Agate Beach, Devils Churn, Lunch in Newport, Silver Falls South Falls Trail, Camping

Sunday morning we woke up, ate a simple breakfast in our hotel room, packed up our belonging and headed out the door to Agate beach while Jason and Vangie enjoyed their morning together.  

I love spending time with James and we had a great time walking the beach together.  We decided to have some fun taking pictures while we passed the time.  

Jumping off the Sand Dunes

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This one is for Grace

Hand Stands and cartwheels on the beach.  

Slight digression: 

It was while playing at the beach that I realized this was the perfect trip for me.  For a couple of months now, I've been saddened by my upcoming birthday.  The fact that I was not looking forward to my 30th birthday was making me even sadder.   I didn't want to be someone who was sad to be growing old.  But to be honest, I was sad.  My health has been the worst this year and I've tried to stay on top of it but life and three kids has been crazy.   I know this is just a phase in my life and that I will be able to take care of my body, but at this moment what I was giving myself was and is all that I can at the moment.  

It was while playing with James on the beach, make up on, hair done and teeth brushed, that I realized I still am young.  Yes, i've been married 10 years and yes I have 3 children,  but I can still do cartwheels and handstands.  I still can stay up till 1 am and get giddy over midnight chocolate and twilight spoofs.  I'm young and turning 30 will be great.  

After having this epiphany I gave James 100 hugs and we headed back to the hotel to meet up with Jason and Vangie.   

Since the morning was a bit sunnier we headed back to the light house for a few more shots and then drove to the Devil's Churn for some more picture taking fun 

 

The Common Murre and all their poop.  

Driving along the coast

Holding hands in the back seat

When we got to Devil's Churn it was close to high tide and the water falling off the rocks was beautiful

My favorite view 

Can i just say I LOVE climbing on rocks.  I was in heaven jumping from stone to stone while James took pictures.

James took this picture for his Dad because "My Dad likes textures."

My photo from Devil's Churn

After a good hour of jumping on rocks we drove back to New Port for lunch.  Then James and I fell asleep in the back seats of the Van while Jason drove us to our next destination.  Silver Falls.

hmmm should we eat there.  LOL  the things you see at the coast

After arriving at Silver Falls, we decided there was still enough daylight in the day to do the south falls hike.  Can I just say WOW.  The views where breath taking.  Well the water flow was kinda small but over all the place was beautiful  and since we where going so close to dusk the park was practically empty.   Here are some more of James amazing photography skills.  

After our hike we set up camp and roasted Hot Dogs over the fire.    Once the fire died down we crawled in to our tent and I quickly fell asleep while James laid in bed awake most of the night. Poor guy.  

To be Continued....... 

Weekend Getaway: Astoria, Haystack, Tillamook, Devil's Punchbowl, Yaquina Light house, Gorgies Resturant, Swimming and lots of sleep

It's been two years since our last overnight getaway and we figured it was time for another one.  Jason and Vangie Box planned this trip and we tagged along for the ride.  It was incredible.  

Friday morning we cleaned, packed and took the kids to Will and Jenni's house.  They where excited to spend the weekend with their cousins and Will and Jenni where gracious enough to let us drop all three kids off.  Their adventure will be posted another day.  

After saying goodbye to the kids James and I headed back to Tacoma to meet up with Jason and Vangie unfortunately traffic was a mess and it took us two hours to get to their house.  Once we had everything loaded up and ready to go we drove down to Astoria Or.   We arrived late in the evening, checked into the Riverside Inn and then headed down town for some sushi.  YUMMY.  We then meandered over to the Goonie house before finding a pier to watch the sunset.  Everything was amazing.  

Funny Story:  This picture was behind the front desk when I went to check into our hotel.  I wasn't sure what we got ourselves into but it turned out to be ok.  LOL  Ninja Turtles on a subway, we're cool like that.  

The view from our room.

After sunset we went back to our rooms for a quick rest.  around 11 pm we drove out to The Wreck of Peter Iredale.  The moon was really bright but we had fun taking pictures and practicing light painting.  Finally a cop came out and told us the beach was closed so we made our way back to the car.

The Wreck of Peter Iredale

The next morning we slept in, packed up, took pictures and then went out to eat at PigNPancake

The next stop was Cannon Beach.  When we first arrived there was still fog in the air but it burned off shortly and we all had fun practicing our photography skills.  

this is my close up, hehehehe

Maybe my favorite picture from the trip

Jason and Vangie walking on the beach 

Playing with reflections

I just loved how vivid the colors where

After Canon beach we decided we should have ice cream for lunch.  So off to Tillamook for some cheese samples and Ice Cream.

I love these colors

Jason making fun of me for taking so many pictures, 

behold the cheese factory

Vangie entertained us with her ice cream eating challange

James takes eating Ice Cream very serious 

After Tillamook we headed further south to Devil's Punch bowl.  The sun was high and the tide out so the pictures where a little anti climatic, but we did have fun watching the surfers.

the bowl is empty

Next stop Best Western at Agate's Beach.  We checked into our hotel, showered, cleaned up and got ready for dinner.  Vangie put us on the wait list at Gorgies next to the beach.  Dinner was amazing and yes I may have taken a few toys from the treasure chest without realizing you needed a Pirate token.  ooops.  James and I shared a sample platter that had everything, clams, crab, scallops, cod ect.  It was amazing.

Wow,  I forgot what it is like to have time for myself.  All ready for dinner

After dinner we drove up to the Yaquina head lighthouse.  The fog was thick and beautiful.  The common murre where perched on the rocks making all kinds of noises, and the whiches broom flowers where in full bloom brightening  up the foggy evening.

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After walking around the light house we drove to Walmart so I could pick up a swimsuit.  In the hussle and bussle of packing all three kids and cleaning the house I forgot to pack my swimsuit.  Minor details.   I found some incredible comfy shorts for 3.00 and a new bikini top picked out my James.  

We then went back to the Hotel and enjoyed a somewhat warm soak in a dirty hot tub and then a wild swim party in the pool.  James pretend to drown while Jason, Vangie and I practiced our lifesaving skills.   I was the only one not certified as a life guard and according to James would have done some serious damage to a spinal cord injury while trying to save him from drowning.  So please no one jump off a cliff into shallow waters while i'm the only one around. 

We ended our night soaking in a very warm bath tub with some delicious dark chocolate and happy to be in a bed without a toddler in it.  

Weekend gateways are GREAT.

To Be Continued........