The "Around Trip" Trip

We recently returned from a trip that took us all around Washington and Northern Oregon - from Bellingham, WA, to Yakima, WA, to Newberg, OR, to Neskowin, OR, to Cannon Beach, OR, and back home to Bellingham. It was a bit of an adventure, driving that long of distances with a toddler and infant is less than desirable, but it was doable.

YAKIMA - From Bellingham to Yakima, Henry had us convinced that he had turned a corner with regard to his hatred of his car seat. He slept the whole way. The whole entire 3.5 hours, even with a stop for lunch in North Bend. He just went right back to sleep. Mylo and I actually chatted, uninterrupted (Ollie was entertained by the DVD player). It was heaven.

All that sleep must have done Henry good, because once we got to my Mom's house, he started rolling over - from his back to his stomach. Once he rolls over he gets stuck on his tummy, but he has already learned how to get his arms out from underneath him so he can prop himself up.

We went to Yakima for my step-sister, Sarah's wedding (more on that later), but while we were there we got some sun time in, complete with relaxing in the hammock and running through the sprinkler.

Ollie even played some board games with Grandma Sally and Grandpa John. It was an Eric Carle counting game and although he didn't quite understand it, he loved playing nonetheless.

THE WEDDING - Sarah and Eric tied the knot on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day and we were lucky enough to be included in all the festivities, as Ollie was one of the ring bearers and I was a bridesmaid.

Here is Sarah in her amazing dress before the wedding (kind of dark, but it shows off the dress)

Ollie and Dylan, the other ring bearer. Being the second wedding Ollie was in, he decided to mix it up a bit by doing his T-Rex roar while running down the aisle and subsequently tripping, falling, and running back down the aisle crying, "I want my daddy, I want my daddy..." It was pretty hilarious and no one was hurt (including Ollie).

Ollie's sweet purple converse - Thanks Auntie Sarah!

No nap, so he was a little on edge later in the evening.

Ignore my glaring tan lines and look how big Ollie looks!

NEWBERG TO NESKOWIN - After partying it up at the wedding, we packed up the kiddos (we left right from the wedding) and drove from Yakima, over White Pass, and down to Newberg, which is outside of Portland, where we spent one night at our favorite Best Western, before heading to the Coast to Neskowin for Mylo's annual family reunion. I spent the bulk of the trip in the back seat, squished between the two car seats trying to keep Ollie asleep. He was very restless and as we later found out, was coming down with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which sounds horrific, but is actually a really common virus that is usually accompanied by a rash on the feet, hands, and mouth. So, my back was killing me and I wanted to kill Ollie, but we all made it there alive. We spent one night in Neskowin catching up with extended family, playing at the beach, and of course, eating.

Little game of touch football, with Proposal Rock in the background.

Ollie was in love with the beach. It was like having his own personal mammoth sand box. He was content to drive his trucks around in the sand for hours.

After a few hours, the sun came out and Ollie got some playing time with his (second) cousins.

Henry took a monster nap in the shade tent.

Ollie and Jovi playing trucks.

Doing some "work."

CANNON BEACH - After spending a night at Neskowin, we headed up the coast to Cannon Beach, which is one of our favorite places on the Oregon Coast. Of course we had to stop at the Tillamook Cheese factory to pick up some squeaky cheese, check out the factory, and eat some ice-cream. Ollie was pretty cranky because of the HFMD, but he really liked watching the the cheese conveyor belt.

We rented a sweet little cottage in Cannon Beach, that was literally 1/2 block from the beach and a 5 minute walk from downtown. It was perfect. Mylo's Dad and Stepmom stayed with us for one night and then we had one night just our little family. We got in plenty of beach time, runs for Mylo and I, and stroll through downtown (hitting up the toy store and old fashioned candy store).

Cannon Beach with Haystack Rock in the background.

Our little cottage.

Afternoon stroll on the beach. It was pretty windy, but nice and sunny. Too bad we couldn't fit our kites in the car. It would have been a perfect evening to fly a kite.

Henry peeking out from the Ergo.

A sweet Peace Sign someone made on the beach.

Ollie and I playing a little beach ball soccer on Day 2.

Henry snoozing in the shade tent, which has been one of our better purchases since having kiddos. Thank you REI.

More beach time, soaking up the sun.

Ollie really got into running the (small) waves. He liked to yell, "Watch out! Run for your lives." Hilarious.

BACK TO BELLINGHAM - After spending two nights in Cannon Beach, we headed home. We left at 8:30 a.m. and got home around 3:00 p.m.. Needless to say, it was a loooong drive. Henry was not happy much of the way and seems to have found his lungs and man, his "new" cry is super obnoxious. For a usually mellow kid, he can really kick the crying into high gear in a hurry. So much for stating to like the carseat. So I spent more time in the back seat, squished and annoyed. But, again we all (barely) survived with the help of three pit stops, two coffees for mama, and some DVDs for Ollie during the last part of the trip.

All in all, we have decided that the beach is the perfect vacation spot with little kiddos. Ollie just loved to play in the sand and run around. Plus, they tire themselves out, making for easy naps and bedtime. If only we didn't have to drive to get there...