Summer Getaway

Ah, so I've gotten my little vacation and I'm happy! My other 'sister' Carrie and her family camp every year at Fort Stevens, and we couldn't camp (no spots, all full) but we decided to head up to Astoria and stay in a hotel (better than camping anyway...we had a WARM swimming pool) and hang with them a bit. We were only about 20 minutes from our camping friends, and they let us crash their camp and hang out and play games for awhile. They were even nice enough to build a campfire while we were there so we could SMELL like we had been camping :). At Fort Stevens we saw the ship wreck on the beach, an old ammunition battery and a boy catch a fish at Coffenbury Lake. Then we headed back to Astoria. Who knew there was so much in Astoria? We visited the Astoria Column which has one of the prettiest views I've ever seen. Astoria is where the mouth of the Columbia river meets up with the Pacific Ocean, so there were plenty of big ships to see and lots of historical significance to the place. We also rode the trolley along the waterfront, where the guide let us in on all the the little secrets of the town. We happened to be there on a Sunday (and since we were on vacation :) we went to the Sunday Market that they have downtown. We had fun walking along the booths and seeing all the people and different food. Brayden and Audri both purchased a Marshmallow Shooter-a marshmallow blow gun, if you will, so they had fun shooting marshmallows all over the hotel room later that night. We ate at the Bow Picker, which had some of the best fish and chips I've ever had. It's just a little fishing boat on a trailer in the middle of a parking lot, and business was hopping! Jeremy was also in heaven cause we ate at his favorite beach staple the Pig 'n Pancake. Not once, but TWICE! On our way home we headed down towards Seaside, Cannon Beach and the good old Cheese Factory in Tillamook. I love the drive, it's so pretty! And we had fairly nice weather. On the chilly side, but SUNNY! The only time it wasn't really nice was when we were at Cannon Beach, it was COLD! But of course that didn't stop the kids from playing in the sand. Oh, it was so nice to be together as a family...and now we look forward to all of our family and friends visiting!

The kids sitting on the map of the area at the Astoria column The view from the top, behind us is the huge Astoria bridge and the end of the Columbia River The Astoria Column, it has pictures of the expedition of Lewis and Clark The remains of a ship wreck at Ship Wreck beach at Fort Stevens Our Self portrait at Coffenbury Lake

The Bow Picker, this may be worth another trip to AstoriaEnjoying the Trolley ride. I just kept thinking of Mister Rogers, every time I heard the 'ding ding!'

I was trying to get the trolley in the reflection of these windows... Outside of the Maritime Museum. It's so nice to have a 6 year old that can take a picture and not cut off heads!By the water outside of the Museum. You could tour this boat with paid admission...Because of Dirty Jobs (the one where Mike cleans buoys) Brayden was infatuated with buoys. He pointed everyone he saw out to us

My cute girl at the beach. She has to have her sunglasses, just like mommy!

My happy little familySand Happy

What dad's are good at

The essence of Audri.

my own little Jedi!