway, I'm not one to get super sentimental, and I don't think I could even put into words the significance off our friendship. The day Max and Richard met as 14 year olds starting their Freshmen year of high school, they became incredible friends. I know when Max saw Richards family he had a glimpse of how he wanted to raise his family. He was always treated so well by Richard's parents And he even loved the chores and responsibilities he was given when staying at his house. Over the years they have gone to each other in happy and hard times looking for advice and support. I undoubtedly know that Richard's example has helped shape the person who Max is today and vice versa. I have known Marissa since probably around the time she started elementary school. I was friends with her older sister so I knew of her but we didn't become super close until I came home from my mission, she was married to Richard and we spent our summers together supporting our husbands selling pest control. (while we got to go to the pool and gym nearly every day!) and then in the following years of college, children, and preschool. She is someone that is easy to talk to in happy times and times of frustration. I am so thankful for her friendship and a time that they lived close. Luckily our friendship has withstood being in different states and countries, so I'm not too worried. We will miss them so much and how often our kids could play together and how much they love each other. I know my boys ask about them very frequently and Miles still expects to see Lacey and William. Family trip to Nashville Summer 2017 right? We love you Pattersons. You are already so missed.