Say CHEESE - Tillamook 2023

It came! It came! The highlight of the summer. Our sisters family trip to Tillamook Oregon. We have been waiting for this all year. Started with the Washburns arriving just in time to come with us to the Ritchie Reiersen yearly swim bash at the Reiersen's house. They added so much fun to the day. 

Then it was off bright and early Saturday to Oregon to meet up with the Woodburys. We stopped at Multnomah falls for a quick hike (well quick for those of us that gave up early and less quick for those (ahem Dana) who made a wrong turn and went double the distance). 

Sunday we did church and then explored the lake bed while the tide was out, hunting for clams. This photo is the most peaceful I think Dana has ever been in his life:) 

Then we hit the beach. Cant remember the name but it was favorite last year and it's still my fav this year...minus some biting sand fleas we discovered near the shoreline. 

Nothing better than sitting in a random river chatting with grownups while the kids try to build a hot tub. Entertains them. Requires no input from me. Perfection. 

Leave it to Aunt Sarah to bring water colors to paint rocks. Genius. Charlotte was in heaven. 

Monday morning was a little rainy so we hit up the Air Museum. Just as good as I remembered. 

Super funny that this cockpit because a hot spot of tension. Everybody wanted to be in the pilot's chair so we had to set up time limits and when Char didn't get enough time she melted down but then figured out a solution. She came with me to the big plane outside and Clark and Isla's group came to join us, she quickly ditched and ran back inside to have the plane all to herself. Smart cookie. 

Then we ventured into the super packed Tillamook museum. Should have come before the lunch rush but it was still neat to see the cheese get packed and shipped and get samples. 

We just had time that afternoon to go through the tunnel in Hidden Beach and hunt for agates. Charlotte decided to be a horse instead. 

And Sarah once again proved she was the master of travel with this travel boche ball set that because a fun game for the kids. Clark took it quite seriously. 

That night everyone was exhausted. Well....not Charlotte. Kristina snapped this gem of Char peeking through the see though door between our rooms to spy on the Washburns during their family scripture time. Yeah...see through door between two rooms. Let's just say the house had some "character". Isn't she cute?

Twenty minutes later, we found her like this. So I guess she was tired. Also, side note. Worst sleep of our lives. The little air mattress she was on squeaked every time she moved and we found out she moves aproximately 1 billion times a night. Next trip she goes in the big kid room. 

Our last day was the sunniest and we went, you guessed it, to another beach. This one had a HUGE sand dune you could climb if you didn't mind burns on your feet. I opted to stay at the bottom so Dana captured this amazing Clark photo. 

Aunt Kristina makes a mean mermaid tail, thats for sure. 

At first I thought Clark was recreating Stonehenge but turns out these are teeny tiny rock cannons so he can fire on people. That tracks. 

Wednesday we packed up and had one more family memory at a lighthouse. 

Then sadly, we said goodbye to the Woodburys who were continuing on down the California coast on an awesomly planned itinerary. We ate at a delicious food truck in Portland before heading home. Thankfully the Washburns had one more day with us so we got more cousin time. 

We spent Thursday sleeping and taking a hike on the Tieton river trail. It was a hot one for sure but the bridge at the end (and the bag full of snacks) made it all worth it. 

Now the only question is: how can we get more Washburn/Woodbury time in our lives?