Tillamook Cheese Factory

We took the scenic route home, and stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I am fascinated by the assembly line. I could watch that for hours. Okay, maybe for many minutes. It's incredible.

We all (including Loki and Kezia) enjoyed some Tillamook Ice Cream on the grass. I missed it on camera, but Madelyn used Gary's knee to pull herself from a sitting position all the way up to standing with no help! That was a cool "first" to witness! And Mean Mommy wouldn't even let her have any ice cream after that feat.

Moo!

Playing in the Sand

This was her second day in the sand, and it does not truly capture the joy Madelyn experienced the first time. But still cute!

Back to the Beach

Madelyn's all packed up and ready to go!

Flying the kite with Daddy

Enjoying more fun in the sand

Instead of crawling on her hands and knees, Madelyn wants to get on her feet! She walks like Gollum...I'll try to get some good video to post soon.

Pool

Bryson, Yuka, Madelyn, and Ethan at the indoor pool. The boys had a lot of fun pushing Madelyn around in her personal watercraft. I stayed closeby to make sure her boat didn't capsize.

The water was warm, but Madelyn started shivering and clinging to me, so we got out.

All bundled up.

More Camping

Trying to get warm by the struggling fire (the wood was wet, remember?)

Kitty slippers would make anyone happy!

Madelyn got a cold this weekend. It's only her second one, and for an 8-month-old baby, I'd say that's pretty good! It's my own fault, though. Emily told me the day of our BBQ that Andrew had just gotten sick, and I was too excited to see them to call it off. She warned me!

On Monday we went shopping at the outlet mall in Lincoln City (okay, so that's not really part of camping, but it is part of going to the coast!). Madelyn has a keychain coil hanging from the handle on her carseat, and she fell asleep holding it.

Grandpa Tickles!

SAND!

Madelyn's first time in the sand. Me: a bit nervous that it would be a constant battle to keep it out of her mouth (since that's where all matter belongs). Her: In absolute ecstacy playing with this curious new substance, only tasting it once!
Laughing with Ethan and Shelby Winkel

Hooray for sand!
Mmmm...looks good enough to eat!
Way in the background on the right is a dead sea lion washed ashore. It was interesting, but I didn't take the opportunity to teach Madelyn about marine biology through a touch and feel lesson like another mother on the beach did. I'm all for hands-on learning, but a dead wild animal? Am I wrong to think that should be common sense?

I am having so much fun!

Watch out little castle!

Gotcha!

Sunny Beach

Sunday we walked along the beautiful beach.

The water was a little too cold for Madelyn's toesies.

She fell asleep on our long walk.

Yuka, Kristen, Madelyn, Bryan, Shelby, and Ethan exploring tidepools

PJ's

We learned from our last camping trip that it is important for Madelyn to be warm in order to sleep well (duh), so this time I was prepared. I brought this cozy bunting, which is essentially a fuzzy sleeping bag with sleeves and a hood. Unfortunately, she still had a pretty rough night.

This blanket with all of the doggy faces was made by my Gram Alder--a Christmas gift to me a few years ago. It's a great baby blanket because it is large enough to actually wrap around her, and Madelyn loves to suck on the little fringe pieces. Thanks Gram!

Madelyn is happy in the morning, even though her mom and dad got very little sleep.

Breakfast time!

Sunset on the Beach

After dinner we all walked down to the beach to enjoy the sunset.

Pacific City Camping

We went camping over the weekend at an RV resort in Pacific City where my parents are members. I think we were among only a handful of people in the place who had actual tents in which to actually camp. We enjoyed our site in the woods, and made it rustic enough to feel like camping--in spite of the pool, mini golf course, and showers nearby (amenitites ALL of which we thoroughly enjoyed!). We camped with my brother Bryan's family the first two nights, and my parents joined us all in their very comfortable camper trailer the second and third nights.

Have I ever told you how much we love our Babee Tenda? Probably not, since it took some time to grow on me. This is a very useful contraption, and soon I think I will tell you all about why. But for now, just know that it even came camping with us!

Daddy and Madelyn enjoying the campfire. Oh wait, they are probably enjoying the campsmolders, since the firewood that we bought there was wet! Gary and Bryan did a very respectable job of conjuring flames through the use of our brand-new bellows we brought to pump up our brand new air mattress (I prefer natural camping, but for the sake of my hip bones, I'll never go camping without one again!)

Playing with Uncle Bryan while we roast hot dogs and get settled in.

Cousins' Dinner

Our home was crawling with babies tonight. My cousin Emily (Bair) Simmons is in town visiting from Omaha, NE. So she and her husband and their baby Andrew, plus our cousin Jessica (Alder) Taylor and her three little girls came over for dinner with us and the Fairhursts. It was so wonderful to see all of them.

Madelyn is not sure what to think about all these other babies. That's Andrew and Jack, plus Jessica's youngest, Nicole, is about the same age.

Kaden is crazy!

Fun Uncle Randy with Madelyn and Jack

Cousins Kristen and Emily
Second counsins Madelyn and Andrew
He is about one month younger than her, but he is already crawling and has four teeth! And he is a BIG, cute boy! I am so glad to finally have met him.

Food Fight

MOMS Club had a meeting today, and since it was rather boring, I was very glad to be entertained by Jack and Madelyn's antics.

Here she is looking ready to crawl....

I loved watching them try to go for the same puff.

Mirror-image gluttony

It's MINE!

Madelyn and I walked to and from this meeting, a total of about 6 miles. It was great exercise, but a warm day! (I think I can safely say that I did most of the work)

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Sweet husband Gary came home with beautiful flowers, birthday hats, and party blowers!

As if that weren't enough, we celebrated my 26th birthday by visiting Multnomah Falls, hiking at Latourell Falls, and dining on sushi while Madelyn played with Grandma and Grandpa Goodno. (Thanks!)

Multnomah Falls

So happy!

Latourell Falls

The sun was filtering through the trees under this bridge so beautifully

The view of the Columbia River from Crown Point. The Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite places.

Rubbing those sleepy eyes...

...and drifting to sleep with her blanky-bear.