Cape Kiwanda

On one of our last days in Oregon we made a day trip to the coast. We started the day in Pacific City at Cape Kiwanda. It's becoming one of our favorite beaches- it always seems so much warmer, plus the easy to access tide pools AND the killer view of Haystack rock need anything else? Ice cream or maybe delicious fish tacos? But yes it has that too. I've always been a Neskowin girl (just 15 miles south of Pacific City) which is more secluded and even more beautiful, but it requires a little hike to get a great spot and with little ones- that's not always the most ideal. :)

We finished the day off with halibut fish and chips from Mo's and a little shopping at the outlets where baby girl got a few new things. Oh those nesting urges, I wish we had more money to spend on this little one, but a poor college student's budget isn't really leaving much room for baby things. It's not about the things really, but as any mama knows- you get some kind of high from buying baby items. It just helps to make it seem more real because until that baby is placed in your arms, you need little reminders like newborn socks and onesies to help it hit home more. Right? Mama friends back me up on this ok?

Goodbye Oregon Coast

Before we moved we made a last beach trip. It was really sunny and warm, but the wind was a killer. We started the day in Pacific City, where we played around the beach and tide pools and then ended up in Lincoln City building a fire, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows and watched the sunset. By the time we packed up we were pretty cold, so we stopped in Mo's for some hot clam chowder and then we made our way home.

Sunset Selfie- Maisie technically took the picture.

Pacific City

You know it's a good spring in Oregon when the coast is in the 70's. After looking at the forecast early one Monday, we called Andrew and Camille and asked if they would be interested in having a beach day. They said yes and within a couple hours we were eating fish tacos and splashing in the ocean. I almost forgot how much Maisie loves the beach. She instantly remembered her beach days in California and splashed in the water like it wasn't freezing (which it very much was).

 She was one happy girl.

Remember how I said the water was freezing? Here they are proving their manliness. 

Exploring the tide pools

My favorite picture of her to date.

We finished the day off with Pizza and Tillamook ice cream way past two kid's bedtime, but it was a perfect day and it's hard to put an end on so much fun just for the sake of bedtime right?

Bonfire @ Muir Beach

A few weeks ago we decided to try a new beach just North of San Fransico called Muir Beach. A week prior to that, we were hiking at Muir Woods, when we followed the signs that led us to the near by beach where we instantly fell in love. It was dark out and we were starving (we had a dinner date planned at the SF Rainforest Cafe) so we didn't stay long, but we made it a point to come back the following weekend and so that's what we did. Austin and I both agree this is our favorite beach that we have been to since becoming "locals". It feels private, has a beautiful coast-like look and with the perfect amount of beach. The best part is you can have a bonfire anywhere! Which trust us, California is not as friendly with bonfires as one would think (by far the worst part about our Californian beaches). So we were over the moon when we discovered this little beach. As an added bonus you have to drive over the Golden Gate to get to it and we just love an excuse to do that.

Beach day in Santa Cruz

On Monday we spent the whole day at the beach. It was a glorious, just shy of 80 degrees day with a soft breeze that kept you from getting too hot, but we occasionally waded out into the bay to cool off anyway. The weather at the beach hasn't been the greatest the last few times we were there (June gloom), so we watched the weather like crazy leading up to our beach day. It was perfect. Maisie would bravely go into the water but when she saw a big wave (or heard one) she would run towards the shore or grab our hands. By the end of the day she mastered the wave jump, how to effectively bury her feet in the sand and how to untangle seaweed from her legs.

It is days like that, that makes me completely love living in California (ok maybe not the politics, bad drivers, traffic and how expensive everything is, but definitely the beauty the natural state has to offer).

I'm not quite sure what's going on in this picture, but it's cute that they are doing the same thing with their hands.

Thanks hubs for making me look tan. You're the best.