Summer Vacation: Day 3

Day 3 began with dolphin-watching and walking around the Cove. Leaving our wonderful balcony in Pismo behind was difficult but it was time to head to Santa Barbara and San Diego. This time we were on the move to visit the Hudson Clan, who had just left Oregon only a few days before us. This was the most we had seen them in years and it was wonderful!

Good Morning!

Dolphin-watching

Pups enjoying the balcony

Pismo was incredible!

Lunch in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Courthouse

We stayed at the Old Town Inn near historic downtown San Diego. The hotel was cute with bungalow style rooms and free breakfast! We had a super chill evening hanging with our friends before leaving for Arizona the next morning.

Trudy can sleep anywhere...

Hudson Family Trip: Summer '15

The Hudson Clan swung by for a quick visit during their amazing summer road trip. We had such an amazing time and Liam and Alex (Magnus) are simply the best nephews we could ask for! We had so much fun together: we went to Mount Hood Adventure Park, dressed up as astronauts, launched rockets, played Lego video games, played with action figures, went to Wings & Waves Waterpark and watched Star Wars Episode IV for the first time! We laughed, played, tickled and screamed! What a blessing having these two little guys around was...exactly what I needed to remind me what truly matters.

California Vacation: Day 5 & 6

We started off Day 5 just like before, got some breakfast and coffee but had to leave the dogs behind. Ocean Beach doesn't allow dogs on the pier, which was our next stop. One interesting side note, we have never walked this much on a vacation, ever, not even in Vegas. In Vegas there is the ample parking, the monorail or cabs. In OB, you have only your legs to get you around because parking is a nightmare!

One legged seagull

Later in the afternoon we did take the dogs to Sunset Cliffs

Once the dogs were sufficiently tuckered out for the day, we had dinner with the Hudson Family at their house. The kids were a riot and really fun to be around. Liam enjoyed fighting with Uncle Matt and Magnus liked to jump off the table into our laps. Such a great family! Thanks B and C!

Magnus in his baptismal outfit, such a cutie!

Day 6 started and ended in the car. We left San Diego around 7:30 am and arrived back home at 1:30 am. 18 hours in the car y'all! Dogs did so much better than we did, we humans were just exhausted. Now we need to spend several days in bed and catch up on our sleep. :-)

California Vacation: Day 4

First thing in the morning we walked down to Ocean Beach and got some coffee and enjoyed the view!

Trudy got around in her stroller mostly, we have been trying to prevent another back problem

But we did let her out every once in awhile to sniff stuff

Later in the afternoon, we met up with the Hudson Clan at the beach. The husbands went in the ocean while CH and I played with the kids.

Liam is 4 already and so talkative!!

Alex (Magnus) is almost 2 and absolutely precious!

B and Matt in the ocean

 Yoda was a hit with the kids :-)

Hudson Vacation: Final Day

The final day of the Hudson vacation ended up being the best! We decided to drive about two hours west towards Tillamook. On the way we stopped by the Tillamook Forest Center:

Honest to goodness, the Tillamook National Forest makes the rest of Oregon look like it is underachieving. I have never seen such beauty in all my life!

We also stopped by the Tillamook Cheese Factory:

Big disappointment, the factory was mostly closed but packed with visitors. We didn't stay long but we plan to go back on a non-holiday.

Finally we decided to eat lunch at the beach:

View from restaurant in Oceanside, Oregon

The Oregon beaches are so different from California

Uncle Matt decided to walk out into the ocean...

and Liam tried to follow.

Mom and Dad joined in too...

but not Auntie Kristi!

We thought for sure those were the rocks from Goonies, but we were wrong. They are further north in Astoria, Oregon. Maybe we can go on the next trip. Thanks Hudsons for a great visit!!

Hudson Vacation: Day 3

Since I have become a fully certified docent at Evergreen, I have the privilege of bringing guests to the museum for a tour and behind-the-scenes activities free of charge. First I took everyone to the space building (where I work) for a couple hours and then it was off to the air building.

A different vantage point of the Spruce Goose

The docents were amazing and found time to fit us in for a Spruce Goose tour!