DARWIN is on his 12th year of teaching, currently at Springville High School teaching astronomy, geology, environmental science, and physics. He also teaches physics at UVU for a 7 week STEM summer school program for junior high students. He also teaches teenagers in our church ward. He's super busy, but still makes time to be an awesome dad and husband.
Day 8
I was really excited to take the girls to Sea Lion Caves. It was really cool for me the last time we went to Yachats and I was excited to take our girls to experience it too. While we were getting ready for the day, the girls had some sister/iPad time together
Outside Sea Lion Caves gift shop
Turns out there weren't any sea lions to see this time. They naturally come and go from the cave and this year they left earlier than usual. We were all totally bummed. At least they discounted our admission, I guess.
I think Aurora still had a good time even though we didn't get to see any sea lions (actually, we did see 4 or 5 swimming in the water, but they were so far away it was really hard to see them). She really loved riding the elevator down deep into the mountain, and we had to do it twice.
Yee-Ha!
I know she doesn't look happy, but we had a hard time getting her to leave this statue.
Dar got this cool shot of Heceta Head Lighthouse from the Sea Lion Caves parking lot before we headed back to the beach house
After naps and lunch we prepared to go back outside to enjoy the sunshine on the beach. I love that these two are such great buds! I've been trying to teach Rori that Savy is her BFF :)
We just hung out and had a good time being goofy :) We sure love this guy!
Me and Savy :)
Finally a shot of our beach house from the sandy spot we liked to play at. I didn't zoom in so you could see how close we really were to the ocean. So cool.
Dar and Rori coming back from one of the many potty-breaks of the trip :)
Dar, Rori, Geo and Grandma watching the waves come in
It was so nice (and warm) that afternoon that Dar couldn't resist the urge to swim in the ocean--even if the water was freezing cold.
My soggy honey after his ocean swim
Saved from the treacherous waves by driftwood :)
The founders of the family--we love you guys!!
Aurora giving "Sally the Sea Lion" she got at Sea Lion Caves a piggy-back ride
Last shot of the driftwood at high tide - it was washed away by the next morning
That night we had a fire on the beach and roasted hot dogs and ate S'mores (but we didn't get any pictures). That was the last night there for the 4 of us. We had to leave a day earlier than every one else for Dar to get back to work.
Day 9
Dar and I got everything ready and all packed into our trusty "green car" as Rori so lovingly calls it. We got a few last family pictures at the beach before heading out to Devil's Churn with everyone
Our sweet Rori and her Sally
(who actually lost her spots when I washed her when we got home)
Rori took this picture of Daddy with Sally :)
Her hair was so curly! The humidity definitely helps keep the curls looking cute. Love it!
Devil's Churn
Geo, Rori and Sally
Hiking around on the rocks together. Geo is always Rori's buddy when she's around. She loves and misses you so much!!
Daddy and Savy
Beautiful Dre
Our little rock climber
A dew covered spider web I found. Cool, huh?
Dre and Rori playing hide-and-seek :)
Our next stop was to an Oregon State University visitors center (can't remember the name of it now) in Newport that was really hands-on and great for kids (and adults) to learn about the ocean.
This is a piece of a dock that floated over to our west coast as a result of the Japan tsunami. Kind of cool, huh?
A great big ocean bouy
Checking out the anemone (aka: squishies) with Dad
Sorry, Andrea--had to post this one.
I loved her reaction when she found out you could actually touch a sea urchin--she was thrilled! :)
Listening to different ocean sounds
Learning about erosion--Uncle Ryan was a huge help!
She was so excited that there were so many "Bubbles" fish (finding Nemo)
This totally cracked me up--There were footprints on the floor encouraging you to go into a certain display room and since they were barefoot prints, Rori had to take her socks and shoes off to walk on them :)
Look at the size of those walrus tusks! Almost as long as Savy!
The last thing we did on our trip was color pictures. Georgiana tried to give her awesome picture to Aurora, but Aurora insisted it was Geo's. Oh well. At least you tried :)
Last picture of the trip
We said goodbye to everyone, they were all staying one more night at the beach house, and we headed home after that. It was a LONG drive home. We decided to drive home through the night. We left Newport around 6:00pm Utah time and pulled in to my parents house just before 9:00am the next morning. We really only stopped for a quick dinner at Burger King and then quick fill-ups on gas the whole way home. It was rough driving through the night--Darwin and I switched off and took turns driving then sleeping--but it was really nice that the girls slept for the vast majority of the drive home. It made the drive better to not have to make so many stops.
Thanks again, Mom, for watching the girls so we could get a short nap in before heading home. Sorry we shared colds with you and with everyone else.
