1- When you go on a trip to the Oregon coast ALWAYS pack for cold weather, including a hooded jacket.  (you'd think I'd would have learned this one LAST year)

2- We saw real live wild whales and seals.  We saw a seal while we were playing on the rocks,  He was watching us and waiting for us to leave so he could come up on shore.  pretty cool!  My husband also said he saw one swim between our two boys who were playing in the surf... I tell ya what, THIS momma was ready to pull the boys OUT of the water.  Here is a question for you Oregon folks. Do seals attack people?  Like little swimming legs!?

3- Our plan was to spend three days driving down the coast then turn inland. It was cold and windy weather the first two days.  Finally the third day and our last afternoon the sun came out and we napped on the beach while the boys made sand castles.  AAhhhhhhh.....

4-We also found an off the beaten path beach where there were fishermen.  We got to talking to one and he showed us how to fish from the shore.  He caught a few fish. Nothing huge but I had never seen a flounder before, very weird looking fish. I can't remember the name of the other kind of fish that he was after.  As he caught them he threw them in a bucket.  Brett was poking at one (not a flounder, the other kind) and you can't believe what happened.  Babies came out.  My boys then had to spend time squeezing this dead fish and "rescue the babies". We threw them back in the water.... I don't think any of them were alive.  The fishermen probably thought we were crazy.  He was a neat guy though and didn't seem to mind the boys. 

5-We had a close call when Brett stepped in a yellow jacket nest while hiking through a wooded area.  Tim turned around and a swarm was just rising from the ground at Brett's feet.  He reached over yanked him outa there.  Thank goodness they didn't decide to attack and no one got stung. 

6- Blueberries grow wild in Oregon.  Like the ones you pay big bucks for in Safeway. YUM. And our friend has raspberry bushes and several other berry bushes.  Oh I LOVE berries. 

7- Remember last year we got to volunteer to stay off an overbooked flight and got round trip tickets in return?  Thus this year’s trip was possible.   This year, our flight was cancelled.  What did we get?  Nuthin.  They did put us up at a hotel for the night, but no tickets.  Bummer. The hotel they sent us to was NOT ready for the extra people.  At the restaurant we waited an hour for our food.  Ever sit in a restaurant with 3 tired cranky children (not to mention the momma) for an hour?  Not fun.  Though I have to compliment my children, they actually did behave pretty well under the circumstances. 

8- It is true.  I’ve just proved that a 4 yr old can sleep anywhere when he is truly tired.  Any of you been at Denver International Airport?  You know the area where one waits for the shuttle to take you to your hotel?  “Island 3” .  It’s this little cement island between lanes of traffic. There are busses and shuttles going past on both sides of you. It is noisy, confusing and people are everywhere.  This is an area of complete chaos to my small town mind.  Remember I live near a town that boasts ONE stop light.  My Brett fell asleep lying on the cement with his head partly on my foot and partly on a suitcase.  I’m thinkin THIS is a blog entry for sure.   My camera battery was dead……. Oh how I wish I had a picture.