Like a Lighthouse...

With no real plans, we decided to head South from Lincoln City and made our way down to Florence, to the Sea Lion Caves.  On the way, we saw a sign for a Historic Lighthouse.  So we went!

 You first stopped at the interpretive center to get signed up for a tour.  We arrived close to 10:00, a stop on our way to glass blowing at 11:00.  However, the first tour of the day was at noon, so we decided to stick around and wait.  After all, how often do you have the chance to go inside a working lighthouse?

 They had a lot of history about that particular lighthouse, but also so history about how a lighthouse was supposed to run.  I had read a book about it once (A Light Between Two Oceans, good read) so I knew a little bit about it already.  It was so interesting to hear how they came to the design that they use even now.  From a tragedy back in the 1800's came a design that can withstand many, many storms.  Like a lighthouse, standing bold against the rain.  Shining through the night to warn of dangers in our way...

 With an hour to go yet, we were shown a room that held all of the games that would help keep the children of the lighthouse keepers entertained.  And let me just say, for kids that are used to electronics, my kids loved these games!  By the time we needed to leave for the tour, they weren't really ready to leave.  And we had been there almost two hours.

 You make an X at the tip of your two stick, steady the hoop on the X, and then slightly flick your wrists to send the hoop flying through the air to the other player.  We all played with each other for quite a while.

And then Brennon made the perfect catch! 

 Jacob's Ladder

Yo-Yo

 Coloring the picture to make their own button

 Word searches

(Those lips!)

 Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

 It is still a working lighthouse, still up to Coast Guard standards after all this time.

 This was our tour guide.  We were transported back to the 1870's, interviewing for his job.  He could not wait to move it in command, getting a raise from $600 to $800 per year.  He said the job included three things: Hard work, fun, and fulfillment.  Hard work is a given, fun is too, the fulfillment comes knowing you are saving lives.

 View from the rotunda- which he said was a very beautiful room meaning Round Room.  The kids liked that one.

 I was all ready to have our kids go last, since it would take them longer with their short legs.  Our guide had other ideas, and let our family go first.

 Perfect for the mommy that loves to take pictures.

 View from the top, looking down.

We survived the climb!

 This lighthouse was built completely out of bricks.  Randy and I found out this week that the lighthouse in Pasco Harbor was made by four slabs welded together.  The standards have not changed for lighthouse guidelines, they have just found easier ways to build them.  This one has been up and running since 1873.

 This is a look in the center of the light.  Times have changed with electricity, but they still have to be able to project the light 20 miles out.  Because of the perfect design of the glass (constructed here on site, shipped from France) this is a simple 1000W light bulb.  The signal for Yaquina Head is 2 seconds on, two seconds off, two seconds on, fourteen seconds off.  This signal lets captains know how far up the coast they have traveled in the pitch black of night, storm or no storm.

This is a picture of the bottom level windows.  Five feet thick brick on the bottom, getting thinner as you go taller.  They learned their lesson when a lighthouse on the East Coast was blown over, killing the keeper and his entire family.  They learned that they needed to be bottom heavy, and changed their ways.  The insignia of all of the uniforms are to commemorate that tragedy.

The kids came out of the lighthouse and looked up at what they had just climbed.  We were approached by a woman, telling us how she could not resist telling us how impressed she was with our kids.  Unknown to us then, but we were stopped three times, in three different cities, all telling us how well-behaved our kids were, and how impressed they were with them.  I couldn't agree more.  I have the best kids, ever!

First stop on our first full day on the coast.✔️

Over the River...

On Saturday morning, we packed up our Yukon and headed over the river and through the woods to...The Oregon Coast for vacation.  It was breathtaking, the views we got to take in.

 Instead of following the Columbia River down on the Oregon side, we decided to take the longer, scenic route in Washington.  It turned out to be quite eventful.  We saw a sign that said Historic Stonehenge and decided to turn our car around and go see it.  It was stunning!

 Each of the columns inside are for a man that died during a battle, long ago.  It was so beautiful.

 I wanted a picture of my kids where they could pose any way they wanted.  This tree was the perfect place to stand.  I sure love these kids.

 We saw this amazing museum and decided why not, we don't have definite plans.  It was closed.  We decided that if we were ever looking for a day-cation, this would be our next place, in the summer.

