Bill and Becky Take a Break

After three years of constant activities with the young single adults in our church, Bill and I decided we needed a break from our busy schedules. We booked a room in Astoria, Oregon, and then we headed up the coast. We stopped at a deli in Manzanita and had a terrific lunch. This is
Cannon Beach, Oregon

We left Warrenton and crossed Young's Bay into Astoria.




















We checked into the Cannery Pier, the same place we stayed for our anniversary earlier in the year.
We love the rooms in this hotel! They look out over the mouth of the Columbia River, and the hotel is located right next to the Astoria Bridge into Washington State.











This is one of the ships that passed by our window.












We ate at Bridgewater Restaurant, right across from the hotel.
It had been years since I climbed the Astor Column, but we decided that would be fun to do.


















There are something like 273 steps to the top!

















We had a splendid view of Astoria, the mouth of the Columbia River, and the bridge into Washington!
We drove over the bride and decided to explore a new area of the Long Beach Peninsula.











We drove to Cape Disappointment State Park.
Before the jetty was built, the ocean covered this whole area. After the jetty, the area was turned into sand dunes. Then it became a wetland.











This is a fun picture of "bathing beauties" at Cape Disappointment in the 1930s.
We went a short distance to an area called Beard's Hollow. There are wonderful trails and wetlands to explore! We definitely want to return next summer!























































We drove a little farther to the North Head Lighthouse. It was built in the 1800s.
It sits next to a beautiful little cove.











We walked to the light at the top.


















We took a different trail back to our car, and this was a pretty view of the lighthouse.
Gee, there are deer in Washington too! We saw this pretty little doe along the trail.











We ran into this porcupine near our car. He didn't mind how close we got.
We drove to the campground that was nearby, and there was a short trail to the beach. This is another view of North Head from the beach.











I had never seen a beach with black sand before. It was quite striking, especially next to the white foam and the light beach grasses.
We could not leave Long Beach without visiting one of my favorite places!

















I love this place. Bill could hardly keep up with me! He would pay for something I found, and then I would find something else!!!
You may think this is a junk yard, but this place is full of treasures! This view is looking out the front door.
















An inside view

Looking up the stairs

















I found one more thing!
On the way home we stayed at my Mom's, and Candy cooked us a gourmet meal of fried oysters and "Indian" spuds. Diane deep fried some razor clams and brought them down also. What a feast!!!! Afterward we played a "knock out" game of 7 handed crib! What fun it is to be able to get together with my mom and siblings!

After our trip we felt rested, refreshed, and ready to tackle new challenges!

Wreath Making Party!

My daughter Anne sent out beautiful invitations for a wreath party. We had lots of fun and yummy things to eat. Anne had two friends from work, my sister Candy, my daughter Megan and myself. My niece Emden also took a break from her finals week at the school she is attending, and joined us.



Emden's wreath













Becky helping Megan
Anne and Matt's beautiful Christmas tree

















We were also entertained by Anne :-)

Deer in Our Yard

You have to expect deer pictures now and then! These are frequent visitors in our yard. I walked out on the deck to take pictures, and they didn't really care.
Eating a Madrona leaf

Grandchildren

We had a little more time with family at our house when Thanksgiving was over.
Drew and Jesse playing on the stairs

Megan and Kristin enjoying Charlotte
It's so fun to watch parents play with their children :-).


Luke and Will














Awwwwwwwww, daddy gets a kis!
Hey, where ya goin'?











There's something about the back of little children's heads :-).
Big brother Billy wrestling with little brother Luke











Drew's turn to play with daddy
Betcha can't do this! Maggie the pretzel!

















That homemade clay keeps cropping up! Auntie Kristin is having fun with the gang.
Megan and Andy did this to be funny :-). They got "ugly sweaters" from Goodwill and had a family picture taken.











Papa enjoying our youngest grandchild, Charlotte.
She is a very calm and sweet baby (well, most of the time :-).

















Drew, Maggie and Billy came with Papa and Grandma to pick out our Christmas tree. They've never picked out a live tree before, so it was an adventure.
We traipsed around the whole farm before choosing the "perfect" tree.











Drew is throwing sticks for the farmer's dog (the same dog that Jesse played with last year when we got our tree :-).
Billy is helping Papa carry the tree to our car. We had a great time and enjoyed hot chocolate afterward!