Our Beach Vacation!

Sorry---this photo got outta place; this is Owen's breakfast at the Little Brown Hen Cafe...he was so excited for a BIG chocolate chip pancake! It was serious eating! (it belongs below...whoops!)

When we rolled into Newport on Friday, crab pots were already cooking!


We were also welcomed with a beautiful sunset...

Noel's first trip to the beach, it was so windy and cold (sand flying EVERYWHERE), she didn't see much. In fact, she pretty much slept through the entire time we were on the beach.

Owen, dressed in Oregon Coast attire (stocking hat, several layers of pants and shirts, sunglasses to keep the sand out of the eyes).

We decided the beach was too cold, so off to the Oregon Coast Aquarium we went...

Owen and Aunt Kelly climbed through the tunnel, into the tank; Owen thought seeing those fish was pretty cool!

"You have to look up Aunt Kelly...UP!"

Here's Owen trying to decided which sea critter he wanted to pet first.

Owen sitting up on Grandpa's shoulders waiting for the rest of the gang to catch up!

Here we go...into the Undersea Tanks!!

Noel thought the tanks were pretty cool!

In the eyes of a 2 year old, if you want to see the fish, it is perfectly acceptable to get down on their level and as close to the glass as possible. Heck, even sucking on the floor is okay too...if they can make faces at me, why can't I do it to them?

Even flailing my arms around pretending I'm swimming with them...this would be perfectly acceptable way to show the fishys (and all the by standers...the many many by standers) that I like these fish.

Owen watching the fish in the Shark Tank; pretty cool, and BIG!

Noel ended up taking alittle snooze about halfway through the Under the Sea tanks; one tuckered out little Princess.

What better way to end a trip to the Aquarium then to share some ice cream??

YUMMY!

Sleepy head finally woke up!

Owen got to play on some sea critters; he thoroughly enjoyed it!

An afternoon walk down the pier; Owen once again, waiting for the gang to go, go, go!

Noel, dressed for the walk; LOVE the hat!

Here's mommy, Owen and Noel; already to start walking! ("C'mon Daddy!" Owen yells)

We had to stop to watch the boats go zoooooming by!

Owen chasing birds, if only this picture had sound, you would hear him "roaring" as he calls it. It was all too funny, both Eric and I had tears running down our faces from laughing so hard!

Mommy and Owen out on the rocks, looking for starfish and other sea critters.

The Bridge.

While picking up some taffy for Papa John, it felt like everytime we turned around there was Owen sneaking another piece...$$$.

Walking around the Newport Bay front is exhausting!

Owen, finally getting his hands and mouth on a piece of taffy! "This good" he said.

Noel taking some time out of her busy day to stop and smell the daisies!

"For me?" she says.

After the Bay Front we decided to eat at The Chowder Bowl, yum yum yum, again, Noel didn't make it.

Here's Owen waiting for his grilled cheese...and contemplating making a phone call to Uncle Mike.

The day finally caught up to the little man, he was pooped; and this was the second time I had to put him back onto his sleeping bag! He was sleeping and scooting all around the room!

Noel was awake, and rolling over and over and over...

But all that rolling was so exhausting, so she went back to sleep.

One of the nights we were there, we had "movie night"; Owen ate dinner picnic style, and watched Brother Bear. He was feeling pretty special!

The first morning after Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Kelly left, Eric and I had heard about this FANTASTIC place for breakfast; the Green Salmon (actually made its way into this months Food Network Magazine--which I happen to subscribe too, in addition to Aunt Jenny saying we HAD TO GO!). Well, turns out, they are closed on Mondays. So we decided to keep driving, and went on down to Florence, where we ate at Little Brown Hen Cafe, it was yummy!

Here is Owen waiting for breakfast, after what was suppose to be a 20 minute drive (and then turned into an hour) Owen was HUNGRY!

All done and so proud!

After breakfast Daddy wanted to show up where he use to always go camping, scope out the grounds; maybe next year Brands...what'd'ya say?

After a long day of driving, and once the kiddos went down for bed, Mommy and Daddy shared a nice bottle of wine; Cheers to Newport and Aunt Jenny!

The next morning, we finally made it to The Green Salmon!

...and per Food Network Magazines recomendation I ordered their Berry French Toast, PHENOMENAL! Totally remaking this at home, even Owen LOVED it!!!

We visited the Yaquina Head Light House (but Owen was too little to go inside).

On our last day, Mommy and Owen made an extra trip to the beach, to play in the sand one last time. We built a "sand tower" and had a sand throwing war (Mommy lost, badly).

Owen's HAPPY face!

Not even an hour into the drive, Owen made a request for his pillow, white doggie, and elmo blankie...out like a light; he had so much fun!

Sadly, let the unpacking begin...but, we are happy to report, we will be leaving again on Friday for some much wanted time in Baker City with Papa John, Owen is SUPER excited! From one side of the state to the other! Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!