Oregon Trip- Monday- Benches

Henry seems to love benches.  Any time he sees one he wants to try it out.  Here he is trying out one of the benches at Nye Beach.  He is such a delight.

Oregon Trip- Monday- Chowder Bowl

After we played on the beach we stopped at the Chowder Bowl and ate.  The food was amazing.  Megan and Shaunna Weber, some friends of Melanie's are from Newport and told us to try this restaurant.  

Oregon Trip- Monday- Nye Beach

 We decided to try NYE BEACH today.  It was so windy but we ventured out anyway.

 The ocean is beautiful and the waves were very large.  The seagulls were so interesting to watch.  They would line up with one on each post.  As soon as one seagull left another would take his place.

 The sand was covered with these little blue things.  They are called Vellela Vellela (Like a jelly fish.)  When the wind is really bad they are blown up on the beach where they die.  They have a small sail looking thing on the top of them.  They float on the top of the water and follow the Japanese current.

 Randy and Susan.  It was cold but the beach was great.

 Randy and Melanie

 Melanie, Oliver and Henry in the waves.

 Melanie, Oliver and Henry on the beach.

 Oliver had a great day.  He liked being buried and also  the wind was so strong it seemed like it would take him away when he held up his towel.  He also loved running in the waves of the ocean.

 Henry stood in a deep hole and Oliver buried him.  He thought is was so fun. He loved playing in the sand and building things with the sand.

 Henry and Oliver

 Henry and oliver playing in the sand together.

The wind made it cold but the boys did not seem to mind.

Oregon Trip- Monday- Port of Newport

Lots of fun things to see and do at the Port of Newport.  We just looked around today and then headed to the beach.

Oregon Trip- Monday- Road to Newport, Oregon

 Pedee Memorial Church

 Covered Bridge

 Blodgett Country Store.  When you walked in it smelled like Maryanna's store in Thornton.  Way old.

There were lots of trees across the road and a fun railroad track running along side the road.  It is a wonderful drive to Newport.  When we left Independence it was 80 degrees and sunshiny.  When we got to Newport (on the ocean) it was 60 degrees; still sunny but really windy.  

Oregon Trip- Monday- Morning Walk

 Randy and I went for a walk this morning, and took off in a different direction.  Some of the things we saw.

 The flowers in Oregon are beautiful.  I cannot believe the variety.

 I do not know the names of most of the flowers, but they are so colorful and beautiful.

There are many houses in Monmouth and Independence that are on the Historical Registry.  These are a picture of a few we walked by this morning.  The people that own the houses get a tax break to help maintain their house.

Oregon Trip- Sunday- Service Project

Melanie needed Bears made for the 4th of July Booth for Henry's Montessori School.   So we all worked on making them.  Randy and Ben were turning pieces and cutting things out.  Melanie was drawing on the faces, and I was sewing the Bears together.  It was a family project.  We finished 13 Bears.  I can hear Mom saying,  "Those stitches will have to be taken out with your nose in Heaven because they were sewn on Sunday."  I guess I will be busy if I make it to Heaven.

Oregon Trip- Sunday- Sunshine

 It is a beautiful sun shiny day today.  NO RAIN!!!!!!  Oliver on his bike and Henry on his scooter.

Oliver

Oregon Trip- Sunday- Henry's early birthday present

 Randy and I will not be Oregon for Henry's Birthday  (July 20th).  So we gave him his presents early.  He was so excited to open his packages.

 We got him a scooter plus all the protective gear.  He will be 4 on his birthday.  He is such a fun little boy.  Hard to believe he will be four.

Ben teaching him how to ride.

Oregon Trip- Sunday- Church

We went to church with Melanie, Oliver and Henry.  They have a great ward in Oregon.  Melanie teaches Primary.  Afterwards no one wanted a picture so I had to snap it quick.  

Oregon Trip- Sunday- Henry

Henry found one of those little birds that you put water in; and blow on; and it makes bird sounds. He has such cute expressions, I loved them all.

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Oliver

Oliver is always working on complicated projects.  He is creating a Paper Project.  It is so intricate and full of details.  He works with an exacto knife to make the cuts perfect.

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Education Department

Melanie teaches in the College of Education.  They will be building a new Education center that will be completed in 2016.  She is so excited for the new building.  They had a ribbon cutting just a few weeks ago.  

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Western Oregon University

This is the campus where Melanie teaches. 

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Falls City, Oregon

When we were done eating pizza we were waiting outside for a few minutes.  Some ladies came by on horses; Oliver and Henry were full of energy; and we saw small horses outside of town.  What a fun place and so close to the Hays's.  

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Bread Board

We went to The Bread Board in Falls City for dinner.  It is famous for their pizza and it is all cooked in a Fire Oven.  Awesome!!!!!!

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Albany

We drove to Albany on lots of fun curvy, tree covered roads along the way.  Henry needed a Big Boy Bed.  He was so  excited to get one.  

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Lavender Lake Farms

You cannot find a prettier farm than this lavender one.  It smelled so good also.  

Oregon Trip- Saturday- Blue Raven Farm Stand

This is a farm stand that is famous for their PIES.  We took home a Chicken Pot Pie and a Peach/Raspberry Pie.  They were delicious!!!!!!!

Oregon Trip-Saturday- Alpacas

Along the way we saw an Alpaca farm.  Randy has always said he would like some Alpacas.  To bad he could not take them home on the airplane.  They were selling 2 for $1,000.00.  A little out of our price range also.

Oregon Trip-Saturday- McMinnville

 McMinnville, Oregon is a fun touristy town with a lot of unique boutiques and fun stores.

Wine tasting in every Restaurant and Bar.

Oregon Trip-Saturday- McMinnville

 The farms in this area are beautiful and green.  It is called the "Seed Capital of the World".  Some of the ones are grass seed (many varieties), radishes, peas, clover, etc.

 There are vineyards every where with tasting rooms at all the stops along the way.  It is a big thing here to do a wine tasting tour.  We just enjoyed looking at the vineyards.

 Blueberry Fields.

 Hazelnut Trees

The country side is beautiful; red barns; interesting houses; trains crossing over the road; old houses; tree lined roads.  It rained off and on all day.  It seemed to quite each time we were ready to get out of the car and go see something.  

Oregon Trip- Friday- Dinner

We drove in the driveway at the same time as Ben and Melanie got home.  So Randy, I and Melanie left and went through the drive through at Bugerville and brought dinner home.  They say Burgerville is an old staple and has been around forever in Monmouth.  It is great to buy local.  

Oregon Trip- Friday- Cinema

We took the boys to the movies.  DRAGON 2 was playing.  They have a new Cinema in Independence which was great to go to.  

Oregon Trip- Friday- River Road

The GPS directed us to use the River Road on the way back from Salem.  I am sure glad it did.  It was a gorgeous drive.