Westport, WA--Day 2: Some Fun Before Heading Home

The next morning we decided to pack up early so we could head into town for breakfast and go straight to the beach without having to worry about getting back before check out time to do it.  I fed the boys before we left because they just don't eat well at restaurants and I wanted them to be fueled up for the beach!

That's a big bite for a little boy!

 After breakfast we went to Half Moon Bay, which is closer to town.  It was definitely less windy that day but a little more overcast.  Ethan, of course, headed straight to the water with his dad.

 Watching the waves roll in from the comfort of their "thrones"

 Carter assumed the position on Papa's shoulder, just hoping no one would make him get in the water!

 It was a little overcast, but you could see the pretty Olympics in the distance.  We pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves.

 Carter checking out the seaweed...

 ...and throwing it, too!

 Tristan's attempt to get Carter interested in the water

 Some people had managed to get their kites up despite the fact that it wasn't as windy as the day before

 Carter explored the beach and hung out by our little base camp most of the time.

 Murphy's law...so we bought a kite and then it wasn't windy.  Tristan decided to try to get ours up anyway.

 This was about it.  I guess we'll have to make another trip back to try again!

 Enjoying lunch from the back of his dump truck

 This little fort has been on this beach for a long time.  Ethan had fun exploring it after he ate lunch.

 Time for a little fun in the sand before heading home!

We packed up and headed back for Olympia around 1.  I was driving my mom back, but from what Tristan says both boys were asleep within 10 minutes of being on the road.  It was quick get-away, but the boys had a blast and it was nice to unplug and just relax as a family for a few days.

Westport,WA--Day 1: The Evening

After we got settled in at our cabins, we decided to head into town to wander around and pick up some salt water taffy (of course!!).  The boys were so tired and Ethan had a hard time staying awake on the short (less than 10 minutes) car ride.

 Carter, who isn't used to not napping, just couldn't hold on.  You know he's fading quickly when his arms go behind his head.  Usually it's both arms but he must have been too tired to bring the other one up!

Going, going...

 ...gone!

 We grabbed a parking spot and went for a little walk along the boardwalk.

Ethan checking out all of the boats

 It was such a pretty day.  You could clearly see the Olympics in the distance.

 We caught all the fishing boats as they were coming in, so we stopped to watch the people weigh in their catch.  Look at that salmon!!  Yum!

 We wandered out on the pier to check out a gift shop and, of course, made a few purchases!!

 Crab pots stacked on the pier

 Then we headed back to the boardwalk to find a kite to use the next day.

The boys had to stop and smell the flowers!

 Ethan pretending to sneeze

 Carter loving the pinwheels at the kite shop

 Ethan really liked this flower pinwheel.

 Then we walked to the end of the boardwalk to pick up a BUNCH of taffy before we headed home for a late dinner.

The cottages we stayed in were really cute (and really reasonably priced.  I think they were around $60 a night)!  I thought I got a picture of the outside but I must have forgotten to.  Each one has it's own theme.  My parents' was a nautical/pirate them and ours was a Hawaiian theme.  This is the living area.  Behind it there are two bedrooms with 3 beds total and a bathroom.

 Off the living area there was a full kitchen.  There is also a little playground and picnic area that has both propane and charcoal BBQs.  We decided to BBQ burgers and hot dogs and had a nice little dinner at our cottage.

 After visiting for a little bit, my parents headed off to bed and we settled in for a movie night.  The beds couldn't be moved against the wall and I was worried about Carter rolling off of it, so we just decided to put one mattress down on the floor for both boys for the night in the living room (there wasn't enough room to do it in the bedroom).

All settled in to watch Madagascar

 Sleepy little guys

The boys slept great.  This was their first glimpse at what it will be like to share a room when their little brother arrives!  It was a full day with lots of fun and sun and we were all ready for some rest by the end of the day!

Westport, WA--Day 1: Hangin' at the Beach

My dad has his own business now and has accounts that he services twice a month in Westport.  Once a month he stays the night out there so he has gotten to know the area and people really well and wanted to treat us to an overnighter with our family before little one #3 arrives.  We decided to go in July partly because that's when the cabins had availability and partly because we figured August will be busy with birthdays, anniversary and baby preparations.  We headed out early Monday morning and stopped right outside of town to pick up Subway for a picnic on the beach.  We made a quick stop by the cabins, but they weren't ready yet, so we decided to go straight to the beach and play and eat.

Happy boy at the beach

 It was a really pretty day, but it was slightly foggy and really windy when we arrived so we weren't exactly hot.  That didn't keep the boys from taking to the water--first starting out in this little tide pool that had been warmed by the sun.  They saw a jellyfish and a large crab crawling around, which was great fun to chase!

 Then Ethan, our water baby, headed out to the big waves.  That water was COLD.  I mean, make-your-bones-ache cold.  But Ethan LOVED it.  He must have been out there for at least 45 minutes with Tristan jumping the waves as they came in to the beach.  He was wet well above his waist and cold by the time they finished, but he had a great time!

 Carter opted for the safety of "papa's" arms.  He wasn't at all interested in standing in that cold water.

 After a bit I brought Carter back in toward the tide pool and he ran around with the dump truck.  This garage sale find is a beach favorite for both of our boys.  It never gets old!

 Eventually the fog burned off and it was warm even though it was windy.  We set up a shelter from the wind and the boys turned it into their little cave while they ate their lunch.

 We accessed the beach just down a little road from the cabins to make it easier, but when we arrived we took one look at the sand and knew we weren't driving on it.  So we opted to just park there and set up just a little ways away for the day.  Well, one little Hyundai didn't think things through and just drove right out into that soft sand and got stuck right off the road.  My dad and Tristan went up to help and eventually my dad went and got tow cables from the cabin owners to tow them out.  Needless to say, those people were done with the beach after that and didn't stick around to enjoy the sun.

 After lunch playtime

 Ethan loved using the pinwheel my cousin, Carrie, and her family brought to them the weekend before.

 Carter rolling around in the sand

 Such a big boy!

 The boys decided to try to bury the dump truck.

 Apparently at one point Carter just walked over to a pile of sand and BIT it.  I missed it because I wasn't watching, but he had a lot of sand in his mouth...live and learn, Carter!

 Caught in the act!  Who needs bathrooms when you're a boy?  We caught him too late to stop him (this is actually him pulling them back up), but I guess that's part of enjoying the wilderness when you're a boy.

 Chasing the seagulls

 The boys had fun taking turns getting a ride in the dump truck and wore their dad right out!

It was such a pretty day at the beach.  Everyone we talked to kept saying how this was one of the nicest days of the year there so far.  Our boys always love going to the beach and having all of the open space to run and play in the sand.  We stayed down there until around 3:30 or so before we headed to the cabins to check in and unpack.  We are so grateful to live so close to the coast so we can go and enjoy it so easily!