 The other side of the river is Oregon, the route we usually take.  Our side was full of greenery, the Oregon side was full of snow.  The drive was gorgeous.

 The water along the entire drive was so beautiful, the perfect color of turquoise.

 I love sleeping in the car pictures.  The one time my kids can stand to touch each other on any kind of drive.

This little girl threw up less than an hour into the drive.  She didn't feel well the rest of the time, poor thing.

Tillamook Cheese Factory  is one of the things on Randy's Oregon Coast Tour.  We had places that we wanted to see, but not real plans as to when we would accomplish them, also knowing that we wouldn't get to them all this trip.  We have plans to come again and again to fit it all in.

 There wasn't much production at all.  These are the only two workers we saw, other than the ones selling stuff in the front of the factory.  It was still fun to see the 40 pound blocks of cheese come out into the bags, move down the conveyor, and then be shrink-wrapped and boxed.

 Of course we had to sample the ice cream and buy some cheese.  It was a blast, and surprisingly cheap to get seven people cones.  It was a great way to start our time on the Oregon Coast.

When we finally make it to our destination, Lincoln City, we can barely wait to get onto the beach.  With the sun going down quickly, and the skies being overcast, we had limited time for pictures.  No worries, it all worked out better than expected.

 This was a large piece of hollow seaweed that he found almost immediately.  Look how big that thing is.  It was surprisingly heavy, as well.

We took our flashlights and looked through the jagged rocks for tide pools that held all sorts of amazing life.  It was kind of scary, since it was pitch black, but for our tiny lights, but it was a blast!  Day one of our vacation was a wonderful success!  I was already in love with The Coast.

Museums

On our incredibly scenic drive today, to a spot I've never been, we passed through a town that has a massive building that read Air Museum. 

Brennon: "Air Museum? Who would ever want to go to a museum about air?!?!"

All I know is this boy was sucking air a lot of the drive. Dramamine sure makes his drive go by quicker!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2015!

Reindeer Games

 Our week has been full of fun and games!

Ticket to Ride

 

  

Shy cuties that don't want their mommy taking pictures of them through the 'bushes' like a creeper.

Tenzi

We had a few winners.  If I wasn't playing at the time, I was able to capture some of their winnings.

Caden and Shelby won too, but it was always when I was actually playing.  But, in all honesty, Keilie and Brennon won the most.  Tyson's hands were just a little too slow and a little too small to grasp all ten dice, and Caden and Shelby just weren't high rollers, I guess.  

I'm not sure what this was called, but we borrowed it from Jamie.  It may look easy, but it has difficulty levels that had the kids working for hours.  It was quite fun.

Randy, Keilie, and Caden played Settlers Across America, but I didn't get pictures of that game.  

(I was getting a massage!)

Blokus

 Notice Randy's left hand.  This is his signature listen-to-me-I-know-what-I'm-talking-about-so-let-me-teach-you gesture.  He does this all the time when he is talking or selling something.  

Classic Randy.

Tyson wanted to play Randy and surprised us all.  He is a good little strategist.  You could hear the surprise in Randy's voice every time he complimented Ty.  Fun to hear.

Upwords

  These are the types of games I feel most impressive and secure.  I rock word games.

Oh, and 'work it Shelby!'  Look at that pose!

Bop-It

Oh, and if I thought I was good at word games, I just found out I am even better at Bop-It.  I have a weird way of holding it, and yes, it is easier for me to concentrate with my eyes closed, but boy did I rock that game.  Randy held the high score for a solid 6 hours, at 46.  I lie down for a serious try? 

NINETY TWO!!  BAM- WHAT?!

We also played quite a few games of Pass the Pigs.  I didn't get any pictures of that one, cause let's be honest, that game is addicting.  I couldn't put the pigs down long enough to reach for the camera. 

I has been fun to stay home (inside, safe from the wind) and just play games.  The kids watched TV until we came downstairs (remember they wake before the sun, most mornings).   As soon as we hit the landing, they were screaming, "Hi, Mom! What are we playing?" and the TV was turned off for the entire day, both days.  It was an absolute blast!  The perfect way to bring in our Christmas Spirit.

Merry Christmas!!

Now... Pass the Pigs, anyone?!  

Oh, and good luck beating my Bop-It, Kiddies!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!