The ocean view from our deck... you could hear the waves...
Every few years my parents host a family vacation - usually on the beach - and we all have the chance to get together and have a great time playing our hearts out! It's so fun for me - I love it like I love Christmas (which in case you didn't know, I look forward to Christmas every year starting Jan 1st!) This year Melanie and Erin's families couldn't make it but the rest of us had a wonderful time. Our favorite spot as a family is Seaside, Oregon but this year we decided to try a different part of the Oregon coast: Gleneden Beach. Everyone loved it! In fact no one can decide if Gleneden or Seaside is better. Gleneden is a beautiful stretch of sandy beach that isn't crowded at all. There is a cold, fresh breeze that makes sunbathing a little uncomfortable but kite flying a must. Swimming is really out of the question though - brrr! (But the hot tubs sure felt great!) The kids loved all the sand to play in and the rest of us just loved to be near the ocean, hearing and watching the waves crash in and the tides come in and out... I just love the coast.
The best part about Gleneden Beach was the
agate hunting!! Agates are beautiful semi-transparent stones that are washed in from the ocean floor. It's fun to search for them at the low tide. Usually they are yellow and orange tones but there were lots of colors. My family was nuts about collecting them! Seriously... they would get up at 5 am if needed to make it before low tide and spend
hours on the cold, windy beach picking up agates until their feet and hands were frozen. (I know this because of my own few and brief agate hunting expeditions... good grief, that takes dedication!) Matt was even out on crutches and a broken leg, for pete sake, slogging through the waves and balancing on one foot to grab each agate!! It was pretty crazy! But it sure was fun going through everyone's treasures at the end of each day. There were some really impressive agate collections, let me tell ya. Mine was pretty pathetic compared to the rest but I was happy with it anyway! These vacations are so precious to me. I love each member of my family so much and it is such a pleasure to spend to time with all of them. I can't wait for the next one!
We played hard and slept hard! (Nice pillow, Eric -poor guy!)
Sightseeing The Oregon coastline is exciting to explore -the views along the coast are stunning and there are so many fun little towns along the way.
Devil's Punchbowl 
Tide Pools Lots of mussells, crabs and starfish to see. But BRRRRRR was it cold! The beach was all black stones from ancient volcanic rock that had been rounded and smoothed perfectly by the waves over time. Very cool.
There were lots of harbor seals literally perched on the rocks... see what I mean?!
Kite flying Mom brought everyone home from China a wonderful kite! We had dragons and hawks gliding and diving up in the sky... they were so fun!
Sun and Sand ...the best part of all.
That little bundle of towels actually has Nyah hidden inside! She did not like the wind and finally fell asleep next to Daddy when I covered her entirely up and laid her on the warm sand!
Three little buddies: Gabe, Wesley and Jack.
2 1/2 year old Eliza was the most adorable "little mother"! Nyah loved all that sweet attention!
Then my girlfriends took me out for dessert the next night... what a great time! 
Then when we get to Utah my family gives me another dinner party with a cake and the whole bit! 
What a great birthday. Thanks everyone - I love you!!
