Labor Day in Portland - Part II

This day was pretty much the whole reason we wanted to make the trip to the Coast.....the beach! Sadly our boys have never really had a warm, summery beach day ever!! It was about time and THAT was our goal this day!

First we drove out to the coast from Portland and started our morning at the Tillamook Cheese factory...yum! We took the self guided tour, which ended with a "squaky cheese" tasting (cheese curds, yum!)! Then we ordered lunch and capped it all off with the rich and delicious Tillamook ice cream cones! Divine!

Then we continued north up the coast, stopping once to enjoy the fantastic scenery and snap a picture...

And ended at the beach near Haystack Rock.....well, sort of near Haystack Rock! It didn't look that far away, but it was probably at least a mile!?!?

What we saw when we got there at low tide, however, was incredible! HUGE sea stars, anemone, clams and a stoic seagull!

Gale Family at Haystack Rock

Chan Family at Haystack Rock

Then it was off to spend the best day ever in the warm sun! Not knowing what the weather would be, Kiera wore long pants. But since it was warm and she was already wet, she let Uncle Aaron cut the bottom part of her pants off to make into shorts! Such a handy Uncle, that Aaron! :)

And I loved Tanner's reaction to the sun, sand and freedom. First thing he did was make a sand angel...all on his own! He stuck to himself most of the day, just digging away...deep in thought. Once I found him snuggled into the sand like this.....so cute! He just LOVED it there!

The kids set to work digging the greatest castle of all time! The dads got involved for a while and then the kids worked for hours!

After a while that sparkly water started to look pretty darn inviting and little by little they got braver and braver and headed out farther and farther! They'd carefully walk out as the tide went out and then turn and run back screaming as it chased them back in! SO fun!

Aren't these the happiest beach bums you ever saw??

On our way out we saw this guy building an awesome sand castle!

I think the kids were inspired!

Well, there's no better way to end a day on the coast than a delicious fish and chips dinner! Oh man, it was so fresh and so yummy! All the kids ordered fish, too, and loved it!

After dinner we stopped into a taffy shop in Seaside and brought home WAY more taffy than any family needs, but hey...what a way to end the perfect day!