Joe at OMSI

 

 

 

This last one is from China Town:

 

Beth at OMSI

 

 

 

 

Sarah at OMSI

 

 

 

 

Playing at the Coast!!

Going to the coast is NOT the same as going to the beach!! It is COLD at the coast, at least as far north as we were!! We had to wear jackets the whole time...no suntans for us!! Never the less, the kids had a ball, got wet and freezing, and dug in the sand until they started to turn blue!! On the second day we went we got smart and found a protected little area that blocked the wind!! That helped a TON!! There was a little river that ran into the ocean from there so the kids could play in the sand, get wet, and not freeze QUITE as much!! The BIG BONUS was I could read my book without worrying about the kids getting washed out to sea....apparently the tides are worse in Oregon and so many people warned me about it that I was a little paranoid!

 

I really love the light effects on this shot:

 

Grandpa was naughty and fed the sea gulls...within seconds we had HUNDREDS of them flying in from EVERYWHERE!! Picture a freaky scene from the movie birds!!! Bethany had fun chasing them away.

 

 

Whale Watching!

I didn't get it in the picture but this is the view of the whales that we had. We saw two gray whales!! It was really cool!!

 

We saw this awesome covered bridge on the way home!

 

 

The Lighthouse at Cape Meare

We visited this beautiful lighthouse only a few minutes from the cheese factory...it was beautiful but COLD!! When we first got there an amazing fog was rolling over the cliffs moving faster than I've ever seen fog move!! It rained a little and then it blew away leaving us with a BEAUTIFUL view of the ocean!!

 

We got to climb up the stairs inside the light house and look at the original lens of the lighthouse.

 

 

The view was breath taking!!

 

Tillamook!!

 

We visited the cheese factory in Tillamook and bought some amazing CHEESE!! We also had ice cream and chocolate fudge, all made from the milk from local cows!! YUMMY!!!

Cleaning up!!

Sarah and her cousin decided they wanted to clean ALL the dishes from the play kitchen so they lined them all up on the slip & slide!!

 

 

 

More Waterslide Fun!!

 

 

 

 

Oregon Update....

I posted some pictures of our adventures here...I have a some pictures I took at the "coast" that I haven't downloaded yet. Maybe tomorrow?? Tomorrow we are venturing into downtown Portland to check out their Science Museum (the one thing all the kids agreed they would be sad if we didn't go do...) and then dinner at Tim's sister's house. Then we head for home, and work, and the last dog days of summer!!! For those of you who have followed my travels through becoming a teacher and had heard I was rejoicing because this is the first year I wouldn't have to move rooms?? Guess what?!?!?! Yes...indeed...I have to move rooms...again...sigh...I sure hope they don't expect me to do much more than pack seeing as I have a walking boot on my foot from two torn ligaments I got when I fell from a stage at WORK...ah, well, it wouldn't be my life if it wasn't unpredictable!!!

I'm off to bed, I have five little girls sleeping in the front room that I'm sure will be up with the sun!! (one last cousin sleep over!!)