Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Beach + Family = Joy

We are home after 3 days at the coast with our 3 adult children, 2 DILs and 6 grandkids.  We're tired and bit sun-kissed and we all had a good time.  We stayed in the Looking Glass Inn in the little town of Taft which is part of Lincoln City which is in the north central area of the Oregon Coast on the Pacific Ocean.  It's a perfect place for kids, as there is a pretty protected bay which the Siletz River feeds and it flows right into the Pacific Ocean so you get to enjoy the sea while watching the children play in the safe bay waters.  The 5 youngest grands.
Our young grandsons, Caleb and Hayden, sitting on the edge of the sidewalk and Jenna is running to see them for the first time in 2 years.  
The beach here is littered with driftwood, our 6 grandkids climbed upon this old tree that washed ashore years ago. :-)  On top is Gabriel, then Hayden, to the left is Michael, then Caleb, Jenna then Paige.  
Buddy loves the water. 
The hotel had a big pile of loaner beach toys for kids to use.. our kids got great use out of them.  The pier runs out from the sidewalk next to Mo's Chowder restaurant. 
The kids.  See the big bird?  It was a bald eagle!  We saw it dive, catch a fish and fly over to the beach to eat it.  That was cool! 
Off to the right is the ocean and seals gather here to rest after catching fish and eating them. 
Looking back at Mo's which is right across from the hotel.. we had dinner there on Sunday night and lunch there on Monday. It's famous for it's clam chowder.  3 of the kids on the right.
Here is DIL Beth with the kids and they're burying Gabe in the sand.  :-) 
On the beach were many beach plants - the color of this Sweet Pea was beautiful! 
Our son Shawn and his family only stayed one night as they had to work.  This is lunch after they left.. do you think Caleb adores his girl cousins? :-) 
Hayden came around the table to get in the photo. 
One of my favorite things in the world is seeing the sun sparkling off water.  So pretty. 
I love this image of the seals in the sun with the 2 kids and the sparkles on the water. 
Our youngest, Travis, drove his classic 1966 Mustang GT fastback down to the beach.  He gets lots of looks when he drives this car.  See the car behind?  That's me waving! After we said goodbye to our older son's family, we drove down to Depoe Bay to get the kids some saltwater taffy and do a bit of souvenir shopping.  Then we headed north to a Japanese restaurant for dinner.  It was good! 
Last night I snapped this photo of the full moon from inside of our hotel room!!   
This morning was spent packing up the cars and then we headed north and had lunch before saying goodbye to the ocean and heading home.  We're just relaxing now and catching up on the local and world news.  Congratulations to England for the birth of it's newest Royal baby!  I'm thrilled for Will and Kate!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

23 comments:

  1. I am SO glad you all enjoyed your time there at Siletz Bay...that is always a fav of ours too when my daughter and her family comes out. The kids are SO cute and I am in love with that red Mustang--of course who wouldn't be?
    Where's the Japanese restaurant? I know one south of LC but none north of there--and I LOVE Japanese food!
    Glad you made it safely home...
    Blessings,
    Aimee
    PS: It is awesome about the new Cambridge baby-I am very happy for the couple too:)

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    1. It's Momiji Japanese and Chinese located in the Tanger Factory Outlets in Lincoln City. It's GOOD!! You pull into the entrance and it's directly to the right. :-)

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  2. I would say that your family, especially the children, are having a wonderful time. Put children on the beach with a bucket and a shovel and they will play all day. I recall when we took our 2 girls to Ft. Myers, to Sannibel Island (did I spell that right). They had the time of their life hunting shells and playing in the sand and water. By the end of the day everyone sleeps well too from all that fresh air and sunlight. As always, I love all your photos of family and the beautiful scenic views. I am sure by the end of those days you were tired like you said, but oh what wonderful memories you have to keep always.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  3. It is spelled Sanibel, heavens, it has been so long since we were there that I forgot how to spell it, lol
    Susanne :)

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  4. What fun! I recognized where many of the photos were taken since that is the area we like to go to when we head to the beach in Lincoln City, but we have missed the seals! You took some wonderful photos, Teresa, and captured both beauty and joy as you intended to. Thanks for posting :)
    Gracie xx

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  5. Sounds like a perfect trip Teresa!!! The pictures of the kids all together melts me!
    XO Kris

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  6. Loved these pictures Teresa. I can almost smell the ocean breezes. That particular Mo's is where we always manage to eat at least one or two times every visit to Lincoln City. We also saw the Japanese Restaurant on our last visit but had just come from Mo's so we didn't eat there. Will have to keep that in mind for next time.
    It sure looks like the kids had a wonderful time together. I'm just SO VERY, VERY happy for you my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  7. Wow what a perfect family trip. I love time with family ... It makes everything even more special. Loooooove the 1966 mustang. We just bought an old one for my son and he is spending time this summer getting it ready to be totally restored ... That is going to be his first car when my husband and he finish it.... He is very excited. Love to have a little peak at you waving behind the mustang.
    I'm so glad you are having such a wonderful summer vacation :)

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  8. It seems absolutely idyllic! I love to see my grandchildren all playing together! That's why I chose to go to a noisy family restaurant with all bar 2 instead of a high class place.....much more fun! I, too, love to see the sun catching on the sea. Some lovely photos...and wonderful memories! Joan

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  9. All your grandchildren are beautiful and they obviously love each other very much. Sounds like you guys had a lovely holiday together. xox

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  10. All your grandchildren are beautiful and its obvious they love each other very much. Sounds like you guys had a lovely holiday together. xox

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  11. How wonderful to have all the grandchildren together. Looks like you all had a wonderful time.

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  12. hello Teresa and what a fabulous time you re having. It is good to see the photographs of your lovely family. Your son's car is a beauty.
    Stunning photos as always!! I too love the sparkly water. Love and hugs Anne x

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  13. Hi Teresa,
    This is the most gorgeous post full of lovely family good times. So lovely to have wonderful things to read when there is so much sadness and grief in the world.
    Thank you to for becoming a follower and showing an interest in our local community's fight against the McDonalds development in Tecoma.
    Anne xx

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  14. Teresa what a beautiful location! You took some amazing photos! I love the one of the kids silhouetted against the ocean. My son will love the Mustang photo. He is 14 and adores them. My grandma had a metallic purple one back in the mid-70s. What a fun family time!

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  15. Such a lovely post, Teresa. You all had a wonderful time together and you got so many beautiful photos. I just love that shot of Caleb with the girls, what a sweetie. That beach is gorgeous, I would really like to visit someday.

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  16. Loved all these pictures and hearing about this happy time for your family, Teresa. So good to see the little (and not so little now) cousins together again! The ocean pix are gorgeous.....and like you, sun sparkling on water is one of my favourite things too.
    Enjoy the rest of your family time.
    Helen x

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  17. I JUST KNEW I WOULD LOVE READING THIS POST! what wonderful day at the beach. I even got excited to see the pictures of the seals.....that's just awesome! and that purdy red car!!!! That says "Shari" all over it!
    Hugs to you!

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  18. Oh Teresa, it looks like you have made tremendous memories for all your grand kids to hold close to their hearts. You are giving the girls such a beautiful vacation. Love every photo. Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  19. What a special family holiday Teresa. Your grandkids are so charming and they must be loving spending time together again.. Enjoy the rest of the time all together. Your beach photos are lovely and the moon looks like a real man in the moon ;0) x

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  20. Beautiful family and pictures. The beach and water look amazing! Glad you had a nice trip. I'm jealous.

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  21. Well I am so happy you had such a wonderful time together. Treasured memories indeed. Happy days

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  22. Looks like a lovely time for the family. XOXO

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