Washington Trip '09: Tuesday and Wednesday

I was cold at the beach so I tied one of Ivan's blankets around my shoulders. I kind of look like the bicycle lady on the Wizard of Oz.

Tuesday we hung out with Aaron's two friends from high school, Robert and Neil Butler and their wives and kids. We went to Fort Vancouver and had a nice BBQ on the grass. We were planning on going to the air museum, but it was closed, so instead we just wandered around the gift shop and watched a really poorly done movie on the history of Fort Vancouver. It's too bad it was poorly made too, because I think the history sounds really interesting. I have never learned anything about how Washington and Oregon became states or who settled them or anything like that, but I'd really like to learn. Someday I will.

Aaron and Jordan and Carter and their sand dragon

On Wednesday we loaded up two vans and went to the beach! I love the Oregon Coast, even if the water is too cold to swim in. It's so beautiful up there no matter what time of year it is. It's probably a good thing we don't live in WA because I'd probably want to go to the coast at least once a week, and it's kind of a long drive.

Proof the Grandma Swan helped with the sand structures (even if it was just to fix a spot one of the kids messed up) :)

It was supposed to be 88 degrees at the coast, but I'd say 65 was a much closer guess. And it was super foggy, from where we were sitting we couldn't even see the water. But it was still good enough weather to play in the sand, and play we did. Some of us more than others though. Aaron and Jordan and Carter built a really cool sand dragon and a Mayan pyramid. They got lots of compliments on their work from people who were walking by.

Lincoln and Aaron sitting in some holes Spencer dug

Spencer was happy digging holes, and Aneya and Lincoln and Zac ran around and amused themselves digging, or filling in holes, or trying to "help" the older boys. At one point Lincoln got sand in his mouth. Aaron had to pour a bottle of water over his tongue, but that still didn't get it all out, so Aaron was trying to teach him how to spit, and it was cracking all of us up. I wish I would have taken a video of it.

Lincoln in the sand

Lincoln's first experience with the actual ocean probably wasn't a pleasant one, he went with Uncle Jake and Zac down to the water, and Aaron was following behind. Lincoln waded out into the water (only a little more than ankle deep) and then turned around to look at Aaron. In the mean time a wave came and although the water didn't get any deeper around Lincoln, I think because it was moving, he lost his balance and fell. He got soaked from head to toe, and the water isn't exactly warm. Poor kid, he didn't want to go near the water the rest of the day. But he did have a really good time with all the sand, so I think that made up for it.