On our own trail to Oregon

Another road trip! Calista has done a lot of these, she's getting to be quite the experienced traveller, at least by car. This time, we went to Oregon for a family reunion of sorts. On our way, we stopped in Sparwood, BC to see a huge mining truck.

We listened to a retired man prattle on about driving the truck, searching for diamonds in NW Territories, and inspiring runs on books. Calista really just enjoyed the break from the carseat and the chance to eat some oatmeal.

We also stopped at Multnomah Falls, because Kyler had never been there.

Sadly, the trail to the top was closed due to landslides, so we only went up to the bridge. Still, a nice little walk and, again, break from the carseat.

The purpose of this trip was to go to the BEACH and see family.

Look! Beach + Family!

We  did a lot of different things the week or so we were in Oregon, all of it with my family. It was nice. So, let's review...

We went to Tillamook Cheese Factory - yum!

Calista absolutely loved the cheese, both real and toy. She also loved her first taste of ice cream (thanks, Aunt Loradona) and freaked out when she didn't get more (...thanks, Aunt Loradona). Kyler and I came back to Canada with quite a bit of our favorite cheeses, so everyone is happy.

We went to Seaside. It was a little rainy that day, but still fun.

We took our picture next to Lewis and Clark, because, you know, why not? We also went into this free, and a little lame, shark "museum"? "display"? Something. Since it was free, though, we don't have too many complaints.

Calista wanted to touch the sharks, maybe even eat them if we let her get close enough. What can I say? She likes seafood.

In general, though, she was unimpressed with the shark displays.

Kyler thought it was scary, though.


One of the biggest highlights of the trip was introducing Calista to the ocean and beach.

Where we stayed was only a couple blocks from the beach, so the second day of the trip, we took Calista to experience the sand and water.

At first, she was a little unsure of the sand.

Then she tried to eat it. She was only mildly successful. After attempting to eat sand, Kyler and I let her walk towards the ocean.

Calista didn't seem scared, so Kyler took her to see the waves.

She absolutely loved it!

It seems like we have a beach baby on our hands!

One of my goals for the trip was to go to the beach every day we were there, and I am proud to say I was successful! On days that the weather was like this:

it was easy. On other days, when it wasn't quite as nice, it was a little more difficult. But we still did it! We went to some really fun beaches, like Hug Point,

which had a pretty waterfall we simply had to take pictures by.

We saw some fun tidepools and an Oyster Catcher my sister named Oscar.

The beach that was my personal favorite of the trip, though, was Oswald West State Park.

It had some fun tidepools, and Calista loved playing in the waves.

She would try to run towards to ocean, as if to greet the incoming waves. Sometimes it seemed like she was yelling "back" at the waves as they roared towards her.

She loved the ocean so much!

All the playing in the water and sand exhausted her, and she fell asleep in the carrier.

So cute!

Since we were at the beach, we also ate a lot of fresh, tasty seafood.

I, uh, don't have any pictures of the food. We ate it too fast. But Indiana Calista enjoyed it!

One of the best parts of this trip was that my brother and his family were able to come out, too. This meant Calista got to play with the Cousins, Lilia and Ivy! They had some pool time together, since Oregon's ocean isn't the warmest.

Lilia and Ivy have matching swimsuits. They're adorable! It was so entertaining to watch Calista and Ivy interact, since they are so close in age. And Lilia, she's just a really funny girl.

Pajama'ed Ivy and Calista enjoying each other's company.

Calista and her Koosh. It was the one thing she didn't let Ivy steal. Ivy and Calista sometimes at least appeared to cooperate.

Alphabet puzzles are fun!

Maybe even more fun when you don't have a cousin you're competing with?

One of the last things we did in Oregon was after we got back from the beach: we went to the Rose Garden.

We pretended to be Royal Rosarians, because, you know, why not?

Calista was... less than thrilled. In this picture, at least.

She did get to touch the water in the fountain, though, so life's not all bad.

Our family at the Rose Garden!

All in all, it was a good trip.

Next up in the blogosphere: Canada Day and time in Raymond with the Rasmussen Clan!