Oregon Coast 2009

Well, here are our pictures from the Beach House vacation to the Oregon Coast. We (the kids and I) left a few days earlier than dad to spend a few days at Grandma Cindy's. We hoped to get in a few days of Blueberry picking! With a group this big we were able to pick almost as many as Alex ate!


Here is a shot of the kids all ready with there berry picking buckets!

Here is a shot of Alex going down one of the berry rows with his bucket.

Grandma and Alex picking and eating berries.

McKaleigh and cousin Ellie very intent on finding the biggest berries.
Here is our Grandma Judy, she enjoys just sitting back by the big kitchen window and watching all of the action!
All of the kids enjoyed their big cousin Colton pushing them all around on the car in Grandma's backyard!

Here is a shot of Uncle David and Alex down by the waters edge.

And McKaleigh trying to find valuable things that have washed up on the shoreline.

Aunt Katie and Aunt Sheri watching all three little boys play by the waters edge. Some of the boys were much braver then others!

Our little Alex playing in the sand - and boy was it everywhere! He much preferred the sandy beach to playing in the water. I think he was afraid it was going to either knock him down or wash him out to sea!

Unfortunately Grandma Cindy broke her foot the day before we left for the beach house, but she could always find a willing party to carry her down to the beach!

Cousin Elliot playing with Alex on the deck.

All of the cousins enjoyed playing in the sand box on the back deck.

Uncle Dan brought his water balloon launcher and everyone had turns launching balloons off the deck. There was even a group of joggers that came along the waters edge and we tried to get them...but it was too far.

Grandpa Walt and Uncle David tried to catch the balloons on the beach - and they had to pick up the broken ones so the sea life did not choke on the pieces!


Grandma Cindy enjoying some smores...after catching her cast on fire, we could not let her sit too close!
Dad and Uncle Eric had there work cut out for them in burying everyone neck deep in the sand. Their only tools were a few kiddie sand buckets.
I went down and helped cousin Mallory make a sand castle city and moat, then we buried her too.
Dad, McKaleigh and Colton enjoying the surf.
Here is Aunt Sarah trying to put the kite together that Uncle David bought.
And daddy and Colton trying to help her get it up.

The beach was a great place for a game of catch...

Run dad, run and catch the ball!
Grandma Judy sitting by the Beachhouse window doing some crossword puzzles. Could it be so loud that she is having trouble thinking of the words?

A few days into the vacation the mean and wicked Uncle Mark joined the gang and brought a hammack for the deck and some fabulous cooking skills!
On Grandma Cindy's night to cook (we all had one night where we had to feed the family) she had a Mexican Fiesta and brought hats for everyone to wear.


We were able to pursuade Grandma Judy from here corner in the house to sit on the deck. I think she enjoyed being out in the sunshine!



Grandpa Walt the exercise fiend was always looking for a willing partner. On this day he was able to recruit Alex.


After an exercise session, although it was foggy, Grandpa and Colton headed down to the beach with the skim boards for some fun.
After the fog cleared, they were still at it!

Uncle David, Sarah and I decided to brave the tides and race out to a rock a ways from shore, but the tide came back in...what comes in must go back out, right? At least that is what we were hoping for!
Here are all of the little cousins having some fun on an old log that had washed up on the beach.

While the littles played on the log, daddy took the big kids exploring on a much larger rock!
Our family...

One evening we walked down to see some tide pools...Uncle Eric and his family was way ahead of us, but Cousin Elliot was really glad to see Alex when we caught up!

Another family shot by the seahore.

Daddy and Alex taking a walk along the beach.

I think a family favorite was the tidepools. One evening after the water went way out, we all looked for life in the tide pools that were left behind. Here are daddy and Alex walking out on them.
McKaleigh finding a starfish!

Mommy finding a crabby sunning himself.
Some really beautiful sea life. When the kids touched them...they would close up around their fingers. It was a really wierd feeling.
Mom, McKaleigh and Alex looking for interesting things!
Mommy catching a wild hermit crab.
Daddy and Alex petting the starfish! There were so many, but Alex really like the orange ones.

All three kids looking for starfish.