Beach Fun!

Our annual trip down to the Oregon Coast(with the Wells, & Ruffs,) was once again so FUN!!!  We love it down there, it seriously is one of the most laid back places and you are forced to
 R-E-L-A-X which is exactly what my family and I needed.  The kids had an absolute blast together and are still going through withdrawals not being together everyday.  I have soooo many pictures and tried to narrow it down to my favorites, which are still a ton =)  I am sure I will add even more pictures once D, Laura, & I get pictures from each others cameras.  At the moment, I'm being lazy, and I really don't want to add caption to all of them, and most are pretty self explanatory.  Let me highlight a few of the things about our vacation, the beach house, and how we spent our days/nights~

• I spent so much of my time LAUGHING, there are still so many little scenarios in my memory bank from the vacation that still have me laughing now(Wells & Ruffs, you know what they are!)  This was so filling to my mind, body & spirit!
• We spent most of our time and days at/on the beach!  And let me just say that IT DID NOT RAIN a single day while we were there...that is UNBELIEVABLE for the Oregon Coast.  We could not have asked for more perfect weather!  While at the beach, the ladies and I sat around and visited, snacked, watched the kids run from the waves, play in the sand, make sand castles, fly kites, collect shells, rocks, sticks, wood, crabs...anything they could find.  We took pictures, and simply relaxed(shocking I know!)  The men also relaxed but the little boy came out in all of them so I think they did just as much running from waves, collecting things, and exploring the beach, and occasionally sipped on beer.  Richie made a fire on the beach one of the nights we were there, kids had s'mores and Uncle Richie supplied sparklers~it was awesome!
• Shane & Richie have gone fishing together(usually on Loon Lake,) since they were in the 5th grade.  This year they branched out and went crabbing while on the Coast.  They had a wonderful time, came back beaming like 10 year old little boys, and from the sounds of it, laughed until their tummy's hurt with all the things that were going on while fishing ;)  They caught about 200 crab, but only 1 was a keeper.  I have a feeling they've started a new tradition while down at the beach and will go again each year. 
• The house we stayed in was INCREDIBLE.  Absolutely perfect(and I don't use that word very much,) for the 3 families and our nearly dozen kiddos.  Each family had their own room and bathroom.  Ella & Liv slept in a bunk bed together, was pretty sweet(although the little stinkers stayed up til nearly midnight when we let them sleep in the same bed/room.  The house had a HUGE kitchen and table.  Family/Rec room, fire pit, washer/dryer, hot tub, I could go on & on.  We brought the kids bikes and they would ride up and down the street during our time away from the beach.  Liv took her first big spill on her bike while we were there :(
• Olivia got her 1st loose tooth the last day we were there! 
• We literally had the beach to ourselves most of the time, occasionally a few people or dogs would mosey on by.  I LOVED this particular beach.
• We made breakfast, lunch, and dinners together, it was like we were on an episode of sister wives(gross!  but it was so handy to have extra help!)
• We got to eat at one of my favorite pizza places, Fultano's, and went to one of the best bakery/coffee shops, Waves of Grain.  Both of those places are in Cannon Beach and while there the kids went to the a little shop they've gone to every year to collect rocks, and seashells.  The highlight of Cannon beach for me was to see one of my closest/best friends in the whole wide world...April!  We have been friends since we were 11 years old!  Our friendship is simple, effortless, and consistent.  We see each other sometimes no more than once a year.  However, when we get together, it's like a day hasn't even passed, and we pick up right where we left off.  I love and miss her dearly.  So seeing her was the cherry on top of my vacation!
• At night after we got the kiddos down, all the couples/adults would eat snacks, and I would usually twist every one's arm to turn the channel to CNN/Headline news so that I could watch Nancy Grace and the latest on the Casey Anthony trial.  I've been following this terrible story since It began years ago.  Richie had us all watch an episode from My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding(was so interesting, we laughed so hard.)  Otherwise we really did just relax and go to bed almost each night.  It was very peaceful, and relaxing and so wonderful to spend uninterrupted time with my family, and friends.  As my friend D would say, I stayed unplugged for most of the vacation, it was so nice not to be connected with my cell phone. 

A few other things I want to mention~We were truly blessed on safe travels to and from the Oregon Coast, I didn't go into labor ;), everyone was healthy(although my allergies are so bad,) and most importantly, created so many great memories once again.  I am so glad we could squeeze in one last getaway before baby #3 makes his entrance into the world. Thank you Ruffs & Wells for setting up a WoNdErFuL vacation down to the beach, it was by far one of my favorite vacations spend at the Oregon Coast!  I am sure I forgot a few things, but for now, that is the vacation story in a nutshell.  Hope you enjoy the sideshow!  If you click on slide show, you can make it full size.