Jim Creek did not disappoint again this year. I put my phone aka camera down for the majority of the trip. That was healing and refueling. No work texts, no email. Just fresh air and free time.
The kids ran and played for hours. Nothing was open except for the little store, so no planned activities. Some of the other Mom's put together and intense scavenger hunt that had the kids biking for a couple hours. What I enjoyed the most was seeing the kids find things do to on their own. They'd come in for food. In the end the whole group stayed healthy. Fresh air can make dreams come true. 🌅
July 2020 Seaside trip
This year - like everything else in 2020, the trip was different.
It was just us 3.
Karol & Doug generously kept the condo for our use.
So. Much. Fun.
The pictures below are in random order, here's a run-down of our trip
We stopped in Burien to see Karol before we left and to get some sand toys/water toys.
We stopped just after the Washington/Oregon border to capture the beginning of our adventure.
The weather offered everything and it was perfect.
The water was warm.
Plentiful Dugeness crab at our feet! If we wanted to catch them, fantastic. We wanted to swim! Knowing and seeing crab at ones feet adds another dimension to swimming in the ocean! I've never seen crab while swimming at Seaside.🦀
We did a lot of what we would normally do.
Ordered pizza from our favorite place. 🍕
Spent a day in Cannon Beach, including hitting up the candy shop & bakery
Walked the Promenade.
Ate Elephant Ears.
Expressed sadness that the Tilt-A-Whirl, bumper cars and mini golf was closed.
Found an AMAZING gelato place. Memorable dessert for sure.
Played in the water a lot.
On our final day - ate in a restaurant for the first time since the pandemic started. Pig N Pancake.
Then hit the road home.
This trip will stay in my memories forever.
💕 I LOVE this picture. 💕
July 26th
Ryan turns 13. 🎂
French toast for breakfast
Mac N Cheese for lunch
Cookie cake
Out to dinner with his Dad
His gift: a new pair of Nike's. Per his request. 👟
He's a teenager.
July 31st
Kathryn turns 11!
Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, with ham and bacon of course. 🥓 My meat eater in the house
I think she skipped lunch because she was so full from breakfast.
S'mores Cheesecake by request. 🥮
The remaining time together this summer was low key. Lots of afternoons at Greenlake. When the neighbors got home from Alaska we collaboratively put a 'only outdoor play' mandate in place, since the neighbor kids were on a plane. It was brilliant. The boys made their own lawn care business that they did for about a week and made I think close to $400. 🌳 Their poster is shown below.
They pitched tents in our backyard and slept out there. ⛺
In mid-august, the kids left to spend their vacation time with their Dad. Cookie Dough stayed with me. Demeter-kitty has really started to show her age these past few weeks. She needs a trip to the vet, but I am dragging my feet. I don't really want what they'll have to say. Her kidneys are failing, I know this. I just want to soak up every minute I have with her. For a few weeks, she made the dining table her home. Didn't love that, but also gave her grace.
What's to come:
School starts Tuesday. 🎒
Paul and I had different ideas of what school should look like for the kids. I wanted all in, 5 days a week. He wanted all remote or at most 2 days a week. We compromised at 3 days per week. I can't be there for their first day back. Strict protocols on students/parents on campus for social distancing. (and it's Paul's day) Have to complete an app questionnaire every morning about the status of their health. Temps taken every morning by school staff. Masks worn all day. 😷 Definite risks to on campus school. However, the benefits supersede the risks. They need their friends, teachers & structure. This first semester will be very interesting.
