19

It was just he and I enjoying a quiet dinner alone.   The green beans at Sapa were as good as we remembered and we tried their pork dumplings...that were amazing!  As we ate Danny asked me my favorite memory over the last 19 years.  How could I possibly pick just one!?  I asked him, and he knew right away, "the moment we became parents."  Having three daughters did change everything.  

It only seemed fitting that we celebrate with them tonight too.  When we returned home they had made a "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD!" poster.  We ate ice cream  and lit sparklers together.  These past 19 years have not been perfect...but they have been oh so good.  Here's to many more.

Pioneer Day

Well spending Pioneer Day at the C family's wasn't anything like the pioneers lived-

delicious food

swimming at sunset

but we do have spending time with great friends and family in common.

childhood

Our Sunday afternoons are quiet around here...

and it might be my favorite time of the week.

Oregon Coast

Oregon

July 3rd - July 10th

Netarts Bay

Oceanside

Seaside

Tillamook

Canon Beach

Short Sands Beach

Astoria

You were EVERYTHING we hoped you would be!

Explorers- our family of 5, Sharon's family of 4 and Go Ute Nana

sea air

"I could never stay long enough on the shore; the tang of the untainted, fresh and free sea air was like a cool quieting thought."  -Helen Keller


I often saw her alone...digging in the sand, jumping waves, and running on the shore.  I would call to her to join us...and she sweetly declined.  Her contentment was tangible.  She played with the ocean like she would play with a friend.

Oceanside, OR

Oceanside, OR

One beach holds so many memories from one small trip.

a friend

We met when I was 14.  I had just moved to Petaluma.  I didn't know anyone.  It was the summer before our first year of high school.  We met at church.  Attending the same church was almost all we had in common.  She was tall and I was short.  She was a gifted pianist and musician (still is) and I could make a mean batch of brownies from a mix.  She was an excellent student, and I unfortunately was very unmotivated academically.  We came from different financial backgrounds too.  As different as we were, she was always kind and always there.  She moved away our junior year.  She returned briefly our senior year.  I remember her sitting in the middle of the congregation at my farewell before I left for Argentina.  Since that moment we have corresponded through letters and emails.  When we decided to go to Oregon on vacation I emailed her, hoping she lived close enough that we could see each other.  She drove two hours and we met in Astoria.  It felt like we hadn't been separated for over twenty years.  She has two beautiful boys that she adores.  I am so grateful to have her as a life long friend.  I hope we see each other again before we let another 20 years pass.

4th of July - Seaside, OR

Our Oregon vacation happened to fall over the 4th of July, my very favorite holiday.   We wanted to see the fireworks over the ocean and we picked Seaside as our perfect spot.  We were astounded at the sheer number of spectators!  There were campfires and fireworks being set off everywhere before the scheduled show began.  It was quite an experience...and honestly had a slight resemblance to a war zone.  What a beautiful country we live in...and what a delight to celebrate from sea to shining sea.