It has been several years since we have been to the coast as a family. Actually Brielle was little and Gavin wasn't even in the picture. We were due for another vacation to this favorite hot spot!
Taylor and Payton loved chasing the waves, I love the looks on their faces...priceless! We could hardly go to the beach without them coming home wet and sandy!
Gavin loved being barefoot and running as the waves chased him too, although he was a little more cautious about getting too close.
Great picture of these sisters as they were ready to play in the sand.
Brielle thought the ocean was so fun, it was a paradise for her as she loves collecting things and "SHESHELLS" (he he) were always on her mind!
Kenzie loved everything about the coast. She could totally live here!
The fun continued as cousins began to show up!
So sweet!
We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium while we were there and the kids liked watching these birds do their thing.
(Aubrey, Tucker, Gavin, Brielle)
Makes for some good cousin bonding.
We grabbed a hotel and headed to Washington to break up the long drive. We enjoyed some quality family time!
The kids enjoyed the touch pool at the aquarium.
Gavin was hesitant to touch some of the animals.
Kenzie thought it was cool.
Following our crew.
We love exploring.
Seems like there was a buddy for everyone.
At the fish tanks.
Kenzie was not sure about the sharks and it looks like Gavin and Brielle were having a good time.
Buddies.
Cute Kenzie.
Nice scary face Brielle!
Kaden and Taylor swallowed by a mega shark.
We spent a lot of time crabbing and playing in the sand/water at this bay.
The first day we had good luck.
It was chilly as we went to look at the tide pools.
Payton and McKenzie looking around.
Cute kids had a fun time checking out new things.
It is always pretty windy at the Oregon Coast.
By this point all the kids were touching the different animals in the tide pools.
Even Gavin had warmed up to the idea.
He loved it by the end of our time there.
Back to the beach.
Oh to be a kid again.
We started getting smarter once we realized the cold weather/water was not going to keep these kids out of the water so we began having them put on their swimming gear before heading to the beach.
OH what fun!
This trip there was a lot of fog at the coast.
Fun times!
Run Brielle!
This is Kenzie's happy place, this picture says it all!
So much fun!
Pure JOY!
Why must kids grow up??
Kaden, Gavin, and Allyssa playing in the sand. I think Gavin enjoyed being buried.
Taylor had fun with siblings, cousins, and family members on this trip.
Cute kid!
Gavin loved taking it all in as this was all new to him.
Allyssa making a mermaid tail for Gavin.
Brielle was a mermaid too.
Being silly at a gift store.
These guys liked to climb these rocks on the beach.
Fun crew!
Such a beautiful place.
The kids were not ready to leave!
We could have spent another week at the ocean.
Mckay and Taylor on a little hike back from the beach.
I love my family!
Making memories.
While Mckay went to a place for some sea food, the kids and I stopped by Arctic Circle for some food and fancy ice cream cones.
Yummy!
That is a pile of cousins in a hot tub!
It was the perfect way to warm up after a chilly visit down to the beach. The houses we rented were within walking distance to the beach and we made many visits there followed by a dip in the hot tub!
It made for some crashed kids at the end of the day! (Kaden and Taylor-how is that comfortable?!)
Brielle and I got up early one morning to scout for nice seashells. We had a great time together!
Beautiful!
Kaden and Taylor building sand castles.
Adorable sandy cheeks.
Gavin sure played hard on this trip.
Pretty Kenzie building a sand castle.
Payton really liked crabbing. He bought this hat at the coast and is looking forward to using it at his upcoming Aaronic Priesthood Encampment.
Braxton, Gavin, and Tucker
These three were pretty cute together!
Handsome Mckay.
Trips as a family sure brings us closer together!
Life is an adventure together!
Love them!
Brielle and Gavin are such buddies.
Gavin is now comfortable touching animals at the tide poles.
Mckay and Payton spent a lot of time crabbing together.
Go Gavin!
Cousins are great!
They all had a wonderful time together and hardly wanted to split up.
Some of us that didn't go fishing that morning took our kids on a short whale watching trip.
It was just long enough to know that any longer would have been too long to be out on the ocean without getting sick (made me grateful I didn't go on that fishing trip).
Watching for whales with the sea breeze in your hair, what more could you ask for!
Everyone would yell, "There she BLOWS", when we spotted a whale. The kids thought it was so neat!
Playing on the beach was a favorite for the kids.
So foggy but Mckay got the big kite up.
Hot tubing with the kids.
Loving every minute together!
Shuttling over to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Gavin was excited!
Family picture.
The kids milking the cow.
Learning about where cheese comes from.
Ice Cream cones at the end was a real treat!
I adore him with my whole heart!
This picture confirms to me that Kenzie is growing up before my eyes.
Good friends.
I hope they always stay close.
Jumping off the sand dune with dad.
Fun times!
Cute Gavin.
Posing for a family picture.
They are my everything!
Walking to the beach, Gavin has it made!
Can't get enough of the ocean and the beach.
Payton, Mckay, and Taylor at the top.
Funny Brielle
My 5.... I was constantly head-counting!
This is what too much fun looks like!
On the whale watching boat (these pictures are a little out of order because I was getting them from a few different phones).
Gavin was really enjoying Erin on this trip.
Kenzie was excited to be on the boat going to watch for whales.
That's a lot of kids for each adult!
Ready for some fun.
Some crabs we caught.
Silly picture of the whole family!
Families are forever!
We had a blast!
Funny boys as we were playing the jelly bean game. They thought it was so funny!
At the aquarium.
Playing in the sand.
Payton loves the outdoors.
Flying kites and untangling strings.
She was getting cold.
We had a great time at the Oregon Coast and are already anticipating when we can go back. In fact, we extended our trip again and got a hotel with the Dudley's part way home because we just weren't ready for our time together to end. It was fun to get away and spend time together as a family, they are what matters most. I feel so blessed to have the family relationships that we do! I am grateful our loving Heavenly Father placed us in families to go through this journey together.
