Stretching out the Summer, Northwest Style.

We took a last minute late summer trip this month.  We took the kids to the Oregon coast for a long weekend and in true Oregon style it rained.  We didn't mind since we live in the desert.  Took me back to my college days and nothing would inhibit the kids fun in the sand.....  nothing.  We rented a little house that was just adorable and one street away from the beach.  Aaron should go into the trip planning business because he's so good and finding great places to stay.  The house had bunk beds for the boys, a garage full of sand toys (it was vacation rental by owner so there were lots of personal touches), movies, books,  puzzles and a backyard to play in.  There was even a coffee shop at the end of the street!  The boys were so excited to go,  Ben thought there would be toys there.  I told him there could be some games there but we'd have to take our own toys.  When it was time to pack suitcases he told me there would be clothes there too!  Now that would be a great place to stay!  Just show up.  Pack nothing... 
I only took some pictures during the trip.  Here they are.  My first picture should be the local Wal Mart because that was our first stop.  The car DVD player died.  It had been threatening to do so for sometime now but I didn't want to believe it would let me down.  Luckily the store had one left that was similar, a double screen, like the one we had.  Good thing since I said I wasn't leaving the county without one.  So off we went,  Aaron, Janet, Tommy, Ben, Rachel, Dora, Diego, Elmo and Caillou on the five hour drive to the coast.   

Ben had the best quote of the trip.  Our first outing after we got there was to go out to eat. "I don't think they have restaurants here,  you go catch fish." 

Beach Daddy

A very small aquarium that had sea lions that you could feed.  None of our kids wanted anything to do with them until Daddy tried this method.

The Tillamook Factory.  It's impossible to pass one of these cut out things and not take a picture.

Mmm  cheese

Rachel getting a lesson on the dairy cows diet.

Post ice cream good mood. 

The Summer Wind up, wind down, wrap up, whatever....

Thomas getting to hold some ladies ukelele at the local music festival. 

This was declared the boys favorite ride at our fair.

We liked the rides not the heat!

Painting outside.  Tommy channeling his inner Jackson Pollack. 

Rachel all prepped for painting and Ben has on his artistic temper for when Rachel bothers his work.

Corndogs at the fair. 

This man offered to pull out his sheep for us pet but nobody with the last name of Wright was touching that thing.

"Hey Dad,  move me to the left a bit.... would ya?"

Bunk beds happened earlier this summer but have been poorly documented.  The super hero phase is also here.

Rachel getting in on the superhero fashion.

They make us laugh everyday.  Ben told me "this bird wants to watch cartoons,  that's why it landed here." 

It was a Great Weekend In Spite of the Overly Springy Sheep.

  

 We celebrated our 10th anniversary by heading to Seattle to visit Grandpa and Grandma.  It seems like traveling and our little family is starting to get easier.  We've always had a good time traveling but this is the first time that:  1. All three kids slept great.  2. Nobody got sick.  3. We got a great mix of doing fun Seattle things with some or all of our kids, 4. Aaron and I went on a date.  5. And just relaxing with some of the people we love.   Thanks Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Alene for babysitting for us and letting us eat all your food.

Discovery Park. They were so excited to go to the beach,  no matter how gray the day was.  What is it about boys and throwing rocks?

"I didn't know there were these kind of bugs here."

Kelsey Creek Farms.  Aaron remembers going on field trips here. 

This may be against the rules....

Rachel about to ride the parks springy sheep....

Whoa Sheep.

Whoa Sheep!

WHOA SHEEP

WHEW

That Grandpa is a clever one.  He found a way to entertain Rachel and save his back! 

Nearly 1/3 of my life has been Wright

Ten years ago  Aaron made me the happiest woman in the world. Blah Blah Blah.
Yes,  of course the above statement is true and a milestone in our life has been reached.  On August 4th we have been married for a decade.   It's gone fast.  It's been an adventure.  The last four years and three kids have been particularly life changing,  intense and joyful.     It's been quite a life!  Aaron,  you really are my best friend.   Some of my favorite memories are packed into these past twelve years that I've known you.

10 Years Ago

Time to get dressed!