Oregon Trip

We just returned from a week in Oregon, our first stop PORTLAND. We stayed with Marlene, Rick, Ashely & Lauren and the kids had a great time being together again. We decided to try the Zoo even though the forecast was for 103. We headed west to escape the heat, and it's the hottest day ever in Portland! Carson was wanting to see a Dinosaur exhibit that we saw advertised when we visited over Spring Break.
Carson loved the dinosaurs, especially the T-Rex that roared.
We made it through most of the zoo, but when the kids started complaining it was time to go. Carson was the only one that wanted to stay despite the heat. He was overruled and we spent the rest of the afternoon in the cool A/C.

Oregon Coast

We left Portland and it's 103 degree weather and headed west to the Coast. In just 80 miles we went from hot and dry to cool and rainy. It was 58 degrees when we pulled into Tillamook. It amazes me how the West has such huge temperature changes. We went on a short hike through what is basically a rainforest. The kids were convinced Bigfoot was around every bend.
We never saw Bigfoot but did find this beautiful waterfall. The kids were sure that the black spot at the top of the falls was a bear, but it turned out to be just a rock.

The kids wanted to walk in this stream until they felt how cold it was. We were hoping the weather would get better during the week, but it never did.

More of the Oregon Coast

We made the best of the weather and headed to the beach. Very foggy and windy, but still quite an amazing place to be. This is certainly no Virginia Beach! Wetsuits were definately needed to venture into the water.
The kids running off some built up energy.
That's Carson looking out to the water and the rocky cliffs above.
Our usual outfit for this trip....raincoats!

Oregon Coast continued

We went to the OSU Marine Science Visitor Center which is filled with exhibits about marine research. The kids loved the touch pools filled with starfish, sea anemones, and other assorted sea life. There was even a film about sharks- very informative but the kids remember it for just one thing- the birds on the island were called brown boobys. Apparently that is very funny when you are 4 and 6!
Just a little bit of what lives in the sea...

Oregon Coast Aquarium

The kids found these creatures to play on at the Aquarium.

Sharks swimming above us.
These crabs don't look like much here but they are actually giant crabs that can grow to have an 8 foot leg span. Very creepy and found at the very bottom of the ocean.

Good-Bye Oregon!

Time to head home!

Airshow

A few weekends ago we headed to the AFB for an air show featuring the Blue Angels. Our friends Matt & Melanie and their 3 boys joined us. Here's the kids (and Tim behind them) checking out a plane.
The kids were fascinated with the airplanes and Carson has added "pilot" to his joblist. Currently he is planning on being a fireman, a paleontologist, and a pilot. Plus he's going to fish and hunt with Dad on his days off. I told him with this many careers there will be no days off!
Carson in a helicopter and both kids in the military fire engine.
Avery & Carson with Luke, Jake, and Brett by the fire engine.