Newport Bay Fireworks

After our hiking adventures we headed back to the hotel to rest up/change/shower/feed Maisie then it was off to Newport. We wanted to get there early so we could scope out a good spot to watch the firework show. We ate a delicious dinner at Mo's and then went to the first dock to sit and wait for a couple hours until it was dark enough for the show to start. I am glad we got there early because there were already people camped out on the benches and setting up chairs in the front. We put down some blankets and ate Marion berry cobbler while the sun started to fade. We even had free entertainment a fellow was catching crab off the dock and every 15 minutes or so he would pull up his basket and sure enough there would be some crab. He even was teaching us what to look for. Males, at least 5 inches from ridge to ridge or the size of a dollar bill. Anything smaller or female gets tossed back in. Maisie was being so good. She was a little hard to keep still, but besides the boredom (which I don't blame her, we were sitting for a couple hours) she was an angel. A cart came around with hot chocolate so we warmed our hands and bellies until the show started. I was manning the camera, because Austin was busy trying to get comfortable and keeping Maisie occupied, but man was I struggling. My pictures we blurry (its impossible to take a good pictures of fireworks without a tripod or at least a flat stable surface) so finally Austin decided to take over. He went to the very edge of the dock and placed the camera on the ledge and took amazing pictures. For fun I will post some of mine first and then his.

Here we go...

mine

mine

Austin's

Austin's

AND THE WINNER IS........

Definitely Austin. 

Look at this stunning picture! The perfect timing and the reflection off the bay. Beautiful.

Giant Spruce Trail

After our tide pool adventure we had a little picnic before starting the Giant Spruce trail. We snacked on PB&Js, apples, grapes and chips then we started our hunt for the 600 year old spruce. It was about 2 o'clock at this point almost 3 hours past Maisie's normal nap time, so we were a little worried she was going to have a melt down half way through the trip, but we carried on and prayed that she would sleep in the hiking pack. See pictures for results...

about 10 minutes in she fell asleep. Austin was humming edelweiss to her as he blazed the trail.

Me and Miranda's hiking uphill self portrait

Maisie snoozing in the back...

We found the giant spruce!

And it is giant!

Look who woke up...

Salmon berries... which are in fact edible.

Tide Pools in Yachats

The first morning of our trip, we planned to spend most of the day hiking. Bob found a couple of trails in Yachats, Oregon (a little south of Waldport). One was a small hike down to some tide pools so we decided to hit that trail first. We timed it perfectly with the low tide and it was BEAUTIFUL outside. It was a miracle. There wasn't a cloud in sight and the sun mixed with the salty ocean breeze felt glorious. Maisie wasn't to keen about all the wind (see last picture) as we adventured towards the waves crashing on the rocks, but she was enjoying the hiking pack she was snug as a bug in. 

Getting ready to start our hike (even though she is signing "all done")

Hum? I wonder if the water is cold...

Fourth of July Weekend

I am going to have to do this in installments, because we did so much and took hundreds of pictures, so I think I will split up our adventures by activity and location.

Sunday afternoon, we packed up our stuff and headed to Salem to meet Austin's parents and sister so we could car trip family style. We packed the Suburban full of all our things and made our way to the coast. We had reservations for a two night stay in Waldport, Oregon (15 or so miles south of Newport). We ended up getting to our Hotel just  before sunset and we watched the sun sink down below the horizon. Even as the sun was setting, the weather was warmer than most days at the coast. A very good sign for the days ahead! We then headed out to get dinner, we were all starving despite all the snacking done in the car. We ate at a little Chinese restaurant and then caught the end portion of the Waldport firework show. After picking a few things up from the market we were pretty bushed so we headed back to get some shut eye.

I don't have many pictures from the first evening of our trip, but here are a couple of the sunset.

of thee i sing...

I have an exciting fourth of July weekend post coming up, but I have ZERO time to upload pictures, but I have to post something to honor the country that I am so blessed to live in. Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, summer BBQs, friends, family, fireworks, picnics dressed in red, white and blue, while paying homage to our founding fathers and those who protect our freedom. I am so proud of my country and I am always proud to be an American, but today I am especially thankful for that privilege.

Here are the lyrics to one of my all time favorite patriotic songs: 


My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of Liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrim's pride!

From ev'ry mountain side,

Let freedom ring!

My native country thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love.

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees,

Sweet freedom's song.

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to Thee,

Author of Liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light;

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our King!

happy birthday little man!

Keenan (Maisie's boy toy) celebrated his first birthday today in Aumsville. We were a little late (or a lot late) Austin didn't get off work until 2 and then there was heavy traffic pretty much all the way there. I guess there were a lot of people getting out of town for the fourth, lucky ducks. Anyway, the party was so fun and Keenan and Maisie had a blast paling around every where. I think Maisie secretly thought she was having another party, she was very comfortable being passed around.  It was just Keenan and Maisie as far as babies go, so they both got a ton of attention from all the party goers. They ate cake, played in the pool and did a lot of wrestling/chasing in the grass. They are so entertaining together, their little personalities mesh so perfectly. It was a very fun day.

The cute little McArdle family

tag! you're it!

my sweet little Maisie girl.