Thanksgiving at Rockaway Beach

Our trip was SO fun and relaxing.  The view from our house was absolutely beautiful...such a gorgeous sight to wake up to every morning!  We spent every morning sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee and watching the waves.  The boys INSISTED they saw whales, hammerhead sharks and sea turtles through the telescope.  :)

The house was big and comfy.  My Uncle Ruben and his wife Denise, my cousin Stephanie and her kids Kellsye, Sydnie and Rylin all came to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  As you can see in the picture, Dad made the mashed potatoes.  :)  It was so fun to have them there with us!  We had a coloring contest and watched a whole days' worth of football.  We also got to drive into Tillamook to visit Dave's grandpa Kleinow and his aunt, uncle and cousin.  It was a long, full, fun day spent with family - absolutely perfect. 

 

On Saturday we drove into Seaside for a little "adventure", as the boys called it.  We went to the outlet mall and did some Christmas shopping, ate lunch at El Mariachi Loco (our favorite Mexican restaurant in Seaside), rode the carousel and of course we had to go to the arcade!  Papa bought the boys some more stuff at the toy store.  Everywhere we go, Papa buys his grandboys something special.  Hunter ended up with a bag of marbles, a koosh ball shaped like a pig and a package of glow-in-the dark stars for his bedroom ceiling.  Coop picked out a rubber snake, a 'Cars' die-cast car and a harmonica (which had to be confiscated once or twice).  He left the snake in Nana's pillowcase and scared the daylights out of her.  :)

I have not stopped thinking about our trip since we got home, and every time I think about it I thank God we got to go.  There was a time not too long ago where we could not go anywhere for more than a weekend because of Dave's job.  Now that he has a different one, he can take more time off!  We are already talking about renting a bigger house next Thanksgiving, that way we can invite more people! 

I love my family and I love my life.  Thank you, God, for these blessings!