Trip to the Beach

A couple weeks ago, we took a vacation to the beach. Not quite like a vacation to the Oregon coast, but I think as close as we are going to get here. The city we headed to is only about a 3 1/2 hour car trip from our home, and Jared set up a car and driver to take us and bring us home. We stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool, and had some places to eat and things to visit in mind before we headed out. Here is a bit of our weekend in pictures.
Our first evening in the hotel. I often have all three kids climbing on me, sitting with me, or pulling on me, but don't often have someone to take a picture :)

We spent a day at an aquarium. Our vacation was during a national holiday, hence the time Jared had off of school so we could go, therefore there were an incredible amount of people also sightseeing that day. We felt rather out of place in this incredibly packed sea of black hair. Thankfully the kids don't know any differently. This picture was taken just before a dolphin show, thankfully we were able to get seats.

There was an area of tide pools and the boys found three hermit crabs. It was crazy to me that in the midst of all those people there were live crabs. Two weeks have past and we still have the crabs sitting in a bottle on the boys bookshelf, alive! If you look closely you can see Jared, in blue and no hair, in the middle and a little left.

The weather was a little chilly but beautiful, and we got to see a bit of the ocean!

For about $1.20 we got a bucket of little fish and were able to feed the seals. Josiah asked over and over again if he could use his hands, rather than tongs, to pick up the fish and give it to the seal. If you look at the picture below you will understand why were were so against this.

Jacob was in on the whole thing, although he was perfectly content not being quite as close.

There were some live statues outside the aquarium, people dressed in costume and standing perfectly still. Josiah was in awe of them.

Here is that same picture again, but zoomed out. While Josiah was admiring the live statue, many others were awe of him.

Our hotel had a great pool and kiddie pool. I think we, well Jared and the boys, went swimming at least once each day. One day I remembered to bring my camera and take pictures. I only shot a few when I was told cameras were not allowed in the swimming area. Oh well, Emma needed to go back to the room for a nap. Here are a couple I shot.


During our trip we were sure to hit as many western-type restaurants we could. The morning we left we made a stop at Starbucks, of course. Somehow Emma is always camera ready, cannot say the same for the boys, excluding Jared :)

Jacob being super cute.

Overall we had a pretty laid back trip. Lots of time playing together as a family, not too busy, and also a great break from the daily routine. I am super thankful for the short breaks we are able to take.