Oregon Coast

This year was Casey's turn to plan his family reunion. I found a house on Rockaway Beach in Oregon to rent. It was a lot of fun. This was the first time I have been on the Oregon Coast, it is really pretty there. I like it because it feels like you are in the mountains, but then you have the ocean by you too. I think I could live there during the summer months when there is little rain.

 

 This was the house we rented.

  This was what the ocean looked like when you got through the trees from the house.

 Rockaway beach

 Chase and Aiden on one of the higher views by Cannon beach

 Casey had fun playing in the sand

Cannon beach was so pretty

 These are the rocks that are in Goonies, it was filmed here!

 We went to seaside and found this little carousel ride there. I had to laugh because Aiden was too afraid to go on a horse, he ended up riding on the sled in front of this horse.

 We went to the aquarium in Seaside. They had seals there and the kids got to feed them. They were so cute, I really wish you could have one for a pet.

 We went to the Tillamook cheese factory, the kids had fun there.

I had to laugh, in Tillamook they get so much rain they have to bag up their hay, so it looks like marshmallows. 

 The last day we were in Oregon was the nicest. The wind didn't blow, so the kids played on the beach all day. We made a campfire and roasted hot dogs and made smores. I loved it.

Chase was in heaven, he had us bring him over to these rocks because he knew he could find all kinds of creatures there. 

 He found a baby eel

 and lots of crabs!

On the way home we stopped at Multnomah Falls, it was pretty, but there were too many people there. I liked the beach we stayed at because there weren't very many people there.

Laynee's security "blanket"!

Aiden finally learned how to ride his bike without the training wheels. He hasn't had a bike, so it's really not his fault that he is learning a little late in life. Laynee has figured it out too, but she won't let us remove the last training wheel. Whenever we do she freaks herself out and wrecks. So I guess we'll leave it as long as she feels confident. It's funny to watch her, she doesn't even use the last training wheel most of the time.

Chase is 14

 Chase turned 14, I can't believe how big he is getting. It makes me feel old..... he only has about 2 more inches until he is as tall as me. The way he has been growing, I am sure he will pass me up in a year. He makes me laugh, ever since he was a little kid he has always turned over every rock and looked for critters where ever he goes. Recently he discovered some tadpole eggs in the pond in Kanaka, so he has been raising tadpoles. They are getting bigger now. His favorite thing to do is to ride horses and rope.

 

 

The most memorable baptism!

I think everyone who attended Aiden's baptism would agree, that they will never forget it! The poor kid was so excited to get baptized until he realized he had to get his head all the way under the water to get baptized. When he realized it, he wasn't too sure anymore. Casey was really patient with him, the first time Casey tried it, Aiden hurried and popped his head back up out of the water before it got in all the way. The second time, Casey decided to try and pull his legs out from under him and dunk him in. When Aiden realized that, he freaked out. After that he wouldn't let Casey touch him. We didn't know what to do, we had people from Utah come and see this, and we have never heard of a kid not wanting to go through with his baptism before. Finally, they decided to close the curtains and give him some time. If it wasn't for his primary teacher showing him his gift, and telling him he can't open it unless he gets baptized, I don't think he would have done it. Thank you Kandis! Needless to say after about 5 efforts of trying to get him baptized, he finally got it done with the help of me pushing his head a little under the water so none of his hair would poke out..... I didn't want to have the poor kid go through it all over again. Lucky for me I was by that time on the side of the baptismal font, and I have been blessed with long arms, so I reached over and helped him under!