Thanks, D family, for such a great vacation!
When do we go again? :)
Turns out there weren't any sea lions to see this time. They naturally come and go from the cave and this year they left earlier than usual. We were all totally bummed. At least they discounted our admission, I guess.
I think Aurora still had a good time even though we didn't get to see any sea lions (actually, we did see 4 or 5 swimming in the water, but they were so far away it was really hard to see them). She really loved riding the elevator down deep into the mountain, and we had to do it twice.
Yee-Ha!
I know she doesn't look happy, but we had a hard time getting her to leave this statue.
Dar got this cool shot of Heceta Head Lighthouse from the Sea Lion Caves parking lot before we headed back to the beach house
After naps and lunch we prepared to go back outside to enjoy the sunshine on the beach. I love that these two are such great buds! I've been trying to teach Rori that Savy is her BFF :)
We just hung out and had a good time being goofy :) We sure love this guy!
Me and Savy :)
Finally a shot of our beach house from the sandy spot we liked to play at. I didn't zoom in so you could see how close we really were to the ocean. So cool.
Dar and Rori coming back from one of the many potty-breaks of the trip :)
Dar, Rori, Geo and Grandma watching the waves come in
It was so nice (and warm) that afternoon that Dar couldn't resist the urge to swim in the ocean--even if the water was freezing cold.
My soggy honey after his ocean swim
Saved from the treacherous waves by driftwood :)
The founders of the family--we love you guys!!
Aurora giving "Sally the Sea Lion" she got at Sea Lion Caves a piggy-back ride
Last shot of the driftwood at high tide - it was washed away by the next morning
That night we had a fire on the beach and roasted hot dogs and ate S'mores (but we didn't get any pictures). That was the last night there for the 4 of us. We had to leave a day earlier than every one else for Dar to get back to work.
Day 9
Dar and I got everything ready and all packed into our trusty "green car" as Rori so lovingly calls it. We got a few last family pictures at the beach before heading out to Devil's Churn with everyone
Our sweet Rori and her Sally
(who actually lost her spots when I washed her when we got home)
Rori took this picture of Daddy with Sally :)
Her hair was so curly! The humidity definitely helps keep the curls looking cute. Love it!
Devil's Churn
Geo, Rori and Sally
Hiking around on the rocks together. Geo is always Rori's buddy when she's around. She loves and misses you so much!!
Daddy and Savy
Beautiful Dre
Our little rock climber
A dew covered spider web I found. Cool, huh?
Dre and Rori playing hide-and-seek :)
Our next stop was to an Oregon State University visitors center (can't remember the name of it now) in Newport that was really hands-on and great for kids (and adults) to learn about the ocean.
This is a piece of a dock that floated over to our west coast as a result of the Japan tsunami. Kind of cool, huh?
A great big ocean bouy
Checking out the anemone (aka: squishies) with Dad
Sorry, Andrea--had to post this one.
I loved her reaction when she found out you could actually touch a sea urchin--she was thrilled! :)
Listening to different ocean sounds
Learning about erosion--Uncle Ryan was a huge help!
She was so excited that there were so many "Bubbles" fish (finding Nemo)
This totally cracked me up--There were footprints on the floor encouraging you to go into a certain display room and since they were barefoot prints, Rori had to take her socks and shoes off to walk on them :)
Look at the size of those walrus tusks! Almost as long as Savy!
The last thing we did on our trip was color pictures. Georgiana tried to give her awesome picture to Aurora, but Aurora insisted it was Geo's. Oh well. At least you tried :)
Last picture of the trip
We said goodbye to everyone, they were all staying one more night at the beach house, and we headed home after that. It was a LONG drive home. We decided to drive home through the night. We left Newport around 6:00pm Utah time and pulled in to my parents house just before 9:00am the next morning. We really only stopped for a quick dinner at Burger King and then quick fill-ups on gas the whole way home. It was rough driving through the night--Darwin and I switched off and took turns driving then sleeping--but it was really nice that the girls slept for the vast majority of the drive home. It made the drive better to not have to make so many stops.
Thanks again, Mom, for watching the girls so we could get a short nap in before heading home. Sorry we shared colds with you and with everyone else.
Thanks, D family, for such a great vacation!
When do we go again? :)
2 comments:
I have LOVED reading these posts! Makes me want to go visit up there. My parents went up there about 2 weeks after you guys. So its been fun showing them your posts too! My FAVORITE thing is how Sally became a picture staple! How freakin' cute!
Love it! Andd seeing the trip through Rori's eyes is priceless! And getting a cold was worth it just to be able to see you all! xo
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