Manzanita

We just returned from a short but sweet trip to the Oregon Coast -- Manzanita, to be specific.  We decided about a week ago that the summer wouldn't be complete without a couple of nights at the coast, and we were able to find a room at a modest but clean (e.g. no bed bugs) motel directly across from the beach right in the heart of the little town.  Perfect.  The weather forecast said "AM clouds/PM sun" with a high of 67 for the three days we were there, but the sun shone brightly and warmly from sunrise to sunset the whole time.  We even went swimming.  Swimming!  Not in the ocean, mind you -- we're not crazy.  The motel has a small heated outdoor pool that looks directly out to the ocean.  Between the pool and the endless running on the beach and the "treasures" found in the sand and the ice-cream cones, my kids were in heaven.  

I realize that for many people, a "beach" isn't a "beach" unless the air is hot, the water is warm, and the primary reason to go is to actually swim in the ocean.  I get it.  I've been to plenty of warm beaches, tropical or otherwise, and I find turquoise water, palm trees, and hot sand just as gorgeous and seductive as anyone.  But they don't restore my soul like the Oregon Coast does.  They don't leave me with a sense of wonder and awe at the utter magnitude of God's creation.  They don't fill my lungs with crisp, salty air and cleanse each cell in my body one breath at a time.  And, particularly poignant, they don't carry a lifetime's worth of family memories that I get to relive every time I visit.  Alas.  I'll forgo the care-free, pleasing, bikini-clad blonde-bombshell of a beach in favor of my moody, mysterious, bespeckled brunette bookworm of a beach anyday.  

Here are some 2012 highlights:

 Ice-cream before dinner?  Sure!

 I love this shot because it shows the grandeur of the Oregon Coast.

 Inspecting a crab's claw.  The beach is full of surprises and treasures.

 At Camp 18 about 30 minutes away from the coast.  I have been eating here for as long as I can remember, and absolutely nothing has changed.  I think I would literally cry if it ever closed down.  

Riding on a surrey in Seaside on our way out of town.  Kurt and I peddled that thing for 45 minutes and earned every bite of our lunch at Camp 18! 

Sunriver 2012

We just returned from our annual trip to Sunriver with our friends.  Man, did we have a great time.  I cannot overemphasize how grateful I feel to be a part of this group of people and this fun tradition.  Each one of these men, women, and children holds a tender and unique spot in my heart.  I start looking forward to next year's trip on the ride home from the current year's trip which is saying a lot considering there are 8 adults and 9 children sharing one roof for five straight days.  Here are the Olmsted's highlights for this year's adventure:

- Our dear friends, the Coulter's, joined us this year.  The Hintz's weren't able to go, which was truly sad for us, and we missed them!  In their absence, we invited the Coulters who moved away nearly 7 years ago.  What a gift to just pick up right where we all left off...the mark of true friends, right?  I hope they join us again and again!!

-  We rode our bikes everywhere everyday.  For those who haven't been to Sunriver, there are over 35 miles of bike paths throughout the resort that, quite literally, take you over the river and through the woods.  One day, we rode out to the marina, past the stables, past the little airport, all along the Deschutes River, and back through the woods and houses into the village.  The loop ended up being around 9 miles, and Madelyn rode her own bike the entire way.  This has definitely been the Summer of Bicycling for our family, and we are having so much fun with it.  Both kiddos love to ride, and it's so exhilarating to feel the wind against your body, knowing that you're moving by the power of your own two feet.  

-  Sunriver just opened a new aquatic center that is unbelievable.  Two huge water slides, one lazy river, one beach-entry baby pool with bubblers and fountains, a sand pit, one shallow pool, one deep pool, a restaurant, and 400 bike racks outside so you can easily ride to and from.  So awesome.  We all went every day, and both of our kiddos just loved being in the water.  Henry had this cool little float-suit that let him feel like he was "swimming," and Madelyn learned how to jump off the side of the pool and get her face in the water, which is a big deal for a Portland girl who only gets to swim about four times a year :)

-  There are deer all over Sunriver.  Given that the Olmsted children have no respect for sleeping in on vacation, Kurt and I took turns waking up early with them and going on a crisp, quiet walk looking for deer. We saw countless mamas with their twin babies, and the kiddos were delighted to see that the babies don't run, they bound like little spotted springs with floppy ears.  So stinkin' cute.  One morning, we even saw a daddy and a teenage boy deer with their antlers and fluffy necks.  

-  My kiddos don't have any cousins (yet?), so for us, being with this group of people is particularly special because these children function just like cousins for my kids.  I loved seeing different combinations of kids curled up on the couch together or chasing each other around the park or playing imaginatively in the bunk room.  Each pair or trio has their own unique way of relating, and I loved how fluidly they could move from one friend or activity to another.  

-  All of the kids go to bed around 7:30, so the adults got some good adult-only time every night for several hours which was super fun.  It felt like one big non-scandalous co-ed sleepover where we laughed and told stories and goofed around...and drank a Coulter concoction that henceforth will be known as the "Loosey Brucey" (Bruce being one of our friends who evidently becomes uncharacteristically verbose with one of these under his belt.  Funny, funny stuff.).

Anyway, I could go on and on, but I'll let these photos fill in the gaps.  Loosey Brucey put it together for us and did a great job :)