Back To Reality

We are back from our wonderful vacation in Oregon. We had a great time. It was so nice to cool off - the high temperatures were in the 60s! Ahhhh... It was also great to spend time with family. That's the one thing that has been hard about living in Texas, especially when it comes to AJ who simply ADORES them.

The trip started the day before we left with mom-and-me pedicures. AJ thought this was the cat's pajamas.


A hella-long plane ride - thank goodness for Oreos and portable DVD players (and Breaking Dawn for me).


We hit the beach the first day. There was a seal swimming out in the waves with them. Every now and then he'd pop his little head out of the water and check them out.




AJ stuck to shore surfing.




The real highlite for me was all the amazing flowers. I'm kicking myself now for not taking more photos, but I wanted to enjoy through my eyeballs and not a camera lense. The hydrangeas were and everywhere and AMAZING. Huge and vibrant-colored - they looked like a cartoon. How such beauty grows in nature is a true miracle.




Haystack Rock (all you Goonies fans out there should appreciate this):


One day was spent deep-sea fishing (but not for me, aka the motion-sickness queen). And I was surprised to learn that apparently, Craig is my king. He chucked not once, not twice, but SIX TIMES during their little voyage. But still, he did not fail me.



Check out the crab haul - and still they only brought home about 1/3 of what they caught. Boy did we ever feast that night. I'm attributing at least two pounds of weight gain (4 pounds in 6 days - how is that even possible?!) to the straight-up two pounds of butter I ate with my crab. Gym time well-spent my friends. And I'd happily do it again.



So while the big group was fishing, Jane (my MIL) AJ and I went shopping at Cannon Beach, which I am convinced is the most charming seaside shopping town in the whole wide world.


And at my favorite boutique there, Josephine's, I splurged on these little babies:
This handbag called my name:


A new compact for my new handbag:


And some yummy french perfume (really how can you not buy any perfume that comes with an atomiser):


One day we toured the Tillamook Cheese Factory, yummy squeeky cheese and fresh Wild Mountain Blackberry Ice Cream. (Hmmm, I'm starting to see where those four pounds MIGHT have come from...)


One day we drove down to Newport, OR and visited the Aquarium.




And we spent the last day at Oswald State Park. It was the most beautiful beach.


To get there, you had to hike through this forest:


Cross this suspension bridge (you can call me Chandiana Jones;) (Or just big-butt - this is a horrible picture, even accounting for the not-so-fab four pounds):


And climb over boulders where sasquatch-granola-man chose to nude sunbathe. (Please note and APPRECIATE the absense of a photo here.)

We buried Jessica in the sand:


We built my first ever sandcastle:



And AJ found a live starfish that had washed up on the sand:






This place is certainly a little heaven on earth, especially when you can share it with your loved ones. It was a wonderful week and we are glad to be home.