Summer "Vacation"

This month Skyler attended two basketball officiating camps on the weekends, while working during the week. He encouraged me to take the kids and visit family and enjoy the ocean. So even though I was sad about leaving him behind for 2 weeks, the kids and I spent 12 hours in the car together. (yes we all survived, this was in 3 separate trips.) First we drove to Kent, stopping in Ellensburg to have dinner with Skyler while he was at camp. We spent a few days at my parents enjoying the sun and playing outside. Then we traveled south to Seaside for a week. 

In years past we've gone to the Gearhart parade, but this year Hayley's cousins, Skyler and Abe were going to be on a float for their church throwing candy. So we went to the Seaside Parade instead.

Abe

There are such interesting floats in small towns...and the Subway guy. Hayley was terrified! She woudn't go back to the edge of the street until he was a good block and a half away. 

 We visited Jenna in Manzanita and took a stroll through Cannon Beach. This is the infamous Haystack rock, this picture really doesn't do it justice, the rock is enormous. At low tide you can walk out to the rock and touch it.

Visiting the beach was tricky, between nap schedules and the marine layer, it was tough to find the perfect time and weather combination. But on the day before we left, it happened and I was sure to capture every minute. 

This guy.

(nevermind the drool hanging down...)

They were thrilled to play in the sand. I couldn't find any real sand toys so we made do with random cups and tupperware containers. 

It didn't matter what it was, it went into Hobsy's mouth...shells, sand, and the worst, crab legs. In my defense I was watching him, but he's quick! and sneeky in putting stuff in his mouth. 

My little kite runner. She adores the chance to fly a kite and is enamored by it. 

The beach is always windy, but it was only blowing strong in one direction so every time she got too far away and had to come back the kite would fall and we'd have to start over. 

We eventually made it back to my parents for a few more days where I picked up Skyler from the airport. He attended 1 day of his second officiating camp and then just he and I went to Seaside for a night. 

After a long while with just me and the kids, it was great to be able to spend time with him sans kids. 

The weather was glorious and we even took a walk on the beach before driving back to Kent. 

Someday we'll have a "real vacation" but for now this is fun tugging the kids around region making memories and visiting family.