Seaside!!

We spent the week before Labor Day with Geoff's family in Seaside, Oregon. It was beautiful! We were very fortunate with the weather (the guys couldn't even fly their kites most of the time because there wasn't enough wind). We stayed in a condo with Geoff's parents (his brother Kevin and his family, and his Grandma stayed in a condo down the hall). It was right on the beach, and had a great pool and hot tubs. We had so much fun... we're talking about going every year, or every other year, to the same spot. We visited Cannon Beach, and went to Camp 18 (a logging-themed restaurant that is our favorite!). Did a little shopping around Seaside, played a few games with the kids at the arcade, and Geoff and I got to enjoy the hot tub most nights from 9-10 (adults only at that time) while Geoff's parents stayed in the condo as the kids slept. Perfect arrangement!

Jaylen was ready to get right into the freezing Pacific Ocean! (He's with Geoff

and Geoff's dad, Trevor is closer to shore)

Playing at the arcade - Jaylen driving a Kenworth

Trevor LOVED the sand!

Building sandcastles at Cannon Beach

Woodland Park Zoo

On our way down to Seaside the end of August, we stopped by the Woodland Park Zoo. We all had a great time, and the kids especially loved the Zoomazium (it's an indoor play area for kids). Geoff's mom wasn't doing so hot after the knee replacement, so she had to spend some of the time in a wheelchair, but the kids loved riding on her lap all over the place. :) After the zoo, we headed down to Tumwater (near Olympia) where we spent a couple of nights in a hotel. We took the kids to Cabela's, which was fun for all of us. Of course, Jaylen and Trevor's favorite parts were the fish, the elevator, and the escalator. I think they would have spent hours on the escalator alone had they been given the choice, but we wanted to see more than just moving stairs. :) I didn't get any pictures at Cabela's, but here are some from the zoo...

Geoff saw this sign and thought it was all too appropriate.

(Not for his family, but mine, I believe!)

So tired after a day at the zoo!

The Fair and Derby, 2009!

Ok, it's obviously been too long since I've posted since I have to start with fair pictures, and the fair was a month and a half ago! BUT - we had a BLAST at the fair this year (as usual), and of course we also loved cheering on my brother Linsey in the demo derby! Trevor stayed with Geoff's mom while I took Jaylen to the derby. I was a little nervous taking Jaylen, since it's SO loud, and there are just so many people, not to mention a totally new place. But, Jaylen surprised me. He had so much fun, and was so excited to see all these cars crashing in to each other! We used Geoff's shooting earmuffs to help deaden the sound (we've used these before and they are a life-saver with Jaylen!), which really helped. We ended up getting tickets to the evening derby, so we took Trevor along for that. He also thought the derby was great, and both boys cheered along with the rest of us. Since Geoff was busy all day Monday helping with the derby car, the four of us went back on Tuesday to see the fair together.

Geoff and Jaylen with the car before it was destroyed

#2 - Linsey! Stuck already...

Jaylen, happy with his earmuffs and cotton candy

Trevor loved the little chicks...

and the excavator, too!

More to come...

Well, we had a great time at the fair, and just got back from a WONDERFUL vacation in Seaside, Oregon. Now my sister is here from Arizona with her family, so we're busy spending lots of time with them. So... I will be posting some pictures on here at some point! I just make no promises as to when. :)