The last couple days

I think, these will be the last photos of Oregon for us. The kids and I are all sick and we've decided just to call it a day, or a week rather and head back to Cali. I am happy with the photos I have this summer of the beach and the kids though! I left the scrapbook I made at home, so I've been dreaming up ideas of what photos I want to add to it. Decisions, decisions!

Today, I popped into a few antique stores, for the past 2 years I've been lucky enough to find a Kodak Brownie camera and at the last minute today I glanced down into a glass case to find an old box style! And it was one that I didn't have yet - even better! I was also able to pick up a few sewing notions and if I have some spare time next week while at my moms I was hoping to sneak in a little craft time with a good friend - fingers crossed!

 

We have an early wake up call and a 9 hour drive ahead of us, so I'm turning in early. I'll be back with some photos from our road trip tomorrow or as soon as I get them edited, which ever comes first! :)  Have a great weekend!

scenes from the beach: day 2 & 3

We've been in Oregon a total of 3 days and have managed to visit a new section of beach each day. Yesterday and today were spent at very sandy beaches, a total contrast to my favorite rocky beach but I think the kids enjoyed these latest ones a bit more! Each morning I get them bundled up, we are from Arizona after all, grab a few plastic bags for treasures and we head out to the beach.

Watching Alaina and Chase collect shells is quite entertaining, they each have their very own system when it comes to collecting. Chase, will search for anything that even slightly looks like a shell. He also likes; rocks, sticks, feathers, sea glass, flowers, leaves and pine cones. Alaina is much more methodical, the shells she looks for have to be a certain size, color and shape. When she returns home she rinses each shell off and groups them together by type. Chase on the other hand pours his shells out and proceeds to step on them because he likes the crunching sound they make. Oh... the difference between boys and girls!

Chase's favorite: Sand Dollars

Alaina's favorite: Clam shells

Today we did a short hike through the forest on a trail called: The Hobbit Trail. It started off flat and then twisted and turned all the way down to the beach. At one point we ducked into tunnels created entirely of plant matter. A very movie like setting indeed! At the end of the trail, it opens to reveal a very long secluded sandy beach which we caught at just the right time this morning as the tide was on it's way out for the afternoon. We walked for nearly 2 hours up and down the beach collecting shells and running from approaching waves. I think we could get use to going to the beach everyday!

I'm off to bed for the night, I think we might take a break and do a little touristy gift shopping tomorrow in the downtown area. Of course, I haven't run these plans by the kids yet so we may end up at a beach again tomorrow after all!

Thanks for checking out my vacation photos!

scenes from the beach : day 1

Our first full day in Florence I wanted to take the kids out to my favorite beach while the tide was out. This little section of rocky beach has the most incredible tide-pools and if you're adventurous enough to step lightly along the rocky formations you'll be rewarded with one small pool of sea creatures and crustaceans after another. I'd be likely to say that there are well over 100 tidal pools in an area that stretches maybe a quarter mile. It's quite impressive! We found starfish, sea anemones, mussels, barnacles, and a few tiny hermit crabs. The kids walked along the beach collecting sea shells and I started my own collection of drift wood sticks - I have a project in mind for those later on! Today we're heading out to the beach again and maybe a little shopping in town. I'm taking in as much of this cool ocean air as possible while we're here!

Great Grandma Judy and Great Grandpa Howard drove down from Washington to meet us at the house and spend a few days with us! I need to make a point to take lots of photos with all of the grandparents while we're here!