Oregon Trip - Day 4

On Thursday morning Katie and I decided to go on a long walk along the beach (after we went to the Cannon Beach bakery to get some "breakfast"). We possibly walked about 3 miles. Not so sure we walked off the marionberry turnovers that we had before our walk.


Katie is about to bite into a delicious marionberry turnover.


See those big rocks in the distance. That's where we walked, and little past them too.

At low tide you can see the hole in the bottom of the rock.

Karen's beautiful hydrangeas in the backyard.

Neighbor's flowers.

Our fireside on the left side of the picture.

Carsen skim boarding.

Alex skim boarding and having so much fun.

Carsen's funny face.

Those are some nice moves, Alex.

Carsen is watching while Alex is skimming by.

Handsome Alex and his skim board.

The boys.

Alex

Carsen

Alex and Carsen really learned quickly how to skim board.

Katie enjoying the sun in the afternoon.

Little bit of art.

Waiting for a sunset with a fire and smores.

Almost a full moon.

Beautiful sunset.

After sunset the boys started playing football on the beach.

Beautiful sunset with the Haystack Rock in the background.

Smores, anyone?

Oregon Trip - Day 3

Day 3 or Wednesday started late because the boys wanted to sleep a little longer. Our first stop was at Arleta Cafe and Bakery on Foster and 72nd. Carsen had seen an episode of "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" that featured this particular restaurant. Their specialty was biscuits and gravy and that's what we all ordered. It was truly the best biscuits and gravy I have ever had. The same sentiment echoed from the others too.


Us having the best biscuits and gravy at Arleta.


The boys posing in front of their new favorite breakfast place.

We drove around Tualatin where the Williams used to live and drove to their house where the kids grew up for a few years.

Then we drove to the highlight of the trip... THE NIKE EMPLOYEE STORE!

Katie's brother Ron was a VP at Nike and he got us some guest passes to the employee store. The Christmas definitely came early for the Larsens'...mostly for Alex and Rod (yes, I shopped for Rod via text messages and pictures).

Alex's loot. He did good. Only 3 pairs of shoes. But under those boxes, there is a cart full of clothes.

Look at the happy faces and full bags. Our grand total was about $1200. Everything was half price. My personal total was about $200 out of that $1200. Rod scored the most and he wasn't even there. Go figure. Next year we will bring a bigger car or empty suitcases or a trailer, or all of the above.

THEN we drove to the beach. Cannon Beach that is. The forecast for the week: Sunny.

Our home for the rest of the week. Half a block from the beach.

Boys walking to the beach after we unloaded the car. Look at the blue sky. Gorgeous.

Alex is ready to play at the beach. The Haystack Rock is in the background.

Katie is enjoying her walk on the beach.

Beautiful beach houses.

The boys looking at stuff in the water.

Dead jelly fish.

Best friends.

A huge crab...still alive. 5 seconds later, not so much.

Dinner.

More sea side houses along the beach.

Boys' hunting tools until they found out that they can't kill anything on the beach.

Right after the sunset.

Oregon Trip - Day 2

We left Boise on Tuesday morning and drove all the way to Portland, Oregon. That's about a 6-hour drive. The drive was absolutely gorgeous along I-84 when we got to the Columbia River. Unbelievable scenery.


The boys always have to do the "100 jump from bed to bed" in the hotel before we depart.


Mt. Hood.

Our first stop was at Burgerville for late lunch. The shakes and the burgers were so delicious.

This is the house that Katie grew up in Portland.

Then we had to go to Katie's brother's house in Vancouver, WA (across the river from Portland) to pick up the key to the beach house. What a beautiful house and unbelievable garden.

Beautiful backyard.

Gorgeous house from the backyard.

Carsen splashing into the pool.

Alex boogie-boarding into the pool.

The boys cooling off in the pool.

Katie is truly on vacation and enjoying the heat of the hot tub.

We drove to the Rose Garden up on the hill of Portland and there was a crazy Jewish music festival going and I so wanted to dance. But the boys said "NO". The music beckoned me but all I can do is tap my toe so I wouldn't embarrass the boys.

Beautiful roses all around.

One of my favorites.

But what did I catch Carsen doing? Yes, dancing! And yes, they also carved their names on the tree where the other people had carved theirs too.

Alex is trying to slide down the hand rail.

Don't be fooled by their "thumbs-up". I think us ladies were more excited to see all the beautiful roses than the boys.

Alex, Katie and Carsen under a beautiful rose swag.

Alex, me and Carsen.

We drove to the waterfront and took a walk along the river.


A huge spider. They were everywhere.

Alex is tired of walking.


Dinner at Sanford's. Delicious!