Morning at the coast

We took Brooklyn to the Oregon coast for the first time this weekend. Other than my stupid postpartum anxiety having me worried the entire trip, it was fun! (On the way there I was worried a tree would fall going through the coastal range, then worried that we'd get in a wreck, then worried that I'd suddenly develop an allergy to the clam chowder I was eating... the list goes on. Please tell me this goes away- blah!)

Anywho- we left right after breakfast and made the 50 min. drive out to Lincoln city and B napped.  We arrived in town and headed right for the beach. It was 65 degrees that morning and there's really not a whole lot a 6 month old can do at the beach so we walked around and took pics for a bit then headed to lunch.

 Neither of us had been to Mo's yet (which claims they are famous for their chowder) so we headed there for an early lunch. I hate to say it, but I totally don't understand why they are famous for their chowder. It was sub-par at best, but Daniel loved his fish n' chips so all wasn't lost. Also the views were really nice - next time I'll skip the chowder and pick one of the other tasty looking items off the menu.

We went so early as we were hoping to miss the weekend traffic and we were glad we went when we did cause we left to head back home just when Hwy 101 and the beaches were getting packed. We got home and got to spend the afternoon relaxing and playing at home.

Family Vacay

So the family came to visit for a week. And I mean the WHOLE family. Mom, Dad, Sister and her family, and Brother and his wife. We spent a week in a beach house on the Oregon coast (which has quickly become my favorite place on earth) and the last night they were in town we spent in Portland.

I was worried at first that with 9 people in one house for an entire week, albeit a very large house, we'd revert to our childhood road trip days. That we'd end up in the car with my finger 1 millimeter away from my brother's face taunting "I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you" until he cried, while my sister read every road sign we passed aloud and my mom threatened for the 200th time that she would not hesitate to "pull this car over and spank you all".

Apparently we do grow up at some point. We had a blast! We ate, read, we played games, flew kites, went wine tasting, hit the casino, ate more, visited the aquarium, shopped, slept in, played on the beach and had an all around amazing week!

Nelson!!

My little bro and his wife. Aren't they adorable?!

My niece and her beatles shirt she insists on wearing 3 times a week

Our view!

My older sister and her hubby

I took a lot of pics since I couldn't wine taste

Aren't we a classy couple :)

Our house is the big brown one with the roof deck.

Dad attempting to fly a kite

low tide

Mom enjoying the view 

4th of July weekend (2 weeks later)

The 4th of July is a mega big deal in this little town of less than 10,000 people. It's essentially a 3 day festival of music in the park, craft and food vendors, pancake feeds, fun runs, parades, multiple fireworks displays and more food.

This year was the 1st year we went to the parade, and when I was told it was a big deal I thought "sure big deal for a small town."

I seriously underestimated the parade.

First of all, this parade starts on campus at WOU and goes down main street, through the entire town of Monmouth, crosses Hwy 99, (our small town equivalent of an Interstate) and continues into the neighboring town of Independence, down their Main Street to the friggin river. I'm sure if there wasn't a giant waterway blocking their path this parade would head on into Salem.

 

That's almost 3 miles! And 3 miles in a small town, well, runs into another town. This production is such a big deal that starting on July 2nd, you will start seeing tailgate chairs & lawn chairs appear along the sidewalks of the parade route. People start staking out their parade watching spots 48 hours prior to the event. It's like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade of Monmouth. 

The parade gets started at noon (that is of course, after the fun run and kiddie parade,which is decidedly shorter than the big kid parade due the smaller legs) with a B-52 bomber or C-130 flyover. I'm not sure which. My air force dad, who has spent the last 40 plus years working on military planes, would be ashamed of my dismal aircraft identification skills.

I swear this parade had like 200 entries, that's like the whole town. How there were thousands of people lining the 3 mile parade route is a mystery in itself. It's like the loaves and fishes but with humans. So here are some photos from a big, small town parade!

Day 23: Vacation(s)

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Well, 1st prize goes to the ol' honeymoon (Paris, Florence, Rome) - pretty hard to beat traveling around Europe with the love of your life.

I was on my tippy toes and we were getting rained on, and stalked by a panhandler.

Trips that involve sports are always fun. I once rode in a van with 4 other people (one of which is now my spouse) driving from bowl game to bowl game... Texas to Arizona and back. We fondly refer to it as Boooowl Touuuuuuuuuur! It was awesome.



While the trip included the Independence (Okie Lite/ Alabama), Sun (Oregon St/ Mizzou) ,and Fiesta (OU/ Boise) bowls we had to rep the Bears :)

  I must love driving to Arizona (or not!) cause another fun one was road tripping from Waco to Surprise, Arizona for Texas Rangers spring training and yes David Dellucci looked my way when I screamed something about hotness and possibly marriage. Poor guy.

And of course my trip with Mel to Boston and NYC to watch the Rangers play at Fenway and the original Yankee Stadium which included a Bon Jovi sighting and a lot of free drinks (apparently New Yorkers are fond of blonds who say "ya'll" and "Miller liiiiiight").

We just got back from the coast today and I'd say it's up at top of the list with the honeymoon! Before you die you must visit the Oregon coast. It's where the forest meets the ocean, and it. is. beautiful.  Here are just a few pics as I'll post a full on blog after my 30 days exercise is done.



View from our room!





spouting horn in Depoe Bay



Crusin' down Highway 101.....

....well most of the time anyway! We spent this weekend on the Oregon Coast and for those of you who have never been....GO....soon...it's good for your soul. We are lucky to live in what I think is quite a primo little spot here in the land of...well...Oregon. We are about an hours drive from Portland & the coast and 2 hours to skiing (obviously not all in the same direction). Have I mentioned that we're conveniently smack dab in the middle of a valley surrounded by some of Oregon's premier wineries?? Oh....I have?

We stayed in Newport and spent Saturday driving up the coast, stopping at some breathtaking turnouts, beaches and lighthouses along the way. The roads were super twisty-turney, but the views were worth every "life flashing before your eyes" moment (well, maybe not for my husband who I'm sure is now affirmed in the fact that he married the world's worst driver)! It was also the perfect time to get that camera out and "practice" (like 400 photos, practice). Here's some eye candy....

Parents at Cape Lookout State Park

Cape Meares

Lighthouse at Cape Meares

we did a little cheese tasting at Blue Heron and Tillamook Cheese Factory

Yaquina Bay in Newport, OR

I snapped this at dinner at Local Ocean's

Yaquina Head - simply breathtaking

Yaquina Bay lighthouse and view

Cheers!