My family had a great family reunion at the end of June/beginning of July. The only thing that hampered it was the passing of my Grandma D. She'd been staying with my mom and dad since she was in the hospital last December... the night before we went to California in January, we went up to my parents to take some pics with Gram because we didn't think she'd make it until we got back... we all underestimated what a fighter she was! Several times over the next few months we gathered around her bedside at my parents to tell her we loved her and say goodbye, but she would always rebound... but never quite as much as she'd been before. Knowing our family reunion was scheduled for the end of June, we all feared she'd be too fragile for my parents to leave! We contemplated cancelling the reunion, my mom thought she'd go on the reunion regardless of how Gram was, but when it came down to it, we knew her passing was imminent and understandably, my mom and dad couldn't leave. The reunion started on Saturday, and Gram passed early Sunday morning- my parents were able to join us on Sunday night, which really, I think was good for my mom- just to get away from it all.
Going to the Oregon Coast in June, the weather is a crap-shoot. The week before was sunny and warm, the week after was sunny and hot, the week we were there: cloudy, windy, cold. But I expect that, because of my "vacation bad weather fairy"... I don't like her... (fyi: I also have a "parking fairy", she's my friend). But alas, the wind made for great kite flying weather!
We bought this cool 'kite sled' when we were down on the coast in May, and it was so awesome! The kids loved flying it... mostly cuz it didn't break like all the other dollar store kites *grin* Our condos were right on the beach, so we spent a fair amount of time
sun cloud bathing while the kids jumped in the
freezing, bitterly cold waves. Kids are so resilient.
One evening, I found Eli immersed in conversation with the man in the mirror... err, mirrors...
I wish I would have recorded it because it was hilarious the songs he sang and the voices he did...
And then finished up with a little personal hygiene...
We went out to some sand dunes a few hours away one day, and while the kids didn't enjoy
more time in the car, they were amused by the GIANT marshmallows Bryson pointed out...
They
did love riding the 4 wheelers and razor at the dunes though, the beach was even warm and sunny that day!
While the big boys went to some other sand dunes one day, the moms and kids went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium... a little overrated, but still fun...
They were really amazed by the scuba diver...
The fish boys, we're here to see the fish....
These three boys really are the best of buddies...
oh, and then there's Hailee... she needs a little sister! *grin*
Pretty much every time I visit an aquarium, I leave with a hankering for some good seafood... I'm pretty sure that's not the mission of aquariums, but regardless...
The pools were nice and heated... but unless you were submerged to your shoulders, the wind negated any warmth...
We had so much fun, thank you Mimi and Papa for taking us all!!
