Cannon Beach OR & our Seattle stay-cation

Spring Break 2016

Haystack Rock

Elin had Spring Break from school the first week of April.  We had a two part week:  a little getaway to one of my favorite places, Cannon Beach OR, and fun visitors that we showed around Seattle.

My mother flew in from Colorado and we headed straight from the airport to Oregon to spend a few days at Cannon Beach.   The girls were so excited for Grandma to come.

Airport hugs

Cannon Beach is one of my all time favorite places.  It holds so many wonderful memories for me of when I was single, lived in Portland and would spend weekends at the coast with my friends.  We had many many fun times there.  James knew how much I loved Cannon so that is where he proposed to me almost 9 years ago.  My girls had never been there.    

We arrived just in time for sunset.

The first day we were there was surprisingly sunny and warm (by OR coast standards).  We spent the morning playing in the sand.

And the afternoon flying kites.

We walked out to Haystack Rock during low tide in the late afternoon just as a storm was coming in.  It was a VERY windy and wet walk.  We only found one sand dollar and my kids were miserable.

PS:  Kids sleep really well after a day full of activity...

The next day came in rainy and cold, so no beach time.  We had breakfast at the Pig (Pig N Pancake), a must for me at the coast,

then headed back home to Seattle after stopping in Vernonia, OR to see my our family friends of 30+ years, Sue and Steve Whiteman.

Sue and Aila

After returning to Seattle we had a few days to relax at home.  My cousin Marlena and Aunt Tommi (Gillespie side) came to visit for lunch.

Grandma taught the girls how to make her famous cinnamon rolls.

On Wednesday night, my sister Leina and her daughter Ella (13 y/o) flew in from Utah to spend the rest of the week with us.  

On Thursday, we went to the Seattle Center

and played at the new park there,

then had lunch at the restaurant on the top of the Space Needle.

I have been up to the observation deck but never to the restaurant.  I thought it was a really fun experience and the food was good.   Elin had Space Needle Noodles and said they were "space-needle-icious".  

We all had a great time and we lucked out with a perfect sunny day.

Last stop at the Seattle Center was for Shave ice.

The next day (Friday) we headed up to La Conner for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.  The tulips were still in bloom but just barely...lots of fields were already done.  But we had a fun girls day.

"hug your sister"....notice Ani bolted

They always find the mud

We went for sunset and dessert at the Kirland Waterfont on Friday evening.

Auntie Mo and her chickadee

Magic man and Ella

Grandma left on Saturday morning  :(      Luckily, Aunt Leina and Ella where still around to soften the blow.

James made delicious paella

play-doh time with Aunt Leina

snuggle time

playing Barbies

We had such a FUN week.  My girls were very sad and lonely when all our company had left on Sunday night.  Ok, so was I....I just wish we could see each other more often.

M