Thursday we drove down to Seaside, Oregon. The kids and I stopped off at a little park along the Columbia River before crossing the bridge to Astoria. Living in New Mexico and crossing the Rio Grande almost every day gives my children a sad understanding of the meaning of the word river. The Rio Grande might even dry up completely in our area this summer. I like the kids to see the Columbia River or the Mississippi on occasion to know how mighty a river can be. Once we reached Seaside, Oregon, I took Xenia and Justin out to see the newest Karate Kid movie, which we loved, and the little aquarium where the kids fed the seals. Jonah hung out at the hotel by himself or rather took long walks on the beach talking on the phone with his girlfriend.
Friday we drove to the Tillamook Forest Visitors Center. I enjoyed the info documentary about the forest and took lots of pictures of Misha exploring the different exhibits. Jonah, Justin, Xenia, and I all climbed the billion stairs up to the forest lookout tower. Then we all went for a little hike in the forest. Jonah, Justin, and Xenia walked along the river, leaping from rock to rock. Misha sat on the stone riverside, sifting sand through his fingers. I took my favorite picture of Esther sitting on a mossy branch in a world of a thousand shades of green. She looks like a studious forest fairy with a pocket copy of Don Quixote on her lap. I also convinced Xenia to do some parallel bar tricks on some tree branches.
Next we headed over to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a tour and dinner. I wanted their toasted cheese sandwich but ended up with the fried fish special, so delicious! We all had ice cream for dessert. It’s a place we love to visit when we vacation up there!
Saturday was one of the best days ever. We walked to a local bagel shop and on the way back to the hotel popped into a bookstore where one of my favorite pacific Northwest authors was signing her latest book. How fun is that?
Then we met up with my girlfriend Naomi and her family. I’ve known her since our moms became friends in 1980. We grew up together like sisters. I always imagined that we would one day have children who would play together, and that dream was realized Saturday on the beach as they all played ultimate football with a tennis ball. It took them only a few minutes to bond and play. Watching them made my heart happy!!! Xenia especially loved hanging out with Nancy. We wandered around the town, took Misha on the carousel, and ate pizza. I’m so happy for God’s blessings in my friend’s life.
Naomi took a lot of pictures of me taking pictures of Misha which is exactly the way I saw myself that day. My favorite scandalous picture exists but will be shared with no one.
That was the first day Esther and John Ben took Misha to the beach to splash in the water. No one was in the water because it was so cold. The highs were in the glorious sixties and low seventies, and the water was freezing. That didn’t bother Misha in the least. He wanted to hold their hands, unsteady on such uneven ground. They took off his baby sandals and sweatpants, and he headed into the surf dressed in a diaper and onesie. Misha couldn’t get enough. After a wave came up to his little chest, John Ben carried him above the water line, but Misha pulled on their hands and wanted to go again as soon as they set him down. Then Esther took off his soaking wet onesie, and they headed back in. That little boy was enchanted by each and every wave. When they came back to me, Esther wanted to take off his soaking wet diaper. They hadn’t brought a swim diaper. For a moment Esther was worried about a creeper on the beach, but there were hardly any other people out there to see Misha’s darling cherubic baby bum. They once again went into the surf.
Then Esther turned around and caught me with the camera and thought, “It’s my mom! She’s the creeper!”
A few minutes later, they had to bring Misha back to the jogging stroller and get him dressed again. He would have stayed forever, but alas, his little shivering body was covered in goosebumps.
It was hard getting up early the next day to get to the airport on time, but we were all tired and ready for the trip to end. We spent Father’s Day flying home. When we walked in the door, my friends were throwing a birthday party for Christa’s daughter Yulia, and we had gyros and cake waiting for us. I love my Albuquerque life and my own bed. It was a great vacation, but it’s good to be home.
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