More of Our Oregon Coast Trip

 Our beach house was on Newport Beach but we took a day trip to Cannon Beach to see the tide pools.  Here are some pictures of the kids exploring the pools and playing in the Ocean.

 We also went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory while in Oregon.  Here's Farmer Alexa and Andrea Cow.

 Here's Farmer Landon with Grandpa cow.

 Riding in the Tillamook Cheese bus with cousins Katja and Jenner.

 One of the kids' favorite parts of our trip was the Newport Bay Aquarium

 In the Jaws of a shark!

 

 It was neat to be this close to a stingray.

 You could even look through the floor to see sharks and rays swimming underneath you.

 

 Touching the coral.

 Here's Landon driving the ship in the children's play area.

 Andrea caught a fish!

 Quite the fisher-woman.

 Here's Rylan in the beaver lodge.

 Lyndie loved the aquarium too!

 Digging for seashells.

 My beautiful girls by the seals.

 Waving at the sea otters.



Oregon Coast Trip

 This summer, we had the opportunity to go to the Oregon Coast with Joe's parents and sister.  Here we are with cousins at Joe's Aunt Molly's house in Bend, Oregon.  She was nice enough to put us up for the night on our way to the ocean.  Joe's Uncle David and Aunt Marcy and several of his cousins came over that night for dinner.  It was fun to see everyone.

 We are definately not in Idaho anymore!  In Oregon, you can buy tobacco ice cream (ha, ha!)

 This was the first time any of my kids have been to the ocean (when they were old enough to remember anyway.)  I will never forget the scene of them walking over a little hill and seeing the ocean for the first time.  They all started running and squealing toward the water.  What a memorable experience.

 The next several pictures are just my kids enjoying the ocean.  They had a blast despite the fact that it was freezing!

 Grandpa Bill bought some fancy kites at a gift shop close to the beach house we were staying in at Rockaway Beach.  Here's Joe trying his hand at flying one of those kites.

 Alexa and Andie with cousin, Katja burried in the sand.

 The ocean was an amazing experience for all of us, but it was not Lyndie's favorite place however.  It was really cold and the wind was constantly blowing sand all over the place.

 Thank heavens we found this little hut that someone had built out of drift wood and tarps.  It blocked the wind really nicely.  Lyndie and I pretty much spent the entire time in this hut.  At least I could see the ocean through the slats of the driftwood.

Here we are inside our refuge.