Tree Climbing

We needed some help from Daddy, but look who climbed a (very short) tree tonight at the Fan concert.

Oregon Vacation Day Seven

So on day seven, we awoke to rain...too bad for us.

We headed over to the town of Seaside to check out the sights- the first stop was at the local aquarium which is cut from basically the same cloth as the Richmond Zoo. The highlight was that you got to feed sea lions some fish- the net effect was somewhat reduced because you had to feed them through wire...
And then we checked out the touch tanks.

The next stop was the indoor mall, where the highlight was a pretty old restored carousel. Loved it. Vake picked an ostrich to ride on- I was surprised by that...

And fortunately Daddy was willing to ride along!

Boys 4: Girls 2

It's official. As of December 2011, the tally at the Martin Household will put the boys ahead even more.

Baby Gil is definitely a boy.

Oregon Vacation Day Six

By the time that Wednesday rolled around, we were feeling a little more like getting back into the car- so we did- to take the self-guided tour of the Tillamook Cheese factory. Believe me when I tell you it was the perfect toddler activity. We got there about 11:00, took a quick look around the factory, bought some cheese and then settled in for ice cream by about 11:30.

What we didn't know was that our friend Brad would order the "38 flavor special." For about $25.00, you got a "golf-ball sized" sample of every flavor of ice cream that Tillamook makes. So there was root-beer flavored ice cream next to peanut butter and chocolate. I only wish that I had brought my camera to capture the moment. Suffice it to say that I felt like a big sticky piggy by the time we got up!

Oregon Vacation Day Five

On Tuesday, neither Vake nor I had any desire to get back in the car- fortunately it was a nice enough day that we spent a lot of time doing this... ...and getting hugs from our friends....

...and digging in the sand...

And I got the best pedicure I think I've ever had at the Spa Manzanita in town- it was awesome.

Day 4: Voyage to Manzanita

On Monday, we headed up the Oregon coast to Manzanita, where we rented a beach house with some of Eric's best friends from law school.

When we left it was raining and probably 55 degrees- I was freezing- wearing a sweater and jeans in July for goodness sakes!

But we persevered and we were rewarded with Manzanita, Oregon- a wonderful little beach town- not touristy at all- just a great little downtown street and tons of rental houses and of course, the beach!!!!

If you look at this pic, you can see the stretch of beach where we were all week.

And how amazing are the views- I mean, the combo of the mountain ranges and the Pacific is stunning.

It probably took us about 4 hours to get from Florence to Manzanita-and the trip was beautiful. We arrived at the house shortly after lunch and got settled there- that's one thing that I am learning about traveling with toddlers- you can do maybe one big activity per day- but that's probably it.

Oregon Vacation Day Three

This picture was taken on day three of our vacation, Sunday- it was relatively late on a very relaxing day, complete with naps and trips into downtown Florence, Oregon- a trip that meant clam chowder at a local chain, Mo's, for me and a Thomas the Tank Engine playset for Vake.

When we got back, the family had decided to scatter Vake and Milly's ashes. I am so glad that Eric could be there.

If you look in the picture, I am on the right- looking 5 months pregnant- because I am...well maybe not quite 5 months, but 19 weeks! That's right, people of the internet. I've been trying to tell all of our friends, but having a hard time getting it done. I owe so many people calls to tell them the good news but, as with Vake, I just haven't been feeling like myself (see e.g. the absence from this blog) and I am just trying as hard as I can to stay afloat. So please don't be offended if I didn't tell you personally.

On another note, Vake's now decided that staying in bed is for suckers- a cute trick he picked up on vacation. If anyone has any surefire way of getting a toddler to stay in bed that does not involve a bell and a rope, please weigh in!