city mouse/country mouse

Sunday evening Lars got another random impulse to go camping on the beach. This time I didn't fight the urge, I just went with it. We had learned from the last time and bought a tent and sleeping bags so at least we were well equipped...or so we thought! As we were packing, I asked Lars if he had checked the weather. He said No, It's so hot here I'm sure it's the same there. Wrong. The closer we got to the beach, the thicker the cloud cover and the stronger the wind. When we got out of the car at the camp ground, we could see our breath. Of course we didn't pack for this type of weather, so everyone just layered all the clothes we had brought and wrapped up in blankets.

Lars and Becca got the tent up with Leah's help while I hung out in the car with the rest of the girls. We blew up the air mattress and got Heidi's bed set up while Lars started a fire and boiled some water for some hot apple cider. Inside the tent Becca, Naomi and Leah slept like sardines on the air mattress. Lars had one sleeping bag, Yaya and I shared the other, and the Heidi baby slept in her port-a-crib. The girls all laid down and fell asleep quickly but I can't say I got much sleep myself. It was so amazing to hear the water swell, the wave crash on the shore, the wind blow through the trees and then feel the tent shake. It was this cycle over and over throughout the night. It was really neat but also a little bit scary to know that it would just take one giant wave and we would all be carried out to sea. I suppose it reminded me just how small we are in this great big world.

Lars setting up the tent, Leah helping and Yaya dodging flying tent poles

The next morning, thanks to the cloud covering, the girls slept until eight o'clock. I was anticipating a five thirty awakening with the birds, so I was pleasantly surprised! We took down camp, walked the beach and then loaded up. Lars drove us by a yurt on the way out so now I officially know what a yurt looks like in real life. We drove up the coast to Tillamook and took Becca through the cheese factory. Of course we had to sample the ice cream as well! Then we continued north to Cannon Beach. We went to a couple shops and to "Mo's" for some world famous clam chowder. After some time on the beach we got back in the car and drove to Hillsboro where we stayed Monday night.

Me and Becca at the Tillamook Cheese factory

Heidi and Yaya at "Mo's" eating world famous clam chowder

Becca, Me and Heidi at Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock

Heidi's little hand in the sand

Heidi getting a full sensory beach experience

Yaya next to her sand art

Naomi making a sand angel

Tuesday we met our cousin for lunch at the most spectacular Greek restaurant and then took Becca to 23rd street in Portland. It's a whole street filled with great little shops and fun places to eat. We walked and shopped until the girls were ready to pass out then had dinner back in Hillsboro and took Becca to the airport. It was a fun trip! We are so glad she came!

Becca, Yaya and Naomi on giant pigs. What else?

Becca Naomi and Yaya. Posers.

(If you are wondering why Leah isn't in any of the pictures, it's mostly because now she gets embarrassed and doesn't want to be in them unless she is well groomed. Apparently, most of the time she doesn't feel she is quite up the those standards. Who knew it would start so soon?)