Long Beach - Sept 1, 2

What a great way to start off a trip to Long Beach - a stop at The Bowpicker! My friend Melissa (who's beach house we are headed to) told us about this little gem of a spot in Astoria. We enjoyed DELICIOUS Fish and Chips with a great view of the Columbia River

We crossed this HUGE bridge and enjoyed the beautiful scenery to the coast.

As soon as we arrived we dropped our things in the house took a quick look around and headed to the beach, what a beautiful little walk it is to the shore.

Picture Perfect!!!

Finding treasures in the sand

Paris getting the kite ready

Flying the ladybug kite

Sofia loved stepping over the tire tracks in the sand. This beach is great because you can drive your car onto it. We only saw 2 cars pass and it is a super wide beach, and they say one of the longest in the world - thus the name, Long Beach...

It was fun to have Paris' mom here visiting with us from Florida

Sofia's footsteps

Cameron chasing the Seagulls

The tide was low so they could walk way out in only inches of water

Finding more treasures

Ooooh gooey goop

She was in her own little world while walking along

Paris holding the kite and chatting with his mom

Drawing smiley faces in the sand, because he was Happy!

Daddy trying to rest...

Back to the beach house, Cameron loved that they even had a basketball hoop

The view from the deck

Decisions, decisions....

It was so relaxing to just hang out and do nothing, but play the wii, watch dvd's, sleep, eat and play at the beach. We had no cell phone service and no cable - but who needs it.

The next day after a yummy breakfast at Laurie's restaurant (we were told by some locals it was the best and it did not disappoint) we headed back to the beach one last time before heading home. Paris was catching a cold so he stayed back at the house and took a little nap. The weather was absoulutely perfect, we didn't even need a jacket (rare for the WA. coast).

Bringing the fish kite this time

I loved this spot on the trail - so did they

The sand was so nice and warm on bare feet

Oh to be 6 and 2 years old!

More treasures!

I love that there is this post and windsock at the edge of the path,
otherwise we may forget where to walk back.

The driftwood "horse" along the trail

Sofia dottled along looking at the flowers and blowing the dandelions

We said goodbye to the beach house, the sea and sand, and the beautiful poppies and wildflowers that filled a flower box, then loaded up the car and headed home. What a wonderfull time we had at the beach house in Long beach. We can't wait to go back -

August 28 - Enchanted Forest

Katie and decided to take our kiddo's to the Enchanted Forest in Salem (Minus Sofia, I left her home with Paris, just because she wouldn't be able to do everything, but of course would want to, and that would make for a miserable day for both her and I) , It is this little Storybook amusement park that was built onto a hillside. It really was a cute little place and Cameron had a blast with Madeline and Calvin. They all wore green, and we didn't plan in that way :)

Cameron sitting in front of the castle with his little arm band, that kept bugging him...

Here we go

The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe slide -

Entering Alice in Wonderland's hole

Peeking in at the 7 dwarf's cottage

The wicked witch slide from Snow White

Walking to the Haunted Mansion, for some reason they decided they wanted to go, even though we told them it was not like the haunted house at Disneyworld, this one would be a little scary. I think Calvin had the right idea by hesitating.

In we all went and made it about 10 steps before the spooky music played and something popped out, Cameron started crying and I had to hold him with his head buried in my shoulder. Now, I am not one to like haunted houses and darkness myself. I remember giving bruises to my mom's arm being so scared and holding on to her so tight at neighborhood haunted houses... well, I had to be the brave one, because I led the way and Katie had Calvin and Madeline with her, and she felt the same way about haunted houses. So we were brave moms and wandered our way through the darkness with spooks popping out, air blasts hitting us, and spooky music playing, oh yes and Cameron crying in my ear the whole way - we made it but I don't think he will try that again anytime soon.

Sliding down one of their many fun slides

Shooting the laser guns

Nice dancing Cameron -

Of course you have to throw money to the alligator...

Hansel and Gretel

Cameron didn't like this roller coaster so much either, it did go a little fast and was a bit jerky.
I think he has a sensitive tummy.

On the bumper boats

Going on the mini ferris wheel

Having some lunch

The train

They Loved the frog ride, they went on it so many times I lost count.

It started to rain, but we were ready to go, so they did the rain dance near the shoe slide and said goodbye to Chippy the chipmunk and called it a day, next year we will bring Sofia.

August 22,23,24 - Golf Camp

Cameron had a wonderful time at a mini golf camp put on by Steve at Westside Golf driving range. Last year Paris took lessons from him and then I did as well, he is a great instructor
and Cameron did great. He was the youngest one there, but had better form than most and out-putted many during the putting challenge. Steve said he has some natural talent and encouraged us to keep him going, we definitely will because he loves it and has the patience to practice, practice, practice.


It's going in -

Steve explaining a stroke to the group, look how little Cameron is compared to the others. The age range was 6-10 years old, but he was the only 6 year old.

Cameron standing by Steve

Putting

Practicing at home

It helps if you stick your tongue out a little-

Sofia wants to be a golfer too, and I am sure she will be in a few years

Callaway, (from Callaway golf) wants to be a golfing kitty too.

He would sit and wait by the hole, peeking in and out,
then swoosh the ball in. He made it in the hole quite a few times
I just didn't get a picture of it.