We went to Portland and the Oregon Coast. None of us have ever spent much time on the ocean but we were all excited to give it a try. Now we are pretty sure we will have to go back every year or maybe even move there someday! It was so beautiful! And we had such a wonderful time!
We started our trip off on Matt's last day of school. We picked him up a few hours early and started driving. I was a bit worried about driving so far but the kids did great. We got to drive through the girl's birth towns of LaGrande and Hermiston. They weren't too interested. We stopped and had dinner just outside of Hermiston at the same Denney's we ate at when we went to get Grace. Then we drove to Portland. I have never driven through the Colombia River Gorge before. It was so beautiful and nice to drive somewhere where I didn't know what would be around the next bend.We got to Portland that evening and there was a rainbow right over our hotel for that night!
We spent the next morning at the Portland Zoo. It was a bit rainy and cold but we still had a great time. This is an amazing zoo with so much to see we just couldn't fit it all in. One of our favorites were the lorakeets. These pretty little birds came right up and landed on on our shoulders and hands. The kids loved it - I am a little freaked out at birds so was glad none of the them landed on me!
Because it was so rainy and we were so busy looking at everything I didn't take many pictures. but here are a few.
After the zoo we drove just outside of Portland to see Steve's Grandma and dad. I have never met Grandma so it was nice to stop and visit for a few hours.
Then we spent the night at Steve's cousin Jeff's house. I have never met Jeff or his wife Rhonda either. But they were so great to welcome us into their home for the night and we loved getting to know them.
The kids had fun meeting new cousins too.
Before we left the next morning we even got to go out and help feed the chickens.
Then it was on to the beach! We rented a condo right on the beach for two nights. It was perfect. It was just like a little house and had everything we could possibly need. The kids even found story books to read one night. 
Matt and Ella loved sharing a room. Those beds were so comfortable!
The weather was bit cool while we were there but we had an electric fireplace so after cool day of splashing around on the beach we would come home, take a warm shower and then turn on the fireplace to warm up. Cozy!
The kitchen was fully furnished so it was nice to be able to go grocery shopping and just eat at home. We did go out one night to Mo's - they had the best clam chowder. So yummy!
Our condo was right on the beach - just a short little walk down to the water.
Well a short walk and 77 stairs! Not Steve's favorite!
But the beach was worth all those stairs. We spent spent most of our two days here playing on the water. We just couldn't get enough of it and wish we could have stayed for another week at least.We hunted for shells and agate,
flew kites,
played in the sand
and got wet in those amazing waves - a few took us by surprise!
We walked on the boardwalk and bought some yummy saltwater taffy
and walked in the sand and enjoyed the beautiful ocean.
It really was our favorite vacation ever and we can't wait to go again.
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